• The EU wants a Putin whisperer
    May 20 2026

    EU governments are discussing whether former leaders could represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and rising fuel prices have triggered deadly protests across Africa. Plus, we look back at US Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell’s legacy as head of the central bank.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    EU mulls Angela Merkel or Mario Draghi as possible Vladimir Putin whisperer

    Protests spread in Africa as fuel crisis deepens

    Powell, Trump and the battle for the Federal Reserve

    Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
  • Inside a Lebanese village under Israeli occupation
    May 19 2026

    A California court threw out Elon Musk’s case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, the global bond sell-off rages on, and a $420bn power behemoth was born after NextEra Energy struck a deal with its rival Dominion Energy. Plus, the FT’s Raya Jalabi travels to Christian villages in southern Lebanon where residents fear they’re under an indefinite occupation by Israeli forces.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Elon Musk’s case against OpenAI dismissed after just two hours of jury deliberations

    Global bonds tumble on fears of inflation shock from Iran war

    Bonds extend sell-off on inflation fears

    NextEra strikes megadeal with Dominion to create $420bn US utility

    Israel seizes 1,000 sq km under Benjamin Netanyahu’s war strategy

    The Christian villages under Israeli occupation in Lebanon


    Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
  • Are we at the tipping point for global energy supplies?
    May 18 2026
    The cost for companies to circumvent shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is reaching record levels, and the world is bracing for an energy cliff edge this summer as the US-Iran war continues. But the war hasn’t deterred investment firms from betting on the Middle East, and we have an update on the UK’s political turmoil.Mentioned in this podcast:Sweeping the strait: the companies gearing up to clear the Gulf of minesGulf freight rates jump as shipping companies turn to trucks to move cargoWhat life is like on the stranded ships of the GulfIran energy crisis enters new phase as peak summer season loomsInvestment firms look beyond Iran war to expand in Middle EastLabour reopens Brexit debateIs being prime minister now an impossible job?Political Fix podcastWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    12 mins
  • The Bethlehem Project: Democrats battle over their party’s future
    May 17 2026

    Democrats are looking for a bit of a rebrand after losing the White House and both houses of Congress in 2024. They have an opportunity this November to test out some new types of candidates. In a critical swing district in Pennsylvania, the party establishment has coalesced around a progressive, blue-collar candidate named Bob Brooks. The other frontrunner in the race, Ryan Crosswell, represents a very different vision for winning over swing voters. He’s a former Republican and former federal prosecutor who’s more centrist.


    Host Sonja Hutson travels to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to interview the candidates and ask party activists where they fall in the electability debate.


    Listen to all episodes of The Bethlehem Project here.

    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Dousing the DC ‘dumpster fire’: Democrats battle over party’s future


    The Bethlehem Project is hosted and produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Lauren Fedor contributed reporting. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    23 mins
  • What Big Tech wants out of Trump’s China visit
    May 15 2026

    Opponents are lining up to potentially challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will ‘open wider’ for American tech, and Saudi Arabia is considering a Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iran. Plus, what does one city in Pennsylvania tell us about the intersection of US politics and the economy?


    Mentioned in this podcast:


    Starmer braces for leadership challenge by Burnham

    Xi Jinping tells Nvidia, Tesla and Apple CEOs that China will ‘open wider’

    Saudi Arabia floats Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iran

    AI chipmaker Cerebras surges more than 100% in Wall Street debut

    The Bethlehem Project: US politics and economics through the lens of one city


    Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    12 mins
  • Germany’s far-right boosted by stance against Iran war
    May 14 2026

    The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve yesterday, and the Bank of England is set to water down its rules on stablecoins. Plus, the popularity of Germany’s AfD party is growing after its criticism of the Iran war.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Senate confirms Kevin Warsh to succeed Jay Powell as Fed chair

    Bank of England set to water down stablecoin rules after industry pressure

    Germany’s far-right AfD sees surge in support after it criticises Donald Trump’s Iran war

    How could a Starmer leadership challenge play out?


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
  • UK bond vigilantes ride again
    May 13 2026

    UK gilt investors are weighing in on who they would like to see replace Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the fund raising for Blue Owl is running dry. Plus, the US economy is hurting due to high inflation and eBay says no thanks to GameStop’s takeover bid.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Who do gilt investors want to lead Britain?

    UK borrowing costs surge as Starmer leadership crisis rattles bond

    Fuel, munitions and food: Trump’s Iran war rips across US economy

    US inflation jumps to 3.8% as Trump’s Iran war sends petrol prices soaring

    Blue Owl retail fundraising evaporates amid private credit concerns

    Ebay rejects $56bn GameStop bid as ‘neither credible nor attractive’

    Get in touch with us at podcasts@ft.com


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
  • Gulf dealmaking machine hits the brakes
    May 12 2026

    US President Donald Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support”, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his premiership after the Labour party's disastrous showing in last week's UK local elections. Plus, we preview this week’s summit between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping, and examine how business in the Gulf is holding up through the Iran war.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Donald Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support’

    Starmer battles to stay in Number 10 as scores of Labour MPs urge him to quit

    How the war hit the Gulf dealmaking machine

    A weakened Trump arrives in Xi’s court

    The Rachman Review podcast

    Credit: Associated Press


    We want to hear from you! What do you like about FTNB? What would you like to hear more of? Reach out to us at podcasts@ft.com


    Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts


    Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    10 mins