FT News Briefing

Rachel Rees, FT markets correspondent covering investor sentiment, joins Laura Patel, FT’s Berlin reporter on politics and defence. They dig into Trump’s two-week ceasefire talks with Iran, hedge funds piling into bets against European stocks, Turkey’s gold moves shaking bullion, Germany’s failed frigate project, and a record-setting lunar trip by four astronauts.

Jude Weber, FT journalist on Cuba and Latin America, and Henry Foy, the FT’s Brussels bureau chief, dig into Cuba’s blackouts and its growing dependence on Chinese solar imports. They also explore Europe’s scramble to cushion energy bills, fears of higher inflation and weaker public finances, plus a sharp slowdown in private equity buyouts.

Guy Chazan, a Financial Times reporter on US politics and policy, reports from the Rio Grande Valley on how Trump’s immigration crackdown is rippling through south Texas. He explores ICE raids hitting construction sites, labor shortages delaying projects, visa problems hurting farms, and growing unease among business owners and voters.

America’s tariff regime affected all aspects of life from the global economy to the day-to-day of average business owners. In this special episode, the FT’s US Economics Editor Claire Jones explains what changed, and what didn’t, because of those tariffs. Mentioned in this podcast:Listen to the rest of our Liberation Day series Listen to Swamp Notes 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 Henry Larson.  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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Platt, FT’s US investment editor covering private capital, digs into Blue Owl’s redemption surge and rising unease in private credit. Robert Armstrong, FT financial commentator who coined the Taco trade, tracks how Trump tariff reversals shook markets, why gold outpaced Treasuries, and how Europe gained from the fallout.

William Sandlund, FT Asia markets correspondent covering China and global capital flows, joins Gideon Rachman, FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator. They get into why Chinese government bonds became a rare war haven, how tariffs jolted allies and rivals, why countries are rerouting trade around the US, and how pressure on the dollar-led order could reshape global power.

Rebecca Melsky, Princess Awesome co-founder, and Eva St. Clair, the quirky kidswear entrepreneur behind the brand, unpack the chaos Trump’s tariffs brought to a small clothing business. They talk customer messaging, lawsuits, inventory strain and tough pricing calls. Chris Giles, FT economics commentator, explores the ECB’s choices as Europe wrestles with an energy-driven inflation jolt.

Stefania Palma, the FT’s legal and enforcement reporter, unpacks the courtroom chaos around Donald Trump’s tariffs and the scramble over what comes next. Antoine Gara, an FT editor covering private equity and deals, explores the push to bring private assets into US retirement plans. Also in focus: Swiss lawmakers softening pressure on UBS.

Katie Martin, FT markets columnist, and Alan Beattie, FT trade writer, unpack how Trump’s Iran threats rattled stocks, bonds and oil. They track Treasury market strain, stagflation fears and investors running out of safe havens. Then Beattie maps how tariff chaos whipsawed trading partners, rerouted global commerce and why trade barriers may stick.

A secretive Catholic group comes under scrutiny as one young woman is drawn in by promises of holiness through work. The story follows her move into a religious center, where rigid routines, surveillance, and punishing rules begin to feel deeply controlling. It also explores the organization’s wider cultural and political influence in America.