Latest Interviews
Showing 1–15 of 215 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist44 min
The final filmed interview with Sir Alex Younger, the late MI6 chief | The Economist
Sir Alex Younger, Shashank Joshi
Sir Alex Younger argues that the United States has lost the strategic initiative in its conflict with Iran, as Tehran's asymmetric warfare and selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have forced the US to absorb unsustainable costs despite an effective air campaign. The interview highlights a fragile Iranian regime dominated by the IRGC, which retains leverage through deep intelligence penetration and nuclear stockpiles while benefiting from the war to suppress internal dissent and prolong its survival. Younger concludes that the conflict's global spillover disadvantages Western allies by diverting resources from the Pacific to the Middle East, exposing critical intelligence politicization risks under the Trump administration, and compelling Europe to develop independent hard power capabilities to counteract great power competition.
- The Economist21 min
Modi behaviour: will India retaliate against Pakistan?
Narendra Modi, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Jeremy Page, Kerry and Richmond Jones, Daniel Knowles
Escalating India-Pakistan tensions have surged following a deadly 2024 attack in Kashmir, prompting New Delhi to suspend river treaties and mobilize forces while Islamabad threatens to withdraw from the Shimla Agreement. Analysts warn that high pressure for military retaliation, exacerbated by reduced US influence in the region, creates a significant risk of a broader conflict surpassing the 2019 crisis. Concurrently, domestic economic and technological dynamics persist, with religious institutions in Brazil expanding via tax incentives and global demand for magnetic tape storage surging for AI data archiving despite government claims of obsolescence.
- The Economist26 min
Carney score: last days of Canada’s campaign
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Sarah Larniuk, Noah Snyder, Fraser McGilraith
Hosted by Rosie Bloor and Jason Palmer, this broadcast examines Canada's volatile election driven by US protectionism concerns, media fragmentation, and a toxic political climate where Conservative leader Pierre Poilievé leverages social media to bypass traditional journalism. The program simultaneously analyzes the United States' critical shipbuilding deficit relative to Chinese and South Korean capacity, highlighting legal barriers to international co-production and the strategic choice between domestic revitalization or foreign reliance. Concluding with a 1945 archival perspective, the episode reflects on the human cost of Berlin's fall and the geopolitical complexities that followed the Allied victory over the Third Reich.
- The Economist23 min
Division multiplication: the UAE’s foreign meddling
Jason Palmer, Greg Karlstrom, Moeka Iida, John Fassman
The United Arab Emirates faces international condemnation and legal challenges at the International Court of Justice for allegedly supplying weapons to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces while simultaneously advancing diplomatic ties with the EU and acting as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war. In Japan, thousands of farmers staged rare protests during a historic rice shortage driven by climate damage and supply chain distortions, forcing the government to release strategic reserves despite structural policies that continue to suppress domestic production. Concurrently in the United States, the cultural debate over gender-neutral language has intensified politically, prompting a linguistic reassessment of English pronouns that highlights the historical validity and practical necessity of the singular "they" amidst efforts to codify usage through government mandates.
- The Economist21 min
Cardinals in: choosing the next pope
Jason Palmer, John Hooper, Sarah Burke
Following Pope Francis's death, the Catholic Church prepares for a high-stakes conclave where key figures like Camerlengo Kevin Farrell and Dean Giovanni Battista Re must navigate deep ideological divisions regarding geopolitical strategy and sexual abuse accountability. Simultaneously, Mexico faces a deepening humanitarian crisis as the discovery of a CJNG cartel training camp with cremation ovens underscores the rising disappearance rate under current and previous administrations, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to propose reforms despite severe forensic resource gaps. In the entertainment sector, the *Minecraft* film's record-breaking $300 million opening signals a potential revival for theatrical eventing by targeting the teenage demographic, even as unruly TikTok-fueled behavior forces theaters to implement strict attendance policies.
- The Economist20 min
A man of the people: Pope Francis has died
Pope Francis, Jason Palmer, Anne Rowe, Avantika Chalkoti, Juergen Esser, Andrew Palmer
Pope Francis has implemented a radical reform strategy within the Catholic Church by prioritizing mercy and direct engagement while facing internal resistance from the Curia regarding child abuse protocols and doctrinal changes. Simultaneously, the global high-protein market is surging due to GLP-1 drug usage and shifting consumer demographics, prompting major manufacturers like Danone and Nestlé to launch specialized products despite warnings of unnecessary supplementation. In the corporate sector, organizations are increasingly addressing workplace turnover by replacing indirect "quiet firing" tactics with purpose-alignment workshops, a method proven to improve productivity while naturally separating low-performing employees.
- The Economist25 min
Trump’s fickle, Xi’s pickle: the dynamic driving US-China tensions
Trump, Xi, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, David Rennie, Hanna Vioque, John Fassman
Amid escalating trade friction involving US tariffs and Chinese export controls, Beijing has diversified its diplomatic ties to Southeast Asia and Europe while rejecting direct negotiation tactics it deems chaotic. Concurrently, Spain faces a humanitarian crisis as record migrant arrivals and sea-route deaths overwhelm local morgues, forcing authorities to implement rapid burials that compromise identification protocols. In a contrasting sectoral shift, the pinball industry has experienced a resurgence driven by technological upgrades and a surge in competitive participation, reversing decades of decline to become a global market of nearly 40,000 players.
