Leyla Boulton
@leylaboulton.bsky.social
FT journalist and City of London councillor for Bassishaw ward. Development editor, FT Live and Liaison with the FT's Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign charity. Ex-correspondent in Ankara, Moscow, Paris, Brussels.
The nub of the story: ‘Analysts said it was possible that Washington had moved the SDRs to Argentina as part of the arrangement.´
on.ft.com/47YSY6R
on.ft.com/47YSY6R
US drew $900mn from IMF account as Argentina debt payment loomed
Buenos Aires’s reserves rose by the same margin as Washington seeks to bolster Javier Milei’s government
on.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
The nub of the story: ‘Analysts said it was possible that Washington had moved the SDRs to Argentina as part of the arrangement.´
on.ft.com/47YSY6R
on.ft.com/47YSY6R
‘The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 pct a decade ago to 54 pct. Over 40 pct consider themselves lower or working class, suggesting that many of the finer things feel completely out of reach’ @brookeamasters.ft.com on what this means
on.ft.com/4hVXkjn
on.ft.com/4hVXkjn
How the American dream turned out to be pay to play
Big brands from Disney to American Express are profiting from economic divisions and making them wider
on.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:03 PM
‘The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 pct a decade ago to 54 pct. Over 40 pct consider themselves lower or working class, suggesting that many of the finer things feel completely out of reach’ @brookeamasters.ft.com on what this means
on.ft.com/4hVXkjn
on.ft.com/4hVXkjn
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
FT Editorial on the BBC - The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it www.ft.com/content/406e...
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
FT Editorial on the BBC - The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it www.ft.com/content/406e...
‘Trump’s opponents sense a potential dawn... Since he was re-elected, Democrats had been suffering from the institutional version of depression. Led by ageing time servers, who seemed punch drunk by the audacity of Trump’s manoeuvres, the party’s approval rating kept falling.’ on.ft.com/47FZsHq
Has Trump passed his peak?
One thing is for sure: the opening act of the US president’s second term is over
on.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
‘Trump’s opponents sense a potential dawn... Since he was re-elected, Democrats had been suffering from the institutional version of depression. Led by ageing time servers, who seemed punch drunk by the audacity of Trump’s manoeuvres, the party’s approval rating kept falling.’ on.ft.com/47FZsHq
@financialtimes.com ‘Despite the claims that Hungary has no other alternatives to Druzhba, there is a Croatian-owned pipeline that could supply Hungary and neighbouring countries with seaborne crude.’ on.ft.com/47EXuHi
Orbán to seek approval from Trump to continue importing Russian oil
Hungarian prime minister to push for exemptions from US sanctions during White House meeting on Friday
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
@financialtimes.com ‘Despite the claims that Hungary has no other alternatives to Druzhba, there is a Croatian-owned pipeline that could supply Hungary and neighbouring countries with seaborne crude.’ on.ft.com/47EXuHi
Take a look at this extraordinary story by the @financialtimes.com investigations star Alison Killing:
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
November 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Take a look at this extraordinary story by the @financialtimes.com investigations star Alison Killing:
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
FT summary: ‘The vote was the 1st major electoral test of Trump’s 2nd term, in which he has shaken up global trade with high tariffs, cracked down on immigrants, deployed US troops to American cities, and torn down part of the White House to make room for a donor-funded ballroom.’ on.ft.com/4ol0r6V
Democratic US electoral sweep deals blow to Trump
Zohran Mamdani wins New York and Republicans defeated in New Jersey and Virginia
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
FT summary: ‘The vote was the 1st major electoral test of Trump’s 2nd term, in which he has shaken up global trade with high tariffs, cracked down on immigrants, deployed US troops to American cities, and torn down part of the White House to make room for a donor-funded ballroom.’ on.ft.com/4ol0r6V
@edwardluce: ‘There is no elegant way to triangulate Holocaust-deniers with people who grasp basic history. Vance is chiefly after the Christian nationalist base. The term “Judeo-Christian” does not feature in his vocabulary. His aim is to be Trump’s natural heir.’ on.ft.com/4hHr6sd
Don’t blame the left for US antisemitism
The anti-Jewish threat in America today comes largely from the right
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 AM
