The Economist
Showing 661–675 of 718 transcripts.
- 7 min
Fashion's toxic threads
Professor Richard Thompson, Tom Kay, Javier Goyeneche
Professor Richard Thompson highlights the fashion industry's severe environmental footprint, identifying synthetic fiber shedding during washing as a primary source of microplastic pollution that now contaminates up to one-third of fish in the English Channel. In response to these ecological threats, pioneering brands like Finisterre and EcoAlf are restructuring their supply chains to utilize organic materials and recycled ocean plastics, despite facing higher production costs and a lack of regulatory frameworks. While these sustainable initiatives offer a path forward, experts warn that without stricter laws and further research into long-term human health impacts, the industry's current trajectory poses an immediate danger to marine ecosystems.
- 7 min
How data transformed the NBA
Daryl Morey, Rajiv Masheswaran, Professor Rajiv Mahesharan
Leveraging big data and video tracking, the Houston Rockets transformed into championship contenders by prioritizing three-pointers and recruiting agile players to maximize efficiency. Analytics expert Daryl Morey and company Second Spectrum pioneered the integration of machine learning models that now track spatial data for all NBA teams, enabling real-time tactical adjustments. This data-driven approach, which claims to provide a five percent competitive edge, is shifting the entire league toward a transformational stage where algorithms and human instinct jointly guide in-game strategies.
- 7 min
The true cost of fast fashion
Mohammad Patel, Ijeoma Kola, Ryan Gellert
While global apparel production is projected to triple by 2050, overwhelmed recycling infrastructure currently processes only 25% of discarded clothing, resulting in massive landfill waste. Industry pioneers like Patagonia and Rent the Runway have demonstrated that alternative models prioritizing durability, repair, and shared access can achieve significant revenue and profitability while countering throwaway culture. Despite these proven success stories, the document concludes that such sustainability-focused approaches remain rare exceptions within a sector still dominated by rapid volume growth and disposable consumption.
- 6 min
How could veganism change the world?
Facing a projected 10 billion population and a food system responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts warn that without a shift toward plant-based diets, climate targets will remain out of reach. Industry leaders like Jaap Korteweg of The Vegetarian Butcher are demonstrating the viability of this transition by repurposing meat-processing infrastructure for plant alternatives, a move projected to save $1 trillion annually in healthcare costs while drastically reducing land use. Although a fully vegan world by 2050 is considered unlikely, policymakers and industry stakeholders agree that widespread adoption of plant-based foods is essential to avoid dangerous climate thresholds and improve public health outcomes.
- 19 min
#Metoo: how it's changing the world
Jacob Zuma, Gigi White, Noah, Jordan Peterson, Sheryl Sandberg, Morgan Mercer, Avela Faye, Sean, James, David Fuller
Since its global explosion in October 2017, the #MeToo movement has driven legal reforms and the resignation of powerful figures while simultaneously exposing systemic failures, such as South Africa's high femicide rate and low rape arrest statistics, as well as Western workplace tensions where male hesitation to mentor women has increased. To address these deep-rooted issues, initiatives like the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund have provided millions in support for victims, while innovative interventions including virtual reality training and male emotional intelligence workshops aim to bridge the growing empathy gap between genders. Despite a backlash characterized by male anxiety over undefined social boundaries, the movement continues to redefine sexual harassment discourse by shifting focus from isolated incidents to broader societal power dynamics and structural inequality.
- 17 min
Discover Hyderabad
Jonty, Usha, Saurabh Chatterjee, Srinivas Kolipara, JNT Raj Gopalan
Hyderabad has evolved from a historic center of diamond and pearl wealth into a vibrant modern metropolis anchored by T-Hub's rapid startup growth and Google's expanding campus in the Cyberabad district. The city's unique identity seamlessly blends this technological boom with deep cultural traditions, ranging from the ancient Charminar markets and royal Taj Falaknuma Palace to innovative experiences like Ayurvedic cocktails and local flower trade photography. Visitors engage with this duality through immersive activities such as traditional haggling, home-style cooking classes, and participation in religious festivals that welcome strangers into local celebrations.
- 27 min
Tara Westover: Mormons, Harry Potter and the future of education
Author Tara Westover discusses her memoir *Educated*, detailing her journey from an isolated fundamentalist household in rural Idaho where she lacked formal schooling until age seventeen. She highlights the sharp generational divide within her family, where three siblings including herself earned doctorates while four others did not complete high school, all while navigating estrangement caused by domestic violence. Westover frames education as the active construction of one's own mind, arguing that the current system must balance individual agency with social standards and better support teachers to remain effective.
