Volkswagen is facing a crisis. Often considered a symbol of Germany’s industrial power, it’s now reckoning with a difficult transition to electric vehicles, among other issues. And now, management is considering breaking a long-held taboo: closing German factories. Patricia Nilsson, the FT’s Frankfurt correspondent, heads to VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg to examine the fallout and what’s next.     Clips from Bloomberg, DW News, CNN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: For European carmakers, EVs are a Catch-22 Why Volkswagen is seeking to break the taboo of closing German plants VW audit of Xinjiang plant failed to meet international standards - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Patricia Nilsson (@patricianilsson) 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.

As Jay Powell’s Federal Reserve contemplates making the first interest rate cut in more than two years, we’re taking a step back with the FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong. How did Powell tame inflation without crashing the economy? And how might history judge his leadership? Clips from Associated Press  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: Is Jay Powell lucky or good? Remain calm  Martin Sandbu’s column: A self-congratulatory inflation narrative at Jackson Hole  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On X, follow Robert Armstrong (@rbrtrmstrng) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Want to hear more from Rob? Listen to the Unhedged podcast.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.