WSJ What’s News PM Edition

Episode Title: Regulators Scale Back Obstacles for Boeing
Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Alex Osola

Overview

This episode provides a roundup of major business, finance, and political news, with exclusive reporting on upcoming deals, regulatory actions, and global political developments. The episode’s key theme highlights Boeing regaining some FAA authority years after the 737 Max crisis—a sign of tentative recovery for the troubled jetmaker. Additional topics include Electronic Arts’ potential $50 billion leveraged buyout, intensified regulatory scrutiny of US banks for alleged “debanking,” President Trump’s response to new DOJ indictments, and international headlines surrounding Israel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Electronic Arts Nearing Record-Breaking Leveraged Buyout

[00:18–02:34]

• Details: EA is close to finalizing a deal to go private, which could value the company at up to $50B—in what might be the largest LBO on record.
• Participants: Investors include Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
• Market Context:
  • Recent years have seen few mega-deals due to high interest rates and volatile market conditions.
  • Quote: “There are tons and tons of companies inside of private equity funds that firms would love to sell right now, but the market has not been right for them to get out of these deals because they bought them when interest rates were very low.” – Miriam Gottfried, [01:49]
• Industry Insight: Inclusion of sovereign wealth funds is increasingly seen as stabilizing; complex deals involving many private equity firms have often stalled.

2. Crackdown on Bank ‘Debanking’ and Regulatory Sweeps

[02:34–06:38]

• Regulatory Action: US regulators are demanding extensive data from banks to identify potential politically or religiously motivated account closures.
• Context:
  • This is reportedly a direct response to President Trump’s claims that he and his family have been “debanked” by large banks.
  • Regulators are collaborating with the DOJ to investigate possible violations of civil rights laws, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
• Scope: Requests span years of internal policies, customer complaints, and lists of closed accounts.
• Industry Response:
  • Banks argue accounts are closed for traditional risk reasons (credit, legal, anti-money-laundering), not for political or religious criteria.
• Potential Outcomes: Possible investigations, fines, or DOJ action, but formal charges remain uncertain.
• Notable Exchange:
  • Alex Osola: “Why are they asking for this? What indication is there that this is a problem?” [05:11]
  • Gina Heeb: “This is an issue for the president that is very near and dear to him. He has alleged that the largest banks have debanked him and his family.” [05:16]

3. Boeing Regains FAA Authority in Milestone for Recovery

[08:44–11:19]

• Industry Shift: Boeing will regain FAA authority to conduct final safety checks on 737 Max jets next week—a major step after years of post-crash oversight.
• Background:
  • The FAA removed this authority in 2019 following two fatal 737 Max crashes, largely due to design flaws and emerging concerns over manufacturing pressure and quality.
  • The temporary oversight aimed to restore regulatory confidence amid widespread questions about Boeing’s safety culture.
• Market Impact:
  • This change is seen as a vote of renewed regulatory trust and a notable win for Boeing’s recovery efforts.
  • The timing coincides with sizable new orders from Turkish Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, though specifics weren’t disclosed.
• Industry Insight:
  • Andrew Tangel: “It’s a sign that they’re regaining trust from the regulator. It’s a significant early milestone for Boeing’s overall recovery.” [11:00]
  • Alex Osola: “Is it typical for plane manufacturers to have this sign off authority that Boeing had lost?” [10:24]
  • Andrew Tangel: “These inspections and sign offs are pretty routine... The inspection has been compared to a final walkthrough before you buy a house.” [10:29]

4. Political and Global Headlines

• Comey Indictment & Trump Comments:

  • DOJ indicted former FBI Director James Comey; Trump frames the move as “justice, not revenge,” signals more indictments (“corrupt radical left Democrats”) are likely.
  • Critics warn of a new level of politicization in DOJ prosecution. [03:00–03:40]

• Sinclair and Jimmy Kimmel Live:

  • Sinclair broadcasting resumes airing Jimmy Kimmel Live after a suspension related to comments on the death of an activist; insists decision was independent of government influence. [02:34]

• Consumer Sentiment & Market Snapshot:

  • Sentiment dropped in September due to inflation and job worries; nevertheless, stocks rebounded slightly today. [06:45]

• Netanyahu’s UN Speech:

  • Israeli PM Netanyahu sharply criticizes recent global recognition of a Palestinian state; draws a provocative analogy comparing it to "giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th. This is sheer madness. It’s insane and we won’t do it.” [08:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Miriam Gottfried on buyouts:
  “There are tons and tons of companies inside of private equity funds that firms would love to sell right now, but the market has not been right for them... One thing that you’ll note about these deals...people think it’s preferable to have a sovereign wealth fund instead of too many private equity firms in the mix.” [01:49]
• Gina Heeb on regulatory focus:
  “This is an issue for the president that is very near and dear to him. He has alleged that the largest banks have debanked him and his family.” [05:16]
• Andrew Tangel on FAA oversight:
  “It’s a sign that they’re regaining trust from the regulator. It’s a significant early milestone for Boeing’s overall recovery and its attempts to turn the corner from these two crashes, but also a long string of quality issues.” [11:00]
• Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN:
  “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th. This is sheer madness. It’s insane and we won’t do it.” [08:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Electronic Arts buyout details: 00:18–02:34
• Banking regulatory sweep and debanking discussion: 02:34–06:38
• Investor sentiment & market snapshot: 06:45
• Netanyahu speech at the UN: 08:00–08:44
• Boeing’s restored FAA sign-off authority: 08:44–11:19

Conclusion

This episode captures several pivotal headlines shaping markets, industry, and policy. Central is Boeing’s regaining of FAA sign-off rights—a marker of corporate recovery after years of regulatory crisis. Major news includes a possible record-setting buyout for Electronic Arts, aggressive regulatory probes into banking practices, and intense commentary at the UN on Middle East policy. Throughout, WSJ reporters provide concise, detailed insight into the significance and context of each story.