Swamp Notes

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump gave what is likely to be his most viewed remarks of the year. He spent little time on his most controversial decisions, instead focusing on economic issues and immigration that have appealed to voters in the past. But, at a point when Trump’s approval ratings are dropping, what does his speech mean for the looming midterm elections? The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor and Jon McHenry, vice-president of the polling firm North Star Opinion Research, explain.Mentioned in this podcast:State of the Union as it happenedSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: Roll CallRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The US Food and Drug Administration last week said it would not consider a new flu vaccine for public distribution. But a few days later, it changed course. Is that reversal part of a larger change in the Trump administration’s efforts to ‘Make America Healthy Again’? The FT’s US Pharmaceuticals Correspondent Patrick Temple-West and US Managing Editor Brooke Masters explain. Plus, the FT’s James Politi decodes the Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s sweeping tariffs.Mentioned in this podcast:Trump administration reverses move to block Moderna flu vaccine trialWhite House launches TrumpRx as drug companies warn of sales hitSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. We had help this week from Lauren Fedor and Maneula Saragosa. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: MS NOW, CNN, Forbes, @SecKennedy on X, Associated PressRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Netflix and Paramount, two large American media companies, are fighting to purchase Warner Bros Discovery. Now, US President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are getting involved. The FT’s Los Angeles bureau chief Christopher Grimes and US deals and activism correspondent Oliver Barnes explain the president’s connections to both potential buyers and the legal scrutiny facing those companies.Mentioned in this podcast:Activist investor takes aim at Warner Bros deal with NetflixDonald Trump’s top antitrust enforcer Gail Slater pushed out as turf war deepensSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes was hosted this week by Sonja Hutson and is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: KARE, FOX Business, CBS NewsRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

US President Donald Trump gathered a robust coalition of voters in 2024, in part, on the promise of slashing electricity bills. But now, more than a year after his return to the Oval Office, prices are on the rise. The FT’s US energy reporter Martha Muir and US economic correspondent Myles McCormick examine why those costs are ticking up and how that might affect November’s midterm elections.Mentioned in this podcast:The political cost of America’s surging electricity billsSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: NBC News, NBC 4Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

A 37-year-old demonstrator, Alex Pretti, was killed by border patrol agents in Minnesota last week. His death sparked international outrage. It also prompted the Trump administration to back down from its most strenuous immigration enforcement positions. The FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi and deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor look ahead at what the administration’s pivot could mean for deportations and the president’s remaining time in office. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones breaks down Trump’s pick for chair of the Federal Reserve.Mentioned in this podcast:US plans ICE drawdown in Minnesota after outcry over immigration raidsHow Donald Trump was forced to back off his harshest immigration tacticsDonald Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chairSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: The White House, NBC News, Roll Call, ForbesRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

An affordability crisis is sweeping through the US. High prices of food, rents and healthcare are forcing Americans to cut back on necessities. This comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is curbing government support. Sonja Hutson visits Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, and learns how residents are trying to make ends meet.Mentioned in this podcast:‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisisInside Trump’s AmericaSwamp Notes: The Bethlehem Project is produced by Sonja Hutson and Henry Larson, and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our Executive Producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com