Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon is sentenced to 15 years in prison on two counts of fraud, and the Walt Disney Company will allow OpenAI to use its characters in its flagship products. Plus, football fans are outraged over ticket prices for next year’s World Cup. And, you’ll meet the hardliner who wants to make Chile great again.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Crypto founder Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison

Disney to invest $1bn in OpenAI

Football fans condemn ‘betrayal’ over ‘extortionate’ World Cup ticket prices

The hardliner who wants to make Chile great again

Friedrich Merz offers to host Ukraine talks so deal not done ‘above Europe’s head’

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Victoria Craig, and produced by Fiona Symon and Sonja Hutson.  Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point, and Oracle shares fell on Wednesday after it reported disappointing revenues. Plus, there’s one conglomerate in Abu Dhabi dominating the economy and its ownership is in the hands of the royal family. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Federal Reserve cuts rates to lowest level in three years in divisive decision

Oracle shares slide as data centre spending mounts

How Abu Dhabi’s economy came to be dominated by IHC

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Fiona Symon and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. 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.

EU countries want to fast-track a decision to indefinitely immobilise up to €210bn in Russian sovereign assets, investors have increased bets that interest rates in major economies could diverge next year, and Berlin stands ready to throw its weight behind a German candidate to be the next president of the European Central Bank. Plus, Australia is now the first country in the world to restrict social media access for kids under the age of 16.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump gives Zelenskyy ‘days’ to respond to peace proposal

EU races to bypass Viktor Orbán on Russia assets before summit

Investors increase bets on ECB rate rise in threat to dollar

Germany sees high hurdles to winning ECB presidency

The countdown to the world’s first social media ban for children

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, Michael Lello and David da Silva. 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.

Paramount has launched a $108bn hostile bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery, US natural gas prices are soaring as the country ships record amounts of the fuel overseas, and US President Donald Trump says Nvidia will be allowed to send its H200 chips to China. Plus, retail investors are helping drive gold and US stocks towards “bubble” territory, the Bank for International Settlements has warned.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Paramount gatecrashes Warner Bros-Netflix deal with $108bn hostile bid

Surging gas prices worsen affordability crisis for Americans

Nvidia can sell H200 AI chips to China, Donald Trump says

Retail investors help drive gold and US stocks to bubble territory, BIS warns

Credit: CNBC

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 and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. 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.

Europe seeks to rally support for Ukraine as US pressure builds, and there’s likely to be plenty of debate ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final rate decision of the year. Plus, how Netflix’s blockbuster Warner Brothers Discovery buy could reshape entertainment. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

European allies to rally support for Ukraine as US pressure mounts

France shielding €18bn Russian asset pot from EU ‘reparations loan’ push

Fed expected to cut rates despite deep divisions over US economic outlook

Donald Trump drives historic shift of power from investors to boardrooms

Hollywood fears job cuts as opposition to Netflix-Warner deal grows

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. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. 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 Big Four accounting firms maintained their iron grip on auditing the UK’s largest companies last year, the industry watchdog has found. Plus, Japan’s economic normalisation could impact global bond markets. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Big Four maintain stranglehold on biggest UK audits

US senators seek to block Nvidia sales of advanced chips to China

Japan’s economic normalisation will affect global liquidity

Japanese 10-year bond yields rise to highest level since 2007

Register for the FT’s Global Boardroom digital conference

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 and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. 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.

Bond-market investors worry that the leading candidate for Fed chair is too close to US President Donald Trump, while HSBC finally picks its new chair. Plus, the EU has a last-minute plan to fund Ukraine’s economic revival. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Bond investors warned US Treasury over picking Kevin Hassett as Fed chair

HSBC appoints Brendan Nelson as chair after chaotic search

Brussels floats ‘emergency’ powers to raise €210bn from Russian assets

Tell us whether your spending habits have changed this holiday season. Email Marc 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 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.

Nigel Farage has told donors he expects to do an election deal with the Conservatives, and the race to narrow OpenAI’s dominance in the chatbot race. Plus, Eurozone inflation unexpectedly turns higher and China’s biopharma industry could be a threat to western dominance in the sector. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Farage tells donors he expects to do an election deal with the Tories

Mistral unveils new models in race to gain edge in ‘open’ AI

OpenAI’s Sam Altman declares ‘code red’ after rivals make advances 

Eurozone inflation unexpectedly rises to 2.2% in November

Will the next blockbuster drug come from China?

Donald Trump says he will nominate Federal Reserve chair in ‘early’ 2026

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 Kent Militzer. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. 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.

UK pension funds are cutting back their exposure to US equities, and Swiss prosecutors have filed charges against Credit Suisse and its owner UBS over alleged organisational “deficiencies”. Plus, the chair of the UK's Office for Budget Responsibility has resigned, and the UK government will increase NHS spending on medicines to secure a carve-out from threatened US tariffs.

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK pension funds dump US equities on fears of AI bubble

Swiss prosecutors file charges against Credit Suisse and UBS

Head of UK fiscal watchdog quits after Budget leak

NHS to increase medicines spending to avoid threatened Trump tariffs

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 Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. 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.

Artificial intelligence is threatening starting consultancy salaries, and the push to end Russia’s years-long invasion of Ukraine continues this week. Plus, Revolut did not tell UK regulators its CEO was listed as UAE resident. And, voice trading is making a comeback on one part of Wall Street. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Top consultancies freeze starting salaries as AI threatens ‘pyramid’ model

Zelenskyy aides meet Trump team in Florida for talks on peace plan 

UK officials sought assurances from Revolut over CEO Storonsky’s surprise move

Voice trading makes a comeback in $30tn Treasury market

Who Killed Europe’s single market dream? 

Credit: Associated Press

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 Nisa Patel and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Alexander Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. 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.

As President Donald Trump approaches the one-year anniversary of his second term in office, the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf, and Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman sit down to discuss the US economy and the state of American democracy. Are American consumers finally feeling the effect of Trump’s tariffs? Is AI to blame for the frozen labour market? Or is the spectre of a weakening democracy and plutocracy to blame for slumping consumer sentiment? In the first of four weekly episodes, Wolf and Krugman unpick the US and world economy, with Krugman explaining why he’s less pessimistic now than he was earlier this year.

Subscribe and listen to this series of The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Read Martin’s column here.

Subscribe to Paul’s Substack here.

Find Paul’s cultural coda here.

Find Martin’s cultural coda here.

Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound design by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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