logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
10m 50s

Defending Europe without the US

Financial Times
About this episode

Investors are urging the EU to make sweeping reforms to its debt securitisation market, Walmart has staged a major comeback, and Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba reported its fastest revenue growth in more than a year. Plus, the FT’s John Paul Rathbone explains how Europe could defend itself should Donald Trump pull US military assets.


Mentioned in this podcast:

Investors call for shake-up of Europe’s ‘failed’ securitisation market

How Europe can defend itself without US help

How a resurgent Walmart saw off the Amazon threat

Walmart points to ‘uncertain time’ with warning of weaker sales growth

Alibaba to ‘aggressively’ invest in AI over next three years

Subscription promo: ft.com/briefingsale


The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Michela Tindera, 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
Apr 24
BP’s major setback
Meta will cut 10% of its staff next month, BP suffered a heavy defeat at its annual shareholder meeting, and the Paramount–Warner Brothers Discovery deal is one step closer to being sealed. Plus, the Trump family’s crypto company is in hot water, and a US official is vying to get ... Show More
13m 8s
Apr 23
The AI digital divide
Tesla’s profits rebounded from last year’s lows, Brent crude jumped back above $100 a barrel on Wednesday after Iran’s navy said it seized two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and China’s new trade rules have concerned businesses operating in the country. Plus, the FT’s ... Show More
12m 2s
Apr 22
Senators grill Kevin Warsh in Fed chair hearing
US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran until talks conclude, and Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh sidestepped accusations that he would succumb to pressure from Trump to cut interest rates. Plus, a sneak peek at a new FT podcast on the lessons to lear ... Show More
12m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
Humiliating Europe: Trump’s culture war and the EU’s response
What do Donald Trump’s culture war, Moldova’s EU ambitions, and Czechia’s upcoming parliamentary election have in common? They all reveal how Europe is being tested — and sometimes humiliated. In this episode of EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton speaks with Paweł Zerka, senior ... Show More
37m 33s
Apr 2025
Trump's Tariff Response, Economics of Tariffs, SCOTUS Rules on Deportations
President Trump faces questions on whether tariffs will remain in place as he welcomes trade negotiations with other countries. Forecasters warn of a heightened risk of recession as tariffs could mean higher prices and slower economic growth. And, the Trump administration has two ... Show More
13m 5s
Jul 2025
Trump In Scotland, Gaza Aid, Pete Buttigieg on Democrats
President Trump spent the weekend in Scotland where he announced a new tariff deal with the European Union. Following days of global outrage about images of starvation in Gaza, the Israeli military announced a daily pause in fighting and a revival of aid airdrops, and former Tran ... Show More
13m 16s
Aug 2025
D.C. Crackdown, Europe's Putin-Trump Scramble, Ford's Cheaper EV Rollout
President Trump asserts federal control over Washington D.C., police force. European leaders will meet with Trump before a U.S. - Russia summit. Ford plans to invest billions of dollars into a plant in Kentucky to prepare to build a new, cheaper electric truck.Want more comprehen ... Show More
12m 32s
Oct 2025
Shutdown Economics, U.S.- Colombia Tensions, Louvre Heist Fallout
The economic cost of the government shutdown is mounting, as workers miss paychecks and contracts stall. President Trump’s feud with Colombia is deepening, with threats to cut aid testing a decades-long alliance. And in France, outrage is growing after the Louvre jewel heist, wit ... Show More
12m 52s