The Biden administration has tried and failed to contain fighting in the Middle East over the past year - and now, the conflict is close to spiralling into all-out war. The FT’s US foreign affairs and defence correspondent Felicia Schwartz and US political news editor Derek Brower join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain what Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are telling voters they’ll do to end the conflict. Credit: USA Today Mentioned in this podcast: Israel and Iran have just delivere...
Oct 05, 2024•14 min
A strike that closed US east and Gulf coast ports will be suspended, and market reaction to escalations in the Middle East remains minimal. Plus, Italy’s government will raise more taxes from companies earning windfall profits, and luxury group LVMH will become a top sponsor of car-racing franchise Formula One. Mentioned in this podcast: US dockworkers suspend strike that threatened to cripple ports Italy seeks to raise more windfall taxes from companies The market reaction to global tens...
Oct 04, 2024•11 min
UK house sales rise at the fastest rate in three years, mass displacement in Lebanon risks overwhelming a country battered by economic crises, and Brussels intends to postpone a controversial EU anti-deforestation law for a year following a backlash. Plus, two-thirds of all new solar and wind power projects are based in China. Mentioned in this podcast: UK house sales rise at fastest pace in three years, data shows China’s accelerating green transition EU moves to delay anti-defores...
Oct 03, 2024•12 min
Iran fires missiles at Israel, hours after the IDF launches a ground offensive in Lebanon. France’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced tax rises on large companies and the wealthy, and US business groups warned of economic ‘paralysis’ after tens of thousands of dockworkers went on strike. Plus, investors are seeking to profit from the uncertainty over the outcome of the US presidential race. Mentioned in this podcast: Iran launches missile attack against Israel French premi...
Oct 02, 2024•9 min
SoftBank will invest $500mn into OpenAI as part of a fundraising round that will give the start-up a $150bn valuation, and Chinese equities post their best day since the 2008 global financial crisis. Plus, new data suggests artificial intelligence start-ups are bringing in revenues at an unprecedented rate, and South Korean exporters are struggling to compete with a glut of goods from Chinese rivals. Mentioned in this podcast: SoftBank to invest $500mn in OpenAI AI start-ups generat...
Oct 01, 2024•11 min
In the wake of Hassan Nasrallah’s death, Hizbollah looks for a way forward, and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen goes on trial for allegedly embezzling EU funds. Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm is backing a nuclear start-up aimed at fueling artificial intelligence, and a handful of high frequency trading firms have seized market share from traditional investment banks. Mentioned in this podcast: What's next for Hizbollah? Marine Le Pen goes on trial over EU expenses scandal ...
Sep 30, 2024•11 min
Voters consistently tell pollsters that economic issues are their top electoral concern. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have spent the past few weeks honing their economic messages — and they couldn’t be more different. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, and Washington bureau chief, James Politi, join to explore how each candidates’ plan would impact the country. Mentioned in this podcast: Trumponomics: the radical plan that would reshape America’s economy Kamala Harris sets out pro-bus...
Sep 28, 2024•15 min
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves may backtrack on a key tax plan, Saudi Arabia is ready to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude, and Citigroup announced a $25bn deal with Apollo to lend to private equity groups and low-rated US companies. Plus, Palestinian villagers in the West Bank are experiencing heightened violence after Hamas’s devastating October 7 assault on Israel. Mentioned in this podcast: UK chancellor ready to water down planned tax raid on wealthy foreigners Sau...
Sep 27, 2024•12 min
OpenAI’s chief technology officer is leaving the company, major banks pledge to increase their support for nuclear energy, and hopes of an M&A comeback rise as global companies pursue blockbuster takeovers. Plus, a surge in female labour force participation emerges as a bright spot for Saudi Arabia. Mentioned in this podcast: OpenAI’s chief technology officer Mira Murati to leave Big corporate predators bolster global M&A market The Saudi factories powered by women &n...
Sep 26, 2024•10 min
The US Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, China has unleashed a swath of stimulus measures to jump-start growth and the incoming CEO at Trafigura signals a new era for the trading house. Plus, Sri Lanka has a new leftwing president who has promised a fresh start for the country. Mentioned in this podcast: US antitrust lawsuit accuses Visa of using dominance to shut down rivals China unleashes stimulus blitz to lift growth Trafigura set to name Richard Holtu...
