A rundown of the most important global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. Available every weekday morning.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agency faces growing backlash after federal agents fatally shot a second protester in two weeks, and Trump teases his pick for the US’s next Federal Reserve chair. Plus, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer goes on the charm offensive in Beijing, and why the US is investing in rare-earths companies. Mentioned in this podcast: Trump faces growing backlash against immigration crackdown after shooting BlackRock’s Rick Rieder surges ahead in race to chair...
Today's FT News Briefing discusses Intel's significant stock decline following a disappointing earnings report and ongoing supply constraints. The episode also delves into Donald Trump's controversial 'Board of Peace,' which has garnered support from some nations but alienated key European allies due to its structure and perceived rivalry with the UN. Additionally, it examines Iran's severe post-protest crackdown, including property seizures and arrests, and previews the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting on interest rates and the speculated succession of Chair Jay Powell.
The FT News Briefing discusses President Trump's reversal on Greenland tariffs, following his "concept of a deal" for mineral rights, and the tense atmosphere at Davos regarding US economic policy. The episode also details the EU's decision to postpone ratifying a trade deal with Mercosur countries due to farmer opposition and legal concerns. A major focus is the US Supreme Court's apparent skepticism about Trump's ability to fire a Federal Reserve governor, highlighting concerns over central bank independence. Finally, it touches upon Berkshire Hathaway's consideration of selling its stake in Kraft Heinz.
Global markets are rattled by US-Europe trade tensions over Greenland, prompting a look into Europe's theoretical financial leverage through US Treasuries and its practical challenges. The podcast also covers Netflix's latest earnings and its significant bid for Warner Bros., navigating intense industry competition and regulatory hurdles. Finally, it delves into China's delicate and legally ambiguous position of supplying drone components to both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, with Russia potentially gaining a strategic advantage through direct manufacturing lines and state support.
This episode explores China's demographic crisis, marked by record-low birth rates, and its economic implications like the push for automation and export-driven GDP growth. It also delves into Saudi Arabia's unprecedented international borrowing to fund ambitious Vision 2030 mega-projects. Furthermore, the podcast discusses why Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are rapidly expanding into the UK market, leveraging favorable tariff conditions. Finally, it examines the growing unsustainability and political challenges of Europe's generous state pension schemes amidst aging populations and competing budgetary demands.
As Europe considers retaliation measures to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to NATO allies that oppose his Greenland-takeover bid, Denmark seeks to bolster its own relationship with the Arctic island. Plus, the US capture of Venezuela’s president has boosted demand for Latin America political risk cover. And, geopolitics is the topic du jour at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mentioned in this podcast: EU readies €93bn tariffs in retaliation for Trump’s Greenland threat...
The episode discusses the EU's proposed two-tier 'membership-lite' model for Ukraine, aiming to facilitate its entry despite concerns from some European capitals. It also highlights the strong recovery of US investment banks in 2025, with record quarters for some, and addresses concerns about central bank independence. The briefing then examines China's state iron ore buyer flexing its muscles, gaining leverage in global supply chains, and previews the World Economic Forum in Davos, anticipating discussions on various geopolitical issues.
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out military action in Iran and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to call a snap general election. Plus, Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” policies have prompted bond giant Pimco to diversify away from US assets, and US banks push back against Trump’s credit card cap plans. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump says he has received assurances ‘killing in Iran is stopping’ Japan’s Sanae Takaichi to call snap election Donald Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ ...
Two former senior executives at the collapsed subprime car lender Tricolor Holdings pleaded not guilty to fraud and financial crime charges, and Microsoft is pledging to “pay its way” for its AI data centres. Plus, US inflation stayed at 2.7 per cent in December, and we’ll talk about what Balderton Capital’s early investment in Revolut can teach us about venture capital investment. Mentioned in this podcast: Tricolor executives plead not guilty to charges stemming from collapse Microsoft vows to...
UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti is planning to step down in April 2027, and Paramount threatened a proxy fight in its latest move to force Warner Bros Discovery back to the negotiating table. Plus, the FT’s Robert Armstrong explains what could come next in US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the Federal Reserve. Mentioned in this podcast: UBS boss Sergio Ermotti plans to step down in April 2027 Paramount threatens proxy fight in battle for Warner Bros Discovery What is behind the crimina...
US federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, and civil unrest continues to threaten the Islamic regime in Iran. Plus, earnings season kicks off this week with the bank results. Mentioned in this podcast: US prosecutors investigate Jay Powell over revamp of Fed headquarters Iran warns US against intervention Wall Street headed for best investment banking year since pandemic FT subscription sale Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its p...
This is a repeat of an episode published on Swamp Notes, a sister podcast of the FT News Briefing on January 9, 2026. Subscribe to Swamp Notes on Apple , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you listen. After a military operation to capture Venezuela's leader, the Trump administration is seeking influence over other regions across the western hemisphere. The FT’s national editor Edward Luce and US-Europe foreign affairs correspondent Amy Mackinnon share their insights on how Trump and his cabinet ...
Glencore and Rio Tinto resume mining megamerger talks, protests in Iran over economic conditions are the largest in years, and the US trade deficit narrowed to its lowest level since 2009. Plus, is there a right way for chief executives to exit a company? Mentioned in this podcast: Glencore and Rio Tinto resume talks on mining megadeal Iran protests spread to neglected hinterlands US trade deficit slides to lowest level since 2009 in October Art of the exit: is there a right way for CEOs to quit...
The US wants to control Venezuelan oil sales ‘indefinitely’ but the ‘catastrophic’ state of the Latin American nation’s crude facilities presents several hurdles. Plus, President Donald Trump banned institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and the UK and France pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of sweeping US-backed security guarantees. Mentioned in this podcast: US seeks to control sales of Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’ The ‘catastrophic’ state of Venezuela’s oil facil...
Leading asset managers are preparing for a potential burst in the AI bubble, reducing positions or betting against overvalued US tech stocks. Meanwhile, Venezuela is undergoing a renewed wave of repression following Nicolás Maduro's ouster, with limited information flow and international dismay. The US administration is discussing its oil strategy for Venezuela, which has significant geopolitical implications for China, a long-standing ally and oil buyer in the region.
The FT News Briefing discusses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's recent arrest and its unexpected impact on the country's defaulted bonds, attracting eager private oil investors. The episode also explores China's record-breaking auto exports driven by a pivot to global markets. Finally, it delves into how Southeast Asian nations have managed to thrive despite US tariffs, highlighting their manufacturing costs and the AI boom.
Following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, the US warns Venezuela's de facto leader to meet its demands, sparking political uncertainty and regional fears. The episode delves into Trump's strategy, its contradiction to 'America First' principles, and the global geopolitical implications of such an intervention. It also examines the feasibility and challenges of Trump's plan to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector with US companies amidst historical failures.
In this episode, FT columnist Gillian Tett revisits her 2025 prediction for the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, discussing their mixed performance and growing divergence. She forecasts a continued varied trajectory for 2026, influenced by factors like rising interest rates, political backlashes, and emerging AI technologies. The conversation also explores what could potentially lead to a synchronized rise for these tech giants again and draws historical lessons from market bubbles, highlighting their long-term benefits alongside short-term pains.
Europe’s banking industry could shed 10 per cent of its workforce by 2030. Plus, the FT’s US national editor and columnist Edward Luce predicted America’s president would not fall out with one-time “first buddy”, billionaire Elon Musk in 2025. He explains why they could form a new kind of alliance in 2026. Mentioned in this podcast: AI forecast to put 200,000 European banking jobs at risk by 2030 Forecasting the World in 2025 Forecasting the world in 2026 Note: The FT does not use generative AI ...
The episode revisits a failed 2025 prediction for a Ukraine peace deal, attributing the breakdown largely to President Trump's inconsistent pressure on Moscow and Russia's unwavering maximalist demands. It delves into the current negotiation sticking points, including Russia's territorial claims in Donbass and the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine. The discussion also explores the crucial role of US-European cooperation and the fundamental differences in how the Trump administration and European capitals perceive Russia, which complicates the path to a future peace agreement.
President Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy met at Mar-a-Lago, discussing a 20-point peace plan despite unresolved "thorny sticking points" like territorial issues. Separately, FT columnist Katie Martin reviewed her accurate 2025 bond market forecast, attributing its resilience to a partial U-turn on tariffs. She then projected 2026 volatility for global bond markets, particularly with a new Fed chair, but expects them to avoid collapse.
The Unhedged podcast analyzes 2025's surprisingly robust market performance, highlighting the impact of strong corporate earnings, AI dominance, and a weakening dollar that benefited global markets. Looking to 2026, hosts discuss Wall Street's bullish predictions fueled by anticipated fiscal expansion. However, they also detail significant risks, including the potential for an AI bubble, persistent inflation, central bank policy shifts, and spillover effects from global bond markets and crypto.
Historian Timothy Garton Ash discusses how Europe is navigating a 'triple shock' from Putin, Trump, and Xi, marking a new era after the post-Cold War 'holiday from history.' The episode explores Europe's varied responses to crises, its struggles as a geopolitical actor, and the ongoing tension between unity and national politics. It also considers the rise of populist parties and the implications of Brexit for future European integration.
When international private equity groups first entered Japan at the turn of the 21st century, newspapers criticised them as vulture funds and politicians steered clear of public contact. Today, it’s a different story. Dozens of buyout groups have set up in the country and the establishment is courting them. The FT’s Tokyo correspondent David Keohane and Tokyo bureau chief Leo Lewis explain why there’s been a shift, and how private equity’s presence may rejuvenate Japanese corporates. Clips from ...
This is an episode of Political Fix, the FT weekly podcast that takes you into the corridors of Westminster to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular panel of FT correspondents. It’s been another turbulent year in UK politics. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced down rebellions from within his own party, overseen scandals and sackings, and delivered a constant barrage of bad news from health and housing to small boats and the Budget. He’s fared a little better on the world ...
How much do we really know about ageing? For decades, scientists have been trying to understand the biology of the ageing process - what happens to our bodies as we get older? And is it possible to slow that process down or even stop it all together? In this series of Tech Tonic, the FT’s Hannah Kuchler and Michael Peel look into the past, present and future of longevity - the wellness movement focused on extending and bettering your quality of life. Episode 1 follows Hannah as she speaks with U...
In this final episode of their series for the FT's The Economics Show, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman consider listeners’ questions and comments ranging from a critique of globalisation, increasing inequality and plutocracy, the global appetite for US federal debt, China’s economic future and much more. This is a repeat of an episode published on The Economics Show, a sister podcast of FT News Briefing, on December 17, 2025 Subscribe and listen to this...
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the most expensive. Between gifts, food and travel, people can end up spending a lot of money this year. The Financial Times’ consumer editor Claer Barrett explains why people are feeling the pinch this season and what they can do about it. Mentioned in this podcast: Economists warn of flaws in US inflation report FT Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign Find Claer Barrett on TikTok and Instagram Note: The FT does not u...
BP chief executive Murray Auchincloss has said he will step down after less than two years in the role, India’s central bank governor expects the country’s interest rates to remain low for a ‘long period’, and UK inflation fell more than expected to an eight-month low of 3.2 per cent. Plus, global companies are seeking private equity partners in China to take on their local operations as they grapple with an increasingly competitive local market. Mentioned in this podcast: BP picks Woodside boss...
Investors are snapping up Venezuela’s defaulted debt, JPMorgan Chase has withdrawn almost $350bn in cash from its account at the Federal Reserve since 2023, and the US unemployment rate rose to its highest level in more than four years. Plus, global asset managers’ cash holdings have fallen to a record low in a sign of investors’ bullishness about the AI-fuelled stock market rally. Mentioned in this podcast: Investors pile into Venezuelan debt in regime change bet JPMorgan pulls $350bn from Fede...
