TNB Tech Minute: Pentagon Lifts Drone Restrictions, Shares of Defense Stocks Rise

WSJ Tech News Briefing

The Wall Street Journal

News, Tech News

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 11 July 2025

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Plus: Nintendo’s new Switch 2 videogame machine includes a rare-earth magnet primarily produced in China, highlighting the company’s vulnerability to potential Chinese supply-chain disruptions. And, Microsoft is set to continue capitalizing on the cloud and artificial intelligence opportunity ahead, according to analysts. Julie Chang hosts. Programming note: Starting this week, Tech News Briefing episodes will be released on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the TNB Tech Minute will be released twice on weekdays, in the morning and afternoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The John Lewis sale is here. Save up to 50% on selected products. Whether you're getting the
0:05.1	garden barbecue ready or choosing holiday outfits, find something you'll love at a price you'll love too.
0:10.7	Visit us in store online and on the app to find amazing offers in home, tech, fashion, beauty and kids today.
0:16.8	Payment plans available. Saylan's 20th of July while stocks last.
0:21.3	Here's your afternoon T&B Tech Minute for Friday, July 11th. I'm Julie Chang for the Wall Street Journal.
0:28.5	The Pentagon has lifted drone restrictions, helping boost shares of defense tech stocks.
0:34.4	In a memo sent yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the removal of any
0:39.2	policies that slowed down the development and deployment of drones. It builds upon executive order
0:44.9	signed by President Trump last month aimed at easing restrictions on U.S.-made drones and strengthening an
0:50.9	industry that has struggled to compete with Chinese competitors.
0:59.6	According to the memo, the Department of Defense intends to arm combat units with a range of low-cost drones developed by American engineers and artificial intelligence experts.
1:05.7	Plus, Nintendo's new Switch 2 video game machine includes a rare earth magnet that's primarily produced in China.
1:13.3	That's according to a report technology research firms, I Fix It and Evidence shared with the journal.
1:18.6	This highlights the company's vulnerability to potential Chinese supply chain disruptions.
1:23.2	People familiar with the Switch supply chain said Nintendo has moved some production of the device
1:28.1	to Vietnam to limit the effect of U.S. tariffs. President Trump recently said he was setting
1:33.6	the tariff on Vietnamese goods at 20%, while analysts estimate the average tariff on Chinese
1:39.2	goods at around 40 to 50%. Nintendo declined to comment. Finally, Microsoft is set to continue capitalizing
1:47.1	on the cloud and artificial intelligence opportunity ahead. That's according to Piper Sandler analysts
1:52.8	in a note. They said about 81% of CIOs say they plan to spend more on the tech giant's
1:58.9	Azure offering. Meanwhile, Microsoft's co-pilot
2:02.1	remains one of the top two AI application picks alongside OpenAI. And a final reminder that
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