logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2025
11m 38s

Russia tests Nato defences

Financial Times
About this episode

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, military analysts are worried about Nato’s response to a Russian drone attack, and US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre. Plus, investors have raised a record amount this year off “Bowie bonds”. 


Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead in Utah

What is Vladimir Putin’s game plan against Nato’s eastern flank?

Merck slams UK as it scraps £1bn London drug research centre

‘Bowie bonds’ go mainstream as Wall Street chases returns


Email Swamp Notes with your questions


Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Katya Kumkova and Sonja Hutson. Additional help from Kelly Garry and Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music 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
Jan 30
Blackstone lines up huge IPO pipeline
Apple reported a blockbuster rise in revenue last quarter, and Blackstone is preparing to take a series of long-held investments public. Plus, Canada’s oil industry is thriving as it pushes into Asian markets. Plus, some US oil majors are reporting earnings, which could give us a ... Show More
11m 29s
Jan 29
Investors love heavy metal
Tesla on Wednesday reported its first-ever fall in annual revenue, Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach a deal to avert US military action, and the Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold. Plus, the world’s biggest mining companies have added close ... Show More
12m 1s
Jan 28
US health insurer stocks call in sick
US health insurance stocks plunged yesterday, and New Delhi and Brussels have agreed a trade deal that will eliminate up to €4bn of tariffs on EU exports. Plus, Nato is increasing its military presence in the Arctic to counter Russia. Mentioned in this podcast:US health insurer s ... Show More
11m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Trump wants to chop up Ukraine for parts
Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal review the destruction of NATO, the betrayal of Ukraine, and discuss future elections with Joe Jacobson, founder and executive director of the Democratic SuperPAC Progress Action Fund. Make sure you join us here on Patreon to support our work ... Show More
1h 42m
Oct 2025
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
Sep 2025
WAR GAMES | Pentagon Re-Named | Venezuela Threatened | Russia Advances
<p>Trump re-badges the Pentagon as the Department of War. 🇻🇪 He threatens to shoot down Venezuelan planes. 🇷🇺 Meanwhile, Russia advances in Ukraine as the global order tilts — and the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sails on. On The Mother of All Talk Shows, George Galloway brings the ... Show More
1h 43m
Oct 2025
Space invaders: Russia’s NATO nose-thumbing
Russia’s dark-fleet maritime operations and brazen incursions into NATO airspace appear to be precision-engineered to test Western resolve. We ask how this new phase of aggression may end. Our correspondent reports from Madagascar, where young people are leading unprecedented ant ... Show More
24m 45s
Sep 2025
The Trump vs Jimmy Kimmel fallout + Alan Jones' charges downgraded
Donald Trump’s war on the media has just escalated, with the Jimmy Kimmel Show cancelled after the late-night night host made comments about the US President’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. President Trump today also banned Australia’s ABC from attending a news c ... Show More
16m 32s
Sep 2025
News - AI and Drone Warfare in Ukraine, “Trump Riviera” Gaza Plan, US Bombs Venezuelan Boat
Subscribe now to skip the ads, get more content, and generally support us! Danny is in talks with the Kremlin to unfreeze his accounts, so Derek is joined instead by the Quincy Institute’s Alex Jordan to bring you the news. This week: a new study warns that the Atlantic circulati ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 2025
Jourová’s secrets and Putin’s drone tests
From rule of law battles to inside stories, Věra Jourová looks back on a decade in the Berlaymont. The former European Commission vice president recalls her clashes and alliances in Brussels — from sparring with Frans Timmermans to discovering that Thierry Breton never laughed at ... Show More
42m 18s
Aug 2025
Why Russia’s wartime economy is starting to crack, with Elina Ribakova
When the EU and US hit Russia with fresh sanctions in 2022, many analysts expected the country’s economy to crack. Instead, Russia has shown strong GDP growth, powered in large part by a massive boost to war-related industries. Now, the effects of that boost appear to be fading. ... Show More
28m 8s