Latest Interviews
Showing 121–135 of 156 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist23 min
Struck out: A Hamas leader is assassinated
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Greg Karlstrom, Kinley Salmon, Carla Subidana
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr have heightened regional tensions while complicating ceasefire negotiations amid Iran's constrained military response. Simultaneously, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claims an election victory despite overwhelming evidence from independent counts and the opposition indicating a decisive win for Edmundo González, triggering violent protests and a deepening political crisis. On the global health front, indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fires remains a leading cause of premature death, disproportionately affecting women and children in developing nations where financial and structural barriers hinder access to cleaner fuels.
- The Economist21 min
Down to the wires: Africa’s digital lag
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Ore Ogunbiyi, Sophie Pedder, John Bleasdale
The event analyzes Africa's critical digital infrastructure deficit, highlighting how energy shortages and regulatory barriers threaten to exclude the continent from $16 trillion in potential AI-driven economic growth. It further examines the Paris Olympics' environmental contradictions, where a billion-euro cleanup of the Seine failed to prevent bacterial contamination during the triathlon despite the river's vital role in global logistics. Finally, the discussion retrospectively evaluates the enduring success of the *Blair Witch Project*, detailing its record-breaking $250 million return on a $35,000 budget through innovative viral marketing and psychological storytelling techniques.
- The Economist26 min
Warpath: Israel vows revenge on Hizbullah
Rosie Bloor, Anshul Pfeffer, Tom Sass, David Harrington, Paul Wianco
A rocket attack in the Golan Heights that killed twelve Druze children has intensified Middle East tensions, placing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under pressure to balance a necessary retaliation against Hezbollah with the strategic need to avoid all-out war while Gaza ceasefire negotiations proceed. Simultaneously, the UK faces a critical prison crisis with severe overcrowding and unsanitary conditions prompting the new Labour government to implement emergency early releases while pursuing long-term rehabilitation strategies to reverse decades of rising incarceration rates. In the cultural sector, the Kronos Quartet marks its fiftieth anniversary by retiring founding members, introducing new leadership, and launching a digital archive that prioritizes diverse commissions to fulfill its mission of expanding the classical repertoire.
- The Economist24 min
Bibi talk: a speech light on detail
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Anshul Pfeffer, Noor Gamani, Leora, Oret Okunbi, Gavin Jackson
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a record 11 standing ovations during a strategic visit to the U.S. Congress to defend the Gaza war while facing domestic political pressure from high resignation polls. Despite emotional appeals regarding hostages, the address failed to outline a concrete post-war strategy or clarify Israel's stance on ongoing ceasefire negotiations, leaving key policy details undefined. The event underscored deep partisan divides, marked by President Biden's expected pressure for a truce and notable absences from high-profile U.S. political figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and J.D. Vance.
- The Economist26 min
Destruction instruction: Western armies learn from Gaza
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Shashank Joshi, Emma Irving, Andrew Kitness
Recent analysis of the Gaza conflict reveals that while Israel claims to have eliminated Mohamed Deif, the war continues to yield critical tactical lessons on urban defense, drone efficacy, and the complexities of fighting in tunnel networks that are reshaping Western military doctrine. Simultaneously, Silicon Valley remains divided over J.D. Vance, whose venture capital background and anti-regulation stance attract a core group of billionaire allies despite generating anxiety among broader tech executives concerning his protectionist trade policies. In Hong Kong, a distinct cultural phenomenon sees "haunted house" superstitions driving a 20% to 33% reduction in property values, forcing legal disclosure mandates and technological adaptations to manage a market where social isolation and rapid urbanization fuel ghost-related fears.
- The Economist22 min
Keep Kamala and carry on: Harris’s smooth route
Kamala, Harris, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Daniel Franklin, Sam Colbert, Catherine Ferry
Kamala Harris has rapidly secured the Democratic nomination following Joe Biden's withdrawal, launching a campaign that has raised $81 million while shifting the primary strategy to attack Donald Trump as a convicted felon. Simultaneously, China's startup ecosystem faces a significant contraction as regulatory crackdowns and reduced foreign capital have cut unicorn creation rates in half, forcing new ventures into state-approved hard tech sectors. Meanwhile, the UK seaside economy is experiencing a price surge driven by construction restrictions and cultural attachment, with beach hut rentals in areas like Margate reaching £1,400 annually despite recent regulatory caps on second-home ownership.
- The Economist25 min
Joe of good faith: Biden bows out
Joe, Biden, Kamala Harris, Dr Ruth, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, John Priddo, Leo Morani, Anne Rowe, Jerry
Following a debate performance that eroded public confidence, President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 race and immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, positioning her to potentially become the first female president despite her lack of a proven national election record. While political analysts warn that the public still associates Harris with Biden's approval ratings and note her previous unsuccessful primary run, the party faces a competitive field led by governors and senators before the mid-August convention. Concurrently, the administration's legacy remains precarious as the upcoming election could overshadow recent legislative victories in climate and economic recovery, leaving the Democratic strategy to pivot on whether a competent opponent can capitalize on Donald Trump's polarizing nature.
- The Economist24 min
Dicky birds: the next pandemic?
