Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, and in many places, populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. Fiona Hill, who served as senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council in the Trump White House from 2017 to 2019, tells Martin Wolf about the parallels she sees between Donald Trump and Vladimir P...
Jun 23, 2024•33 min
Americans have inflation and foreign policy on their minds this election. That means that President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate achievements aren’t resonating with voters – especially young voters – the way his administration expected. The FT’s US climate reporter, Aime Williams, and Washington bureau chief, James Politi, join this week’s Swamp Notes podcast to explain why. Credit: ESPN Mentioned in this podcast: How Joe Biden’s climate push fell flat with Gen Z voters Why Americans are ...
Jun 22, 2024•15 min
Credit agencies have misrated more than $100bn of commercial real estate debt, new election polls suggest the UK could be in for a seismic political shift, and the Philippines has been secretly reinforcing a dilapidated warship marooned on a South China Sea reef. Plus, drilling for naturally occurring hydrogen gas was deemed unfeasible, but prospectors now think differently. Mentioned in this podcast: Poll predicts Rishi Sunak to lose seat in Tory wipeout Why we can’t be sure of the size of the ...
Jun 21, 2024•12 min
Hamas-backed militants orchestrate bank heists, the ECB raises alarm over Eurozone debt, Malaysia courts Chinese investment, and Softbank debuts “EmotionCancelling” AI. Mentioned in this podcast: Premier Li Qiang’s visit has Malaysia wanting more from China pivot Armed gangs stage bank heists in Gaza This episode of FT News Briefing was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon, Fiona Symon, Persis Love, Mischa Frankl-Duval. Additional help from Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Bre...
Jun 20, 2024•11 min
Nvidia capitalises on investor excitement over artificial intelligence, Japan’s TDK is claiming a breakthrough in materials used in its small solid-state batteries, and Silicon Valley companies are screening their staff for Chinese spying. Plus, the FT’s Saffeya Ahmed unpacks Shein’s tumultuous journey to go public. Mentioned in this podcast: Nvidia vaults past Apple and Microsoft to become world’s most valuable company Apple supplier TDK claims solid-state battery breakthrough Behind the ...
Jun 19, 2024•12 min
French business leaders are warming up to France’s far-right and Dubai is trying to optimise a cluster of unique, abandoned islands. Plus, the FT’s Cristina Criddle explains why OpenAI is expanding its global affairs unit. Mentioned in this podcast: French businesses court Marine Le Pen after taking fright at left’s policies OpenAI expands lobbying team to influence regulation Bill Gross seeks to set record by selling stamp collection for up to $20mn The FT News Briefing is produced by Fio...
Jun 18, 2024•11 min
Major defence companies are recruiting workers at the fastest rate since the end of the cold war, global leaders were able to reach a consensus on major issues during the G7 summit, and big Chinese companies are turning to the convertible bond market. Plus, investors are flocking to the local currency bonds of one-time emerging market pariahs. Mentioned in this podcast: Chinese companies rush to tap US convertible bond market Frontier emerging markets lure investors back with high yields G...
Jun 17, 2024•11 min
Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries and in many places, populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. But India, the world’s biggest democracy, bucked the trend with Narendra Modi’s relatively weak election victory in June. In the third of this five-part series, the FT’s renowned economics commentator, Martin Wolf, and Raghuram Rajan, ...
Jun 16, 2024•43 min
Margaret Thatcher’s election in 1979 foreshadowed Ronald Reagan’s a year later, and the Brexit vote in 2016 took place just months before Donald Trump’s stunning presidential victory. The FT’s Whitehall editor, Lucy Fisher, and US politics news editor, Derek Brower, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why British and American politics often rhyme, and what the phenomenon could mean for upcoming elections in both countries. Mentioned in this podcast: Parallel US and UK elections could b...
Jun 15, 2024•14 min
Chinese electric vehicle makers look like they will survive the latest tariffs the EU announced this week, and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid out his party’s manifesto. Plus, Toyota is caught up in a scandal. Will it matter during next week’s shareholder meeting? Mentioned in this podcast: Japan’s top carmakers caught in widening testing scandal What the EU’s tariffs on electric vehicles mean for China Keir Starmer sets out plans to raise £8.6bn in tax at Labour manifesto launch The FT N...
