Netflix added a record 19mn subscribers in the fourth quarter, fuelled by live sports. US stocks rallied while currencies swung the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, and TikTok-owner ByteDance plans to spend $12bn on AI chips in 2025. Plus, Chinese citizens’ doubts grow over the government’s economic growth claims.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Netflix shares jump as it adds record number of subscribers

Wall Street stocks climb as investors parse Donald Trump’s executive orders

TikTok-owner ByteDance plans to spend $12bn on AI chips in 2025

Chinese citizens’ doubts grow over official economic growth claims

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Belgium has launched a criminal probe into the DRC’s allegation. Donald Trump is sworn in as US president. Davos leaders reject climate banking group. And Toyota struggles to jumpstart hydrogen car sales.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump and the contest between two visions of democracy

Apple hit by Belgian probe over ‘blood minerals’ in Congo

Toyota rethinks its bet on hydrogen

Dollar tumbles as Trump shies away from trade tariffs

This episode of the FT News Briefing was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Donald Trump will become US president for the second time on Monday. Investors pile into a fund that spreads its assets equally across the S&P 500, as concerns about a tech bubble grow. A hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas is underway. Plus, how El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele became a model for the global far right.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump plans blitz of executive orders for first days in White House

Investors pour billions into S&P equal weight fund as tech fears rise

Hamas hands over three Israeli hostages as ceasefire begins

How El Salvador became a model for the global far right

Trump-backed memecoin value tops $12bn as crypto industry hopes rise

Credit: CSPAN

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Not long ago, American corporations were promoting racial justice initiatives and promising to combat climate change. That’s all changed in the months since Donald Trump’s election. The FT’s US financial editor Brooke Masters and tech correspondent Hannah Murphy join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain what’s behind this cultural shift.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Is corporate America going Maga?

The cravenness of Mark Zuckerberg

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Swamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson and Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: Joe Rogan Experience

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Donald Trump’s Treasury pick Scott Bessent wants to increase sanctions on Russian oil producers, and the FT’s Stephen Gandel unpacks a bumper earnings season from Wall Street’s banks. British companies are buying back their shares at a faster rate than even US groups, and the LA fires are worsening the challenges facing Hollywood.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump’s Treasury pick stresses need for tougher sanctions on Russian oil

Donald Trump’s policy pledges unleashing ‘animal spirits’, Wall Street bankers say

UK companies outpace US businesses in share buybacks

Fires prompt soul-searching at Hollywood’s dream factories

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal to halt the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages. Wall Street banks notched up profits at the end of last year amid a trading boom, and the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming explains where things stand with inflation around the world.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Gaza ceasefire announced after 15 months of war

US earnings latest: Wall Street profits surge on trading boom

Wall Street stocks post biggest rally since Donald Trump’s election victory

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Saudi Aramco is to expand its investments in lithium production, officials in Beijing are discussing using Elon Musk as a broker in a potential sale of TikTok’s US operations, and KPMG could soon begin offering legal services in the US. Plus, Syria has been flooded with imports in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Saudi Aramco to expand investments in lithium as it diversifies from oil

China discussing using Elon Musk as broker in TikTok deal

KPMG readies challenge to US law firms

Syria flooded with Pepsi and Pringles as rulers open economy

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Goldman Sachs is building a new private credit unit, and Nawaf Salam is named as Lebanon’s new prime minister. China’s trade surplus with the rest of the world reached a record of almost $1tn in 2024, and Amazon races to transplant Alexa’s ‘brain’ with generative AI.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Goldman Sachs to deepen exposure to booming private credit industry

Nawaf Salam is Lebanon’s new prime minister

China’s trade surplus hits annual record of almost $1tn

Amazon races to transplant Alexa’s ‘brain’ with generative AI

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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