What Big Tech wants out of Trump’s China visit

This episode of the FT News Briefing explores the strategic implications of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, where he brought top tech leaders including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jensen Huang. The focus is on how these executives are pushing for expanded market access in China, particularly around AI approvals, autonomous driving, and high-performance chip exports. While China's leadership expressed openness to business, analysts remain skeptical given years of tightening restrictions. Investor enthusiasm is highest for NVIDIA, which stands to gain the most from renewed access to China's market, while Apple and Tesla face fewer immediate barriers. The episode also shifts to domestic U.S. politics, introducing 'The Bethlehem Project'—a new series hosted by Sonia Hudson that examines national political dynamics through the lens of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a former steel town now shaped by immigration, economic decline, and shifting party allegiances. The series highlights a key Democratic primary race between progressive firefighter Bob Brooks and centrist former Republican Ryan Crosswell, symbolizing the party’s internal debate over how to appeal to working-class swing voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. The episode closes with a spotlight on Cerebrus Systems, a lesser-known AI chipmaker whose IPO surged 100%, signaling strong investor appetite for AI innovation despite market volatility.