FT News Briefing

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, dominated the headlines this week as agency members gained access to sensitive data at the Treasury department. FT Washington reporters Joe Miller and Alex Rogers help us make sense of Doge and why the courts are getting involved.Mentioned in this podcast:Can anyone stop Elon Musk’s hostile takeover of the US government? Elon Musk barred from accessing US Treasury payments dataSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Marc Filippino, Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson and Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Amazon shares fell after a weaker than expected outlook for the first quarter, and investors are figuring out how to trade in the trade war. Plus, The Bank of England cut interest rates by a quarter-point, and a long simmering conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and a Rwanda-backed rebel group is threatening to destabilize the region.Mentioned in this podcast:How to trade the trade warStock vigilantes might have to work harder to tame TrumpBank of England halves growth forecast and cuts rates to 4.5%Rwanda’s stealth occupation of eastern CongoThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

US allies across Europe and the Middle East have condemned Donald Trump’s plans to “take over” Gaza, the US cracks down on a trade loophole, and Disney’s earnings shot up 27% in its financial first quarter. Plus, the EU is pushing ahead with enforcing its artificial intelligence regulations despite warnings from Trump.Mentioned in this podcast:Middle East and Europe condemn Donald Trump’s plans to take over GazaTrump’s crackdown on trade loophole to hit Shein and Temu — and help AmazonDisney boosted by strong showing at holiday box officeEU pushes ahead with enforcing AI Act despite Donald Trump warningsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Alphabet’s cloud services missed growth expectations last quarter, American companies are scrambling to protect their supply chains in the face of all the back and forth on tariffs, and China is hitting back at the US for imposing new levies. Plus, India is set for a blockbuster IPO year – even as the economy weakens. Mentioned in this podcast:Google parent Alphabet slides after sales miss Wall Street estimatesChina targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs biteChina hits back with limited response to Donald Trump’s tariffsIndia set for blockbuster IPO year despite slowing economic growthThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

US president Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada are paused for now, commercial property investment is starting to recover from a two-year slump, and Eurozone inflation unexpectedly ticked up in January. Plus, the French AI company Mistral was supposed to be Europe’s answer to US Big Tech dominance, but it’s struggling to gain traction. Mentioned in this podcast:US to pause tariffs on Canada for 30 days after Trudeau and Trump agree dealInvestors choose flats and hotels over offices as property deals returnEurozone inflation rises to 2.5% in JanuaryHas Europe’s great hope for AI missed its moment?The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Donald Trump hit Canada, Mexico and China with steep tariffs on Saturday, and oil and gas groups are relying more heavily on carbon offsets to reach climate targets. Plus, EU governments are exploring ways to include the UK and Norway in a “coalition of the willing” dedicated to ramping up the continent’s defence.Mentioned in this podcast:‘A trade war on steroids’: Trump ushers in new age of US protectionismTrump tariffs spark panic and anger in Canada and MexicoEU opens door to UK and Norway for defence ‘coalition of willing’Shell dominates carbon credit market as clean energy spending scaled backThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Ethan Plotkin, Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

American foreign aid supports everything from arms sales to HIV treatment. But this week, with the stroke of a pen, Donald Trump suspended nearly all of that aid for 90 days. The FT’s Africa editor David Pilling and US defence and security correspondent Felicia Schwartz join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss how Trump is rapidly redefining America’s role on the world stage. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze sparks global funding crisisUS officials push to exempt Ukraine from Rubio’s foreign aid freeze Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson and Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Apple revealed quarterly results that slightly exceeded Wall Street expectations, SoftBank is in talks to invest as much as $25bn into OpenAI, and the European Central Bank cut interest rates as it warned about headwinds to the bloc’s economy. Plus, there are concerns that China’s hukou system creates second-class citizens and holds back consumption in urban areas. Mentioned in this podcast:Apple results top estimates even as iPhone sales stallSoftBank in talks to invest up to $25bn in OpenAI ECB warns of ‘headwinds’ to Eurozone economy as it cuts rate to 2.75%How a Mao-era system creates second-class citizens in modern China The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Big Tech earnings season is in full swing, the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite pressure from President Donald Trump, and Syria’s new government pressed Moscow about reparations. Plus, activist short-selling is on the decline. Mentioned in this podcast:Meta’s bumper results tempered by revenue outlook Federal Reserve keeps US interest rates on hold Syria asks Russia for reparationsLast men standing: the short sellers who remain after Hindenburg’s exitThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com