US President Donald Trump is in an ongoing standoff with America’s top universities. Harvard lost $2.3bn in federal funding after it refused to comply with the administration’s demands on admissions and diversity, equity and inclusion. Columbia complied with a similar set of demands, but still lost $400mn. The FT’s global education editor Andrew Jack and acting Washington correspondent Myles McCormick join to discuss the issues at hand and why other universities could be next.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump to block Harvard from federal grants

Harvard sues Trump administration over funding freeze

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Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is our acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

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An inverted yield curve is sending jitters across the US economy, Japanese IT conglomerate Fujitsu is in hot water over its involvement in the UK  Post Office scandal, and new details have emerged over how the SEC’s X account was hacked. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK Post Office scandal exposes risks of Fujitsu’s hands-off approach

Yield curve adds to mystery over US economy

SEC says bitcoin X breach came after phone number was swapped

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva, Gavin Kallmann, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. 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.

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More than 60 partners have left PwC China after a ban over its audit of failed property developer Evergrande, the FT’s Andy Bounds explains what we can learn from Donald Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs, and Hamas said it is postponing the next release of hostages. Plus, Hizbollah is weaker than it’s ever been, and it needs the support of its constituency to rebuild.

Mentioned in this podcast:

PwC China loses 66 partners in wake of ban over Evergrande audit

What happened when Donald Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018

Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Hamas says it is postponing next hostage release

How Hizbollah is using cash and WhatsApp groups to shore up power

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, 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.

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European leaders met twice this week to discuss a plan to protect Ukraine — without US leadership. The rift between Brussels and Washington has grown as US president Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and stopped intelligence sharing. As Germany and the EU discuss a new set of defence stimulus plans, special guest Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign policy commentator, is on to discuss possible outcomes.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Rachman Review podcast

Trump is sowing the seeds of an anti-American alliance

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Altman returns and OpenAI board members are given the boot; US authorities foil a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader on US soil; plus, the UK’s Autumn Statement increases the tax burden.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist on American soil

Hunt cuts national insurance but taxes head to postwar high

OpenAI says Sam Altman to return as chief executive under new board

The FT News Briefing is produced by Persis Love, Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Manuela Saragosa 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.

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Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal to release hostages, Dutch voters head to the polls today, and Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao has resigned after pleading guilty to a US criminal charge. Plus, the FT’s George Hammond explains why Sam Altman has so many people rallying behind him after he was ousted from OpenAI.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Israel approves hostage deal with Hamas

Dutch election shapes up as tight race to replace Mark Rutte

Binance chief Changpeng Zhao pleads guilty in US criminal case

OpenAI directors in talks with Sam Altman on rejoining board

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.