The Biden administration has tried and failed to contain fighting in the Middle East over the past year - and now, the conflict is close to spiralling into all-out war. The FT’s US foreign affairs and defence correspondent Felicia Schwartz and US political news editor Derek Brower join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain what Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are telling voters they’ll do to end the conflict.   Mentioned in this podcast: Israel and Iran have just delivered the US election’s...

A strike that closed US east and Gulf coast ports will be suspended, and market reaction to escalations in the Middle East remains minimal. Plus, Italy’s government will raise more taxes from companies earning windfall profits, and luxury group LVMH will become a top sponsor of car-racing franchise Formula One. Mentioned in this podcast: US dockworkers suspend strike that threatened to cripple ports Italy seeks to raise more windfall taxes from companies  The market reaction to global...

UK house sales rise at the fastest rate in three years, mass displacement in Lebanon risks overwhelming a country battered by economic crises, and Brussels intends to postpone a controversial EU anti-deforestation law for a year following a backlash. Plus, two-thirds of all new solar and wind power projects are based in China.  Mentioned in this podcast: UK house sales rise at fastest pace in three years, data shows  China’s accelerating green transition EU moves to delay anti-deforestation...

Iran fires missiles at Israel, hours after the IDF launches a ground offensive in Lebanon. France’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced tax rises on large companies and the wealthy, and US business groups warned of economic ‘paralysis’ after tens of thousands of dockworkers went on strike. Plus, investors are seeking to profit from the uncertainty over the outcome of the US presidential race.  Mentioned in this podcast: Iran launches missile attack against Israel  French premier...

SoftBank will invest $500mn into OpenAI as part of a fundraising round that will give the start-up a $150bn valuation, and Chinese equities post their best day since the 2008 global financial crisis. Plus, new data suggests artificial intelligence start-ups are bringing in revenues at an unprecedented rate, and South Korean exporters are struggling to compete with a glut of goods from Chinese rivals.  Mentioned in this podcast: SoftBank to invest $500mn in OpenAI  AI start-ups generate money...

In the wake of Hassan Nasrallah’s death, Hizbollah looks for a way forward, and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen goes on trial for allegedly embezzling EU funds. Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm is backing a nuclear start-up aimed at fueling artificial intelligence, and a handful of high frequency trading firms have seized market share from traditional investment banks.  Mentioned in this podcast: What's next for Hizbollah?   Marine Le Pen goes on trial over EU expenses scandal  Peter...

Voters consistently tell pollsters that economic issues are their top electoral concern. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have spent the past few weeks honing their economic messages — and they couldn’t be more different. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, and Washington bureau chief, James Politi, join to explore how each candidates’ plan would impact the country. Mentioned in this podcast: Trumponomics: the radical plan that would reshape America’s economy Kamala Harris sets out...

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves may backtrack on a key tax plan, Saudi Arabia is ready to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude, and Citigroup announced a $25bn deal with Apollo to lend to private equity groups and low-rated US companies. Plus, Palestinian villagers in the West Bank are experiencing heightened violence after Hamas’s devastating October 7 assault on Israel. Mentioned in this podcast: UK chancellor ready to water down planned tax raid on wealthy...

OpenAI’s chief technology officer is leaving the company, major banks pledge to increase their support for nuclear energy, and hopes of an M&A comeback rise as global companies pursue blockbuster takeovers. Plus, a surge in female labour force participation emerges as a bright spot for Saudi Arabia.  Mentioned in this podcast: OpenAI’s chief technology officer Mira Murati to leave   Big corporate predators bolster global M&A market   The Saudi factories powered by women  World’s...

The US Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, China has unleashed a swath of stimulus measures to jump-start growth and the incoming CEO at Trafigura signals a new era for the trading house. Plus, Sri Lanka has a new leftwing president who has promised a fresh start for the country. Mentioned in this podcast: US antitrust lawsuit accuses Visa of using dominance to shut down rivals  China unleashes stimulus blitz to lift growth Trafigura set to name Richard Holtum...

The US proposed effectively banning Chinese cars, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came out against a UniCredit takeover of Commerzbank and Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Lebanon. Plus, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will try to turn around the Labour party’s mood during a speech at the party conference.  Mentioned in this podcast: US proposes banning Chinese software and components in vehicles  Israeli strikes kill more than 490 in Lebanon, says health ministry  Olaf Scholz says...

Olaf Scholz’s SPD narrowly fends off the AfD in Brandenburg’s state election, and chipmaker Qualcomm approaches Intel about a potential takeover. AI search engine Perplexity mounts an ambitious effort to break Google’s stranglehold over the $300bn digital ads industry. Plus, a strike at three dozen US ports could upend supply chains and raise prices just weeks before Election Day. Mentioned in this podcast: Germany’s SPD leads far right in Brandenburg election  Perplexity in talks with top...

