logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
10m 38s

The Fed ignores Trump’s calls to cut rat...

Financial Times
About this episode

Big Tech earnings season is in full swing, the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite pressure from President Donald Trump, and Syria’s new government pressed Moscow about reparations. Plus, activist short-selling is on the decline. 


Mentioned in this podcast:

Meta’s bumper results tempered by revenue outlook 

Federal Reserve keeps US interest rates on hold 

Syria asks Russia for reparations

Last men standing: the short sellers who remain after Hindenburg’s exit


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.

Up next
Nov 21
The Big Tech stock rollercoaster
<p>Tech stocks have been on a rollercoaster since Nvidia reported earnings, the US added 119,000 jobs in September but unemployment reached its highest level in four years, and the US has formally handed Ukraine a sweeping peace plan drawn up with Moscow. Plus, we’ll go over all ... Show More
12m 22s
Nov 20
The bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery begins
<p>Nvidia grew sales of its chips even faster than Wall Street anticipated in its latest quarter, and UK inflation fell to 3.6 per cent in October. Plus, Paramount is trying to buy Warner Brothers Discovery and China’s opaque economic data is coming under scrutiny.&nbsp;</p><br>< ... Show More
12m 36s
Nov 19
Brussels sprouts critical minerals plan
<p>Meta has won the antitrust case that threatened to break it apart, the EU plans to create a central body to co-ordinate the purchasing and stockpiling of critical minerals. Plus, US tech stocks sold off on Tuesday as worries mounted over high valuations for artificial intellig ... Show More
10m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 19
Federal Reserve Lowers Rates, But Less Than Trump Wants
The Federal Reserve voted this week to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. We discuss the factors behind the agency’s decision, as well as President Trump’s legal fight to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook.This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, financial corr ... Show More
18m 43s
Oct 13
What’s up with the US economy? With Austan Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a voter on the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee, speaks to the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles about the outlook for the US economy amid a boom in AI investment, sluggish hiring, President Donald Tr ... Show More
24m 57s
Oct 3
Why did the US government shut down?
The US federal government is closed for business. Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to agree on a budget to keep the government open. But over two million federal workers who will go without a paycheck during negotiations have a new worry: will President Donald Trump u ... Show More
21m 2s
Oct 24
Roundup: A Trade War With Canada, Inflation Ticks Up, And The Shutdown Persists
This week in Washington, President Trump halted trade talks with Canada, announced a private donation to help pay the military and authorized new sanctions on Russian oil. We discuss these developments, as well as how Trump uses his carefully cultivated image.This episode: politi ... Show More
23m 59s
Sep 19
The ugly truth about Trump’s ‘beautiful tariffs’. With Martha Gimbel
Customs duties on imported goods used to be a crucial part of US government funding – in fact, the customs service was among the first federal agencies set up after the constitution. Now, Trump is hoping that – among other things – tariffs could transform the US budget. But do th ... Show More
32m 34s
Sep 17
Fed Cuts Rates by Quarter-Point; Powell Cites Weakness in Jobs
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Federal Reserve officials lowered their benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point and penciled in two more reductions this year following months of intense pressure from the White House to slash borr ... Show More
39m 20s
Oct 18
Trump-Zelenskiy, Prince Andrew and Hollywood tariffs
In talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to press pause on upgrading Ukraine's weapons arsenal. The EU unveils a plan for a drone defence wall. Prince Andrew relinquishes the "Duke of York" title after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. ... Show More
12m 38s
Aug 27
442. Question Time: Trump's Plot To Cancel The Midterms
Is Trump edging the U.S. toward military rule? Can Gaza survive famine amid total collapse? Will Ukraine resist Putin if Western backing falters? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your FREE TRIAL at therestis ... Show More
39m 40s
Sep 2
Shockwaves in the Swamp Over Trump's Latest Move | Episode 116
President Trump and RFK have taken aim at the oversusage of vaccines with the intent of trimming the excess fat within the industry. Also: Daily Caller's Reagan Reese sits down for an exclusive interview with President Trump. EXCLUSIVE: Full Transcript: Daily Caller Interviews Pr ... Show More
58m 24s