Latest Interviews
Showing 76–90 of 164 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist25 min
Up and atom: can Trump stop Iranian nukes?
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Greg Kallstrom, Jason Chow, Avantika Chirkotty
Geopolitical tensions regarding Iran's nuclear program have intensified as its enriched uranium stockpile reaches 6,000 kilograms while a potential second Trump administration prepares to reimpose "maximum pressure" sanctions aimed at regime change or a new comprehensive agreement. Simultaneously, China confronts a demographic collapse with a fertility rate of 1.1 by enforcing aggressive pro-natalist policies that link housing loans and taxes to family size, marking a stark return to state-controlled reproduction. In the commercial sector, the $400 billion global sportswear market is undergoing significant disruption as Nike and Adidas lose ground to agile competitors like On and Hoka, who capitalize on low entry barriers and a shifting consumer preference for performance footwear over lifestyle brands.
- The Economist21 min
Rio brand: why Brazil is courting China
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Ana Lankes, Natasha Loder, James Francham
At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized neoliberal globalization and proposed reforming international institutions while Brazil pivots economically and strategically toward China to offset tensions with an anticipated Trump administration. Concurrently, a Guy Foundation report warns that space travel induces accelerated aging by damaging astronaut mitochondria, suggesting that deep-space colonization may eventually require genetic engineering to overcome biological barriers. Finally, the United Kingdom's telecommunications infrastructure has deteriorated to rank among the worst in the developed world due to regulatory setbacks, insufficient investment, and planning restrictions, prompting a controversial proposed merger between Vodafone and 3 to alleviate capacity constraints.
- The Economist25 min
The long game: how will US missiles help Ukraine?
Rosie Bloor, Shashank Joshi, Simon Rabinovich, Benjamin Sutherland
The Biden administration authorized Ukraine to employ US-supplied ATACMS missiles within Russian territory, a strategic move designed to counter North Korean troop deployments in Kursk and bolster Kyiv's position ahead of President Trump's inauguration. Concurrently, divergent Western diplomatic approaches have emerged, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz breaking his silence to call Vladimir Putin despite criticism from Kyiv and Warsaw. In domestic affairs, President-elect Trump's "Trumponomics" platform promises aggressive tax cuts, deregulation, and high tariffs, creating immediate market rallies while economists warn of long-term inflation and labor shortages. Finally, airship technology is experiencing a resurgence driven by fuel efficiency and cargo capacity, with commercial demonstrations expected soon to address logistical bottlenecks where speed is secondary to cost.
- The Economist25 min
Needs Musk: Donald Trump’s new appointments
Musk, Donald Trump, Rosie Bloor, John Priddo, Matt Steinglass, Leo Morani
The Trump administration appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new commission for government efficiency while filling key national security and State Department roles with figures aligned to a hardline agenda. Concurrently, European agricultural sectors face intensifying labor shortages due to migration policy shifts, forcing nations like the Netherlands to balance reliance on migrant workers against rising exploitation and regulatory reforms. In India, a trend of "nominal inflation" sees officials appending lengthy ideological titles to public spaces and programs, a practice critics argue creates bureaucratic burdens and reflects a fundamental unseriousness toward modernization.
- Goldman Sachs23 min
What Trump’s win means for markets and portfolios
Trump, Christian Mueller-Glissmann, Brian Garrett, Alison Nathan
Following Donald Trump's presidential victory, U.S. stocks, bond yields, and the dollar surged sharply as clients rapidly shifted from underweight to long positions in banks, technology, and energy sectors. Goldman Sachs analysts project a potential S&P 500 rally to 6,100 by mirroring 2016 post-election patterns, while noting that European equities and renewable energy stocks face immediate pressure from tariff fears and policy changes. Although the VIX dropped to historic lows due to suppressed hedging, the firm maintains an equity-overweight strategy with a neutral duration outlook, warning that sustained yield spikes or reflation frustration could eventually trigger market indigestion.
- The Economist27 min
Vote! Our election-day special
Jason Palmer, Idris Kahloun, Aaron Braun
The 2024 U.S. presidential election will likely hinge on a razor-thin margin across seven swing states, with Pennsylvania serving as the critical tipping point for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to reach the 270 electoral votes required for victory. While economic concerns drive voter sentiment, the outcome faces significant uncertainty due to heightened security threats, potential legal challenges, and a potentially split Congress where control of the House remains volatile. International allies are closely monitoring the result, as the winner's approach to trade, NATO commitments, and geopolitical stability will determine the trajectory of global affairs in the coming years.
- Goldman Sachs42 min
How Clearlake Capital’s José E. Feliciano is finding value across private markets
José E. Feliciano, Michael Brandmeier
ClearLake Capital co-founders Jose Feliciano and Big Dog Ibali leverage an $80 billion asset base to execute distressed investments, restructuring, and sector-specific buyouts with a primary focus on technology and industrials. Their strategy targets a "15-year supply" of undervalued tech companies for transformation through their proprietary OPS operational framework, which integrates AI integration and business model pivots to drive recurring revenue and efficiency. Beyond financial returns, the firm actively deploys over $200 million to support underrepresented minority leaders and applies rigorous operational standards to unique assets like Chelsea FC to diversify revenue streams.
