As an aside, it’s worth checking if your local library offers WSJ access. Mine has it. It’s provided 3 days at a time. That makes it a little inconvenient for a regular reader, but serviceable to get at the occasional article.

I expect the cause is toughening of WSJ's captcha which was already much tougher than most.

I think longtime intermittent problems with WSJ links (and/or them actively trying to fight it), so often we rely on HNers sharing gift links etc.