logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
10m 23s

How Microsoft beat the odds

Financial Times
About this episode

Poland’s rightwing party will likely be out of power after last weekend’s election, a US-led effort to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and provide an exit from the bombarded territory for foreign nationals faltered, and the FT’s Richard Waters explains how Microsoft beat the odds and got a major acquisition approved by regulators.


Mentioned in this podcast:

Polish exit polls give ex-PM Donald Tusk potential route back to power

Bid to open Gaza crossing falters

How Brad Smith used Microsoft’s $1bn law and lobbying machine to win Activision battle

Access 50 per cent off of a digital subscription FT.com/briefingsale

CLIP: The Guardian


The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. 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.

Up next
Oct 9
Quantitative easing is under the microscope
Donald Trump has said Israel and Hamas have agreed the first step in his plan for a Gaza ceasefire, and Washington wants its companies exempt from EU climate rules. Plus, Chinese customs agents are going after a wide range of US semiconductor tech, and central bankers around the ... Show More
10m 46s
Oct 8
Carmakers are falling back in love with petrol
A UBS fund has 30 per cent of its portfolio tied to the failed First Brands Group, and carmakers across much of the world are scaling back on electric vehicle plans. Plus, international investors are returning to China’s start-up scene, in addition to assets across emerging marke ... Show More
11m 25s
Oct 7
OpenAI’s circular deals
EU governments have agreed to limit the travel of Russian diplomats, analysts are worried about a flurry of circular AI deals, and France lost another prime minister after less than a month in office. Plus, why the weaker dollar is helping big US exporters, while domestic-focused ... Show More
10m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Could a reshuffle revitalise Sunak’s government?
It’s almost time to wave goodbye to the summer, but is Rishi Sunak also poised to bid farewell to some of his ministers? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political editor George Parker to discuss a cabinet shake up. Plus, the FT’s US p ... Show More
35m 52s
Mar 2020
Rana Foroohar on the trillion dollar fightback, Biden sweep
The FT News Briefing is a rundown of the global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. If you enjoy it, subscribe to the FT News Briefing wherever you get your podcasts, or listen at FT.com/newsbriefing. Western governments ... Show More
7m 56s
Jun 2023
FTC May Seek Restraining Order to Block Microsoft, Activision Deal
P.M. Edition for June 12. The FTC plans to seek a restraining order that would block Microsoft and videogame publisher Activision Blizzard from closing their $75 billion deal. Plus, JPMorgan reaches a $290 million settlement over its ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Banking reporter Davi ... Show More
17m 45s
Jan 2023
What Keir Starmer did at Davos
Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a pre-Davos interview to the FT before setting off to woo the global elite in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in a remarkable turnround in Labour sentiment. Why were they going, with what message, while Prime Minis ... Show More
24m 7s
Aug 2022
Pete Buttigieg, Golfers Striking Back, & Fake News Propaganda 8/4/22
Gas prices may have peaked for now, but the road to lower inflation is long. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg discusses the U.S. energy economy and the giant inflation reduction act crafted by Senate Democrats. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson and ten of his co-competitors have f ... Show More
27m 46s
Apr 2023
Carnage in American Cities, Biden's Trip to Ireland, Communications Expert Michael Maslansky Discusses the Trans Influencer Controversy, & More
Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Stand Up for Your Country. Tonight's rundown:  Talking Points Memo: American citizens and cities are under attack. This as the culture is flooded by violent movies and musi ... Show More
48m 10s
May 2023
Local elections: How bad was it for the Conservatives?
For Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the results were ‘disappointing’, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer claimed his party was heading for power and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wore a ‘Cheshire cat’ grin. What do this week’s local elections in England show about the likely direction of the nex ... Show More
24m 6s
Mar 2023
China’s Iran Deal
Tommy and Ben talk about China brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s wish list to “normalize” relations with Israel, protests of Netanyahu’s changes to Israel’s judicial system, the BBC, soccer and free speech, new reports about who sabotaged the Nord Ste ... Show More
1h 18m