FT News Briefing

US voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide which party controls Congress and the FT’s James Politi breaks down the key Senate races to watch. Plus, oil investors and executives clash over future of Iran war.Mentioned in this podcast:US midterm elections 2026: The FT’s guideBig majority of US voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation: FT pollDonald Trump’s imperial presidency faces a popular uprisingOil tumbles on hopes for US-Iran talksGulf braced for escalation of war between US-Israel alliance and IranCredit: CNN, Haley Stevens, Associated Press, CSPAN, White HouseWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown, and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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

A Democratic-controlled Congress may struggle to ease cost of living pressures and Middle East diplomats warn that renewed conflict between the US and Iran would be even more damaging than previous rounds of fighting. Serbia shuts down a bank favoured by Russians as it enters a new political era. Plus, Binance has started letting customers withdraw funds after the world's biggest crypto exchange experienced a record $6.3bn hack.Mentioned in this podcast:Petrol prices set to hit record high under Trump on eve of US electionsGulf braced for escalation of war between US-Israel alliance and IranSerbia shuts down bank favoured by RussiansInside the leaderless movement set to govern SerbiaBinance users pull $3.6bn as crypto exchange restarts services after heistCheck to see if your university is subscribed to the FT: ft.com/checkaccess.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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

As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, the FT’s 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 third of a six-part series, Martin speaks to political scientist and author Barbara F Walter, an expert on civil wars and political violence, about the risk of unrest surrounding the elections. Drawing on her research into countries around the world, Walter explains the warning signs of political violence, and why America's changing demographics and the struggle to hold on to political power are fuelling divisions. How close is the US to a dangerous tipping point? And can American democracy emerge from the midterms stronger rather than more divided?To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to ‘Martin Wolf on the World’ wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch Martin’s podcast series on the FT’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTimesHost: Martin WolfProducer: Mischa Frankl-DuvalSenior producers: Laurence Knight and Edwin LaneExecutive producer: Manuela SaragosaVideo editor: Richard ToppingSenior Audio Engineer: Breen TurnerBroadcast engineers: Andrew GeorgiadesPodcast development: Laura ClarkeFT Global Head of Audio: Flo PhillipsLearn more at www.ft.com/martin-wolf-on-the-worldRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Alphabet’s share price fell just over 12 percent on Thursday, and UK startup Nscale is banking on a troubled US data centre project to underpin its planned $35bn IPO. Plus, we look at what’s next for the ECB now that its president Christine Lagarde announced she’s stepping down.Mentioned in this podcast:Alphabet shares tumble in $500bn routInside the make-or-break AI mega-project behind Nscale’s $35bn IPOChristine Lagarde to step down as ECB president in FebruaryWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Zachary Alfred and Dennis Golin. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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

Chancellor John Healey has targeted banks, savers and property owners in his Autumn Budget, Benjamin Netanyahu holds the lead in Israel’s election but there’s no clear winner yet, and one of the oldest American law firms told partners that it should dissolve. Plus, the Federal Reserve kept US borrowing costs on hold days before midterm elections, and Google shares fell sharply after boosting its spending on AI to more than $50bn in the third quarter.Mentioned in this podcast:John Healey hits banks and savers with tax rises in Budget ‘for working people’What’s next for Burnham after the Budget?The fear factor giving Netanyahu the edgeBenjamin Netanyahu ahead but no clear winner in Israeli electionWeil leadership to tell partners firm should be dissolvedGoogle shares drop 7% after $51bn AI spend deepens cash burnFederal Reserve holds rates steady despite worsening US inflationCredit: Federal ReserveWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe 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, Vanessa Brown, 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

Washington and Moscow are discussing a potential return by American companies to the Russian oil market as a localised ceasefire begins in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, exit polls suggest there’s no clear winner in the Israel elections, and Brazil’s president is facing down a fiscal reckoning after winning re-election. Plus, China AI stocks are in a bear market, and UK chancellor John Healey will unveil the Autumn Budget.Mentioned in this podcast:Washington discusses Russian deals for US oil majors in Ukraine peace talksVladimir Putin speaks with Norwegian and Finnish leadersRussia and Ukraine begin local ceasefire in frontline cityWhat happens next after Israel’s election?Lula faces a fiscal reckoning after Brazil’s market routFlávio Bolsonaro’s passport cancelled as reports say he has fled BrazilThe AI bubble already popped — in ChinaTech stocks gain as AI trade revivesWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe 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, Vanessa Brown, 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

Anthropic has unveiled its long-awaited listing prospectus, Israelis have begun voting in an election that many regard as the most important in the country’s near-80-year history, and Donald Trump Jr went on a hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked oligarch. Plus, European holidaymakers are flying to South America.Mentioned in this podcast:Anthropic begins countdown to IPO with prospectus filing‘Bold but sane’: what we learnt from Anthropic’s 240,000-word IPO filingIsraelis go to the polls in historic electionInside Donald Trump Jr’s Mongolian hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked oligarchIran war drives European holidaymakers towards South AmericaWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe 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, Vanessa Brown, 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

The leftwinger’s victory comes after a loss in the first election round. Meanwhile, US voters are worried about corruption under the Trump administration a week ahead of the crucial midterm elections. Plus, a top Deloitte boss got a big pay bump last year as the consultancy cut jobs, Toyota is entering the humanoid robot race and Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has returned to the country.This episode updates and replaces an earlier version of the show with the results of the Brazil election.Mentioned in this podcast:How Lula turned his election fortunes around in three weeksUS voters worried about corruption under Trump — FT pollDeloitte boss Houston gets 45% pay rise as firm cuts jobsToyota takes on Tesla and China in humanoid robot raceVenezuelan opposition leader Machado returns from exileWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe 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, Vanessa Brown, 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.

Serbia’s former president Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday. Meanwhile, US voters are worried about corruption under the Trump administration a week ahead of the crucial midterm elections. Plus, a top Deloitte boss got a big pay bump last year as the consultancy cut jobs, Toyota is entering the humanoid robot race, and Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has returned to the country.Mentioned in this podcast:Serbia’s ex-president Vučić concedes defeat to Student List in parliamentary pollUS voters worried about corruption under Trump — FT pollDeloitte boss Houston gets 45% pay rise as firm cuts jobsToyota takes on Tesla and China in humanoid robot raceVenezuelan opposition leader Machado returns from exileWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcastsThe 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, Vanessa Brown, 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