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The Story of Money

22 Jul 2025 · 1m

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Introducing Tech Tonic: The rise and fall of Trump’s tech bros

In short

The episode introduces “Tech Tonic” and explores the relationships between Donald Trump and major tech figures, framing it as the rise and fall of Trump’s “tech bros.”

Guest backgrounds

No specific guests are named in the provided transcript; host is Murad Ahmed (Financial Times).

Key claims

The “bromance” between Elon Musk and Trump may be over; Mark Zuckerberg may have been a fan of Trump; Trump is threatening a 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in the US; Tim Cook is positioned as a potential savior for Apple amid the trade war.

Notable examples

Elon Musk/Trump bromance, Zuckerberg’s alleged support, Apple iPhone tariff threat, Tim Cook’s role.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

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Transcript

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0:00Let me tell you, we have a new star. A star is born, Elon.

0:05Murad Ahmed: Is the bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump really over? Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face, one of the most badass things I've ever seen in my life. Has Mark Zuckerberg been a fan of the president all along? The US president is now threatening a 25 % tariff on Apple unless iPhones start being made in the United States. And can Tim Cook save Apple from the trade war? I'm Murad Ahmed, and in a new season of Tectonic, I'm exploring the relationships between Donald Trump and some of the titans of the tech world. We have to protect our geniuses. We don't have that many of them.

0:42Murad Ahmed: What's really driving those relationships? And what might they mean for the future of technology in the US and beyond? That's Tectonic from the Financial Times. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

0:58Thank you.

From the publisher

Can Tim Cook save Apple from the trade war? Has Mark Zuckerberg really been a fan of Donald Trump all along? And is the bromance between Elon Musk and the president really over? 


In a new season of Tech Tonic, Murad Ahmed explores the relationships between Trump and some of the titans of the tech world. What is really driving those relationships, and what might they mean for the future of technology in the US and beyond?


Free to read:


‘He is power’: billionaires line up for Donald Trump’s inauguration


Donald Trump lashes out at Apple over plan to ship US iPhones from India


How Jeff Bezos made peace with Donald Trump


What has Elon Musk’s Doge actually achieved?


How Joel Kaplan became Mark Zuckerberg’s most trusted political fixer


How Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley funded the sudden rise of JD Vance


This season of Tech Tonic is presented by Murad Ahmed and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Flo Phillips. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music, Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT’s acting co-heads of audio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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