Sep 25, 2024•11 min
The US proposed effectively banning Chinese cars, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came out against a UniCredit takeover of Commerzbank and Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Lebanon. Plus, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will try to turn around the Labour party’s mood during a speech at the party conference. Mentioned in this podcast: US proposes banning Chinese software and components in vehicles Israeli strikes kill more than 490 in Lebanon, says health ministry Olaf...
Sep 24, 2024•10 min
Olaf Scholz’s SPD narrowly fends off the AfD in Brandenburg’s state election, and chipmaker Qualcomm approaches Intel about a potential takeover. AI search engine Perplexity mounts an ambitious effort to break Google’s stranglehold over the $300bn digital ads industry. Plus, a strike at three dozen US ports could upend supply chains and raise prices just weeks before Election Day . Mentioned in this podcast: Germany’s SPD leads far right in Brandenburg election Perplexity in talks with to...
Sep 23, 2024•10 min
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate senator JD Vance have spent the past few weeks pushing a false claim that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating residents’ pets. The FT’s US national editor, Ed Luce, and New York correspondent, Joshua Chaffin, join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss why misinformation is a powerful electoral strategy and whether the truth matters to voters. Mentioned in this podcast: ‘It’s ugly’: Donald Trump’s Haitian pet-eating...
Sep 21, 2024•15 min
The S&P 500 hit a record high, Europe’s biggest hope for dominance in EV batteries is struggling to hang on and the Bank of England held interest rates steady. Plus, the FT’s Brooke Masters explains why customers are getting fed up with airline loyalty programmes. Mentioned in this podcast: S&P 500 hits new record after Fed makes jumbo cut to US interest rates Europe’s great battery hope Northvolt fights for survival Bank of England holds rates at 5% The fury of the f...
Sep 20, 2024•12 min
The Federal Reserve’s interest rate easing began with a half-point cut, and the UK’s financial watchdog has stepped up pressure on banks to offer more attractive interest rates on deposits. The FT’s Mehul Srivastava unravels the supply chain behind the pagers that exploded in Lebanon this week. Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve cuts rates by half a point and signals era of easing has begun UK regulator pushes banks to give savers better value even as rates fall From Taipei ...
Sep 19, 2024•10 min
BlackRock and Microsoft are launching a $30bn data centre fund to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence, and BP puts its onshore US wind business up for sale. Meta is making teenagers’ Instagram accounts private by default and EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager speaks to the FT about her efforts to regulate in Big Tech. Mentioned in this podcast: BlackRock and Microsoft plan $30bn fund to invest in AI infrastructure BP puts $2bn US onshore wind business up for sal...
Sep 18, 2024•10 min
The EU is preparing to provide up to €40bn in new loans for Ukraine by the end of the year, and Boeing is considering temporary furloughs as its machinists continue to strike. The company behind ChatGPT is launching a new product it claims can solve complex mathematical and scientific problems. Plus, former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi launches a master plan to boost EU competitiveness. Mentioned in this podcast: EU plans to raise up to €40bn in loans for Ukraine without US  ...
Sep 17, 2024•12 min
Both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England are set to announce interest rate decisions this week. In China, venture capital finance has dried up amid political and economic pressures. Plus, Indonesian palm oil producers warn of global supply chain disruption if the EU bans imported commodities linked to deforestation. Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell’s big week How China has ‘throttled’ its private sector Indonesia warns of ‘chaos’ from EU deforestation law The FT News B...
Sep 16, 2024•11 min
On this week’s special episode of Swamp Notes, four FT journalists discuss the historic first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and answer all your most-pressing questions about the US presidential race. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, moderates the discussion alongside deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, global business columnist, Rana Foroohar, and chief foreign affairs columnist, Gideon Rachman. Mentioned in this podcast: Kamala Harris has passed a big...
Sep 14, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Investors snapped up consumer staples such as Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive amid concerns over a potential slowdown in the US economy. Abu Dhabi’s oil company Adnoc could offer €14.4bn for German chemical group Covestro, and the European Central Bank cut interest rates to 3.5 per cent. Plus, people in Los Angeles are encouraged to park their car obsession ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and amateur astronauts completed the first private spacewalk. Investors pile into Coca-Cola and Colgate as...
Sep 13, 2024•13 min
The Italian lender UniCredit has amassed a 9 per cent stake in Commerzbank, and US inflation fell to 2.5 per cent in August. Plus, Argentines are declaring hundreds of millions of dollars of previously hidden savings in a tax amnesty and Mexico’s Senate approved a radical plan to have voters elect all its judges. Mentioned in this podcast: US inflation falls to 2.5% in August UniCredit’s push for European bank consolidation looks on target Javier Milei’s tax amnesty lures Argentines to dec...
