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Mar 2025
14m 17s

Swamp Notes: Why Democrats can’t get the...

Financial Times
About this episode

As US President Donald Trump dismantles agencies and challenges institutions across the federal government, Democrats still can’t decide how to oppose him. The FT’s global business columnist Rana Foroohar and Washington reporter Steff Chavez join this week’s Swamp Notes podcast to discuss why Democrats’ inability to pick a strategy can prove costly.  


Mentioned in this podcast:

The Democrats must make a choice

Top Senate Democrat to back Republican bill to avert government shutdown

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


CREDIT: YouTube/Forbes Breaking News, YouTube/NBC News



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