Danny Lewis

Hey, What's News listeners.

It's Sunday, April 12th.

I'm Danny Lewis for The Wall Street Journal.

This is What's News Sunday, the show where we tackle the big questions about the biggest stories in the news.

On today's show, the U.S.

economy has made it through a lot in recent years without rolling over.

the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and tariffs, to name a few.

But many of the sectors that have powered recent growth are also vulnerable amid new shocks.

We talked to three journal reporters about some of the factors that could determine which way the teetering economy goes.

Will AI continue to boom or go bust?

How healthy is the private credit sector?

And what could happen to oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East?

Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Wallace has been covering the Iran war's impact on oil prices, which surged to near-record highs last week before plummeting after President Trump announced a temporary ceasefire before once again rising.

It's been volatile, to say the least.

I asked Joe how this moment compares to previous oil shocks.

Joe says the oil shock stands to benefit some countries more than others.

The U.S.

is a net exporter of crude oil, and even Iran is trying to make light of a bad situation, attempting to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a tollbooth.

I asked Joe how all this volatility could affect the economy.

That was Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Wallace.