Swamp Notes

This is an episode of Political Fix, the FT weekly podcast that takes you into the corridors of Westminster to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular panel of FT correspondents.Can you name all the Labour frontbenchers who resigned or were sacked during the past year? Why was Peter Mandelson delayed from returning to the UK after being sacked as US ambassador? And who will be crowned Political Fix’s Wonk-in-Chief? Find out as host George Parker puts the entire podcast panel - Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Anna Gross - through their paces in this big, fat, fiendishly difficult end-of-year quiz. The panellists also highlight their most memorable moment of 2025 and unveil their wildest predictions for the year ahead. Plus, discover who scooped all the chocolate coins in the studio to win the annual Political Fix stockpicks portfolio prize.This is a repeat of an episode published on Political Fix, a sister podcast of FT News Briefing, on December 19, 2025To listen and subscribe to more episodes, find Political Fix on your favourite platform by clicking here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four Republican members of the US House of Representatives broke ranks and supported Democrats this week to force a vote on healthcare spending. The FT’s US national correspondent Guy Chazan and deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor explain the ticking clock Congress is facing down on health insurance, and what will happen to Americans if prices increase dramatically.Mentioned in this podcast:‘A full-blown crisis’: Americans brace for a surge in healthcare costsUS healthcare costs set to leap as senators fail to reach dealEmail Marc with your questions ([email protected])Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: CBS News, NBC News ChicagoRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High school is a time of massive change in any teenager’s life. But students today are going through this transition period at a time when the US is more polarized, there's a lot of economic anxiety and teens are far more plugged into social media than ever before. Host Sonja Hutson and FT data reporter Ian Hodgson went to a high school in Bethlehem to get a sense of what it's like growing up in Donald Trump's America. Mentioned in this podcast:Anxious and disillusioned: being young in Trump’s AmericaInside Trump’s AmericaSwamp Notes: The Bethlehem Project is produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new FT investigation maps out the web of data brokers, private companies and government agencies that federal agents are using to help with their mass deportations. The FT’s Peter Andringa and Stefania Palma explain how corporate entities have created a surveillance network that can track immigrants across the country. Mentioned in this podcast:Trump’s immigration data dragnetUS criminal immigration cases overtake drug and fraud prosecutionsEmail Marc with your questions ([email protected])Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: CBS NewsRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Congress passed Trump’s tax and spending bill this year, it included a provision that would create investment accounts for recently born children. Now, at least two billionaires want to chip in to the programme as well. The FT’s Brooke Masters and Alex Rogers detail how this plan works, and why some Republicans are going all in on a government entitlement programme. Correction: This podcast was updated from its original version. The original podcast mischaracterized Australia's superannuation programme. We said individual participation is mandatory and the government puts money into accounts. In fact, employers are required to participate, and the government organizes it. That portion of the conversation has been removed.Mentioned in this podcast:Check out FT Globetrotter’s Washington D.C. travel guideMichael and Susan Dell pledge $6.25bn to help fund ‘Trump Accounts’ for childrenRepublicans propose $1,000 ‘Trump account’ for American babiesEmail Marc with your questions ([email protected])Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletterSwamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. We had help this week from Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: Roll CallRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.