Jun 14, 2024•11 min
The Federal Reserve held borrowing costs at a 23-year high yesterday, and Terraform Labs has agreed to pay $4.47bn in a case brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Plus, tech companies launch a fight against a proposed California law to introduce a ‘kill switch’ on AI models. Mentioned in this podcast: Fed officials signal just one interest rate cut before end of 2024 Silicon Valley in uproar over Californian AI safety bill US inflation falls to 3.3% in May in boost to...
Jun 13, 2024•9 min
Shari Redstone has ended talks with Skydance Media over a deal to control Paramount, the number of central banks seeking to increase their exposure to the US dollar has increased sharply this year, the EU plans to put hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and the UK Tories' manifesto lays out billions in tax cuts. Plus, the FT’s Christine Murray explains why Mexico's peso slid after president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum proposed reforms. Mentioned in this podcast: EU to impose multi-billion eu...
Jun 12, 2024•11 min
Apple on Monday said it has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices, and private equity groups are snapping up US accounting firms. Plus, President Emmanuel Macron stunned France on Sunday when he called snap parliamentary elections. The FT’s Leila Abboud unpacks what happens next for the country. Mentioned in this podcast: Apple partners with OpenAI as it rolls out new artificial intelligence system Private equity groups poised to own one in three top US accounting fir...
Jun 11, 2024•11 min
Far right parties make significant gains in the European Union elections, opposition politician Benny Gantz has resigned from Israel’s emergency government, and Iranian authorities have disqualified prominent moderates as candidates in the snap presidential election. Plus, global investors are turning their backs on sustainability-focused stock funds. Mentioned in this podcast: Far-right parties make significant gains in European parliament elections Investors pull cash from ESG funds as perform...
Jun 10, 2024•12 min
Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, making this a pivotal year for democracy. But these polls come as populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. In the second of this five-part series, the FT’s renowned economics commentator, Martin Wolf, speaks to the author and journalist Anne Applebaum, who’s witnessed first hand some of the sei...
Jun 09, 2024•36 min
Few of Silicon Valley’s biggest names supported Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020. Now, some of them are holding multimillion- dollar fundraisers for him. The FT’s US business and politics correspondent, Alex Rogers, and tech correspondent, Hannah Murphy, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why Big Tech is abandoning Joe Biden. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump fundraiser latest sign of support in Silicon Valley Silicon Valley elite warms to Donald Trump Biden camp hits out at Elon Mu...
Jun 08, 2024•13 min
The European Central Bank has cut interest rates for the first time in nearly five years, and the European Commission will recommend the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine this month. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains how optimistic we should be about a revival of the London Stock Exchange. Mentioned in this podcast: ECB cuts interest rates for first time in five years A cautious revival of the London IPO market Ukraine ready for EU membership talks, Brussels says The FT News Brie...
Jun 07, 2024•11 min
Nvidia’s market value briefly rose past $3tn to overtake Apple as the world’s second-most valuable company, South Africa’s African National Congress party is considering the formation of a national unity government with rival parties, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was accused on Wednesday by Sir Keir Starmer of “resorting to lies” over Labour’s tax plans. Plus, a US appeals court has tossed out new rules that would have forced private equity and hedge funds to be more transparent. Mentioned ...
Jun 06, 2024•12 min
Gazprom is unlikely to recover gas sales lost as a result of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine for at least a decade, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to win a historic third term, job openings, vacancies and quits data provided more evidence of a cooling labour market in the US. Plus, Opec+ might be losing ground in its fight to prop up oil prices. Mentioned in this podcast: Gazprom badly hurt by Ukraine war, says company-commissioned report Narendra Modi set to l...
Jun 05, 2024•9 min
US President Joe Biden is moving to sharply tighten immigration rules at the southern border with Mexico, Indian markets hit record highs after exit polls forecast a landslide election win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, food delivery apps put new focus on profits despite slower growth following the coronavirus pandemic, and a new podcast from the Financial Times explores the fallout since Qatargate. Mentioned in this podcast: Food delivery apps rack up $20bn in losses in fierce battle f...
