Morningstar Narrator (2:44)

When you look at the part of the employment matrix here where which is much affected is in the computer programming and high tech stem space. This is not a part of the economy where there's a very high unemployment rate, workers are very coveted. So you take some of those workers out of the mix, certainly the wages are going to go up for the existing ones. But these are not workers who are in a part of the economy that's necessarily suffering. It's not like parts of the economy like manufacturing that have been hollowed out where there's been tens of thousands of job losses. It's more people who are already probably earning a pretty good living will have even more leverage to earn even more.

Caitlin McCabe (3:17)

The changes to the H1B visa program are likely to stoke more tension surrounding US immigration policy at a time when cities across the country are grappling with immigration rates. It's estimated that more than 220,000 people have been deported by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement since President Trump took office, a rate that is on track to outpace deportations under the Biden administration. But as congressional reporter Katie Stetch Farrak explains, some immigrants who have been detained recently are finding an unexpected lifeline in Republicans on the Hill, some of whom have intervened to help free immigrants from federal custody.

Katie Stetch Farrak (3:54)

We found a handful of cases where Republicans worked behind the scenes with DHS to secure the release of people that they felt were either wrongly detained or had particularly sympathetic cases. This surprised me because Republicans on the Hill have been some of the loudest defenders of Trump's immigration policies.

Caitlin McCabe (4:15)

Katie added that the interventions underscore how some Republicans are grappling with the fallout from the administration's actions, even while falling in line to support the policy. The uk, France, Australia and Canada are among a slew of countries now formally recognizing a Palestinian state in a significant shift in foreign policy among Western governments. It follows growing dissatisfaction with Israel after nearly two years of war in Gaza, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the move was needed to try to force an end to the conflict.

Morningstar Advertiser (4:50)

This is a practical plan to bring people together behind a common vision and a series of steps, including the reform of the Palestinian Authority that takes us from a ceasefire in Gaza to negotiations on a two state solution.

Caitlin McCabe (5:10)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized the moves, saying they rewarded Hamas, who still holds dozens of Israeli hostages since its October 7 attacks. He also struck a defiant tone, vowing to block the establishment of a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, President Trump, cabinet officials and right wing pundits paid tribute to slain activist Charlie Kirk in a packed football stadium in Arizona yesterday, with the memorial service stretching more than five hours. Among the most powerful moments was when Kirk's wife Erica, fought back tears as she announced she had forgiven her husband's killer. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. That man, I forgive him. Republican leaders appeared hopeful that the event might unify and fortify a conservative movement that in recent months has come under strain. Volunteers used the event to ask new voters to register as Republicans, while President Trump, speaking on stage, called Kirk a great American hero and martyr for freedom. And in a possible symbol of new unity, Elon Musk, who earlier this spring had a falling out with the president, sat down beside Trump and shook his hand. And in a flurry of social media posts over the weekend, President Trump all but ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political foes. Among the political rivals mentioned by Trump were New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Trump's demands come after he ousted a Virginia prosecutor for not charging James and Comey, instead naming one of his personal lawyers as a new prosecutor to helm some of the investigations. The comments are the most explicit demand to date that Bondi target his enemies, showing just how far he has gone in asserting control over the Justice Department's traditionally independent decision making in criminal investigations. We should note that lawyers for James and Comey didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Coming up, we take a closer look at what an American TikTok app will look like, plus how Starbucks is using friendlier barista interactions and lots of eye contact to try to reverse a sales slump. Those stories and more after the break.

Michelle Hackman (7:32)

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Caitlin McCabe (7:52)

The future of TikTok in the US is coming into focus, and users likely won't have to download a new app to access it. After months of negotiations between the Trump administration and China over the US Operations of the popular app, the two sides have a preliminary deal. Crucially, this includes retraining TikTok's algorithm so that users will be able to access the service through their current app. As we reported last week, existing investors and a group of new US backers would together own about 80% of the company. Yesterday, President Trump said the group might even include Lachlan and Rupert Murdoch as part of a small investment through Fox News parent Fox Corp. Lachlan Murdoch is chair of News Corp. Which owns the Wall Street Journal, and is also executive chair and CEO of Fox Corp. A senior White House official says President Trump is expected to approve the framework via an executive order later this week. And we are exclusively reporting that the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue is in talks to sell 49% of luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman for about $1 billion. There are at least four potential bidders for the store, with a deal expected as early as next year. Saks has in recent months overhauled its capital structure in order to fund its takeover of rival Neiman Marcus. And finally, the world's largest coffee chain, Starbucks is mounting a new initiative to choreograph the way its baristas speak. So when you next go grab a coffee, you might hear something like this.

Heather Haddon (9:24)

So they could say, thank you so much. Have a great day. To thanks for being part of our day. It means a lot to thanks the name of the customer. I always love seeing you in the store.

Caitlin McCabe (9:36)

That's the Journal's Heather Haddon. She's been looking at Starbucks's new training material, where staff are being coached to read customers moods, to choose the right gestures and even the correct tone of voice. Heather says the carefully scripted approach is the brainchild of Chief Executive Brian Nichol, who's hoping that a warm welcome can reverse the company's sales slump.

Heather Haddon (9:54)

So Starbucks has been struggling. They've had falling sales for a number of quarters now. And so Brian was charged to do something about it. And so this is what he's doing. And it is a big bet. They say it's one of the biggest, biggest investments in service at the company ever. They're spending something like $500 million on all these various efforts, whether it's training or additional labor or just improving these store environments. So, yeah, it's a big bet for a company where the margins are down. But Brian believes, you know, with patience, this is going to work. And putting all of his eggs in this basket.

Caitlin McCabe (10:30)

Nickel's overall vision is to create a space where people are encouraged to linger, marking a stark contrast to competitors who want to serve their customers quickly and at a lower price point. And that's it for what's news for this Monday morning. Today's show is produced by Kate Bullivant and Freddie Folston. Our supervising producer is Sandra Kilhoff, and I'm Kaitlin McCabe for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back tonight with a new show. Until then, thanks for listening.

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