@edwardluce: ‘There is no elegant way to triangulate Holocaust-deniers with people who grasp basic history. Vance is chiefly after the Christian nationalist base. The term “Judeo-Christian” does not feature in his vocabulary. His aim is to be Trump’s natural heir.’ on.ft.com/4hHr6sd
Even Grok told me “while Grokipedia improves on specific Wikipedia flaws — like verbose, overly critical entries on conservative topics — its AI gatekeeping creates a centralised ‘Musk’s truth’ filter [and] trades one set of biases for another, often with less accountability.” on.ft.com/48YuVH7
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia is a major own goal
Humans might be highly imperfect and biased but they are still better than AI at getting to the truth
on.ft.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Even Grok told me “while Grokipedia improves on specific Wikipedia flaws — like verbose, overly critical entries on conservative topics — its AI gatekeeping creates a centralised ‘Musk’s truth’ filter [and] trades one set of biases for another, often with less accountability.” on.ft.com/48YuVH7
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
"We don't want another anodyne financial centre"; latest #LondonSociety housing session hears residents' calls for more homes in the #SquareMile . My #OnLondon report www.onlondon.co.uk/city-of-lond... @robfiehn.bsky.social @leylaboulton.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
City of London: Residents call for more Square Mile homes
Speakers at the latest London Society housing event argued that the Square Mile could only benefit from having more people living there
www.onlondon.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"We don't want another anodyne financial centre"; latest #LondonSociety housing session hears residents' calls for more homes in the #SquareMile . My #OnLondon report www.onlondon.co.uk/city-of-lond... @robfiehn.bsky.social @leylaboulton.bsky.social @london.gov.uk
And it gets money from the World Bank and the Gates Foundation too? 'Although Blair does not take a salary from the institute, TBI’s other four directors were paid a total of $2.1mn last year, up from $2mn... The highest-paid director, who's not named, took home $1.3mn.' on.ft.com/4qqeslp
Tony Blair Institute undertakes restructuring as losses mount
Consulting group and think-tank founded by former PM doubles down on artificial intelligence and seeks new donors
on.ft.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
And it gets money from the World Bank and the Gates Foundation too? 'Although Blair does not take a salary from the institute, TBI’s other four directors were paid a total of $2.1mn last year, up from $2mn... The highest-paid director, who's not named, took home $1.3mn.' on.ft.com/4qqeslp
“I have to believe that at some point magistrates will refuse to rubber-stamp search warrants, that soldiers will refuse to turn their guns on Americans, and that Congress will remember its constitutional role…We have to live in hope.” Must read @edwardluce.bsky.social on.ft.com/4qoZJHn
The Trump Supremacy
Opponents in disarray, allies in line, followers enthralled — the US president is already on his way to building a new world order
on.ft.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:08 AM
“I have to believe that at some point magistrates will refuse to rubber-stamp search warrants, that soldiers will refuse to turn their guns on Americans, and that Congress will remember its constitutional role…We have to live in hope.” Must read @edwardluce.bsky.social on.ft.com/4qoZJHn
Asked if the FT’s calculations on his family’s profits were broadly accurate, Eric Trump said the true figure was “probably more”. The crypto empire is built on a vast web of opaque ventures in the largely unregulated industry… all touting close ties to the president’s family.’ on.ft.com/4olkLoi
FT Investigation: How the Trump companies made $1bn from crypto
The president and his family have built a rapidly growing digital assets empire which has been fuelled by the administration’s industry-friendly policies
on.ft.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Asked if the FT’s calculations on his family’s profits were broadly accurate, Eric Trump said the true figure was “probably more”. The crypto empire is built on a vast web of opaque ventures in the largely unregulated industry… all touting close ties to the president’s family.’ on.ft.com/4olkLoi
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
"An essential condition today for entry into the upper echelons of Conservative party politics is being willing to at least pretend that you think taking Britain out of the EU was a good idea. This is a never-ending lobotomy for the Tories." www.ft.com/content/a65f...
How Brexit drained the Tories’ talent pool
The party can’t keep expecting successful people to pretend that leaving the EU was a good idea
www.ft.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
"An essential condition today for entry into the upper echelons of Conservative party politics is being willing to at least pretend that you think taking Britain out of the EU was a good idea. This is a never-ending lobotomy for the Tories." www.ft.com/content/a65f...
