FT News Briefing FT News Briefing

Reform UK mega-donors stir controversy

Sep 18, 2026 · 12m

Summary

Venezuela is nearing a deal to transfer $4 billion in gold reserves to the US Federal Reserve, ending a seven-year dispute. Reform UK faces scrutiny after receiving record donations from crypto billionaires, one of whom previously funded a controversial libel case. Glencore suspended a senior executive amid a legal battle with iron ore trader Radiant World. Finally, SB Energy faces pressure as OpenAI delays its IPO, highlighting risks in the interconnected AI finance ecosystem.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Hard Lessons podcast Introduction and daily news overview Venezuela gold reserves deal and US negotiations Reform UK scrutiny over crypto billionaire donations Interview: Details on Reform UK donors and legal disputes Broader implications of mega-donors and campaign finance Glencore suspends executive amid Radiant World scandal SB Energy and OpenAI circular financing risks Interview: Impact of OpenAI IPO delay on AI supply chain Outro and production credits Sponsor: RBC Capital Markets Strategic Alternatives Sponsor: The Next 5 podcast
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