FT News Briefing

Starmer on brink of quitting as UK prime minister

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could be on his way out of Westminster, and the US and Iran held high-stakes talks in Switzerland to officially end the war. Venture capital funds are rushing into defense tech startups on the back of the world’s wars, and the FT’s Claire Jones explains why Wall Street sees more volatility ahead from changes to Federal Reserve communications.Mentioned in this podcast:Keir Starmer on brink of quitting as UK prime ministerWhat Andy Burnham’s Westminster past reveals about himUS and Iran hold crunch talks in SwitzerlandWars trigger $12bn venture capital rush into defence techKevin Warsh’s push to axe Fed guidance may lift US borrowing costs, investors warnTake our survey! Tell us your thoughts to enter a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones worth £229. Over 18s only. Find full T&Cs here. Prize Draw winners’ surnames and regions may be made available upon request, as required by the Advertising Standards Authority. If you do not want your information to be made available, please email Privacy.Officer@ft.com upon entry. For more information on your rights and how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy.Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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.

A complicated World Cup for Iran’s diaspora

Labour’s Andy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield by-election in the UK, a resurgence in the dollar is reversing bets on the currencies of big emerging markets and major commodity producers, insurers are trying to define “war” as a type of risk, and the Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75 per cent yesterday. Plus, the FT’s Saffeya Ahmed explains how this World Cup is a complicated one for Iran’s diaspora as its national team competes on American soil. Mentioned in this podcast:Makerfield by-election result: Andy Burnham wins crucial poll‘Hawkish shift’ in US rates upends global currency betsInsurers seek to define ‘war’ as risk rises of global power clashesBank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%Iranian football team told to return to Mexico after opening World Cup gameFor Iran’s diaspora, a tough World Cup call: To support the national team or protest – or both?Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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.

Federal Reserve gears up for change

The Federal Reserve has dropped its bias towards lowering rates in the central bank’s first meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump said the US would release frozen Iranian funds, and UK inflation held unexpectedly steady last month. Plus, Chinese tech giant Huawei is making a huge comeback after being written off seven years ago. Mentioned in this podcast:Federal Reserve drops bias for rate cuts as Kevin Warsh era beginsDonald Trump to release Iran’s frozen funds and ease sanctions when ‘they behave’Huawei’s big comeback tests limits of US chip controlsUK inflation unexpectedly holds steady at 2.8% in MayFive things to know about the high-stakes Makerfield by-electionCREDIT: C-SPANWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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.

Why Elizabeth Warren is worried about SpaceX

US Senator Elizabeth Warren discusses SpaceX’s initial public offering and what she sees as its potential risk to investors. Plus, traders are betting on AI to underpin the strength of the US dollar, and the FT’s Alice Hancock explains why ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz may take weeks to reach pre-conflict levels.Mentioned in this podcast:SpaceX leapfrogs Amazon to become world’s fifth-most valuable companyShipping groups hit by Middle East conflict-induced fuel shortagesInvestors pile into bullish dollar bets as ‘US exceptionalism’ trade returnsOil falls on US-Iran deal but Hormuz backlog may last weeksWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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.

Extended version: Why Elizabeth Warren is worried about SpaceX

In our extended interview, US Senator Elizabeth Warren discusses SpaceX’s initial public offering and what she sees as its potential risk to investors.Mentioned in this podcast:SpaceX leapfrogs Amazon to become world’s fifth-most valuable companyhttps://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/warren-calls-on-sec-to-delay-spacex-ipoWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Fiona Symon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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.