FT News Briefing

Israel says it struck a “specific component” of Iran’s nuclear programme last month, and US business leaders are warning Donald Trump’s deportation plan could create mass labour shortages. Vanguard’s retail shareholders can now vote for profit over ESG issues, and Chinese tech companies are building AI teams in Silicon Valley, despite Washington’s sanctions.Mentioned in this podcast:Netanyahu says Israel hit ‘specific component’ in Iran’s nuclear programme last month Business owners warn Donald Trump’s deportation plan could shut them downVanguard says shareholders can vote for profits over ESG issuesChinese tech groups build AI teams in Silicon ValleyHuel profits surge as meal replacement maker broadens fan base The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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

President Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine to launch limited strikes into Russia using US-made long-range missiles, and the world’s largest economies are gathering in Brazil for a G20 summit overshadowed by Donald Trump. The US dollar is rallying, as markets expect that the next administration will reignite inflation. Meanwhile, the president-elect’s tariff proposals have sent European markets tumbling. Plus, offshore oil is back.Mentioned in this podcast:Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made long-range missiles Bitcoin, dollar and Tesla jump as investors pile into ‘Trump trades’European stocks lag US by record margin as ‘Trump trade’ bites Donald Trump victory threatens to throw G20 initiatives into disarray Offshore oil is back. At what cost?The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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

Who will corporate America's winners and losers be under four more years of Donald Trump? This week, the FT’s Brooke Masters, Stephen Morris and Jamie Smyth explain what changes a second Trump administration will bring to three crucial sectors: Wall Street, tech and energy.This is an episode of the Financial Times podcast Behind the Money. If you like what you hear, click here to listen to more episodes.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Can the renewables boom withstand Trump?A Wall Street giddy over Trump should remember historyWho’s who in the Musk ‘A-team’ vying to shape Trump 2.0Trump 2.0: winners, losers and Elon- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Brooke Masters (@brookeamasters), Stephen Morris (@sjhmorris), Jamie Smyth (@JamieSmythF) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The Democratic party is hardly monolithic. But if there’s one thing that’s kept it together over the past decade, it’s been a shared opposition to Donald Trump. Now that Trump is returning to the White House, how will the party try to win voters back? The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor and US national editor and columnist Ed Luce join this week’s Swamp Notes podcast to discuss how the Democrats are thinking about the future. Mentioned in this podcast:‘They don’t understand my life’: what the Democrats misread about AmericaHow the Democrats can win in 2028Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. 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

The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft’s cloud computing business, and the FT’s Katie Martin explains why the post-election excitement around crypto comes down to vibes and vision. Plus, Disney’s earnings jumped 39 per cent, and Berkshire Hathaway has investors asking questions after filling its coffers by unwinding its most profitable trade.Mentioned in this podcast:FTC to investigate Microsoft over cloud dominanceBitcoin’s big bang moment is impossible to ignore ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ drives earnings revival at Disney Warren Buffett’s Apple share sales and cash pile spark intrigue over motives  The Onion to acquire Infowars out of bankruptcyThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, 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

Republican John Thune will be the next leader of the Senate, and the president-elect gets to work filling out his cabinet. Plus, US inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in October, as the Federal Reserve debates whether to cut interest rates next month. Plus, activist investor Effissimo Capital Management has taken a stake in struggling carmaker Nissan.  Mentioned in this podcast:John Thune elected to Senate leadership in rebuke to Trump allies Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz as attorney-generalDonald Trump taps Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defence secretary  US inflation rises to 2.6% Nissan shares jump after activist investor takes stake The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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

Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ case has been paused, Ukraine has been building on its ‘victory plan’ for his incoming administration and SoftBank reported that it is profitable again. Plus, Wall Street has loaned billions of dollars to a niche group of tech companies based on their possession of Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips.Mentioned in this podcast:New York judge delays decision on Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ sentencingUkraine seeks to win over Trump with natural resources and troop proposalsSoftBank returns to profit as Indian IPOs boost Vision Fund gainsWall Street frenzy creates $11bn debt market for AI groups buying Nvidia chipsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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

Calendar year inflows in to exchange traded funds surpassed their previous full-year record at the end of October, and we look at how Donald Trump’s win ushers in a new era for Elon Musk. Plus, rival groups of bondholders are vying to extend loans to the troubled UK utility Thames Water. Mentioned in this podcast:Elon Musk’s gamble on Donald Trump pays offHow Thames Water became a battleground for hedge fundsETF flows smash full year recordThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, 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’s election victory has sent shockwaves across the renewable energy industry, and China has announced fiscal stimulus to bail out local governments. Bitcoin hit $80,000 for the first time as cryptocurrency investors anticipate looser regulations under Trump, and Argentina’s legal battles could complicate President Javier Milei’s attempts to fix the country’s struggling economy.  Mentioned in this podcast:Trump election victory deals blow to US clean energy industry  China unveils $1.4tn package to shore up economy Bitcoin hits high as Trump records clean sweep of seven swing states Litigation ‘tsunami’ breaks over Argentina’s President Javier Milei Credit: MARAThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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