Sep 12, 2024•11 min
The EU’s top court orders Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes, and the Federal Reserve halves its proposed capital requirement increase for the largest US banks. Plus, we talk to the FT’s Benjamin Parkin about the Taliban’s warming relations with a growing number of regional powers. Mentioned in this podcast: Top EU court rules Apple must pay €13bn in back taxes Federal Reserve halves proposed capital requirement rise for largest US banks Taliban’s closer ties with UAE signal glo...
Sep 11, 2024•12 min
Apple launches the iPhone 16 with generative AI features, and France’s new PM needs more time to submit the country’s debt plans. Kamala Harris is under pressure to perform in tonight’s debate against Donald Trump. Plus, Intel’s plunging share price and manufacturing troubles shatter its hopes for a turnaround. Mentioned in this podcast: Apple launches iPhone 16 with AI features to roll out in coming months France asks EU for more time to submit debt plan Kamala Harris faces crucial debat...
Sep 10, 2024•12 min
Enthusiasm about artificial intelligence masks a recession in the technology sector, and a new exchange traded fund looks specifically for ‘reject’ stocks. Plus, Google heads back to court over fresh antitrust allegations, and Chinese car buyers ditch Tesla for local alternatives. Mentioned in this podcast: AI exuberance masks broad weakness in tech sector, say investors Star manager Rob Arnott launches ETF to buy up index ‘rejects’ Google’s $20bn ad tech business to play for at ne...
Sep 09, 2024•10 min
Democrats and Republicans have taken a protectionist turn on trade policy over the past few years. They say it’s to protect national security, but that argument doesn’t always hold up. Just look at this week’s announcement from vice-president Kamala Harris that she doesn’t support the purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel. The FT’s economics editor, Sam Fleming, and Washington bureau chief, James Politi, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why both parties are leaning into “Made ...
Sep 07, 2024•13 min
President Emmanuel Macron has named the EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s next prime minister. Plus, Europe’s sustainable investment funds double down on defence stocks, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy carries out his biggest wartime cabinet reshuffle yet. Mentioned in this podcast: Europe’s ESG funds more than double defence holdings amid Ukraine war Michel Barnier promises respect for ‘all political forces’ as French PM Zelenskyy seeks ‘new energ...
Sep 06, 2024•12 min
Volkswagen calls for drastic measures to bolster profits, and President Joe Biden wants to block a Japanese company’s acquisition of US Steel. Plus, damning findings about the Grenfell Tower fire surface, and Egypt’s journey from gas bonanza to power blackouts Mentioned in this podcast: Joe Biden set to block Nippon Steel’s takeover of US Steel Volkswagen warns staff it has ‘a year, maybe two’ to adapt to lower demand ‘Incompetence, dishonesty and greed’: Key findings of Gren...
Sep 05, 2024•12 min
Big tech groups including Nvidia led a broad US stock market sell-off on Tuesday, and Huawei’s AI chips are dealing with some bugs. Plus, US homebuilders are facing their biggest credit crunch in more than a decade, and foreign investors are backing out of Indian equities. Mentioned in this podcast: US homebuilders face credit crunch as banks cut lending Huawei’s bug-ridden software hampers China’s efforts to replace Nvidia in AI Global stocks slide as investors fret over US ...
Sep 04, 2024•11 min
The UK blocks some arms shipments to Israel, audit firms are fighting against new oversight rules in the US, and the same technology that brought us Covid-19 vaccines could also be used to fight cancer. Plus, the Oasis revival tour is so popular it triggered a UK investigation into Ticketmaster. Mentioned in this podcast: UK to halt exports of some arms to Israel citing possible law breaches External Link The Covid-era tech that could reinvent cancer care Accountancy firms fight back again...
Sep 03, 2024•11 min
Germany's far-right makes significant inroads in state elections, and Israel’s largest union calls for a general strike. Plus, so-called ‘greedlation’ becomes a campaign issue for the Democrats, and Hong Kong wants workers to smile more. Mentioned in this podcast: Alternative for Germany wins its first regional election Hostage deaths build pressure on Netanyahu for Hamas deal Greedflation and groceries Hong Kong service workers told to smile more to attract tourists The FT News Br...
Sep 02, 2024•14 min
