Episode Overview

Podcast: WSJ What’s News
Air Date: February 10, 2026
Episode Title: Trump to Repeal Landmark Climate Finding
Hosts/Contributors: Luke Vargas, Miriam Gottfried, Yousef Khan, Peter Lander, Samantha Pearson

This episode spotlights the Trump administration's plan to reverse a foundational climate regulation, examines escalating US-Canada bridge tensions, unpacks Israel's expansion of powers in the West Bank, discusses China’s currency ambitions, and scrutinizes new turmoil around Argentina’s inflation data.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Administration Moves to Undo Landmark Climate Finding

• News: The administration readies a move to reverse a 2009 legal finding that links greenhouse gas emissions to public health risks. This would severely undermine current frameworks regulating emissions from power plants and vehicles.
• Claimed Rationale: Officials assert this will save a “trillion dollars” in regulatory costs.
• Business Impact:
  • Creates confusion for US businesses operating internationally.
  • Companies face diverging standards: US rollbacks vs. tough global (notably EU) regulations (01:30).
• Quote:

  “This is going to be a really big deal for companies operating globally... we’re seeing climate regulations within places like California and New York. Say for a company operating in Europe... you’ve got an obligation to bring down your emissions and report your emissions; on the other side, we might see the rollback of those sorts of regulations and the idea that you can continue to pollute.”
  — Yousef Khan (01:30)

• Legal Outlook: Expect “years” of court battles before definitive resolution (01:53).

2. US-Canada Bridge Dispute

• Situation: President Trump threatens to prevent a new bridge from opening between Detroit and Windsor, despite near-completion and Canadian funding.
• Trump’s Stance: Asserts that the US should own half, accuses Canada of disrespectful behavior, contrasting previous US support and financial arrangement (02:00).
• Reactions:
  • Windsor’s mayor calls Trump’s move “insane” on CBC News (02:34).
  • Miriam Gottfried notes the contradiction in Trump’s simultaneous criticism of Canadian decisions that block US alcohol and refusal to open a facility aiding bilateral trade (02:34).
• Quote:

  “Canada paid for the construction of the bridge. The US didn’t want to pay, Canada said…we think it’s important. We’re going to fund it to help facilitate international trade.”
  — Miriam Gottfried (02:34)

3. Israel Expands Control in the West Bank

• Actions Taken: Israel’s cabinet repeals restrictions on selling West Bank land to outsiders, publishes sealed land registries, and takes regulatory powers from the Palestinian Authority.
• Geopolitical Context:
  • Move occurs ahead of a Netanyahu-Trump meeting in Washington.
  • Draws criticism from several Arab governments and the EU (03:30).
• Significance: Deepens West Bank integration, ignites international concern.

4. China Eyes Dollar Alternatives—Yuan's Rising Role

• Trend: Ongoing global speculation about “de-dollarization” and China's efforts to bolster the yuan’s standing in international trade.
• Market Impact: Some measured strengthening in the yuan, but still within normal historical ranges (04:07).
• Quote:

  “For most international transactions today the dollar is used… If China seems to be using the dollar less or Treasuries are being sold, it could cause the dollar to weaken and the yuan to strengthen… But it’s the speculation that a more radical shift could be in the offing [that] is behind some of the market trades.”
  — Peter Lander (04:07)

• Limits to Change:
  • The yuan is not freely traded.
  • China remains heavily invested in US Treasuries—substantial shifts away from the dollar are unlikely in the near term.
  • Some room exists for the renminbi to expand its role “at the edges” (04:46).

5. US Labor Market—Jobs Report Preview

• Context: Anticipation for delayed jobs numbers amid sluggish employment growth; surveys show widespread pessimism about job prospects (05:12).
• Engagement: Listeners invited to share their employment stories and questions for future episodes (05:15).

6. Argentina’s Inflation Data Under Scrutiny

• Backdrop: After years of crisis, President Javier Milei made significant progress lowering triple-digit inflation. However, controversy has erupted following the resignation of the national statistics agency head (07:22).
• Data Trust Issues:
  • Milei’s refusal to update the outdated inflation index (based on 20-year-old consumer survey) despite IMF urging has alarmed observers (07:22).
  • Most experts argue the current impact is modest. However, looming subsidy withdrawals may exacerbate the inflation gap later this year (08:42).
• Quote:

  “Argentines are very nervous about inflation data, about any sign of government meddling in official figures…The problem is that later this year, we expect energy prices to go up…so Argentina could be reporting inflation data that essentially is higher than it really seems to be.”
  — Samantha Pearson (08:42)

• Political Dimension:
  • Upcoming elections intensify scrutiny of inflation figures; past data controversies have triggered peso runs and IMF bailouts (09:32).
• International Impact:
  • Steep negative market reaction following the stats chief’s resignation; potential ramifications for US policy as Trump bets on Milei’s economic reforms (10:29).
• Quote:

  “What happens in Argentina has huge ramifications for President Trump as well. He’s bet heavily on Milei and his ability to turn around one of South America’s biggest economies. So a lot is riding on this.”
  — Samantha Pearson (10:29)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Yousef Khan on global business impact (01:30):
  “A really big deal for companies operating globally...”
• Miriam Gottfried on US-Canada trade clash (02:34):
  “Canada paid for the construction of the bridge. The US didn’t want to pay…”
• Peter Lander on the yuan’s limits (04:46):
  “It’s certainly not in China’s interest to see the dollar disappear and they wouldn’t want the dollar to get sharply weaker either…”
• Samantha Pearson on Argentine market fallout (10:29):
  “We saw a very negative reaction in markets in Argentina after Lavagna’s resignation...close to 10% drop in the stock market.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:21 – 01:53: Context and implications of reversing the EPA’s 2009 climate “endangerment finding"
• 01:53 – 02:34: US-Canada bridge controversy
• 02:59 – 04:07: Israel’s new West Bank policies, global reactions
• 04:07 – 05:12: China’s currency strategies; impact on the dollar
• 05:12 – 06:13: Preview of the US jobs report; audience engagement
• 06:44 – 10:52: Argentina’s inflation index dispute, political and economic ramifications

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a brisk, matter-of-fact tone suitable for busy listeners wanting concise, impactful news summaries. Direct quotes from correspondents and outside sources immerse the audience in both the facts and the urgency of developing stories.

For a full listen, find this and more on the WSJ What’s News feed.