- 28 min
Reverend Curry on Meghan, Harry and America
Curry, Meghan, Harry, Anne McElvoy
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry leveraged his historic role as the first African-American bishop of the Episcopal Church to deliver a sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, framing romantic love as a spiritual discipline of sacrificial living that transcends cultural divides. He extends this theology to address contemporary social fractures, urging the church to model pluralism amid internal disagreements on LGBTQ+ inclusion while publicly challenging the Trump administration's immigration policies as theological heresies. Ultimately, Curry projects a global vision where the church actively pursues the abolition of poverty and war, asserting that Christian love must drive both personal reconciliation and political justice.
- 7 min
How MDMA is being used to treat PTSD
With standard treatments effective in only 20% of cases, researchers led by Rick Doblin are pursuing FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy after trials showed over 60% of participants no longer met PTSD criteria. The non-profit-funded study utilizes a regimen of three drug sessions paired with psychotherapy to allow veterans like John Lubecki to process trauma without fear, a potential breakthrough for the 8 million Americans suffering from the disorder. Because the drug cannot be patented, this initiative by a small organization aims to transform the illicit substance into a regulated medicine that addresses a public health crisis costing the Department of Veterans Affairs $400 million annually.
- 24 min
The data revolution: privacy, politics and predictive policing
Dr Tom Devlin, Trump, Nick Bowers, Carol Reed, Hal Hodson, David Carroll, Mark Zuckerberg, Jamie Garcia, Hamid Khan, Sergeant David Rich, Anthony, Leo Hu
The event examines how the exponential growth of data generation is transforming healthcare through AI tools like Viz.ai while simultaneously enabling invasive surveillance in consumer marketing, law enforcement, and state control systems. Key case studies include the medical success of stroke detection algorithms, the electoral manipulation via Cambridge Analytica's unauthorized data harvesting, and the controversial implementation of China's Social Credit System. Furthermore, the discussion highlights significant ethical conflicts surrounding predictive policing biases in Los Angeles and the ongoing legal battles to ensure transparency in how personal data is collected and utilized by governments and corporations.
- 24 min
David Miliband on the future of liberalism
David Miliband, Zanny Minton Beddoes
David Miliband critiques the current global political landscape by diagnosing a triad of broken economic, cultural, and political contracts that have fueled populist movements across Europe and the United States. He advocates for a revitalized social democracy offering concrete solutions to inequality, while urging the West to maintain a unified front in managing relations with China and resolving refugee crises through enhanced international cooperation rather than isolationism. The discussion concludes with an assessment of the International Rescue Committee's operational challenges and a strategic call for "peacemaking" to address the root causes of modern displacement.
- 35 min
Steve Bannon debate at The Economist #OpenFutures festival
Steve Bannon, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Julissa Arce, Daniel Franklin
Steve Bannon articulates a strategy of economic nationalism that prioritizes immigration restrictions and trade protectionism to reclaim American jobs, while defending European populist leaders like Viktor Orbán and Matteo Salvini as legitimate defenders of national sovereignty. He characterizes China as a totalitarian rival in an economic war and frames the Paris Climate Agreement as a geopolitical failure, arguing instead that the true threat to the working class lies in the convergence of automation and genetic engineering. This worldview drives a broader mission to deconstruct the administrative state and appoint conservative judges who can dismantle regulatory overreach, positioning Donald Trump as the essential vehicle to break the "medieval theology" of free trade.
- 25 min
Tony Blair on the future of liberalism
Marking the 175th anniversary of *The Economist* and the 21st anniversary of New Labour, former Prime Minister Tony Blair reflects on the 1998, 2003, and 2004 policy decisions that contributed to modern societal fractures while outlining a renewal strategy for liberalism. Blair proposes addressing root causes of polarization through strict immigration controls without prejudice, a proactive technological policy agenda, and a return to positive-sum economic growth to counter the rise of populism. Urging the restoration of a rational political center, he suggests resolving the Brexit impasse via a second referendum and warns that without a centrist platform, the UK risks perpetual political paralysis between the extremes.
- 8 min
Romania's last orphanages
Following the collapse of Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime, Romania is transitioning from a legacy of institutional neglect involving over 100,000 abandoned children to a family-based care model supported by the charity Hope and Homes for Children. This reform, which aims to close all large institutions within a decade, involves the deinstitutionalization of thousands of children, such as those at the Ion Holban Institution, into foster or group home settings. While the initiative successfully reunites siblings and addresses severe past abuses, it faces ongoing challenges in providing adequate staffing and long-term support to ensure the successful reintegration of former residents into independent life.
- 21 min
ABBA star, Bjorn Ulvaeus, on Mamma Mia and Brexit sadness
Universal Pictures advanced the *Mamma Mia!* sequel after convincing Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus to approve a dual-narrative script featuring digital avatars of the group performing two newly recorded tracks. The project required mutual consent from all four band members and utilized modern technology to simulate the musicians' 1979 appearances while integrating current vocal performances from Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Ulvaeus further discusses the band's evolving artistic themes, their diverse musical influences, and his personal views on politics and legacy during the release strategy discussions.