FT News Briefing

Meta said it would boost its spending on AI this year, and Jay Powell says he will stay on as a Federal Reserve governor once his term as chair ends. Plus, the special relationship between the UK and US held up under intense pressure, and defence stocks are struggling despite the US and Israel's war in Iran.

Oil jumps to almost $120 as Trump signals extended Hormuz stand-off
Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh secures Senate committee approval
Oil surge divides US central bank as Jay Powell’s term at helm draws to a close
America’s special relationship is ‘probably Israel’, says UK ambassador to US
King Charles defends transatlantic relationship in speech to Congress
Defence stocks give back gains as investors buy rumour but sell war
Political Fix podcast
Credit: C-SPAN, Federal Reserve

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 Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, 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.

Federal regulators launched a probe into all Disney-owned TV stations after a late-night comedian made a joke about First Lady Melania Trump, and emerging market stocks have recovered all of their losses from the early stages of the Iran war to hit an all-time high, and the United Arab Emirates is leaving Opec after 60 years. Plus, the FT’s Bita Ghaffari in Tehran details life inside Iran’s blackout that’s been in place since the US and Israel attacked at the end of February.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Trump administration launches Disney probe after Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania joke
Emerging market stocks hit record high as Asian chipmakers surge
UAE to leave Opec in blow to oil cartel
Life inside Iran’s internet blackout
Credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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 Victoria Craig, Saffeya Ahmed, and Fiona Symon. 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.

The number of countries cutting energy taxes in response to the Iran war has doubled over the past month, and China blocked Meta’s $2bn purchase of the AI group Manus. Plus, big private equity backers have raised concerns that some firms may be waving through controversial deals.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Energy tax cuts spread across 39 economies as prices jump
China blocks Meta’s $2bn purchase of AI group Manus
Private equity backers raise new conflict concerns over sweetheart deals

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 Saffeya Ahmed, Fiona Symon, 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.

Alleged Trump shooter is set to be charged in federal court Monday, Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he will allow confirmation of Fed nominee Kevin Warsh to proceed, and the world’s leading central banks are widely expected to hold off on inflation-fighting interest rate rises this week. Plus, Anthropic’s cybersecurity AI model could be so effective it actually backfires.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Alleged Trump shooter was targeting US officials, authorities say
US prosecutors drop criminal probe into Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell
Leading central banks play for time on interest rate rises
Anthropic investigating unauthorised access of powerful Mythos AI model

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 Saffeya Ahmed and Julia Webster. 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.

Meta will cut 10% of its staff next month, BP suffered a heavy defeat at its annual shareholder meeting, and the Paramount–Warner Brothers Discovery deal is one step closer to being sealed. Plus, the Trump family’s crypto company is in hot water, and a US official is vying to get Italy into the football World Cup.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Meta to cut 10% of jobs to ‘offset’ Mark Zuckerberg’s AI spending
Microsoft to offer 7% of US staff voluntary redundancy for the first time
BP suffers heavy defeat in investor climate vote
Crypto billionaire Justin Sun sues Trump family’s World Liberty Financial
Warner Bros shareholders approve $111bn Paramount deal
Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in football World Cup

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 Saffeya Ahmed and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michela Tindera, 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.