Latest Interviews
Showing 106–120 of 757 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist9 min
Will China be the real winner from the Iran war? | The Economist
Edward Carr, David Rennie, Adam Roberts, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Ed
Chinese strategic leadership now prioritizes establishing new economic chokeholds in pharmaceuticals and chemicals while explicitly exploiting Donald Trump's transactional nature to secure high-end chip access, fearing that his potential political decline would empower hawkish rivals like Marco Rubio. This approach is underpinned by a cynical calculation that the United States is losing global favorability and alliance cohesion, prompting Beijing to cautiously normalize relations with Southeast Asian partners and free-ride on the existing US-led security order. Despite acknowledging the need for systemic adaptation, China's strategy remains paralyzed by an internal contradiction, lacking a viable plan for a destabilized "law of the jungle" environment while simultaneously avoiding the risks required to lead a new global order.
- 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.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Iran Conflict: How Long, and How Bad?
Sanam Vakil, Dennis Ross, Kevin Donegan, Alison Nathan
Entering its fourth week, the Iran conflict has evolved into a regime-survival struggle where Tehran seeks to spread costs widely while the U.S. military targets Iran's missile capabilities and nuclear program. Strategic deadlock persists over the Strait of Hormuz, as limited convoy operations can only restore roughly 20% of normal oil flows despite rehearsed allied defenses. Panelists conclude that resolving this locked-in scenario requires a mediated outcome, though recent political assassinations and the need to rebuild Iran's collapsed economy complicate any immediate return to pre-conflict stability.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
“I’d Rather Be a Bond”
Goldman Sachs Asset Management projects two U.S. interest rate cuts this year, diverging from market expectations that favor holding rates steady through 2026, as the Federal Reserve focuses on core inflation and labor market stability despite an energy shock driven by the Iran conflict. This geopolitical tension has caused bond yields to expand by 50 to 175 basis points, creating attractive entry points for investors who favor fixed income over equities to capitalize on widened credit spreads and rising real yields. Upcoming policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the ECB, and the Bank of England in April are expected to clarify rate trajectories and alleviate current market volatility.
- 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.
- Bank of America10 min
Building Financial Futures, One Lesson at a Time: Holly O'Neill & Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche
Holly O'Neill, Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche, Tiffany Aliche
Former preschool teacher Tiffany Aliche, known as the Budgetnista, transformed her personal collapse of $300,000 in debt during the 2008 recession into a global financial literacy movement that has helped millions manage hundreds of millions in savings and debt. Drawing on childhood family budgeting meetings and a judgment-free teaching philosophy, Aliche advocates for early financial education and the principle that money is a team sport requiring accountability partners. Her side hustle in clients' living rooms evolved into an enterprise teaching humor, simplicity, and dynamic pricing concepts to children as young as three to prevent future financial isolation.
- 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.
- Milken Institute18 min
US House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets Chairman Bryan Steil | Future of Finance
U.S. policymakers are navigating a critical inflection point where new frameworks for the Genius Act and targeted AI regulation aim to solidify American dominance in stablecoins, tokenization, and digital assets against global competitors. These strategies leverage the $300 billion stablecoin market backed by U.S. Treasuries and the projected $4 trillion in 2030 tokenized securities to drive dollarization in unstable economies while avoiding the innovation-stifling effects of broad horizontal laws. By engaging directly with the House Financial Services Subcommittee, industry leaders and regulators seek to protect consumers from bad actors through a scalpel-like approach that preserves market-driven outcomes.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Steven Mnuchin: Navigating Credit Cycles, AI Investment, and Fiscal Policy
A leading economic strategist analyzes a converging trajectory of massive AI-driven capital expenditure, a resilient credit market dominated by private lending, and persistent fiscal challenges stemming from a 125% debt-to-GDP ratio. The speaker argues that while aggressive infrastructure build-outs and trade tariffs create market volatility, sustained economic growth of 3% or higher remains essential to maintain U.S. fiscal health and global currency dominance. Despite identified risks in labor supply and political spending inaction, the outlook projects continued U.S. outperformance through strategic technological adoption and a shift in banking dynamics.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
"The Market Is Fragile"
Goldman Sachs analysts describe a market characterized by conservative positioning and elevated volatility, where financial conditions have tightened significantly despite the S&P 500's resilience against multiple geopolitical and economic shocks. Investors are rotating from asset-light sectors facing AI valuation uncertainty toward asset-heavy industries such as semiconductors and defense, which have outperformed by 25% year-to-date as a defensive measure. While a prolonged energy disruption remains a primary risk for the European economy, the firm anticipates limited downside for US equities and highlights European financials as a favored investment theme.