Calling @financialtimes.com subscribers: join us 23 October 1300 UK (1200 GMT) to discuss central banks, bonds, and the risks ahead. Register now and put your question to Lael Brainard, Fidelity's Salman Ahmed, @chrisgiles.ft.com, @katie0martin.ft.com, and @senojerialc.bsky.social. Go to ft.com/edge
October 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Calling @financialtimes.com subscribers: join us 23 October 1300 UK (1200 GMT) to discuss central banks, bonds, and the risks ahead. Register now and put your question to Lael Brainard, Fidelity's Salman Ahmed, @chrisgiles.ft.com, @katie0martin.ft.com, and @senojerialc.bsky.social. Go to ft.com/edge
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
Good morning New York, while you were sleeping this was our most read story. on.ft.com/3KP65iX
October 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Good morning New York, while you were sleeping this was our most read story. on.ft.com/3KP65iX
Reposted by Leyla Boulton
Israel kills several Palestinians in Gaza strikes on.ft.com/3KPgE5w
Israel kills several Palestinians in Gaza strikes
Attack on Gazans inspecting homes comes days after fragile ceasefire goes into effect
on.ft.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Israel kills several Palestinians in Gaza strikes on.ft.com/3KPgE5w
You’ve got to hand it to financialtimes.com subscribers for top-quality comments. One has already written Trump’s thank you speech for the Nobel peace prize in this top-notch @richardmilne.ft.com piece on the perspective from Oslo on.ft.com/46WNEA3 Donald Trump looms large over Nobel Peace Prize
October 9, 2025 at 6:29 AM
You’ve got to hand it to financialtimes.com subscribers for top-quality comments. One has already written Trump’s thank you speech for the Nobel peace prize in this top-notch @richardmilne.ft.com piece on the perspective from Oslo on.ft.com/46WNEA3 Donald Trump looms large over Nobel Peace Prize
‘I don’t know whether what’s going on is more of Putin’s show trial or Trump’s reality TV, but it’s messed up,” said Bill Christeson, a 71-year-old democracy activist’
on.ft.com/3VVLPyw
on.ft.com/3VVLPyw
James Comey pleads not guilty to charge of lying to US Congress
Former FBI chief who oversaw probe into Donald Trump’s alleged links to Russia will face trial on January 5
on.ft.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
‘I don’t know whether what’s going on is more of Putin’s show trial or Trump’s reality TV, but it’s messed up,” said Bill Christeson, a 71-year-old democracy activist’
on.ft.com/3VVLPyw
on.ft.com/3VVLPyw
Hear hear. ‘The national sport of Britain-bashing may have gone too far. ‘
on.ft.com/4nCSjhN
on.ft.com/4nCSjhN
Give Britain a break: its economy is dull, not disastrous
While broader growth is subdued, consumers feel optimistic about their own lot
on.ft.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Hear hear. ‘The national sport of Britain-bashing may have gone too far. ‘
on.ft.com/4nCSjhN
on.ft.com/4nCSjhN
‘The Kennedy pledge to find the cause of #autism by the end of this month was always a long shot. Instead, Trump went for the cheap shot: telling women, without good evidence, to simply put up with the pain.’ 🙏 @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/48s08Cg Autism has no easy answers
on.ft.com/48s08Cg Autism has no easy answers
Autism has no easy answers
[FREE TO READ] Donald Trump’s promotion of an unproven link between Tylenol and neurological disorders does not help pregnant women
on.ft.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:47 PM
‘The Kennedy pledge to find the cause of #autism by the end of this month was always a long shot. Instead, Trump went for the cheap shot: telling women, without good evidence, to simply put up with the pain.’ 🙏 @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/48s08Cg Autism has no easy answers
on.ft.com/48s08Cg Autism has no easy answers
‘The right fulminates against tax increases but offers no realistic alternatives beyond vague calls to cut spending. The left lives in a fantasy world of soaking the rich or simply denying fiscal reality…I often felt I was arguing for a system-wide and long-term approach to tax’ on.ft.com/4muHY6n
Britain must break from the grip of dysfunctional policymaking
Speculation over what might be in November’s Budget has left me depressed about our capacity for rational policies
on.ft.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
‘The right fulminates against tax increases but offers no realistic alternatives beyond vague calls to cut spending. The left lives in a fantasy world of soaking the rich or simply denying fiscal reality…I often felt I was arguing for a system-wide and long-term approach to tax’ on.ft.com/4muHY6n
September 19, 2025 at 8:41 AM
‘His plan is extremely effective — all Smotrich needs is time…says Khatib. “If nobody interferes, the PA will no longer be able to pay salaries — that will be the beginning of the collapse, and he will achieve his objective of dismantling the Palestinian Authority.’
on.ft.com/4guEJu3
on.ft.com/4guEJu3
How Israel is dismantling the dream of a Palestinian state
While attention has been focused on Gaza, Israel has undermined the delicate architecture of governance in the West Bank built up over three decades
on.ft.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:23 AM
‘His plan is extremely effective — all Smotrich needs is time…says Khatib. “If nobody interferes, the PA will no longer be able to pay salaries — that will be the beginning of the collapse, and he will achieve his objective of dismantling the Palestinian Authority.’
on.ft.com/4guEJu3
on.ft.com/4guEJu3