
Sep 17, 2026 · 32 min
Fed raises rates as Trump attacks its inflation strategy
US hikes interest rates - to Trump's annoyance
The episode connects a consequential US monetary-policy shift with its effects on households, global inflation and the president’s pressure on the central bank.
- 1The Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time in more than three years as inflation and borrowing costs remain pressing concerns.
- 2Nepal’s flood disaster leaves communities facing missing people, destroyed villages and a reconstruction bill expected to reach billions of dollars.
- 3New medical and scientific developments promise progress, but human-brain-cell mice and rapid sepsis testing raise questions about ethics and access.
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A badly injured racing driver speaks with the rival who rescued him from a burning car, reflecting on the crash and the bond it created.
The brief
The US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time in more than three years, drawing criticism from President Donald Trump as inflation and borrowing costs weigh on consumers.
Business correspondent Samira Hussain explains how higher mortgage rates, bond-market pressures and international inflation shape the decision and its political consequences.
Devastating floods across Nepal, Tibet and China leave people missing and villages destroyed, while rescuers struggle to assess the damage and governments confront a multibillion-dollar rebuild.
Researchers are testing human-brain-cell mice and a Scottish blood test that could identify sepsis microbes within hours, pairing scientific promise with ethical and medical stakes.
The bulletin closes with the death of Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, London’s award-winning Neapolitan pizza and a racing driver thanking the rival who pulled him from a burning car.
Books & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.

Donald John Trump
Olu Jacobs
The Global Story