Rosie Bloor, Rebecca Jackson, Kunal Patel, Adam Roberts
Former Judge Heather Hallett's pandemic inquiry report concluded that the UK government failed the public due to critically flawed preparedness, while scientists warn that H5N1's mammalian adaptations pose a distinct pandemic risk despite ongoing mRNA vaccine trials. New historical research from Ohio State University reveals that white women in New Orleans were active participants in the slave trade, utilizing the institution to accumulate independent wealth under 19th-century legal frameworks. Concurrently, The Economist has launched "Dateline," an interactive game designed to engage news-averse readers through historical archive challenges, and Editor-in-Chief Zannie Minton-Beddoes will address the aftermath of the Gaza war in the upcoming Weekend Intelligence.
- The Economist26 min
Veep show: America meets J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance, Donald Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Adam O'Neill, Kinley Salmon, Kenneth Kukie
Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance delivered a populist speech emphasizing his working-class roots and isolationist economic views to differentiate himself from Donald Trump and reshape the GOP's intellectual foundation. Meanwhile, economists identify Latin America's severe trade underperformance as a result of geographical barriers, economic homogeneity, and political fragmentation that limit intra-regional commerce. Finally, Kenneth Kukie argues that classic literature such as *The Trial* and *Macbeth* provides more profound insights into leadership and organizational chaos than contemporary management manuals.
- The Economist23 min
Food for thought: raising the world’s IQ
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Robert Guest, Shashank Joshi, Emily Steinmark
The event examines the critical impact of early-life malnutrition on cognitive development and global economics, highlighting the success of Uganda's NutriCash pilot and the potential for $12 billion in targeted investment to reverse slow progress. Concurrently, analysts assess growing geopolitical threats to the 600 undersea fiber-optic cables sustaining global telecommunications, noting state-sponsored sabotage risks from Russia and China alongside the strategic vulnerability of limited repair infrastructure. Finally, the discussion presents a breakthrough in menstrual product innovation where alginate polymers transform blood into a firm gel, marking the first significant design evolution since the 1931 applicator tampon.
- The Economist22 min
Lost in stagnation? Japan’s economic paradox
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Noah, Trisha Pariel, Caitlin Talbot
Following Japan's historic GDP decline and monetary policy shift in 2024, economic analysts debate whether the nation's new inflation targets can overcome severe demographic headwinds and consumer purchasing power erosion. Concurrently, a comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that only 5% of animal-tested biomedical therapies reach the US market, prompting a push for advanced non-animal models despite acknowledged limitations in predicting whole-body interactions. Simultaneously, a cultural resurgence in etiquette is reshaping corporate training and digital norms as young professionals seek to navigate post-pandemic social deficits and optimize human-AI collaboration.
- The Economist27 min
An officer and a gen AI: the future of war
Pål Enger, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Shashank Joshi, Rory Galloway, Anne Rowe
Military strategists and ethicists are currently grappling with a widening gap as AI integrates into warfare across logistics, decision support, and lethal autonomous systems, creating operational risks regarding algorithmic failure and geopolitical competition among the US, China, and Russia. In a parallel scientific breakthrough, researchers have identified "fossil chromosomes" preserved in 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth cells, revealing that rapid dehydration in cold environments can maintain genomic structural integrity for hundreds of millions of years. Meanwhile, the life of Norwegian criminal Paal Enger, who famously stole Edvard Munch's *The Scream* during the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics due to a personal psychological obsession, concluded at age 57 with a legacy defined by high-profile thefts and an artistic transformation into painting while incarcerated.
- The Economist23 min
Bidin’: will Joe go or no?
Joe, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, John Brito, Claire McHugh, Mark Johnson
President Biden remains defiant against calls for withdrawal following a contentious debate, despite polls showing a record deficit against Donald Trump and internal Democratic concerns that he is endangering broader election prospects. In Colombia, the government has initiated a controversial scientific excavation of the intact San José galleon, navigating a complex legal battle with Spain, the United States, and indigenous groups over the billions in treasure while prioritizing cultural heritage over commercial gain. Meanwhile, the Finnish town of Rautalampi is experimenting with importing foreign students from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Tanzania to avert school closures, leveraging EU funding to address a looming national demographic crisis.
- The Economist23 min
Change of heart surgeon: Iran’s reformist president
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Nicholas Pelham, Kerryyn Richmond-Jones, Anjani Trivedi
Reformist heart surgeon Massoud Pezeshkian secured the Iranian presidency with 16 million votes following the fatal helicopter crash of Ebrahim Raisi, promising social liberalization and Western negotiations while navigating deep public distrust and hardline security constraints. Simultaneously, Ukraine faces a critical $20 billion private debt deadline as a negotiation deadlock between proposed 60% and 22% write-downs threatens default amidst a shrinking economy and uncertain post-war outlook. In a contrasting shift of capital flows, over 7,000 global millionaires selected Dubai as their primary destination this year, drawn by tax advantages and regulatory transparency following the UAE's exit from the FATF grey list.
- The Economist23 min
Holey alliance: NATO’s worries at 75
Rosie Bloor, Anton Laguardia, Fraser McIlwraith, Andrew Knox
The NATO 75th-anniversary summit in Washington reaffirmed collective defense commitments against Russia while addressing critical vulnerabilities arising from leadership instability in the US and Europe and the potential threat of a Donald Trump presidency. Concurrently, the Scottish salmon industry faces a severe ecological crisis with mortality rates doubling since 2018 due to disease and warming waters, prompting urgent debates over costly offshore and onshore relocation strategies. Meanwhile, inter-Korean tensions have escalated as North Korea deploys over 2,000 balloons laden with refuse across the DMZ in retaliation for South Korean propaganda, creating a volatile environment where minor provocations risk rapid military escalation.