Latest Interviews
Showing 16–22 of 22 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist25 min
Kyiv calm and carry on: Trump’s win may benefit Ukraine
Trump, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Katherine Nixie
Amidst a deteriorating military situation in Ukraine characterized by Russian offensives toward Pokrovsk and internal morale crises, the incoming Trump administration's potential peace plans, including neutrality proposals from J.D. Vance, face skepticism regarding their feasibility within a 24-hour window. Simultaneously, African diaspora churches are experiencing rapid global expansion and financial integration through tithes and digital innovation, while the release of *Gladiator II* sparks cultural debate over its departure from the original film's democratic optimism in favor of modern themes like anti-elitism and racial diversity. These divergent developments highlight a geopolitical landscape shifting under new leadership, a religious sector adapting to Western demographics, and entertainment reflecting contemporary societal anxieties about institutional trust.
- The Economist24 min
Some like it hot: could Trump derail climate talks?
Trump, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Oliver Morton, Henry Tricks, Catherine Nixie
Microsoft and OpenAI are exploring a shift away from exclusive Azure partnerships to host OpenAI models on Amazon Web Services, a move driven by revenue diversification and regulatory pressures that align with Microsoft's broader AI portfolio expansion. Simultaneously, COP29 in Baku confronts the urgency of 2024's record-breaking heat and potential US withdrawal under a second Trump administration while attempting to establish new climate finance baselines to replace the 2015 Paris Agreement's ad hoc targets. In cultural affairs, the Remembrance Day poppy has evolved from a unifying WWI memorial into a contested symbol of modern identity politics, with its commercial sales and varying interpretations now sparking polarized public debates as living historical memory fades.
- The Economist23 min
Don of a new age: Trump’s decisive win
Trump, Jason, John Prudhoe, Charlotte Howard, Idris Kalloun, Tamara Gilkes-Boer, Adam O'Neill, Aaron Braun
Donald Trump is projected to secure the presidency and a unified Republican trifecta, becoming the only president since Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms while defeating Kamala Harris across key swing states. The campaign's "base-first" strategy drove significant gains among working-class and cross-racial demographics, allowing Trump to potentially appoint new Supreme Court justices and pursue an unchecked legislative agenda. Conversely, the Democratic Party faces intense internal scrutiny over its nomination process and policy failures as Republicans prepare to leverage their control of Congress and the judiciary for a second term.
- The Economist23 min
Coming up Trump: our election model puts Harris behind
Trump, Harris, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Dan Rosenheck, Simon Wright, Shailesh Chitnas
The Economist's latest forecasting model has shifted to give Donald Trump a 56% probability of winning the U.S. presidency, narrowing the Electoral College gap in key swing states after consolidating undecided and third-party voters. Meanwhile, Tesla introduced its autonomous Cyber Cab and RoboVan with plans to undercut competitors on price, though the event triggered a 9% stock decline due to investor skepticism over regulatory hurdles and a lack of concrete deployment timelines. Finally, Microsoft marked Excel's 40th anniversary by integrating AI assistants to maintain its dominance among 400 million paid users despite the software's historical role in significant data processing errors.
- The Economist23 min
Foiled again: a second attempt on Trump
Trump, Rosie Bloor, John Priddo, Paul Markely, Anne Rowe
Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt by former activist Ryan Wesley Routh, sparking renewed scrutiny over Secret Service protocols and prompting Republicans to leverage the incident for fundraising while media narratives shifted toward security. Concurrently, the expanding utility of digital twin technology is transforming sectors from Formula One racing to medical diagnostics by enabling real-time virtual simulations that predict maintenance needs and test surgical procedures. In a separate cultural development, Brazilian bossa nova legend Sergio Mendes died at 83, leaving behind a legacy of blending global pop hits with Brazilian rhythms and maintaining a strong national identity despite decades in the United States.
- The Economist23 min
Don wan: Harris keeps Trump tame
Harris, Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, James Bennett, Amelia Wood, Ora Ogunbiyi
Vice President Kamala Harris dominated the election debate by reframing border security discussions and presenting specific economic policies, while Donald Trump failed to detail healthcare alternatives, repeated false claims about the 2020 election, and offered vague responses on Ukraine. Analyst James Bennett observed that although Harris put Trump "on the back foot" with this performance, the event is unlikely to significantly shift polling or the campaign's ultimate outcome. Simultaneously, a global medical review highlighted the United States' critical role as the primary plasma exporter, contrasting its payment-based donation model with restrictive European regulations driven by safety concerns and political contradictions. This economic strain also extends to Nigeria, where rising living costs are forcing Yoruba families to consolidate multi-day weddings into single-day events and replace luxury customs with modest, practical alternatives.
- The Economist21 min
Out on a ledger: Trump convicted
Trump, Ora Okunbiyi, Jason Palmer, Sumi, Kenneth Werner, John McDermott
Former President Donald Trump became the first U.S. ex-president criminally convicted on 34 felony counts, a verdict he attributes to political retaliation while likely facing a suspended sentence and using the outcome to bolster his fundraising ahead of the November election. Simultaneously, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, forcing President Cyril Ramaphosa into difficult coalition negotiations between pragmatic centrist partners and populist allies. In personnel news, The Economist's Auret van der Merwe transitioned from on-air host to its Africa correspondent in Lagos to lead coverage of the continent's emerging business and cultural landscape.