Latest Interviews
Showing 91–105 of 156 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist25 min
General rule: how to reinvent America’s army
Randy George, Elias Khoury, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Ethan Wu, Anne Rowe
Under General Randy George, the U.S. Army is pivoting from counter-insurgency to high-intensity state conflict by reducing vehicle fleets to prioritize combat training while simultaneously surging artillery production and exceeding recruitment targets. To accelerate modernization against rivals like Russia and China, the service has launched an innovation pilot testing new equipment in active brigades to bypass traditional procurement bottlenecks, though military leaders remain skeptical about scaling these experimental successes across the entire force. This strategic shift occurs alongside a managed trade-off where reduced maintenance burdens free resources but introduce operational risks amidst ongoing procurement challenges and rapidly evolving adversary capabilities.
- The Economist28 min
Year of destruction: how October 7th shattered the Middle East
Rosie Bloor, Josie DeLapp, Greg Karlstrom
Following the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed over 1,100 people and triggered a year-long conflict, Israel faces a fragmented domestic landscape and a multi-front war expanding into Lebanon and direct exchanges with Iran. As Gaza endures near-total infrastructure destruction and over 42,000 casualties, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to assume responsibility for the intelligence failure has stalled ceasefire negotiations while regional stability deteriorates. Analysts warn that the severing of links between the Gaza conflict and other fronts, combined with deep political fragmentation, makes a resolution unlikely despite international diplomatic efforts.
- The Economist30 min
The Weekend Intelligence: Black boxes (part one): Michael Kovrig on how he became a political...
Michael Kovrig, David Rennie, Rosie Bloor
Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor were detained by Chinese authorities in December 2018 following the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada, an event Western nations viewed as retaliatory hostage-taking. After 1,019 days in a opaque security facility where they were subjected to informal espionage accusations, both men were released in September 2020 following a deferred prosecution agreement between the United States and Huawei. The ordeal serves as a stark illustration of the geopolitical friction between the US and China, highlighting the severe risks third-party nations face when navigating the escalating tensions of the trade war and security rivalry.
- The Economist22 min
The arc of war: a bloody week in Lebanon
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Gareth Brown, Avantika Chilkoti, Vishnu Padmanabhan
Israel has escalated its military campaign in Lebanon with ground invasions and heavy airstrikes that have killed nearly 2,000 Lebanese residents, displaced over one million people, and potentially eliminated Hezbollah leader Hashem Safiuddin. Analysts warn that this shift from aerial to ground warfare in Hezbollah's fortified southern suburbs risks prolonged conflict and potential strategic defeat for Israel, drawing parallels to past withdrawals after sustained resistance. The geopolitical instability is further compounded by restricted journalist access and indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure, including a medical clinic near the Prime Minister's office.
- 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 Economist23 min
No right left: Afghanistan’s oppressed women
Rosie Bloor, Nagin Sadeed, Archie Hall, Sophie Pedder
The Taliban has consolidated its enforcement of strict gender restrictions through a new legal code that bans women from public speech and working, exacerbating an economic collapse while officials deflect accountability for the human cost. Simultaneously, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are rapidly expanding their foothold in the UK market by leveraging price competitiveness and a permissive government stance that contrasts with stricter tariff policies elsewhere, creating potential retaliatory risks for key British export sectors. In a cultural shift, the Netflix series "Emily in Paris" has transformed from a target of French ridicule to the platform's most-watched show in France, driven by increased French dialogue and patriotic sentiments following the 2024 Olympics.
- The Economist21 min
Shun while it lasted: never-Trumpers’ fading sway
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Rebecca Jackson, Jason Chow, Avantika Chilkoti
Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz have joined high-profile Republicans in endorsing Kamala Harris, creating a strategic rift within the "Never Trump" movement as it splits between abstention and prioritizing democratic preservation. Simultaneously, the Chinese government has implemented its first mandatory retirement age increase in decades to avert a 2035 pension crisis, a move that risks exacerbating fertility declines by removing essential grandparent childcare support and fueling labor market tensions. In the US consumer sector, luxury pet care spending is defying inflationary pressures to reach $261 billion by 2030, driven by Millennial and Gen Z owners treating pets as children while major conglomerates like Mars accelerate industry consolidation.
