• The Big Four’s problems Down Under
    Jul 7 2026

    Greek shipping companies have made at least $3.8bn transporting Russian oil over the past three years, Turkey wants its booming defence sector to arm Europe, and large institutional investors are committing billions of dollars to private credit funds. Plus, the Big 4 consulting firms are struggling with their credibility in Australia after a series of scandals.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    Greek shipping companies made almost $4bn shipping Russian oil in past three years

    Erdoğan rival shuttled between trials as Nato meets in Turkey

    Turkey’s defence industry is booming. Europe is in its sights

    Big investors commit billions to private credit despite turmoil

    ‘The brakes failed and they’ve crashed the car’: how the Big Four’s wheels fell off Down Under


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


    Note: 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


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

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    10 mins
  • London’s push for AI sovereignty
    Jul 6 2026

    The tech industry is having a renaissance in London. It's home to the main foreign outposts for giants such as Google and Meta, as well as their well-funded AI challengers including OpenAI and Anthropic. But all those companies are American. Now there's a push to launch a homegrown competitor so the UK can have more sovereignty over its tech.


    Mentioned in this podcast:

    How the DeepMind mafia brought the AI boom to London


    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/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBIS

    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.com


    Note: 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.



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

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    9 mins
  • Germany’s twin crises: football and the economy
    Jul 3 2026
    The US economy fell short of Wall Street expectations by adding only 57,000 jobs in June, South Koreans are pouring AI stock windfalls into an overheated property market and investors in Blue Owl Capital tried to pull $4.7bn from the firm’s private credit funds in the second quarter. Plus, the FT’s sports editor Josh Noble and Berlin correspondent Laura Pitel explain how Germany’s shock exit from the World Cup pairs with wider discontent over the country’s economic woes.Mentioned in this podcast:US economy undershoots forecasts with 57,000 jobs added in JuneSouth Koreans pour AI stock windfalls into overheated property marketBlue Owl hit by $4.7bn of redemption requests as investor exodus persistsGermany’s shock World Cup exit sparks reckoningFriedrich Merz unveils €10bn tax cuts to revive German growthTell 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 CREDIT: FOX Sports, FOX OneThe 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    11 mins
  • UBS bets on the US
    Jul 2 2026
    OpenAI has discussed giving a 5 per cent stake to the US government, UBS will start trialling everyday banking services for its American employees within months, and dealmaking hit record levels in the first half of the year. Plus, many Russians are angry that the Ukraine war is now playing out on their territory.Mentioned in this podcast:OpenAI proposes handing Trump administration 5% stakeUBS to trial US banking services in push for wealthy American clientsMega takeovers drive record $2.8tn in dealmakingPutin admits Ukrainian drones are causing ‘problems’Putin ties himself to ruling party as war fatigue bitesListen to the Rachman Review on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or Spotify.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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    11 mins
  • Why Indonesians are souring on Prabowo
    Jul 1 2026

    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 says

    Bending Spoons tries out an odd kind of financial magic trick

    Indonesians sour on Prabowo Subianto as currency weakens

    KNDS struggles to convince investors to back IPO at €12bn-plus valuation


    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/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBIS


    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.com


    Note: 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

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

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    11 mins
  • US Supreme Court blocks firing of Fed governor
    Jun 30 2026

    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 Cook

    Magnificent Seven stocks shed $2.7tn in Wall Street tech rotation

    Foreign investors fear Japan is backsliding on reform


    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/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBIS


    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.com


    Note: 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


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

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    11 mins
  • AI wakes up the sleepy US power sector
    Jun 29 2026

    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 sector

    Andy Burnham sets out ‘10-year mission’ to raise living standards

    Donald Trump suggests he may not renew trade deal with Mexico and Canada


    Tell 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/6f9bJBvxsxaEBSIB5esBIS


    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.com


    Note: 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

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

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    12 mins
  • The Bethlehem Project: Steel’s legacy looms large
    Jun 28 2026

    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

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

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    21 mins