Latest Interviews
Showing 61–75 of 164 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist22 min
Don’t mention the war: Russia’s internal tensions
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Arkady Ostrovsky, Matthew Holhouse
Analysts predict Vladimir Putin's regime faces potential unraveling due to a fragmented society where a pacifist majority fears total collapse yet creates fertile ground for crisis-driven change, a dynamic paralleling the late Soviet era. Simultaneously, the UK's Labour government confronts severe electoral volatility after securing a parliamentary majority with only 34% of the popular vote, necessitating tangible economic improvements to counter insurgent challenges from Reform UK and the Greens. Finally, corporate research demonstrates that while third-party nicknames enhance brand authenticity, hierarchical workplace nicknaming erodes psychological safety when initiated by management.
- The Economist28 min
Of peanuts and principles: Jimmy Carter dies
Jimmy Carter, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, John Prudhoe, Tom Standage, Tim Cross
This episode analyzes the complex legacy of Jimmy Carter by contrasting his troubled presidency with his transformative post-White House humanitarian work, while forecasting a volatile 2025 shaped by Donald Trump's potential return and disruptive forces like solar storms and AI adoption. The discussion further dissects Elon Musk's ideologically driven leadership through recommendations of science fiction and biographies that reveal his fixation on existential threats and multi-planetary colonization. Collectively, these segments offer a multidimensional view of historical reflection, future geopolitical unpredictability, and the personal philosophies driving modern technological power.
- The Economist28 min
Country of the year: The Economist picks
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Patrick Fowles, Josie DeLapp, Lena Shipper, Alexander Sewage Bus, Sharon Loman, Angie Keeling-Garcia
The Economist awarded Bangladesh the title of Country of the Year 2024 for its significant governance and economic stabilization under interim leader Muhammad Yunus following a student-led revolution that ousted Sheikh Hasina. This selection superseded Syria, which editors rejected due to the uncertainty of its post-Assad transition and the potential rule by the extremist HTS group. Concurrently, the report highlights a severe post-pandemic crisis of pet abandonment in the US, where rescue organizations are struggling to manage record surrender rates driven by impulsive consumer behavior and a surplus of now-unwanted animals.
- The Economist24 min
Between Estonia and a hard place: NATO meets
Rosie Bloor, Adam Roberts, Ava Renee, Anne Hanna, Dr Alex Christensen, Daryl van Tongeren, Erin Braun, Bob Van Wagenen
At a summit in Tallinn hosted by Estonia, NATO leaders coordinated defense strategies against Russian aggression, agreeing to intensify sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet while pushing member states to exceed the 2% GDP spending benchmark. Concurrently, a separate global analysis reveals the rapid capitalization of digital spirituality, a sector projected to grow 15% annually as influencers and corporations monetize the declining trust in traditional religious institutions among Western youth. Amidst these geopolitical and economic shifts, conservationists face a critical crisis in recovering the California condor population from lead poisoning and wildfire threats, despite a significant increase in numbers from 22 birds in 1982.
- The Economist29 min
Mass graves: revealing Syria’s horror
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Gareth Brown, Sophie Petter, Andy Miller, Rachel Lloyd, Nicholas Barber
Ten days after Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, journalist Gareth Brown confirmed the existence of a massive mass grave in Al-Qutayfa where locals allege regime forces buried up to 100,000 political prisoners from Sadnaya prison. Meanwhile, France faces a deepening political crisis as President Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou to lead a caretaker government following the dismissal of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, leaving the nation without a 2025 budget amidst threats of immediate no-confidence votes from all parliamentary factions. In cultural news, critics highlight three distinct 2024 releases: Sean Baker's *Anora* subverts marriage tropes, *All of Us Strangers* explores grief through supernatural drama, and *The Substance* delivers a satirical body-horror critique of Hollywood's ageism.
- The Economist27 min
Off-side: Georgians reject new president
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Sarah Larniuk, Tim Cross, Maria Vilcek
In Tbilisi, escalating protests driven by democratic demands and opposition to oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili have forced the Georgian government to shift from violent crackdowns to legal intimidation following a contested presidential election and EU accession delays. Meanwhile, the incoming US administration faces complex political inertia in potentially slashing the $93 billion NASA Artemis program, as cost inefficiencies clash with entrenched congressional support for the Space Launch System across multiple states. Concurrently, the classic martini cocktail is experiencing a cultural resurgence due to its historical resilience and adaptability, with modern consumers favoring high-quality, home-mixable versions over declining general alcohol consumption trends.
- The Economist22 min
Minds blown: are we getting dumber?
Rosie Bloor, Mark Johnson, Duncan Weldon, Anne Rowe
A decade-old OECD survey reveals that one-fifth of adults globally lack functional skills needed for employment, with Finland leading rankings while cognitive scores decline in the US and Italy. Meanwhile, Russia's economy grew by 3.6% despite sanctions, forcing its central bank to raise interest rates to 21% to curb inflation and stabilize the falling ruble against the Chinese yuan. In a historical note, Shalom Nagar, the Israeli prison officer who executed Adolf Eichmann in 1962, has died after suffering severe trauma from the act before finding spiritual solace through Jewish concepts of good deeds.