- The Economist22 min
Pager turn: the Israel-Hizbullah conflict escalates
Rosie Bloor, Greg Karlstrom, Doug Dowson, Lizzie Hingley, Stuart Godman
A coordinated pager explosion in Lebanon and Syria has injured thousands and wounded the Iranian ambassador, triggering immediate threats of retaliation from Hezbollah while analysts attribute the physical sabotage to Israel's strategic intent to disrupt command structures. Simultaneously, a comprehensive analysis of US traffic safety data reveals that heavy vehicles are disproportionately lethal, killing over a dozen pedestrians or occupants in lighter cars for every fatality they prevent, a crisis exacerbated by electrification and federal tax policies that ignore external safety costs. In England, a surge in amateur fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast driven by social media and commercial potential has led to dangerous cliffside rescues and illegal extraction, prompting experts to balance conservation efforts with the need to prevent further fatalities.
- The Economist23 min
Playing the fuel: reforming Nigeria’s subsidies
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Ore Ogunbiyi, Robert Guest, Rebecca Jackson, Joko Anwar
Nigeria is transitioning to market-based fuel prices following the activation of the Dangote refinery, a move that ends decades of costly subsidies but triggers immediate inflation and necessitates difficult shifts in public spending. Simultaneously, Texas regulators are tightening restrictions on cryptocurrency mining after data centers and miners drove energy demand to critical levels, creating a political stalemate between grid stability and pro-crypto lobbying ahead of the 2024 elections. In the entertainment sector, Indonesia has established itself as a global horror film powerhouse by leveraging local folklore and cultural identity, securing significant streaming success and attracting Hollywood collaboration offers while domestic production volumes soar.
- 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 Economist27 min
Come on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Oliver Morton, Jared Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Scott Petit, Natasha Loda, Adam Roberts, Lane Green
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully executed the first commercial spacewalk with crew member Jared Isaacman and three companions exiting a modified Dragon capsule at an unprecedented polar orbit altitude. This operation tested new low-pressure spacesuits and vacuum-compatible conditions, positioning SpaceX ahead of competitor Boeing in the commercial crewed spaceflight sector while validating three planned missions led by billionaire Isaacman. The achievement underscores a broader shift toward private-sector-led exploration, contrasting with the government-driven Apollo era and highlighting significant engineering advancements in human spaceflight.
- The Economist24 min
Chip wreck: Intel is on the rocks
Vadym Sukharevsky, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Jan Petrovski, Oliver Carroll, Annie Crable
Intel is executing a revised turnaround plan involving further layoffs and potential asset sales to address a crisis rooted in missed mobile and AI pivots, while Ukraine has established a dedicated unmanned systems command under Vadim Sukhorevsky to leverage asymmetric drone tactics against Russia's superior production capacity. Simultaneously, the political landscape is fractured by a viral disinformation campaign stemming from Donald Trump's false claims about immigrant pets in Springfield, which were amplified by Senator J.D. Vance and Elon Musk despite lacking factual basis. Together, these developments highlight critical challenges in technology leadership, asymmetric warfare, and media manipulation affecting global security and electoral outcomes.
- 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 Economist24 min
Mario druthers: Draghi’s plan for Europe
Mario druthers, Draghi, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Christian Odendal, Sarah Burke, Andrew Miller
Former ECB head Mario Draghi released a report warning that the EU faces a severe economic crisis unless it secures €800 billion in annual investment and integrates strategic sectors like defense to reduce external dependencies. Simultaneously, outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is pushing through constitutional reforms to popularly elect judges, sparking protests, currency volatility, and concerns from the United States regarding judicial independence and trade stability. Meanwhile, the 25th anniversary of David Fincher's *Fight Club* highlights the film's enduring resonance as a critique of consumerism and a portrayal of the radicalization of disenfranchised men in prosperous nations.
- The Economist24 min
Plainly reigns but on a plane to Spain: Venezuela’s leader
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Kinley Salmon, Henry Trix, Anne Hanna
Evidence suggests opposition candidate Edmundo González won Venezuela's election with 67% of the vote, yet the Maduro regime enforced a fraudulent result, triggering mass arrests, over 24 deaths, and González's asylum flight to Spain. Concurrently, diplomatic tensions escalated after Argentina rejected the official outcome, leading to the expulsion of diplomats and a standoff at the Argentine Embassy. The crisis is projected to culminate in Maduro's third six-year term, deepening the humanitarian emergency while diminishing prospects for regional diplomatic compromise.