FT News Briefing
Episodes
Martin Wolf on the US midterms: Is American democracy safe?
Martin Wolf interviews Robert Kagan, who argues the US has effectively entered a dictatorship under President Trump, citing the subversion of the Justice Department and military.
Investors fret over AI debt
FT News Briefing covers potential UK bank tax hikes, Anthropic’s near-investment-grade credit rating, and a sharp sell-off in AI chip stocks driven by debt concerns.
Zelenskyy doesn’t mince words about Trump
Ukrainian President Zelensky sharply criticized Trump's ties with Putin and urged European leaders to bolster support amid intelligence gaps and Russian attacks.
France’s Marine Le Pen readies for fight with EU
FT News Briefing covers an interview with France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who outlines her economic plans and stance on Ukraine.
An election supercycle could push Europe to the right
The IMF warns of unsustainable debt in major economies, while Pakistan faces pressure to aid Saudi Arabia against Yemen's Houthis despite domestic opposition.
Houthis attack Riyadh airport
The FT News Briefing covers the White House’s threat to block arms shipments to Ukraine and Houthi missile strikes on Riyadh’s airport, which raise…
SoftBank wants Gulf money to expand AI bet
SoftBank is seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to fund its AI strategy, while a second security breach occurred at a UK RAF base.
Oil companies are full speed ahead in the Middle East
Oil majors continue investing in the Middle East despite the Iran war, while the conflict has created a £12 billion hole in UK public finances.
Skydance’s debt pile takes the spotlight
Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros.
The bond sell-off comes for corporate America
Corporate America faces rising borrowing costs as U.
The Tories go back to basics
The FT News Briefing covers a 13% slowdown in corporate M&A due to war and AI concerns, alongside the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham,…
Unhedged: An ode to stock picking
Zelenskyy says Putin’s gloves are off
Ukrainian President Zelensky warns that Russia is escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure, while global bond markets face a sell-off driven by inflation and debt concerns.
US Big Tech gets the most facetime with EU
This FT News Briefing covers an attempted hijacking of a Fly Dubai flight to Tel Aviv, with Israeli PM Netanyahu describing it as a planned attack amid upcoming elections.
Trump shrugs off AI regulation
FT News Briefing covers UK businesses reacting to Andy Burnham’s speech, which included reopening the Brexit deal and ending the pensions triple lock.
Nvidia turns to insurers to offset AI risks
Andy Burnham headlines the UK Labor Party conference with plans to address social care and youth unemployment, while Chancellor John Healy emphasizes fiscal discipline.
Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as prime minister
FT News Briefing covers Andy Burnham’s first UK Labour Party conference, where he announced the revival of Help to Buy and deferred social care reforms.
Bond rout pushes US mortgage rates past 7%
This FT News Briefing covers Xi Jinping’s historic Washington visit with Trump, where they extended a trade truce and announced a panda diplomacy breakthrough.
US Treasury yields soar
US Treasury yields hit a seven-year high as strong economic data fuels inflation fears, while Iran’s president pushes back against Trump’s threats at the UN.
Will Trump and Xi extend their trade truce?
This FT News Briefing covers the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, focusing on trade ceasefire extensions and new AI safety dialogues.
How a Russian forgery scheme evaded sanctions
FT News Briefing covers a Kremlin-backed forgery scheme that moved $7 billion through global banks via the SPFS system, evading sanctions.
Germany’s Merz vows to stay despite ‘disaster’
German Chancellor Merz vows to continue reforms despite his CDU party's electoral losses, while Volkswagen faces a historic restructuring and removal…
Reform UK mega-donors stir controversy
Venezuela is nearing a deal to transfer $4 billion in gold reserves to the US Federal Reserve, ending a seven-year dispute.
Fed interest rate rises are back
The FT News Briefing covers the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate hike since 2023, driven by persistent inflation and a resilient US economy.
US billionaires bankroll Republican election push
This FT News Briefing covers unofficial US-China talks on AI risks ahead of a Trump-Xi summit, noting low expectations for substantial agreements.
What an AI slowdown could mean for investors
FT News Briefing covers the AI sector's "existential crisis" as tech stocks fall following calls from Sam Altman and Dario Amodei to slow…
Fed and BoJ expect rate hikes as US bond market flails
FT News Briefing covers the high stakes of upcoming Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan meetings, where expected rate hikes aim to stabilize US Treasury yields amid pressure from President Trump.
Oil hits $108 ahead of Iran’s meeting with Gulf states
US long-term borrowing costs surged to 20-year highs as oil prices spiked to $108 amid escalating US-Iran tensions and Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
AI rewrites the venture capital playbook
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expanded bond buybacks to $6 billion, disappointing traders and pushing yields to three-year highs, while his…
DeepSeek mania spawns shadow market
The UK is concerned that Anthropic is excluding its AI security institute from evaluating new models, favoring US vetting instead.
Is the global maritime order breaking down?
Maritime nations warn that global shipping rules are unraveling due to attacks and shadow fleets.
A foldable iPhone: John Ternus’s first test as Apple CEO
The FT News Briefing covers Germany’s far-right AfD party’s projected victory in regional elections, signaling a major populist breakthrough.
Extended chat: Top US trade official defends Trump’s record
Top US trade official reveals ‘problem’ in UK negotiations
The FT News Briefing covers US trade tensions, with officials criticizing the UK for prioritizing EU alignment over American interests.
Uber teams up with driver unions to fight robotaxis
This FT News Briefing covers KPMG’s warning about weak internal controls at Mark Walter’s Guggenheim Partners, highlighting broader troubles in his empire.
Russia secretly helping Iran develop supersonic missiles
The FT News Briefing covers an investigation revealing Russia’s secret assistance to Iran in developing supersonic missiles capable of striking US warships.
How viable is Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela?
Wall Street banks are pressuring law firms to cut fees, citing AI’s ability to automate traditional billable work.
AI’s threat to consulting
This FT News Briefing covers soaring natural gas deal-making driven by geopolitical tensions and a Trump-Venezuela oil agreement.
EU policy could ice out closest trading partners
Saudi Arabia’s PIF is replacing CEOs at flagship projects like New Murabba amid cost overruns and pressure to deliver returns on Vision 2030.