FT News Briefing

Washington will have trouble getting things done with a gridlocked government after this week’s midterm elections, but it’s hard to tell whether US President Donald Trump will use the defeat as a chance to soften his foreign policy stance. Plus, investors are feeling optimistic about a return to normalcy following Democrats’ massive victory, and Russia agreed to supply Iran with 90 launchers for advanced guided missiles.

Mentioned in this podcast:
The Democrats who will run Washington
Blue wave sweeps markets back towards normality
Stocks surge after Democrats’ midterms sweep
Russia deepened Iran support with missile launcher deal
Credit: C-SPAN, MS NOW, Fox News, NBC News

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 Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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.

The Democrats score massive wins in the US midterm elections, bond investors are feeling optimistic about the make-up of the next Congress, and Qatar’s state-owned energy company is on track to become the world’s biggest buyer of US liquefied natural gas by early next decade. Plus, a massive fraud scandal in Turkey is starting to weigh on the country’s economy.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Live US midterm elections results tracker 2026
Bond investors sit out ‘most consequential’ US midterm elections in years
Chart of the Week: Bond investors may cheer gridlock
Qatar set to become world’s biggest buyer of US LNG
From Ponzi to Fonzi: the $20bn fraud scandal rocking Turkey
Italy’s ‘exit tax’ plan spooks rich expats
Credit: Abigail Hausloner, Steff Chavez, Joe Miller, Stephanie Findlay, CSPAN

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 Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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.

US voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide which party controls Congress and the FT’s James Politi breaks down the key Senate races to watch. Plus, oil investors and executives clash over future of Iran war.

Mentioned in this podcast:
US midterm elections 2026: The FT’s guide
Big majority of US voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation: FT poll
Donald Trump’s imperial presidency faces a popular uprising
Oil tumbles on hopes for US-Iran talks
Gulf braced for escalation of war between US-Israel alliance and Iran
Credit: CNN, Haley Stevens, Associated Press, CSPAN, White House

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 Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown, and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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.

A Democratic-controlled Congress may struggle to ease cost of living pressures and Middle East diplomats warn that renewed conflict between the US and Iran would be even more damaging than previous rounds of fighting. Serbia shuts down a bank favoured by Russians as it enters a new political era. Plus, Binance has started letting customers withdraw funds after the world's biggest crypto exchange experienced a record $6.3bn hack.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Petrol prices set to hit record high under Trump on eve of US elections
Gulf braced for escalation of war between US-Israel alliance and Iran
Serbia shuts down bank favoured by Russians
Inside the leaderless movement set to govern Serbia
Binance users pull $3.6bn as crypto exchange restarts services after heist

Check to see if your university is subscribed to the FT: ft.com/checkaccess.

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 Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producers are Dennis Golin and Zachary Alfred. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Vanessa Brown, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producers are Charles Bell and 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.

As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the third of a six-part series, Martin speaks to political scientist and author Barbara F Walter, an expert on civil wars and political violence, about the risk of unrest surrounding the elections. Drawing on her research into countries around the world, Walter explains the warning signs of political violence, and why America's changing demographics and the struggle to hold on to political power are fuelling divisions. How close is the US to a dangerous tipping point? And can American democracy emerge from the midterms stronger rather than more divided?

To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to ‘Martin Wolf on the World’ wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch Martin’s podcast series on the FT’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTimes

Host: Martin Wolf
Producer: Mischa Frankl-Duval
Senior producers: Laurence Knight and Edwin Lane
Executive producer: Manuela Saragosa
Video editor: Richard Topping
Senior Audio Engineer: Breen Turner
Broadcast engineers: Andrew Georgiades
Podcast development: Laura Clarke
FT Global Head of Audio: Flo Phillips

Learn more at www.ft.com/martin-wolf-on-the-world

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.