Latest Interviews
Showing 1–15 of 21 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist7 min
Why China and America see AI differently | The Economist
While over 80% of the Chinese public maintains an optimistic view of AI driven by decades of technological progress, significant structural anxieties persist among tech workers facing age discrimination and mass layoffs. In response, authorities have launched a five-year monitoring strategy utilizing real-time data on power usage and payment flows to detect early signs of workforce disruption and preemptively stabilize the labor market. Despite these proactive government interventions aimed at balancing innovation with social stability, experts remain skeptical about whether retraining programs can match the rapid scale of AI-driven economic shifts without triggering explosive instability.
- The Economist9 min
Why America is stepping away from the institutions it built | The Economist
U.S. foreign policy is undergoing a structural shift from values-based engagement to a transactional approach, driven by a bipartisan consensus that the post-World War II order has failed to deliver sufficient economic returns or strategic advantages. Former President Trump's 2015 platform catalyzed this pivot by framing the abandonment of multilateral institutions as a correction to decades of free-riding, leading to increased reliance on tariffs and coercive trade rather than traditional alliances. Experts project three potential futures for this realignment: a renegotiated U.S. hegemony, a fragmented status quo, or a chaotic descent into systemic collapse triggered by unchecked military coercion.
- The Economist7 min
Can Donald Trump secure a deal with Cuba? | The Economist
Donald Trump, Dr Christopher Sabatini, David Rennie, Sarah Birke, Christopher
A proposed transactional framework seeks to secure Cuban economic relief, including lifting the oil embargo, in exchange for a credible multi-party election plan. Key figures like Marco Rubio and Donald Trump aim to satisfy the Cuban-American voting bloc by offering a political roadmap that prioritizes economic liberalization over immediate regime change. Despite skepticism regarding the administration's long-term commitment, proponents argue that even a flawed agreement could dismantle the current stagnant leadership structure.
- The Economist16 min
Who will be California’s next governor? | The Economist
Charlotte Howard, James Bennet, Aryn Braun, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton
A contentious California gubernatorial runoff looms as a referendum on the state's affordability crisis, featuring progressive challenger Tom Steyer's aggressive advertising campaign against incumbent Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton's tax-cut proposal backed by Donald Trump. Critics argue that decades of co-opted ballot measures and structural fiscal deficits under Governor Gavin Newsom have driven out-migration and created recurring budget holes, fueling a narrative of state dysfunction that Republicans hope to exploit for a rare statewide victory. The election outcome will ultimately determine whether voters prioritize the status quo or support significant policy shifts intended to reverse California's economic decline and reverse its demographic power loss in Congress.
- The Economist8 min
Britain’s chancellor: closer relations with the EU are in our national interest
Rachel Reeves, Rachana Shanbhogue
The UK government has formalized a strategy for broader regulatory alignment with the EU to unlock an estimated 8% GDP boost, moving beyond previous sectoral deals in areas like food and energy to mitigate isolation risks from global protectionism. Led by the Chancellor and recently discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, this approach prioritizes functional market integration while explicitly rejecting a return to the EU or Customs Union to avoid political division. European partners have welcomed these concrete commitments, viewing the UK's shift as a pragmatic step toward shared economic growth and security that leverages the nation's position as a G7 growth leader.
- The Economist8 min
Is Russia the real winner from the war in Iran? | The Economist
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Shashank, Greg, Ed
A strategic assessment highlights Russia's improved economic resilience and reduced incentive for negotiations, while Gulf states face a binary choice between dealing with Iran or deepening US security ties at the cost of regional stability. The conflict simultaneously exposes critical US industrial limitations in interceptor stockpiles despite demonstrating superior technical execution, a dynamic that China interprets as evidence of American war fatigue. Consequently, these developments entrench Russia's position and accelerate Beijing's military modernization efforts focused on endurance and missile capabilities.
- The Economist7 min
Has Putin pushed Russia’s economy too far? | The Economist
Putin, Arkady, Adam, Zannie, Al-Qadi
Russia has incurred approximately 1.2 million total casualties in a conflict where President Putin's reliance on a paid mercenary force drawn from rural areas prioritizes fiscal containment over social cohesion. This strategy has accelerated the country's transition into a war economy, creating a fiscal drag that has pushed the budget deficit to 2.6% of GDP while forcing the state to extract capital from investment and civilian living standards. Although an immediate macroeconomic collapse remains unlikely, experts warn that current recruitment incentives and resource diversion are eroding long-term state power by consuming future potential faster than it can be replaced.