- The Economist20 min
Bye, cell: inside a notorious Syrian prison
Jason Palmer, Rosie Blore, Gareth Brown, Henrietta McFarlane, Anne Hanna, Heather Jones, Cristina Chiwin, Oliver Jones
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syrian rebels and civilians have liberated Saydnaya Prison to uncover evidence of mass executions and systematic torture affecting over 30,000 detainees while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham moves to establish a transitional government. Concurrently, a global surge in spiritual tourism is driving India's sector toward a $59 billion valuation by 2028 and doubling pilgrim numbers on Spain's Camino de Santiago route despite the decline of organized religion. Meanwhile, Manchester City faces a dual crisis as its seven-year domestic dominance ends amidst a five-game losing streak attributed to player exhaustion, compounded by an independent investigation into alleged Premier League financial breaches by its Emirati ownership.
- The Economist26 min
Peace from pieces: Syria after Assad
Jason Palmer, Christopher Lockwood, Tom Wainwright, Johnny Williams, Matthew Mercer
Following a rapid 12-day rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus to end five decades of rule, triggering a complex geopolitical shift as Russia and Iran withdraw support while Turkey and the US balance new power dynamics. Concurrently, Australia enacted the world's first blanket ban on social media for minors under 16, imposing heavy fines on non-compliant tech firms despite concerns over AI age-verification accuracy and uneven regulatory competition. In cultural developments, Dungeons & Dragons marked its 50th anniversary by evolving from a niche hobby into a mainstream phenomenon driven by the fifth edition, popular media crossovers, and a generation of creators who cite the game as a vital tool for social confidence and storytelling.
- The Economist25 min
Ashes to Masses: Notre Dame’s stunning return
Jason Palmer, Sophie Petter, Ori Ogunbi, Anne Rowe
Following a five-year restoration funded by nearly €900 million in private donations, Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen in Paris with its historic spire and oak roof reconstructed using strict medieval techniques under the leadership of General Jean-Louis Georgelain. Meanwhile, Ghana prepares for a pivotal election where former President John Mahama challenges the incumbent amid a severe economic crisis characterized by 23% inflation and a sovereign debt default. In a related commemoration of World War II history, the legacy of John Kinsel, the last surviving Navajo Code Talker who died at age 107, highlights the critical role of the indigenous language in creating an unbreakable cipher during the Pacific campaign.
- The Economist20 min
Dark side of the Yoon: South Korea’s chaos
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Emma Hogan, Ana Lankes, Tim Cross
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to declare martial law for six hours to counter alleged North Korean infiltration, a move rejected by lawmakers who have since united to pursue his impeachment amid claims of an attempted coup. The crisis stems from deep political polarization and could trigger a constitutional trial that would likely shift the nation's foreign policy away from hawkish stances toward engagement. This instability threatens South Korea's regional alliances with the US and Japan while leaving the country's constitutional order vulnerable to further internal conflict.
- Milken Institute20 min
A Conversation with CMS Director of Medicare Meena Seshamani | Future of Health Summit 2024
Meena Seshamani, Bertha Coombs
A multidisciplinary team comprising experts from drug pricing, pharmacy, and economics has implemented health care reforms focused on treating developmental issues, chronic illnesses, and behavioral health within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. These initiatives, which include updating risk adjustment methodologies and navigating the Inflation Reduction Act, aim to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and integrate services to address over 400,000 additional conditions. With a target deadline of September 1st for international financial agreements, the organization plans to execute these changes over five to eight months while utilizing new communication platforms and patient feedback to ensure system stability.
- The Economist26 min
Milei’s way: Argentina’s president, a year on
Milei, Celeste Caeiro, Rosie Bloor, Kinley Salmon, Marie Zegger, Lisa Honsinger, Anne Rowe
Argentina's President Javier Milei has halved default risk and slashed monthly inflation from 13% to 3% through radical fiscal contraction and the removal of central bank deficit financing, despite pushing poverty rates to 53%. Concurrently, a UN treaty involving 180 nations and major corporations like Coca-Cola aims to bind global plastic production to stricter recycling mandates and biodegradable alternatives, a move supported by startups like Notpla to address the 500 million tonnes of annual waste. The upcoming implementation of this treaty follows the 50th anniversary of Portugal's Carnation Revolution, a non-violent 1974 coup symbolized by worker Celeste Sairu that toppled a 40-year dictatorship.
- Y Combinator33 min
How To Start A Dev Tools Company | Startup School
Drawing on Y Combinator's extensive portfolio of companies like GitLab and Stripe, this analysis outlines that successful DevTools founders must be technical builders who validate ideas through rapid prototyping and direct developer engagement. The presentation emphasizes a bottom-up sales strategy where founders personally sell to technical buyers, prioritizing usage-based monetization and open-source trust-building over traditional marketing. Furthermore, it identifies key pitfalls such as premature hiring and non-technical leadership, advocating instead for a founder-led approach until the product reaches approximately $1 million in annual recurring revenue.
- Y Combinator23 min
Twitter vs. X: Product Lessons For Startup Founders
The presentation critiques the trend of optimizing social platforms for singular engagement metrics, arguing that this strategy degrades user satisfaction by creating "engagement farms" filled with low-quality content. Using Twitter's transformation under Elon Musk as a primary case study, the analysis highlights how shifting from a chronological feed to an algorithmic model has diluted content quality, confused verification systems, and likely reduced advertising revenue despite boosting raw usage time. Ultimately, the speaker advises product leaders to define clear "good states" for users and resist growth-at-all-costs pressures to ensure long-term retention and genuine value.