- The Economist24 min
The buck stops here? The threats to dollar primacy
Jordan Bardella, Jason Palmer, Henry Kerr, Sophie Bedder, Emma Irving
Following President Trump's April announcement of reciprocal tariffs, a financial sell-off has triggered concerns that the US dollar may lose its reserve status, potentially forcing bond yields higher and complicating the Federal Reserve's ability to manage inflation without a Congress unable to pass unpopular fiscal corrections. In France, Jordan Bardella has emerged as the strategic successor to Marine Le Pen after her 2027 election ban, leveraging his youth-oriented digital persona and critical stance on Vladimir Putin to modernize the National Rally while navigating internal party scrutiny. Concurrently, Hong Kong authorities are implementing strict regulatory measures for taxi drivers, including surveillance and penalty systems, to restore tourist confidence amid a sharp drop in visitor numbers and fierce competition from unregulated ride-hailing services.
- The Economist23 min
Bloody Sunday: Russia’s strikes on Sumy
Jason Palmer, Tim Judah, Christian Odendal, Jess, Catherine Nixie
Amidst escalating Russian missile strikes that killed dozens of civilians in Sumy and Krivyi Rih, US envoy General Keith Kellogg condemned the violence while President Trump's administration faces internal division over peace timelines. Simultaneously, European nations are launching aggressive recruitment campaigns to reverse brain drain caused by US policy shifts, aiming to boost strategic autonomy despite significant R&D spending gaps. In a separate economic update, the UK's Consumer Price Index continues to evolve through the Office for National Statistics' rigorous tracking of a 750-item basket that now reflects modern leisure and pet care alongside historical inflation data.
- The Economist27 min
The great brawl: China v America
Donald Trump, Friedrich Merz, Betty Webb, Rosie Bloor, Don Wineland, Tom Nuttall, Anne Rowe
Escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, marked by reciprocal tariffs exceeding 125%, have triggered market volatility while forcing a strategic reshaping of global supply chains away from US dependence. Simultaneously, Germany's incoming coalition government led by Friedrich Merz has secured a mandate to address economic stagnation and defense obligations, navigating the new reality of aggressive US protectionism. In a historical parallel to current geopolitical anxieties, the life of Betty Webb, a WWII codebreaker who died at 101, has been revealed as a cautionary tale against modern fascist movements.
- The Economist21 min
Art of the real: Trump bows to markets
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Rachna Shambhog, Tom Standage, Andrew Miller
Following President Trump's announcement of a 90-day tariff pause amid market-driven recession fears, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent utilized the delay to reward non-retaliation while maintaining a 125% rate on China, prompting global leaders to prepare direct concessions on defense and trade. Simultaneously, the commercial space sector advances toward orbital data centers as StarCloud plans a 2024 AI chip demonstrator and Axiom Space operates station racks, with viability hinging on the projected launch cost reductions of SpaceX's Starship. Marking the centennial of its 1924 publication, F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby* continues to define the American experience by contrasting the Jazz Age's glamour with a rigid class structure that grants the wealthy immunity from the consequences of their carelessness.
- The Economist23 min
Pulp friction: the trade war bites Apple
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Henry Trix, Owen Winter, Holly Berman
Following the implementation of new US tariffs and China's 104% retaliatory levy, Apple faced a $600 billion market value decline due to its heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing, prompting the Trump administration to reject Tim Cook's $500 billion investment pledge as a basis for exemptions. Concurrently, meta-analyses of 6 billion Facebook friendships reveal that Britain exhibits stronger cross-class social integration than the United States, though this connectivity remains geographically fragmented by historic industrial zones. In the cultural sphere, a new wave of conservative female influencers is reshaping Republican branding by merging high-fashion lifestyle content with explicit politics, targeting Gen-Z audiences through digital communities and bypassing traditional media gatekeepers.
- The Economist25 min
Economies of sail: migrant-smuggling entrepreneurs
Rosie Bloor, Joel Budd, Noah Snyder, Oliver Morton, Rachel Dobbs, Ainsley Johnston
An analysis of global security and environmental trends reveals that UK migrant smuggling networks have fragmented into professionalized, decentralized supply chains that evade traditional law enforcement decapitation tactics, while simultaneous extreme wildfires in South Korea and Japan signal accelerating climate impacts in high-latitude regions. Parallel to these physical shifts, international public opinion is undergoing a rapid polarization driven by US political changes, characterized by a sharp decline in favorable views of America across traditional allies like Canada and European nations. These converging dynamics suggest a global landscape where adaptive criminal markets, climate-fueled disasters, and fractured diplomatic trust are reshaping security challenges and cross-border perceptions.
- The Economist21 min
Doomed traders: Trump’s tariff fallout
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Rachna Shambhog, Tom Sass, Emily Steinmark
Following the US announcement of global tariffs on April 2, major economies including China and Canada implemented retaliatory measures that triggered a $12 trillion drop in global market value and elevated recession probabilities to 60%. Despite diplomatic outreach from approximately 50 nations, the US administration maintains its stance, with officials describing the policy as a permanent restructuring of trade that has forced corporations to delay capital investments. Analysts warn that these developments will likely result in two decades of protectionism and reduced global economic integration.
- The Economist21 min
Over the Yoon: South Korea ousts president
Rosie Bloor, Noah Snyder, Duncan Robinson, John Fasman
South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol for declaring martial law, mandating a snap election within 60 days that leaves opposition leader Lee Jae-myung as the frontrunner amid deepening economic and geopolitical instability. While the ousted president faces a separate criminal trial for insurrection that could carry a life sentence or death penalty, the nation's conservative factions remain fragmented and vulnerable to shifting US trade policies and alliance strategies. This constitutional crisis has simultaneously depressed market confidence and complicated the path toward stabilizing the economy amidst intensifying external pressures.