Latest Interviews
Showing 46–60 of 251 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist9 min
How America is racing China to the Moon | The Economist
The Artemis II crew successfully launched on NASA's largest rocket, marking the first human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit since the Apollo era. Under Administrator Jared Isaacman's leadership, this reconnaissance mission accelerates U.S. lunar ambitions to counter China's 2030 landing plans and establish a permanent lunar presence rather than a temporary visit. The spacecraft is currently executing a unique trajectory designed to culminate in a splashdown near San Diego by mission day ten, paving the way for the eventual Artemis III lunar landing.
- The Economist9 min
Is a private-credit meltdown the next financial crisis? | The Economist
Private credit, a non-bank lending sector estimated at $1.5 to $3 trillion, surged following post-2008 regulatory shifts and a 2010s boom in private equity buyouts. Despite attracting institutional investors through high illiquidity premiums, recent redemption crises at major firms like Blue Owl Capital and Blackstone have exposed governance weaknesses and asset quality concerns. While experts predict a prolonged economic impact rather than a sudden systemic collapse, the sector faces ongoing scrutiny over the viability of its semi-liquid business model.
- The Economist9 min
Peptides are not a miracle drug | The Economist
Natasha Loder, Tim Cross, Jason Palmer
Driven by high-profile endorsements and internet culture, the unregulated global market for peptides bypasses clinical trials to offer performance-enhancing substances riddled with purity risks and unknown long-term health effects. Regulatory bodies in the United States and United Kingdom are attempting to address this crisis through compounding pharmacy oversight and vendor crackdowns, yet enforcement struggles against the speed of online sales and social media promotion. Experts warn that without rigorous scientific validation, the current environment prioritizes profit and self-experimentation over the biological safety required to distinguish beneficial compounds from dangerous contaminants.
- The Economist9 min
Big Oil’s Iran windfall won't last | The Economist
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Alice Fulwood, Ethan Wu
At the record-breaking CIRA Week conference convened by historian Daniel Yergin, global energy executives expressed immediate financial jubilation regarding windfall profits from high oil prices while grappling with severe geopolitical risks threatening the Strait of Hormuz. Key figures like ADNOC CEO Sultan Al-Jaber and General Mattis warned that disruptions to this critical choke point endanger not only crude shipments but also essential fertilizer supplies and semiconductor helium, creating potential global food and technology crises. Simultaneously, the assembly noted a strategic disconnect in US policy regarding the conflict and observed that current instability is accelerating a structural shift toward electric vehicles and clean energy in emerging economies to reduce reliance on volatile supply chains.
- The Economist6 min
Christine Lagarde: “Europe-bashing is vastly excessive” | The Economist
Christine Lagarde, Zanny Minton Beddoes
Despite the European Union's historical success in preventing war, the bloc now faces severe economic stagnation relative to the United States, characterized by a widening GDP gap, declining competitiveness, and growing populist unrest. While former Prime Minister Mario Draghi proposed extensive reforms and external pressures from Donald Trump's administration further exposed European vulnerabilities, progress remains incremental rather than transformative. This deteriorating landscape forces a strategic reckoning as the EU attempts to leverage its superior healthcare and social stability while navigating increasing diplomatic hostility from the US.
- The Economist10 min
Former head of MI6: Iran has the “upper hand” in the war | The Economist
Sir Alex Younger, Shashank Joshi
Despite a powerful U.S. air campaign, Iran maintains strategic initiative through dispersed military capabilities and the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz, creating a resilient conflict environment that paradoxically bolsters regime morale while facing an estimated 80% domestic opposition. The death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has accelerated a structural transition from religious theocracy to a pragmatic IRGC-dominated junta, characterized by the leadership of General Vahidi and the constrained influence of President Masoud Peseshkian. Analysts suggest that while the regime survives its "death throes" due to internal security crackdowns and limited Western intervention options, its long-term viability remains critically low given the population's desire for an end to theocratic rule and the potential for a successor-driven transition.
- The Economist8 min
The Iran war will cause inflation to surge | The Economist
The escalation of conflict in Iran has triggered a surge in oil prices that threatens to transmit inflationary pressure globally through energy costs and critical fertilizer shortages at the Strait of Hormuz. Central bankers face a complex dilemma balancing the risk of a historical wage-price spiral against the potential for economic stagnation, while navigating political pressure to lower rates despite IMF forecasts predicting a two percentage point inflation jump. This crisis compels immediate policy intervention to prevent a permanent structural shift in inflation expectations, mirroring the cautionary precedents of the 1970s and recent cumulative global shocks.
