FT News Briefing

4.4 (518)
Daily News
Updated Daily

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18h ago

Martin Wolf on the US midterms: Is American democracy safe?

As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the first of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to the scholar and former Republican adviser Robert Kagan, who has spent a decade warning about Trump's authoritarian ambitions. They discuss how Trump has accumulated so much power, whether America's democratic institutions can still constrain him, and what might happen if Republicans lose control of Congress. Could these elections mark a turning point for American democracy or has the country already gone too far down the road towards authoritarianism? Watch the full episode now on the FT’s main YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTimes or search for ‘Martin Wolf on the World’, wherever you get your podcasts Host: Martin Wolf Producer: Mischa Frankl-Duval Senior Producer: Laurence Knight Executive Producer: Manuela Saragosa Video Editor: Richard Topping Audio engineering: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Andrew Georgiadis Podcast development: Laura Clarke FT Global Head of Audio: Flo Phillips Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1d ago

Investors fret over AI debt

UK Chancellor John Healey has dropped his strongest hint yet of higher taxes on banks, and Anthropic secured a credit rating one notch below investment grade earlier this year. Plus, investors are losing confidence that revenues from the AI boom will be sufficient to support the vast debt piles financing data centres. Mentioned in this podcast: Healey signals Budget bank tax raid Anthropic secured highest junk credit rating in June Anthropic tells investors quarterly revenue up nearly 50% to $16.8bn ahead of IPO Investors dump data centre bonds as AI borrowers face ‘Darwin moment’ Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producer is Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
2d ago

Zelenskyy doesn’t mince words about Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized US President Donald Trump in an interview with the FT, US inflation jumped to 3.7% and leaked emails reveal that Freshfields law firm considered a carve-out of itsAI unit that would be worth billions. Plus, leading AI labs are responding to the alleged bugging incident at OpenAI and salmon producers are changing up the diet for their fish. Mentioned in this podcast: Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, Zelenskyy says US inflation jumps to 3.7% as Iran war drives up prices Freshfields partners explore carve-out of AI unit worth ‘billions’, leaked emails reveal US arrests Saudi employee of OpenAI for allegedly bugging its offices He linked Saudi Arabia to Silicon Valley. Then OpenAI found a bug wrapped in toilet paper Salmon producers start feeding chicken to fish Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producer is Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
3d ago

France’s Marine Le Pen readies for fight with EU

France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen is gearing up for a fight with the EU if elected president next year, investors in Accenture cannot decide if AI will be an existential threat or an incredible boost, CoreWeave is chasing insurers’ vast pools of capital, and the US Treasury has fined Bank of America more than $1bn for “egregious and continued” money laundering and sanctions violations. Plus, can Saudi Arabia stop the Houthis? Mentioned in this podcast: France’s Marine Le Pen gears up for fight with EU Will Accenture survive or thrive in the age of AI? CoreWeave targets ‘unlimited’ insurance money to fund AI build-out Bank of America fined $1.2bn over money laundering failures Military briefing: can Saudi Arabia stop the Houthis? Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producer is Zach Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
4d ago

An election supercycle could push Europe to the right

The IMF is warning that the world’s leading economies need to take “urgent” action to rebuild their public finances, Pakistan is stuck in a tricky place as its ally Saudi Arabia fights off the Houthis, and Mark Zuckerberg says Meta has caught up with rivals at the “frontier” of AI. Plus, a number of elections in Europe could fundamentally shift the EU, and the UK has imposed new sanctions on Iran over a security incident at a RAF base. Mentioned in this podcast: Top economies heading for biggest budget deficits since Covid, IMF warns Pakistan’s hard choice on Saudi Arabia’s war Riyadh defiant as Houthis launch new missile strikes on Saudi Arabia Mark Zuckerberg says Meta has reached AI ‘frontier’ The election supercycle set to drag Europe right UK imposes new sanctions on Iran over RAF Fairford incident India’s Narendra Modi faces ‘bitter pill’ as Cockroach protests mount Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producer is Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
5d ago

