Share

FT News Briefing
The new commodity superpowers
The rouble has fallen to a 16-month low against the dollar, airlines have joined forces with farmers to lobby in Washington so that corn helps power their planes, and growing demand for minerals used in green technology is starting to shake up the geopolitics of the energy world.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Rouble hits 16-month low as military spending rises and exports fall
US airlines ally with farmers to seek subsidies for corn as jet fuel
The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Josh Gabert-Doyon, Monique Mulima, Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. 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.
More episodes
View all episodes

Why Indonesians are souring on Prabowo
11:15|Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte told the FT that Europe’s rearmament drive was sustaining 195,000 US defence jobs through $300bn in arms orders, and Bending Spoons’ initial public offering will test how a page out of the private equity playbooks works in public markets. Plus, KNDS is having a hard time getting investors to back its IPO, and the FT’s Anantha Lakshmi explains why Indonesians are growing impatient with President Prabowo Subianto. Mentioned in this podcast:Europe’s rearmament drive is sustaining 195,000 US defence jobs, Nato chief saysBending Spoons tries out an odd kind of financial magic trickIndonesians sour on Prabowo Subianto as currency weakensKNDS struggles to convince investors to back IPO at €12bn-plus valuationTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
US Supreme Court blocks firing of Fed governor
11:00|The US Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump from firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, and investors are pivoting from the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks. Plus, foreign investors are worried the Japanese government is in danger of backsliding on corporate reforms.Mentioned in this podcast:US Supreme Court blocks Donald Trump from sacking Fed governor Lisa CookMagnificent Seven stocks shed $2.7tn in Wall Street tech rotationForeign investors fear Japan is backsliding on reformTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
AI wakes up the sleepy US power sector
11:52|The AI boom is fuelling a record surge in dealmaking in the US power and utility industry, and UK prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham will on Monday pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode” of the UK. Plus, the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement expires on Wednesday. Mentioned in this podcast:AI fuels record $200bn M&A boom in US power sectorAndy Burnham sets out ‘10-year mission’ to raise living standardsDonald Trump suggests he may not renew trade deal with Mexico and CanadaTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. Take the survey here: https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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 Bethlehem Project: Steel’s legacy looms large
20:52|Bethlehem Steel was the lifeblood of Pennsylvanian town's economy, and a major contributor to American manufacturing during the 20th century. But when the local plant closed in the 1990s and the company went bankrupt in the early 2000s, Bethlehem’s economy didn’t crater. It pivoted to other industries such as transportation and healthcare. Host Sonja Hutson takes us through the rise and fall of Bethlehem Steel and introduces us to steelworker-turned-nurse, Bill Leiner. He’s a living example of how an economy can adapt and rebuild after a major disruption. Listen to all episodes of The Bethlehem Project here. The Bethlehem Project is hosted and produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. This episode was mixed by Breen Turner. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The FT’s global head of audio is Flo Phillips. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Jamie Dimon succession race narrows
12:00|The race to succeed JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon just got tighter, and the investment chief at insurance group Allianz is warning that the SpaceX bond sale signals markets are in ‘bubble territory’. Plus, the US Supreme Court shielded German pharmaceuticals group Bayer from thousands of lawsuits over its Roundup weedkiller.Mentioned in this podcast:Jamie Dimon promotes two potential successors at JPMorganSpaceX bond sale signals markets are in ‘bubble territory’, warns Allianz CIOBayer wins crucial US Supreme Court ruling over Roundup weedkillerTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. Take our survey: https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
European defence stocks face uncertainty
11:28|Anthropic accuses Alibaba of obtaining ‘illicit’ access to Claude, and concern is brewing over KNDS’s upcoming initial public offering after Germany scraps warship plans. Plus, Meta is turning to AI content moderators, and the FT’s John Plender breaks down Donald Trump’s contributions to the US national debt. Mentioned in this podcast:Anthropic accuses Alibaba of obtaining ‘illicit’ access to ClaudeMeta races to replace human moderation with AIBerlin warship U-turn hits defence sector as KNDS heads to marketTrump’s empire of debtTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. Take our survey: https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
Venezuela faces world’s largest debt restructuring
10:11|Venezuela is set to take on the largest sovereign debt restructuring in history. Plus, chip stocks led a sell-off on Wall Street, and Nvidia’s AI chips have more than doubled in price on China’s black market. Mentioned in this podcast:Venezuela to reveal $240bn debt pile in world’s largest restructuringUS chipmakers lead Wall Street slide on rising rate rise worriesNvidia’s banned AI chips double in price on China’s black marketTell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
What’s next for the UK after Starmer?
12:00|Keir Starmer has resigned as British prime minister, private equity executives are borrowing against their future share of profits, and former US Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan died at the age of 100. Plus, the FT’s Andean correspondent Joe Daniels traveled to a rural part of Colombia to find out what’s driving the country’s new cocaine boom.Mentioned in this podcast:Political Fix: Exit Starmer, enter BurnhamBuyout bosses turn to carried interest loans as payouts stallWhat lies behind the new boom in Colombian cocaineAlan Greenspan dies aged 100CREDIT: Keir Starmer YouTube page Tell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. https://www.feedback.ft.com/c/a/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBISOver 18s only. Find full T&Cs here Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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
Starmer on brink of quitting as UK prime minister
11:56|UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could be on his way out of Westminster, and the US and Iran held high-stakes talks in Switzerland to officially end the war. Venture capital funds are rushing into defense tech startups on the back of the world’s wars, and the FT’s Claire Jones explains why Wall Street sees more volatility ahead from changes to Federal Reserve communications.Mentioned in this podcast:Keir Starmer on brink of quitting as UK prime ministerWhat Andy Burnham’s Westminster past reveals about himUS and Iran hold crunch talks in SwitzerlandWars trigger $12bn venture capital rush into defence techKevin Warsh’s push to axe Fed guidance may lift US borrowing costs, investors warnTake our survey! Tell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. Over 18s only. Find full T&Cs here. Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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