What the U.S. Government Is Doing With Its Stakes in Companies

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

Daily News, News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2026

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for May 7. During Trump’s second term, his administration has announced direct investment stakes in at least 10 companies such as Intel and U.S. Steel. We hear from WSJ reporter Maggie Severns about why this is an unorthodox approach by the government and how American executives are responding. Plus, Secretary of State Marco is in Rome in an effort to repair the relationship with Pope Leo and Italian leaders. National security reporter Robbie Gramer gives us an update from the Italian capital. And Elon Musk is being summoned to France to face criminal charges in a sprawling investigation of his social media platform, X. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	How are the U.S. businesses of Philip Morris International invested in America?
0:05.0	We're invested in advancing science, giving adults who smoke better options.
0:10.0	We're invested in American manufacturing, helping local economies thrive.
0:15.0	We're invested in community, supporting military veterans and their families,
0:19.0	disaster relief, and economic empowerment.
0:22.5	Because we're proud to be invested in America. See how at uspMI.com.
0:32.9	The U.S. government is now an activist investor. How is the business community reacting?
0:39.1	Plus, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Rome trying to smooth things over with the Pope and Italy's leadership.
0:45.4	A lot of Italian officials, lawmakers, even those in the Vatican, see Rubio as Trump's Mr. Fixit.
0:52.6	And French prosecutors seeking criminal charges for Elon Musk summoned him to Paris.
0:57.3	It's Thursday, May 7th.
0:59.1	I'm Alex Oceleste, for the Wall Street Journal.
1:01.6	This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that move the world today.
1:10.0	We begin this evening's show with a key insight into how people are spending their money,
1:14.8	thanks to the latest earnings from the world's biggest burger chain.
1:18.3	McDonald's has been doubling down on value meals and other low-cost menu items.
1:22.8	That's helping it bring people in.
1:24.6	Its first quarter revenue and profit beat Wall Street's forecast.
1:28.2	In the U.S., same store sales rose 3.9%. Some other chains like Shake Shack, Wingstop, and Papa
1:34.5	Johns have reported disappointing sales in recent weeks. Rising gas prices and other costs have made
1:40.1	consumers cut back, and restaurants are going all out to attract them, and McDonald's
1:44.7	plans to keep pushing deals. Stock slipped today, pulling back from recent records for the NASDAQ and
	...

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