Houthis attack Riyadh airport

The Iran-backed Houthis have struck Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia multiple times this week, US president Donald Trump claims an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, and AI companies are pulling back new debt issuance. Plus, US bank earnings this week suggest the good times may be over. Mentioned in this podcast: US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineries Ukraine’s allies vow to pressure Moscow as Trump claims ‘energy ceasefire’ in place Missile strike on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures hundreds Houthis show military reach with deadly missile strikes on Riyadh AI borrowing slows as investors grow wary of debt binge Wall Street’s record-breaking trading streak set to cool Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Subscribe to the FT: ft.com/briefingsale Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
Oct 9

SoftBank wants Gulf money to expand AI bet

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to raise as much as $100bn from Gulf investors to further his massive bet on AI, the Flydubai co-pilot who tried to hijack a flight to Tel Aviv expressed misogynistic views online, and Donald Trump has said Washington will not strike Iran ahead of the US midterm elections. Plus, two Latvian men allegedly trespassed at a UK military base, and two crypto groups with links to a Trump family-backed company are embroiled in a $141mn legal battle. Mentioned in this podcast: SoftBank seeks $100bn from Gulf to expand massive AI bet The online life of the Flydubai attacker Donald Trump says US ‘will not be attacking Iran’ before midterm elections Oil prices jump on tanker attacks and slowing flows through Strait of Hormuz EasyJet doubles winter flight cuts amid rising costs Two Latvian nationals arrested on suspicion of trespass at RAF base Crypto companies linked to Trump-backed firm in $141mn legal battle Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.
Oct 8

Oil companies are full speed ahead in the Middle East

Oil executives expressed their appetite for investing in the Middle East despite the war, the conflict has blown a near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances, and big investors are “bottom fishing” among beaten-down assets, including Italian bonds and corporate debt. Plus, China is building data centres at rapid speed across Inner Mongolia and a measure of credit risk at Elon Musk’s SpaceX rose to a record high. Mentioned in this podcast: Oil majors look beyond Middle East war to access region’s vast reserves Iran war blows near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances Big investors ‘bottom fish’ in Eurozone bond markets after France sell-off China races to build AI data centres across energy-rich hinterland SpaceX credit risk jumps on worries over its borrowing spree Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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.

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Marc Filippino

Host
Nathan Brooker

Guest
Kate Duguid

Guest
Sam Fleming

Guest

4.4

out of 5

518 Ratings

Yay!! Marc is back!!!

Sep 29

Candid Comments

Update: With the regular host, this is a five-star show. Without Marc I have hesitated to recommend it to my friends; the summer episodes were barely listenable. Your top-notch reporting will be overlooked if it isn’t delivered in an appealing fashion. Pay that man whatever he asks! The show gives a useful overview of developments in business, tech, politics, and how it all impacts the economy. I listen daily, but I much prefer the days when the regular host delivers the news. With all due respect to her intellect and intent, Sonja’s voice is not made for podcasts. Especially when nestled in the ear, it comes across as grating and scolding. Please give us Mark’s dulcet voice daily, and find another substitute host!
The best!

May 27

Refined Taster

Crisp, intelligent, non-hyped stories backed by the Financial Times deep-resourced reporting. The show also what I can only describe as an uplifting personality, whatever is going on in the world of news.
Essential

May 13

FanAEN

I listen every weekday to keep up in a world that is changing too fast. I am no financial whiz, but I can always understand the reporting and benefit from the insights. Plus, somehow it is entertaining and can be fun.
Great compact financial news‘ start into my day

May 13

Evelyne Chaubert

I‘m an independent financial advisor and very much appreciate the bites of information I get from FT News Briefing. To start the work day, I need the important stuff, no detailed analysis that other news briefings offer. I can highly recommend this format.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.