Donald Trump mostly nominated mainstream conservatives to his first cabinet after the 2016 election. Some high-level appointees back then barely knew Trump, but this time around, he’s selected close allies and loyalists. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor, and Trump’s short-tenured former communications director Anthony Scaramucci join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss what Trump’s picks say about how his new White House will operate.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Lutnick and Bessent’s battle for Treasury secretary turns bitter as Trump expands field

Donald Trump’s alarming picks for government

The life and tastes of Anthony Scaramucci

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Check out the latest episode of Anthony Scaramucci’s podcast, “The Rest is Politics - US”

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for US attorney-general, and billionaire Gautam Adani faces charges over an alleged scheme to bribe Indian officials. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and FT economics columnist Chris Giles unpacks just how much tariffs will increase prices in the US.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s nominee for attorney-general

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani charged in US over alleged $250mn bribery scheme

ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Tariffs and taxes are not very inflationary

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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.

Nvidia’s third-quarter revenue almost doubled from a year ago, and UK inflation accelerated in October as energy prices rose. Disgraced Archegos founder Bill Hwang is sentenced to 18 years in prison for fraud, and China has prepared powerful countermeasures to retaliate against US companies if president-elect Donald Trump reignites a trade war.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Nvidia revenue nearly doubles as AI chip demand remains strong

UK inflation accelerates sharply to 2.3% in October

More growth, inflation and uncertainty: the BoE’s Budget verdict

Archegos’s Bill Hwang sentenced to 18 years in prison

China arms itself for potential trade war with Donald Trump

The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian 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.

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