- The Economist12 min
Tucker Carlson on whether Trump betrayed America First over the Iran war | The Economist
Tucker Carlson, Trump, Zanny Minton Beddoes
In a recent address, the speaker argues that the United States was misled into war by Israeli lobbying and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pressure, specifically criticizing the failure of Presidents Trump and George W. Bush to prioritize American national interests. While condemning the October 7 attacks, the speaker characterizes the resulting conflict in Gaza as a humanitarian and strategic disaster for both populations, asserting that the war contradicts the "America First" platform and is driven by flawed regime-change motives regarding Iran. The presentation further notes a rapidly declining public support for Israel across all US political demographics and advocates for universally applicable human rights over collective punishment or the "right to exist" doctrine.
- The Economist8 min
Why are Iranian drones so deadly? | The Economist
Russia has adapted Iranian Shaheed drones into low-cost Geran munitions, creating a strategic challenge by outpacing traditional missile interceptors with volume and maneuverability. To counter this, Ukraine is exporting its operational expertise in FPV interceptor drones to Gulf states, offering technology transfers in exchange for defense investments and pressure on Western partners to supply high-end interceptors. This emerging alliance leverages Ukrainian successes in air and maritime defense to offset the economic imbalance of Russia's drone swarm tactics while reshaping regional security dynamics.
- The Economist7 min
What stocks should you buy during an oil shock? | The Economist
The ongoing war in Iran has disrupted global oil supplies, causing high-quality assets within the S&P 500 and MSCI World Index to underperform as rising energy costs strain long-term valuation models while boosting near-term earnings for low-quality energy stocks. This inversion of traditional flight-to-quality dynamics stems from the fact that speculative, high-multiple valuations are highly sensitive to geopolitical uncertainty, whereas lower-multiple firms possess a valuation buffer that supports performance during volatility. Analysts warn that while market trends currently favor low-quality stocks due to fear, a rapid reversal of this pattern is only anticipated if the Strait of Hormuz opens to restore free oil flow.
- The Economist9 min
Should you pay off your student loan? | The Economist
The current student debt system in England and Wales operates as a regressive loan mechanism where graduates repay 9% of earnings above a frozen threshold until the balance is cleared or 30 years elapse, a structure critics argue penalizes lower earners through extended duration rather than total cost. Historical fee hikes from £1,000 in 1998 to £9,000 in 2012, combined with eroding wage premiums and high interest rates, have left most graduates paying a significant portion of their income into their fifties without the possibility of early loan forgiveness. With government fiscal constraints limiting options to either maintaining current repayment terms or implementing a blanket tax increase to write off debt, the debate centers on whether this evolving financial burden constitutes a fair contribution or a punitive tax on a generation of graduates.
- The Economist8 min
Are Gulf states running out of missile interceptors? | The Economist
Amidst sustained Iranian ballistic missile barrages, Gulf nations and Israel are depleting their layered air defense stocks, including Patriot and Arrow systems, at unsustainable rates that could exhaust reserves within two weeks. This rapid attrition forces regional militaries to ration interceptors, raising the risk of breached defenses, increased casualties, and the targeting of high-value assets like the US consulate in Dubai. Consequently, the conflict is straining global US production capacity, threatening to divert critical munitions from other theaters while exposing long-term vulnerabilities in allied preparedness against high-intensity missile warfare.
- The Economist7 min
Anthropic’s CEO explains why he took on the Pentagon
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Dario Amodei
A technology executive highlights a strategic conflict with the Pentagon over negotiating a new, broader AI contract that includes restrictions on fully autonomous weapon deployment due to current safety limitations and the risk of a normative oversight vacuum. While the speaker asserts 99% alignment with government goals on non-autonomous capabilities, the dispute centers on the Pentagon's rejection of operational constraints, which the executive warns could force the effective nationalization of private AI firms. This tension is framed as a long-term challenge where both private companies and state actors possess unprecedented power that requires balanced oversight to prevent abuse or overreach.
- The Economist8 min
Will the Iran war spread across the Middle East?
Greg, Anshul, Adam, Pete Hexeth
Experts warn that regional chaos in Iran could trigger a prolonged conflict, spiking energy prices and threatening the security models of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. While historically neutral, these nations are shifting toward military alignment with the US and abandoning diplomatic restraint as Iranian strikes backfire by uniting regional populations against Tehran. This escalation occurs amidst a US strategy driven by legacy considerations rather than broad public support, aiming to transform Iran's political landscape while balancing fears of a quagmire against the need to signal power to global rivals like China.
- The Economist10 min
Will the Iranian regime collapse? | The Economist
US and Israeli forces are executing a decapitation strategy against the Islamic Republic of Iran's security apparatus, targeting senior figures like General Vahidi while neutralizing half of Tehran's ballistic missile capabilities. Despite inflicting significant damage on command structures and nuclear research sites, the conflict faces logistical risks as regional air defenses may deplete after a week of intense retaliation and accidental strikes have already resulted in American casualties. Ultimately, the war's trajectory hinges on whether the regime collapses under pressure or if political constraints force a reversal of the stated goal of regime change.