- The Economist24 min
Turn up the PA: the last in our swing-state series
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Adam O'Neill, Avantika Chokotty, David Benin
This briefing analyzes three distinct sectors: the 2024 US presidential election's reliance on Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes amidst deep demographic realignments, the projected growth of the $480 billion global influencer economy driven by high-trust niche creators, and the mainstream integration of the goth subculture fueled by new music releases and high-fashion adoption. Political strategies highlight Kamala Harris's suburban gains against Donald Trump's rural base, while marketing shifts prioritize authentic engagement over follower counts to combat consumer fatigue. Cultural resilience is demonstrated as goth aesthetics expand beyond their niche origins to influence diverse music genres and span over 35 years of generational attendance.
- The Economist22 min
Tax driver: Labour’s budget
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Archie Hall, Stevie Hertz, Rachel Lloyd
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a historic UK budget featuring £40 billion in tax increases and record borrowing to fund NHS and public service expansion, a move Conservative leader Rishi Sunak condemned as broken promises. Simultaneously, the North Carolina election faces significant logistical hurdles after Hurricane Hélène damaged infrastructure in key swing counties, complicating early voting operations despite record turnout elsewhere. In cultural news, a viral surge of pickle consumption on social media has driven culinary experimentation, though testing of these trends yielded mixed reviews regarding flavor combinations.
- The Economist24 min
Hot shot: the wider promise of weight-loss jabs
Rosie Bloor, Natasha Loder, Simon Rabinovich, Alice Su
GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Zepbound and Wegovy have demonstrated significant cardiovascular protection independent of weight loss while sparking economic speculation regarding shifts in industries like aviation and insurance. Concurrently, robust US economic indicators including 3% GDP growth and low unemployment starkly contrast with depressed consumer sentiment driven by lingering inflation concerns and political polarization. Meanwhile, a tenfold surge in Chinese migration through the Darién Gap reflects a hybrid of political persecution and economic stagnation, marking the fastest-growing demographic group in the current US border crisis.
- The Economist22 min
Left field: a new force in German politics
Sahra Wagenknecht, Rosie Bloor, Tom Nuffel, Caitlin Talbot
In Germany, Sarah Wagenknecht's new party secured 6% of the European vote and won three state elections by merging left-wing economics with right-leaning positions on immigration and Ukraine, though her refusal to support US missile deployments has stalled coalition talks. Simultaneously, Moldova faced intense Russian interference that narrowed its EU membership referendum to a 50.2% margin and forced President Maia Sandu into a runoff after failing to win a first-round majority. Finally, TikTok is accelerating English linguistic evolution by generating roughly 100 neologisms annually and fostering "AlgoSpeak" to bypass content moderation, while introducing distinctive features like the "uptalk" accent.
- Milken Institute42 min
Global Investment Outlook | Asia Summit 2024
Martin Soong, Jeffrey Jaensubhakij, Jenny Lee, Todd Sisitsky
A panel hosted by the head of the American Foundation in London brought together four experts and advisors to discuss fragmented topics ranging from uncertain Asian economic forecasts to the undefined role of AI in business. Participants cited vague numerical figures and generalized concerns about wealth balance and social inclusivity without establishing concrete investment strategies, policy frameworks, or measurable outcomes. The dialogue ultimately failed to provide definitive market trends or implementation plans, concluding with general expressions of gratitude rather than specific forward-looking milestones.
- The Economist21 min
Paradise lost: Hurricane Milton bashes Florida
Rosie Bloor, Oliver Morton, Nick Pelham, Emily Steinmark
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm driven by warm ocean waters, prompting President Biden to issue evacuation warnings as it caused widespread power outages and structural damage across Florida while experts link its severity to climate change trends. Concurrently, the crisis has injected urgency into the US election cycle amidst political disputes over disaster response, paralleling a resurgence in global Palestinian activism that has shifted cultural perceptions and heightened fears of further Israeli expansion. In the scientific realm, imminent development of a nuclear clock prototype promises to test fundamental physics theories through unprecedented precision, marking a significant leap in measuring time via nuclear transitions rather than current atomic standards.
- The Economist26 min
Beirut force: Israel kills Hizbullah leader
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Antul Pfeffer, Gareth Brown, Sarah Larniuk, Jason Chow, Jiehao
Israel's recent assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and twenty other commanders has triggered a major escalation in the Middle East, widening military operations to Yemen while forcing the displacement of nearly one million Lebanese civilians and sparking debates over a potential ground invasion. Concurrently, the United States faces diplomatic contradictions as it labels the strike "justice" yet urges a ceasefire, while Iran signals a reluctance to engage in direct war following intelligence leaks suggesting its security apparatus failed to protect Hezbollah. Meanwhile, independent media in Belarus continues to operate under severe pressure, with exiled journalists relying on operational security measures to avoid state reprisals against their families despite 37 remaining imprisoned domestically.
- The Economist24 min
Missile-stop tour: Zelensky in America
Zelensky, Jason Palmer, Daniel Franklin, John Priddo, Tom Wainwright
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington to secure critical military aid and maximalist diplomatic concessions, including NATO membership, ahead of a US election that could drastically alter support levels for Kyiv's war effort. Simultaneously, The Economist reports that the US has passed "peak woke," as data indicates a sharp decline in identity-focused rhetoric and DEI initiatives following the electoral toxicity of 2020. In the gaming sector, EA Sports solidified its market dominance by rebranding its flagship title to EA Sports FC, leveraging exclusive licensing deals and network effects to withstand a potential challenge from FIFA's planned rival game.