Democrats are looking for a bit of a rebrand after losing the White House and both houses of Congress in 2024. They have an opportunity this November to test out some new types of candidates. In a critical swing district in Pennsylvania, the party establishment has coalesced around a progressive, blue-collar candidate named Bob Brooks. The other frontrunner in the race, Ryan Crosswell, represents a very different vision for winning over swing voters. He’s a former Republican and former federal prosecutor who’s more centrist. 

Host Sonja Hutson travels to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to interview the candidates and ask party activists where they fall in the electability debate. 

Listen to all episodes of The Bethlehem Project here. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Dousing the DC ‘dumpster fire’: Democrats battle over party’s future

The Bethlehem Project is hosted and produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Lauren Fedor contributed reporting. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

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Opponents are lining up to potentially challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will ‘open wider’ for American tech, and Saudi Arabia is considering a Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iran. Plus, what does one city in Pennsylvania tell us about the intersection of US politics and the economy? 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Starmer braces for leadership challenge by Burnham

Xi Jinping tells Nvidia, Tesla and Apple CEOs that China will ‘open wider’

Saudi Arabia floats Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iran

AI chipmaker Cerebras surges more than 100% in Wall Street debut

The Bethlehem Project: US politics and economics through the lens of one city

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected]

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from 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

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The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve yesterday, and the Bank of England is set to water down its rules on stablecoins. Plus, the popularity of Germany’s AfD party is growing after its criticism of the Iran war.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Senate confirms Kevin Warsh to succeed Jay Powell as Fed chair

Bank of England set to water down stablecoin rules after industry pressure

Germany’s far-right AfD sees surge in support after it criticises Donald Trump’s Iran war

How could a Starmer leadership challenge play out?

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Marc Filippino. 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.

UK gilt investors are weighing in on who they would like to see replace Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the fund raising for Blue Owl is running dry. Plus, the US economy is hurting due to high inflation and eBay says no thanks to GameStop’s takeover bid. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Who do gilt investors want to lead Britain? 

UK borrowing costs surge as Starmer leadership crisis rattles bond 

Fuel, munitions and food: Trump’s Iran war rips across US economy

US inflation jumps to 3.8% as Trump’s Iran war sends petrol prices soaring

Blue Owl retail fundraising evaporates amid private credit concerns

Ebay rejects $56bn GameStop bid as ‘neither credible nor attractive’

Get in touch with us at [email protected] 

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from 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.

US President Donald Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support”, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his premiership after the Labour party's disastrous showing in last week's UK local elections. Plus, we preview this week’s summit between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping, and examine how business in the Gulf is holding up through the Iran war. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support’

Starmer battles to stay in Number 10 as scores of Labour MPs urge him to quit

How the war hit the Gulf dealmaking machine 

A weakened Trump arrives in Xi’s court 

The Rachman Review podcast

Credit: Associated Press 

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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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, 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.

A gas shipment made it through the Strait of Hormuz as European oil majors cash in billions from the US-Israeli war on Iran, airlines across Europe are cutting prices for summer flights despite a potential jet fuel shortage, and bond giant Pimco says the war could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise rates. Plus, the FT’s Lucy Fisher explains what to expect from a make-or-break speech by UK prime minister Keir Starmer today. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Qatari gas shipment clears Strait of Hormuz after Pakistan-Iran talks

Euro oil majors make billions off war  

Coal shipments jump as countries seek alternatives to disrupted gas supplies

Airlines cut prices to entice holiday bookers worried about jet fuel

Iran war could prompt Federal Reserve to raise rates, Pimco says

Starmer faces fight for survival as calls to resign escalate

Britain’s elections in maps and charts

Political Fix podcast

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 Katya Kumkova, Marc Filippino and Saffeya Ahmed. 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.

It’s been a dreadful night for Labour as council seats across the country have turned from red to turquoise. The Conservatives have not fared much better with Reform UK the big winner so far. With results still coming in, host Lucy Fisher discusses the fracturing of the vote and the future for beleaguered Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, Northern England correspondent Jen Williams and political columnist Stephen Bush.

Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question and answer episode on Monday May 11. Email your questions to political[email protected]

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Jim @PickardJE; Stephen @stephenkb & @stephenkb.bsky.social and Jen @JenWilliamsMEN and @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social

Want more? 

UK elections: Labour suffers heavy losses as Reform surges

Four things we learnt in the UK elections

Scale of defeat should shake ‘big two’ parties into serious action

Keir Starmer defies calls to quit after heavy Labour council losses

UK local and devolved elections: Hour-by-hour guide to key results

In Labour’s bleak moment, Andy Burnham relishes his own

Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers were Andrew Giorgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of Audio.

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

Big Tech groups are expected to generate the smallest amount of cash in more than a decade this year, and investors are dumping Indian assets. Plus, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen, has set his sights on his next project: a huge leveraged buyout of eBay.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Big Tech’s $725bn AI spending spree sends cash flows to decade low

Investors dump Indian assets as energy shock sends rupee sliding

Can the meme stock king pull off audacious eBay swoop?

Political Fix podcast

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from 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. 

Credit: CNBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

US fuel exports have surged to a record level, and hedge funds had their best month since 2020. Plus, Samsung Electronics is locked in a feud with its workers over how to share the spoils of the AI-driven semiconductor boom, and LVMH is considering selling some of its iconic brands. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

US fuel exports hit record in boon for oil companies and threat to Trump

LVMH goes from buyer to seller as luxury’s winter drags on

Tech rally hands hedge funds biggest gains since 2020

Samsung workers demand bigger slice of surging AI profits

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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.

Global oil reserves plunged at a record pace in April and the SEC said it was proposing to allow public companies to file earnings reports every six months. Plus, the US will start reviewing some AI models over national security concerns and HSBC’s profits took a major hit from “fraud-related” exposure. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

SEC moves to scrap quarterly reporting requirement

Global oil reserves plunge at record pace as Middle East war strains supplies

HSBC profits hit by $400mn ‘fraud-related’ exposure

Google, xAI and Microsoft agree to US national security reviews of new AI models

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, Fiona Symon, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from 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.

The US and Iran traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz, and Anthropic formed a more than $1.5bn joint venture with Wall Street groups including Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs. Plus, the FT’s Anna Nicolaou explains whether Disney’s chief executive can handle the latest challenge thrown by the Trump administration.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US to ‘guide’ stranded ships out of Strait of Hormuz, says Trump

Blackstone and Goldman among backers for $1.5bn JV with Anthropic

Trump vs Kimmel: inside Disney chief Josh D’Amaro’s baptism of fire

‘Plastic shock’ hits Asia as Iran oil crisis strangles supplies

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 Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from 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.