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate senator JD Vance have spent the past few weeks pushing a false claim that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating residents’ pets. The FT’s US national editor, Ed Luce, and New York correspondent, Joshua Chaffin, join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss why misinformation is a powerful electoral strategy and whether the truth matters to voters.  Mentioned in this podcast: ‘It’s ugly’: Donald Trump’s Haitian pet-eating...

The S&P 500 hit a record high, Europe’s biggest hope for dominance in EV batteries is struggling to hang on and the Bank of England held interest rates steady. Plus, the FT’s Brooke Masters explains why customers are getting fed up with airline loyalty programmes.  Mentioned in this podcast: S&P 500 hits new record after Fed makes jumbo cut to US interest rates  Europe’s great battery hope Northvolt fights for survival Bank of England holds rates at 5%  The fury of the frequent...

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate easing began with a half-point cut, and the UK’s financial watchdog has stepped up pressure on banks to offer more attractive interest rates on deposits. The FT’s Mehul Srivastava unravels the supply chain behind the pagers that exploded in Lebanon this week.  Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve cuts rates by half a point and signals era of easing has begun  UK regulator pushes banks to give savers better value even as rates fall From Taipei to...

BlackRock and Microsoft are launching a $30bn data centre fund to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence, and BP puts its onshore US wind business up for sale. Meta is making teenagers’ Instagram accounts private by default and EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager speaks to the FT about her efforts to regulate in Big Tech.  Mentioned in this podcast: BlackRock and Microsoft plan $30bn fund to invest in AI infrastructure  BP puts $2bn US onshore wind business up for...

The EU is preparing to provide up to €40bn in new loans for Ukraine by the end of the year, and Boeing is considering temporary furloughs as its machinists continue to strike. The company behind ChatGPT is launching a new product it claims can solve complex mathematical and scientific problems. Plus, former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi launches a master plan to boost EU competitiveness. Mentioned in this podcast: EU plans to raise up to €40bn in loans for Ukraine without...

Both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England are set to announce interest rate decisions this week. In China, venture capital finance has dried up amid political and economic pressures. Plus, Indonesian palm oil producers warn of global supply chain disruption if the EU bans imported commodities linked to deforestation. Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell’s big week How China has ‘throttled’ its private sector Indonesia warns of ‘chaos’ from EU deforestation law    The FT News Briefing...

On this week’s special episode of Swamp Notes, four FT journalists discuss the historic first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and answer all your most-pressing questions about the US presidential race. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, moderates the discussion alongside deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, global business columnist, Rana Foroohar, and chief foreign affairs columnist, Gideon Rachman.  Mentioned in this podcast: Kamala Harris has passed a big...

Investors snapped up consumer staples such as Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive amid concerns over a potential slowdown in the US economy. Abu Dhabi’s oil company Adnoc could offer €14.4bn for German chemical group Covestro, and the European Central Bank cut interest rates to 3.5 per cent. Plus, people in Los Angeles are encouraged to park their car obsession ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and amateur astronauts completed the first private spacewalk.  Investors pile into Coca-Cola and Colgate as...

The Italian lender UniCredit has amassed a 9 per cent stake in Commerzbank, and US inflation fell to 2.5 per cent in August. Plus, Argentines are declaring hundreds of millions of dollars of previously hidden savings in a tax amnesty and Mexico’s Senate approved a radical plan to have voters elect all its judges.  Mentioned in this podcast: US inflation falls to 2.5% in August UniCredit’s push for European bank consolidation looks on target Javier Milei’s tax amnesty lures Argentines to...

The EU’s top court orders Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes, and the Federal Reserve halves its proposed capital requirement increase for the largest US banks. Plus, we talk to the FT’s Benjamin Parkin about the Taliban’s warming relations with a growing number of regional powers.  Mentioned in this podcast: Top EU court rules Apple must pay €13bn in back taxes Federal Reserve halves proposed capital requirement rise for largest US banks   Taliban’s closer ties with UAE signal global divide...

Apple launches the iPhone 16 with generative AI features, and France’s new PM needs more time to submit the country’s debt plans. Kamala Harris is under pressure to perform in tonight’s debate against Donald Trump. Plus, Intel’s plunging share price and manufacturing troubles shatter its hopes for a turnaround. Mentioned in this podcast: Apple launches iPhone 16 with AI features to roll out in coming months  France asks EU for more time to submit debt plan Kamala Harris faces crucial debate...

Enthusiasm about artificial intelligence masks a recession in the technology sector, and a new exchange traded fund looks specifically for ‘reject’ stocks. Plus, Google heads back to court over fresh antitrust allegations, and Chinese car buyers ditch Tesla for local alternatives. Mentioned in this podcast: AI exuberance masks broad weakness in tech sector, say investors  Star manager Rob Arnott launches ETF to buy up index ‘rejects’  Google’s $20bn ad tech business to play for at next...