China has registered its lowest number of births since records began. European governments weigh up options to bring down the high cost of their state pensions? Saudi Arabian banks borrow at record pace. Plus, Chinese EV carmakers have their eyes on the UK.

Mentioned in this podcast:

China registers lowest number of births since records began

China’s GDP grows 5% in 2025 as exports offset weak domestic outlook

Can Europe still afford its generous state pensions?

Josh Gabert Doyon: https://www.ft.com/josh-gabert-doyon

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Josh Gabert Doyon, and produced by Clare Williamson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. 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.

As Europe considers retaliation measures to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to NATO allies that oppose his Greenland-takeover bid, Denmark seeks to bolster its own relationship with the Arctic island. Plus, the US capture of Venezuela’s president has boosted demand for Latin America political risk cover. And, geopolitics is the topic du jour at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mentioned in this podcast:

EU readies €93bn tariffs in retaliation for Trump’s Greenland threat

Denmark’s development bank has ‘huge appetite’ to invest in Greenland, CEO says

Nicolás Maduro ousting boosts demand for Latin America political risk cover

Behind the Money podcast: Davos’ fight for relevance 

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Sonja Hutson. 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. 

Credit: NBC, White House, World Economic Forum

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

The EU is proposing a new way to allow Ukraine to join the bloc, and it was the best year for US investment banks since 2021. Plus, a look into the iron ore market and the role China is playing in it, and a preview of the World Economic Forum in Davos. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

EU ‘membership-lite’ plan for Ukraine spooks European capitals

Jamie Dimon warns Trump administration’s attacks on Fed could boost inflation

China’s state iron ore buyer flexes muscles in talks with global miners

Behind the Money podcast: Davos’ fight for relevance 

FT subscription sale here.

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 Mischa Frankl-Duval, Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from 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.

US President Donald Trump has not ruled out military action in Iran and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to call a snap general election. Plus, Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” policies have prompted bond giant Pimco to diversify away from US assets, and US banks push back against Trump’s credit card cap plans. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump says he has received assurances ‘killing in Iran is stopping’

Japan’s Sanae Takaichi to call snap election

Donald Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ policies to fuel multiyear shift from US, Pimco says

Wall Street hits back at Trump credit card cap plans

FT subscription sale  

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 Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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.

Two former senior executives at the collapsed subprime car lender Tricolor Holdings pleaded not guilty to fraud and financial crime charges, and Microsoft is pledging to “pay its way” for its AI data centres. Plus, US inflation stayed at 2.7 per cent in December, and we’ll talk about what Balderton Capital’s early investment in Revolut can teach us about venture capital investment. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Tricolor executives plead not guilty to charges stemming from collapse

Microsoft vows to ‘pay its way’ as it seeks to defuse data centre backlash

US inflation stays at 2.7% in December

Billions from a million: the London VC that hit the jackpot with Revolut

FT subscription sale  

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 Fiona Symon and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello and 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.

UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti is planning to step down in April 2027, and Paramount threatened a proxy fight in its latest move to force Warner Bros Discovery back to the negotiating table. Plus, the FT’s Robert Armstrong explains what could come next in US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the Federal Reserve. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

UBS boss Sergio Ermotti plans to step down in April 2027

Paramount threatens proxy fight in battle for Warner Bros Discovery

What is behind the criminal investigation into Jay Powell?

Former Fed chiefs attack DoJ probe into Jay Powell

FT subscription sale  

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 Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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.

US federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, and civil unrest continues to threaten the Islamic regime in Iran. Plus, earnings season kicks off this week with the bank results.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US prosecutors investigate Jay Powell over revamp of Fed headquarters

Iran warns US against intervention

Wall Street headed for best investment banking year since pandemic

FT subscription sale

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Marc Filippino and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. 

Source: Federal Reserve, White House

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

This is a repeat of an episode published on Swamp Notes, a sister podcast of the FT News Briefing on January 9, 2026. Subscribe to Swamp Notes on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.

After a military operation to capture Venezuela's leader, the Trump administration is seeking influence over other regions across the western hemisphere. The FT’s national editor Edward Luce and US-Europe foreign affairs correspondent Amy Mackinnon share their insights on how Trump and his cabinet have come to embrace the idea of foreign intervention.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump really wants Greenland

US says using military is among ‘options’ to acquire Greenland

How the US’s audacious operation to capture Nicolás Maduro unfolded

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. 

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Roll Call, CNN, Democracy Now!

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

Glencore and Rio Tinto resume mining megamerger talks, protests in Iran over economic conditions are the largest in years, and the US trade deficit narrowed to its lowest level since 2009. Plus, is there a right way for chief executives to exit a company? 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Glencore and Rio Tinto resume talks on mining megadeal

Iran protests spread to neglected hinterlands

US trade deficit slides to lowest level since 2009 in October

Art of the exit: is there a right way for CEOs to quit?

CREDIT: Reuters 

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 Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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 US wants to control Venezuelan oil sales ‘indefinitely’ but the ‘catastrophic’ state of the Latin American nation’s crude facilities presents several hurdles. Plus, President Donald Trump banned institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and the UK and France pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of sweeping US-backed security guarantees.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US seeks to control sales of Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’

The ‘catastrophic’ state of Venezuela’s oil facilities

Donald Trump moves to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes

France and UK commit to deploying troops under proposed Ukraine peace deal

Credit: CNBC Television

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 Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. 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.