Behind the Money

Tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft need loads of electricity to power their artificial intelligence goals, and they are looking into all options, including nuclear power, to achieve them. That’s why Microsoft has partnered with a utility company to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in US history. The FT's US energy editor Jamie Smyth explains what challenges lie ahead with a 2028 deadline looming. Clips from CBS News, ABC News, WNEP- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Restart of Three Mile Island tests US appetite for nuclear revivalResurgent US electricity demand sparks power grid warnings Big Tech’s dash for nuclear power- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Jamie Smyth and Michela Tindera on X (@JamieSmythF) (@mtindera07), on Bluesky (@jamiesmythft.bsky.social), (@mtindera.bsky.social) or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michela joins live from the FT’s Global Banking Summit in London. She sits down with three reporters and editors to analyse how the banking industry will shape up during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. She’s joined by the FT’s US financial editor Brooke Masters and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj alongside Michael Klimes, investment banking and capital markets editor at The Banker. They discuss what banks stand to gain and lose, and what the industry may look like four years from now. The conversation was recorded on December 3 2024. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:A Wall Street giddy over Trump should remember historyIn Donald Trump, Wall Street will get what it wanted — and what it did notTrump 2.0: winners, losers and Elon- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Michela recently joined Bluesky, follow her there: @mtindera.bsky.social, Her guests are also on Bluesky: Brooke Masters (@brookeamasters.bsky.social) and Ortenca Aliaj (@ortenca.bsky.social), or follow Michael Klimes reporting at FT’s The Banker (@thebanker.bsky.social) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not long ago, the Swedish battery maker Northvolt was seen as Europe's best hope for staying competitive with other global players during the green transition. Investors flocked to it, and it even became the continent’s best funded startup. But things look very different now. The company is fighting for survival and even filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November. The FT’s Nordic and Baltic bureau chief Richard Milne spent years reporting on Northvolt and explains its meteoric rise and what its implosion means for Europe’s battery industry. Clip from Aftonbladet- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Europe’s battery champion descended into crisis‘There was so much promise’: How Northvolt tumbled into bankruptcyThe Northvolt dilemma: can European EVs avoid relying on Asian batteries?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Richard Milne (@rmilneNordic) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re going back to Omaha, Nebraska. Behind the Money and the FT’s senior corporate finance correspondent travelled there this spring to attend Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting. America’s “last great” conglomerate is preparing for a leadership transition, and we examined what Warren Buffett’s empire will look like after he’s no longer at the helm. Clips from CNBC- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Berkshire after Buffett: is Greg Abel up to the top job?Berkshire after Buffett: prized energy business faces upheavalBerkshire after Buffett: the risk ‘genius’ pulling the insurance stringsBerkshire after Buffett: can any stockpicker follow the Oracle?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On X, follow Eric Platt (@ericgplatt) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.