Jun 04, 2024•11 min
Russia and China are deadlocked over a deal to build a gas pipeline connecting the two countries, far-right parties in Europe are gaining ground with younger voters, technical trouble could hamper Tesla’s upcoming shareholder election, and disagreement at OpenAI over safety and leadership has led to top level resignations. Mentioned in this podcast: Russia-China gas pipeline deal stalls over Beijing’s price demands Internal divisions linger at OpenAI after November’s attempted coup Tesla’s many ...
Jun 03, 2024•10 min
Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, making this a pivotal year for democracy. But these polls come as populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. In the first of this five-part series, the FT’s renowned economics commentator Martin Wolf tells executive opinion editor Jonathan Derbyshire why he worries about the consequences for the ...
Jun 02, 2024•45 min
Former US president Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records on Thursday, a first for any current or former American president. However, with the Republican nomination all but secured, the conviction may do little to knock Trump’s reelection campaign off course. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, and US legal correspondent, Joe Miller, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump found guilty on all c...
Jun 01, 2024•14 min
Donald Trump has been found guilty of conspiring to buy the silence of a porn actor and Saudi Arabia is selling roughly $12bn worth of shares in its national oil company Saudi Aramco. Plus, European oil majors are left at a disadvantage in several areas when it comes to M&A. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in ‘hush money’ trial Saudi Arabia to sell $12bn worth of Aramco shares Why the European oil megamerger has not gushed forth The FT News Briefing i...
May 31, 2024•11 min
Europe has only a fraction of the air defence capabilities needed to protect its eastern flank, BHP’s £39bn takeover bid for Anglo American has collapsed, and Israel bonds are a hot commodity in US municipalities. Plus, the FT’s Brooke Masters explains why private equity firms are pivoting towards profit sharing. Mentioned in this podcast: Nato has just 5% of air defences needed to protect eastern flank Israel’s borrowing spree reaches Palm Beach as US municipalities pile in BHP’s £39bn pu...
May 30, 2024•11 min
Hess shareholders approved a controversial takeover bid from Chevron, and South Africans vote today in the most contested election since the end of apartheid,Plus, the FT’s James Kynge argues that China is winning the tech war with the US. Mentioned in this podcast: South Africa’s ‘lost leader’ faces the end game Georgia adopts Russian-inspired ‘foreign agents’ law Tech Tonic podcast The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additi...
May 29, 2024•12 min
This episode features a truncated version of a recent Behind the Money podcast as it travels to Omaha, Nebraska for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting. At this year’s event, there’s a lingering question over what will happen once Warren Buffett is no longer at the helm. Buffett has a successor in mind, and we explore the challenges they could face when taking over America’s “last great” conglomerate. Mentioned in this podcast: Behind the Money podcast Berkshire after Buffett: prized...
May 28, 2024•11 min
The European Central Bank looks almost certain to be one of the first major central banks to cut rates, a tense dispute over Guyana is casting a shadow over Chevron’s bid to takeover Hess, and Thames Water pumped 14.2bn litres of sewage into the river Thames last year. Plus, the nuclear power industry is seeking to lure back thousands of retired engineers. Mentioned in this podcast: ECB is ready to start cutting interest rates, says chief economist Blow to $53bn Chevron-Hess deal as invest...
May 27, 2024•11 min
American voters still say the economy is their most important electoral issue, and a growing number are less than pleased with Joe Biden’s economic management. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and the vice-president of North Star Opinion Research, Jon McHenry, join this week’s Swamp Notes to break down the results of the most recent FT-Michigan Ross poll. Mentioned in this podcast: Support for Joe Biden’s economic policies wanes amid inflation fears, FT poll finds FT-...
May 25, 2024•14 min
Elon Musk’s xAI has secured new backing from three Silicon Valley venture capital giants, women in Ukraine have increasingly stepped into roles men used to perform before Russia’s full-scale invasion, and the FT’s Soumaya Keynes explains why the UK’s Labour party benefits from being boring. Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk’s xAI secures new backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia and Tribe Ukrainian women wanted in factories as men drafted into army How large might Labour’s ‘dullness...
May 24, 2024•11 min
