Latest Interviews
Showing 1–8 of 8 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist7 min
Has America frozen Israel out of ceasefire talks with Iran? | The Economist
Direct negotiations led by Donald Trump through Pakistan to resolve the Iran conflict face a stalemate because Iran insists on a Lebanon ceasefire and Israel refuses to participate or extend the truce to its northern front. While President Trump reportedly possesses the leverage to force Netanyahu to halt airstrikes, the Prime Minister persists due to domestic election pressures and the failure of the war to achieve its core strategic objectives. These unresolved tensions, compounded by internal U.S. administration dissent and the strategic threat in the Strait of Hormuz, have begun to fracture the previously unified operational alliance between the two nations.
- The Economist8 min
Why civil war is brewing in Iran
Iran is currently experiencing a violent "quiet civil war" where the state and royalist factions have polarized following a shift from peaceful protest to extreme bloodshed driven by economic collapse. The conflict features mutual accusations of foreign mercenary involvement and the sidelining of traditional democratic leaders in favor of armed mobilization, even as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains isolated while exiled figures and tribal groups prepare further escalation. This escalating crisis, occurring amidst potential U.S. military intervention, threatens to plunge the Islamic Republic into an unpredictable transition that could result in either Revolutionary Guard dominance or a prolonged struggle for power.
- The Economist9 min
Why are ICE agents targeting Minneapolis?
The administration targeted the Democratic stronghold of Minneapolis for immigration enforcement to politically polarize voters and challenge officials like Governor Tim Walz, despite the city's small immigrant population creating logistical challenges for meeting enforcement quotas. This strategy follows disputed border agent shootings, including the killing of Alex Preti, where conflicting narratives between officials and video evidence have fueled public opposition and shifted polling toward abolishing ICE. As Minnesota leaders face federal investigations and federal agents preempt local inquiries, escalating tensions between state and federal authorities are driving potential government shutdowns while large protests continue in freezing conditions to contest the administration's monopoly on defining the facts.
- The Economist9 min
Why Israel is closely watching the Iran protests
Anshel Pfeffer, Jason Palmer, Eva
Following a twelve-day war in June, intensified protests and economic instability in Iran threaten to shatter the regime's hold on power while prompting leadership concerns over potential external retaliation to divert attention. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is maintaining a low-profile strategy of strategic patience, allowing internal Iranian dynamics to unfold rather than launching immediate military strikes. This approach aims to facilitate long-term geopolitical shifts, including the eventual erosion of Iran's proxy network and the potential for a future strategic alliance that could end decades of hostility.
- The Economist11 min
Why relationships are declining across the world
Jonathan Rosenthal, Sue-Lin Wong, Jason Palmer
Rising global singlehood rates, driven by pandemic-induced social skill deficits and restrictive dating app algorithms, have created a demographic shift where nearly half of young adults remain unpartnered across major economies. This trend exacerbates structural gender divides, fueling the emergence of involuntary celibate movements and feminist backlash while simultaneously reshaping housing demand and accelerating fertility declines. Experts warn that failing to positively redefine masculinity risks entrenching these polarized dynamics, which will significantly impact future social safety nets and political stability.
- The Economist7 min
How long will Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s trade war truce last?
Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Jeremy Page, Jason Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a one-year trade truce during a meeting at a South Korean airbase, securing reciprocal delays on rare earth export controls, threatened tariffs, and fentanyl-related duties while restoring soybean purchases. This temporary pause was accompanied by parallel U.S. initiatives to diversify critical mineral supply chains with allies and upgrade defense technology for South Korea, even as structural disputes over industrial policy and semiconductor sales remain unresolved. Although the deal reduces immediate escalation risks, the agreement lacks a final resolution to underlying tensions, leaving the relationship vulnerable to future volatility amid ongoing geopolitical instability.
- The Economist10 min
What is the future of the UN?
Anton La Guardia, Jason Palmer
Amidst its 80th anniversary and severe funding crises driven by potential US abandonment, the United Nations faces existential threats from eroding border sanctity and budget cuts forcing agencies to reduce spending by up to one-third. While a French-led coalition recently recognized a Palestinian state to offer symbolic momentum, the organization's future remains uncertain as it navigates three divergent scenarios: becoming a rogue entity separated from Washington, decaying into a shrunken but bureaucratic shell, or being reshaped into a transactional tool for American leadership. Ultimately, experts warn that a strategic vacuum left by US withdrawal could allow Russia and China to dominate global diplomacy, despite the independent continuity of technical agencies like the ICAE and IAEA.
- The Economist9 min
Has Zelensky made a strategic blunder?
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed emergency legislation transferring control of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to the Presidential Office following a rapid, coerced parliamentary vote. The maneuver sparked unprecedented wartime protests in Kyiv and strained relations with Western allies who view these agencies as vital for NATO and EU integration. Facing intense domestic and international backlash, Zelensky subsequently reversed his position and announced plans to draft a new law intended to restore the agencies' independence.