A Five-Day Tour for Katie Zacharia

Katie Zacharia was in the middle of an interview with The Wall Street Journal in her new office as White House press secretary. A senior adviser said the vice president wanted to talk with her. Zacharia never returned—to the interview, or the job. We lead off this week with the story of her tumultuous five-day tenure in the role.

Also this week, when you search for homes, you typically see every property for sale. But that is changing. We’ll tell you about a battle unfolding to control how Americans buy and sell their homes. Plus, how to help your kids with a home down payment without it getting weird.

Other topics we delve into include power watches for women and how “The Traitors” has created a new generation of murder-mystery fanatics.

Enjoy your weekend with these and all the great reads below. My colleague, Cristina Lourosa-Ricardo, will return for next week’s edition.

The missteps that led to Katie Zacharia’s short stint as White House press secretary—both at the lectern and behind the scenes.

One dominant company—Compass—is upending the residential real-estate market. They are taking more listings offline, limiting what buyers can find on other platforms including local MLS systems, and sparking backlash.

Hardware stores across the country are promoting their shop cats as ambassadors and social media stars.

Could your super-tall cushioned running shoes be setting you up for injury? Here’s what health experts say.

Passengers have many theories as to why barf bags seem to have gone missing on planes. Airlines say they’re still supposed to be at every seat. We delve into the mystery.

Do you have the same old chocolate bars in the pumpkin by the door this year? Here are some unique candy options that will upgrade your Halloween reputation among the neighbors.

Nearly a quarter of first-time home buyers relied on financial help from family or friends for home down payments. Here’s how to keep that help from hurting your relationship.

Can the watch you wear help you close a business deal? Ask these professional women.

This teen has a head start on your job—on every job—thanks to all the people stepping forward to let him observe how they work.

The reality competition show “The Traitors” is transforming into a sprawling entertainment franchise, with an official board game, signature hooded cloaks, and live immersive experiences.

WSJ | Buy Side: Hatch’s new contactless bedside device tracks your sleep stages, breathing and bedtime habits without a watch or ring.

WSJ Weekend Reads is a showcase for the wide range of great feature writing at WSJ. Let us know what you think by emailing editor Demetria Gallegos at demetria.gallegos@wsj.com (if you’re reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply).