FT News Briefing

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.

Alphabet’s share price fell just over 12 percent on Thursday, and UK startup Nscale is banking on a troubled US data centre project to underpin its planned $35bn IPO. Plus, we look at what’s next for the ECB now that its president Christine Lagarde announced she’s stepping down.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Alphabet shares tumble in $500bn rout
Inside the make-or-break AI mega-project behind Nscale’s $35bn IPO
Christine Lagarde to step down as ECB president in February

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 Zachary Alfred and Dennis Golin. 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.

Chancellor John Healey has targeted banks, savers and property owners in his Autumn Budget, Benjamin Netanyahu holds the lead in Israel’s election but there’s no clear winner yet, and one of the oldest American law firms told partners that it should dissolve. Plus, the Federal Reserve kept US borrowing costs on hold days before midterm elections, and Google shares fell sharply after boosting its spending on AI to more than $50bn in the third quarter.

Mentioned in this podcast:
John Healey hits banks and savers with tax rises in Budget ‘for working people’
What’s next for Burnham after the Budget?
The fear factor giving Netanyahu the edge
Benjamin Netanyahu ahead but no clear winner in Israeli election
Weil leadership to tell partners firm should be dissolved
Google shares drop 7% after $51bn AI spend deepens cash burn
Federal Reserve holds rates steady despite worsening US inflation
Credit: 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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our video producer is 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 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.