Financial Times

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Channel • 12 Shows

Daily News

Daily News

Updated daily
Politics

Politics

Updated weekly
Documentary

Documentary

Weekly series
Politics

Politics

Updated weekly
Business

Business

Updated weekly
Business

Business

Updated weekly
Careers

Careers

Updated weekly

2 days ago

Should Labour heed Tony Blair?

Tony Blair’s lengthy – and excoriating – 5,600-word essay on the future of the Labour Party and Britain has set Westminster alight this week. The former prime minister's critique has sparked a lively debate, and triggered robust responses from Labour leadership hopefuls Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting. But is Blair right in some of his criticism? Host Lucy Fisher unpacks the article with FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Anna Gross and Stephen Bush. They also examine Rupert Lowe, the personality behind the far-right party Restore Britain, and whether it can harm Reform UK by splitting the rightwing vote. Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com Want more? Tony Blair criticises Labour’s Andy Burnham for leftwing ‘delusion’ Tony Blair ‘does not understand’ role of inequality in politics, Andy Burnham says Labour’s retreat from intellectual debate traps it in comfort zone Turning Neets into engineers Britain’s expanding ‘lost generation’ UK risks ‘lost generation’ without more jobs for young people Nigel Farage loses viral touch to Musk-backed Rupert Lowe Senior Reform UK figures clash over immigration plans You can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free. Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 days ago

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39 min
3 days ago

SpaceX IPO ignites an investor frenzy

Washington is nearing a deal to extend its ceasefire with Iran by 60 days, and investors are rushing to gain exposure to SpaceX in a “speculative frenzy” ahead of its expected IPO. Plus, Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli military to take control of at least 70 per cent of Gaza, and Robinhood is launching a feature that will enable clients to use AI chatbots for share trading. Mentioned in this podcast: Washington nearing deal to extend Iran ceasefire, US officials say Investors race to get exposure to SpaceX ahead of IPO Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israeli forces to take control of 70% of Gaza Robinhood to let investors use AI chatbots for share trading Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson and produced by Katya Kumkova. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 days ago

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12 min
6 days ago

Global birth rates are falling…phones are a big reason why

In more than two-thirds of the world, the average number of children born to each woman has fallen below the “replacement rate”. Employment, home ownership and education are still big factors. But increasingly, so are mobile phones. Mentioned in this podcast: Why birth rates are falling everywhere all at once Credit: The Columbus Dispatch Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 days ago

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11 min
Season 4, Episode 1

Opus Dei, Ep. 1: Whistling

We meet Sarah – a young girl drawn to Opus Dei’s message that professional work can be a path to holiness. At 18, Sarah says goodbye to her family and moves into an Opus Dei centre to learn how to make her work an offering to God. But what she experiences there feels different to the organisation she thought she knew. Sarah chafes at unexpected rules, unquestioning obedience and dehumanising treatment. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4, E1

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36 min
25 May

From “What Next”: How “Tax the Rich” Went Mainstream

The FT News Briefing presents a special episode from Slate's "What Next" podcast. As wealth disparity continues to grow, politicians in New York and California have suggested raising revenue through taxes aimed at their wealthiest residents. But the proposals have set off an upper-class uproar – and now, it’s a stand-off between the country’s billionaires and its most progressive politicos. Guest: Stephanie Ruhle, anchor of MS NOW’s The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. You can listen to past episodes of What Next, or follow Slate on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 May

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26 min
Season 4, Episode 2

Opus Dei, Ep. 2: Formation

Opus Dei’s founder taught his followers that spiritual formation is a continual development of character. But some find that the views spread by Opus Dei do not always match the Church’s official teaching – particularly its attitudes towards women and homosexuality. Insiders describe a complex youth recruitment network that offers some clues to the kind of person Opus Dei molds – and what kind of person it is interested in. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4, E2

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31 min
20 May

The EU wants a Putin whisperer

EU governments are discussing whether former leaders could represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and rising fuel prices have triggered deadly protests across Africa. Plus, we look back at US Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell’s legacy as head of the central bank. Mentioned in this podcast: EU mulls Angela Merkel or Mario Draghi as possible Vladimir Putin whisperer Protests spread in Africa as fuel crisis deepens Powell, Trump and the battle for the Federal Reserve Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Correction: This show has been modified from its original version. We said the Trump administration opened a lawsuit against Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell. The administration threatened a lawsuit. Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 May

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11 min
29 Apr

Hitting the Buffers: The 1873 railway bust that broke one of America’s greatest financiers

Every now and then a new technology comes along that changes everything – electricity, computers, potentially AI. In mid-19th-century America, that technology was the steam locomotive. It knitted the US economy together, driving the nation’s industrialisation during the Gilded Age. But along the way, it also caused one of the biggest financial crises in American history. FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth tells his co-host, FT columnist Gillian Tett, the story of the great railway bubble that ended in the Panic of 1873. It’s also the story of the spectacular rise and fall of Jay Cooke, the greatest banker of his day, who lost a fortune betting on a railroad that would eventually span the North American continent – just not in time to repay its debts. Robin and Gillian discuss what lessons the financier’s fate holds for the investors gambling on today’s AI boom. Credits: New York Times Archive, Otto Herschan Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Hulton Archive/Getty Images Further reading: Jay Cooke: Financier of the Civil War, by Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer (1907) Jay Cooke's gamble: the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Sioux, and the Panic of 1873, by M John Lubetkin (2006) Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America, by Richard White (2012) Pop! Why Bubbles Are Great For The Economy, by Daniel Gross (2007) A Fabulous Debt: The Epic Story of How Bonds Built the Modern World, by Robin Wigglesworth (2026 – forthcoming) To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here: Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth Producer: Lulu Smyth Senior Producers: Michela Tindera and Laurence Knight Executive Producers: Flo Phillips and Manuela Saragosa Original music and sound design: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Bianca Wakeman and Petros Giuompasis Podcast Development: Laura Clarke FT Global Head of Audio: Cheryl Brumley Video editor: Josh Divney at Podcast Discovery Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Apr

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54 min
21 May

Mitsotakis on Hormuz, Iran and how to escape a debt trap

Gideon talks to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on Greece as a leading shipping nation. They discuss Greece’s recovery from the financial crisis of 2015, how to achieve European strategic autonomy and the best way to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. Clip: France 24 Free links to read more on this topic: Three supertankers attempt Strait of Hormuz crossing America owes its European allies a defence roadmap Protests spread in Africa as fuel crisis deepens UAE says drone strike caused fire at nuclear plant Tipping point looms for global energy crisis Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner. Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachman Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 May

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27 min
22 May

Blockbuster IPOs to take Wall Street by storm

The blockbuster listings of SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI are set to prompt an unprecedented wave of buying and selling, and a court in Ankara has ruled to remove the leadership of Turkey’s biggest opposition party. Plus, we’ll look at why US President Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Cuba. Mentioned in this podcast: ‘Fast entry’ SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs to ignite Wall Street trading frenzy Turkey court removes leader of opposition as Erdoğan tightens grip Donald Trump turns up the heat on Cuba US charges Cuba’s former president Raúl Castro with murder Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 May

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12 min

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times