- The Economist10 min
What would Kevin Warsh’s Federal Reserve look like? | The Economist
Kevin Warsh, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Henry, Zannie, Archie
President Trump has nominated former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh as the next Chair, contingent on the White House removing a Senate blockade led by Senator Tom Tillis regarding the investigation into current Chair Jerome Powell. Warsh's proposed strategy, termed "Warshonomics," seeks to lower interest rates by coupling an anticipated AI-driven productivity surge with balance sheet contraction to offset inflationary risks, despite his historical reputation as a hawk. While experts predict Warsh will implement a slightly more dovish policy yielding one or two rate cuts, his ability to align the FOMC with President Trump's demands remains a significant governance risk complicated by potential political backlash.
- The Economist9 min
Is ICE a threat to American democracy?
President Trump's administration has aggressively expanded federal authority by deploying militarized agents to enforce immigration policies, culminating in the fatal shooting of an unarmed nurse and the establishment of unchecked executive control over enforcement actions. While a recent poll shows 92% of respondents view ICE as a threat to democracy, discussion leaders emphasize that only legal accountability for lethal officers, rather than public outrage or "supine" congressional action, can effectively halt this erosion of democratic norms. As the administration continues to pursue political retribution beyond statutory mandates, the critical challenge for the coming year remains whether institutions and civil society will force a confrontation to prevent the normalization of these unchecked executive powers.
- The Economist9 min
Could the world move away from the dollar?
Rachana Shanbhogue, Henry Curr, Gita Gopinath, Kenneth Rogoff, Peter
China's decoupling from the dollar, combined with sanctions on Russia and rising US debt levels, is accelerating a global shift toward diversifying reserve assets away from the United States. While the Euro and Renminbi are gaining traction in specific trade blocs, the transition remains gradual despite warnings of potential financial instability driven by US political polarization and a public default threat from the Trump administration. Global markets have thus far absorbed trade tensions without major financial contagion, though a tipping point could trigger a rapid restructuring of the international currency system if US institutional credibility continues to erode.
- The Economist14 min
The most influential books of all time
Ollie, Catherine, Josie DeLapp
Hosts Ollie, Brian Aldiss, Catherine, and Josie DeLapp analyze how foundational texts like *Frankenstein* and *A Room of One's Own* shifted cultural paradigms from divine to human agency while establishing materialist requirements for creativity. The discussion further evaluates *Pride and Prejudice* and the *Harry Potter* series for their economic and social redefinitions of marriage and childhood, noting Rowling's controversial stance on gender as a flashpoint for debating the limits of artistic expression. Ultimately, the dialogue concludes that literature functions as a vital vehicle for conceptualizing the future and preserving human joy against purely ideological critiques.
- The Economist10 min
Is China the new superpower?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Ant, David, Ed, Alice
The analysis examines the People's Liberation Army's advanced regional military capabilities and manufacturing dominance while highlighting severe internal economic stagnation, including three years of deflation and rising youth unemployment. Although China lacks the global projection power of the United States, its strategic focus on national security and superior hypersonic technology positions it to dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Experts conclude that while Beijing will achieve significant geopolitical strength, its long-term stability faces challenges from domestic discontent and an overreliance on foreign markets that it cannot fully control.
- The Economist7 min
Why doesn’t the UK become closer to the EU?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr
Analysts predict Prime Minister Starmer will gradually pivot to a pro-EU stance by 2028–2029, driven by strong public support for closer ties that has outlasted the domestic political trauma of Brexit. Concurrently, the government has successfully reduced net migration to approximately 200,000 annually through stricter visa rules, though rising asylum claims continue to fuel a public perception of failing border control. This stabilization of migration figures may enable a political shift toward accepting free movement with the EU within three years, provided internal European instability does not undermine cooperation.
- The Economist9 min
What we know about the Ukraine peace plan
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Olly, Ed, Shashank, Zannie, Chris
Emerging from Geneva talks, a draft treaty to partition Ukraine has evolved from a 28-point plan to an 18-point document featuring relaxed military caps and the potential removal of constitutional bans on NATO membership. While special representative Steve Witkoff allegedly advised Russian negotiators on pressure tactics and leaked communications cast suspicion on the security of the process, key disputes remain regarding the status of Donbass, the enforceability of vague US security guarantees, and the exclusion of European military forces. Analysts warn that despite the removal of restrictive weapon bans, the proposed framework relies on unenforceable terms and creates a strategic vacuum for Ukraine's post-war defense.
- The Economist9 min
AI and our future with Yuval Noah Harari and Mustafa Suleyman
Yuval Noah Harari, Mustafa Suleyman
In a forecast for AI capabilities by 2028, Mustafa Suleiman and Yuval Noah Harari envision frontier models that will autonomously negotiate, execute multi-step actions, and interface with external APIs. While Suleiman frames these tools as engineered systems requiring deliberate constraints to prevent unintended agency, Harari argues that the technology's potential for independent idea creation marks the end of human-dominated history and introduces unique existential risks. To address these challenges, both speakers advocate for a "coalition of the willing" to enforce bans on harmful practices like human-impersonation bots, emphasizing the need for international cooperation over a geopolitical race to the bottom.