Latest Interviews

Can Trump's UFC fight restore his popularity among men? | The Economist

Trump, James Bennett, John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard

The administration's strategy of framing political support for President Trump as a performance of masculinity, exemplified by a scheduled White House UFC event, is failing to retain young male voters who prioritize tangible economic improvements. Despite efforts to rally this demographic through masculine posturing, the lack of a manufacturing renaissance and persistent issues with affordable housing have weakened the correlation between voting for Trump and feelings of manliness. Consequently, the political landscape reflects a deeper structural crisis where the administration's narrative of blaming external forces contradicts the lived reality of job markets and challenges the historical Republican archetype of the protective "daddy party."

Copper: AI Hype or Supply Squeeze?

Adam Crook, Tony Kim

A commodities strategist analyzes the divergence between gold's resilient safe-haven performance during the Iran conflict and the skepticism regarding its near-term upside caused by shifting macro rates. The trader assesses silver's limited upside potential due to its tight correlation with gold, while maintaining a neutral stance on copper despite AI-driven demand narratives that conflict with current global surplus levels. Finally, the outlook for aluminum projects a temporary physical deficit and price appreciation through summer before a surplus is expected to emerge following the resumption of Middle Eastern production later in the decade.

Can the Tech Surge Continue?

Peter Callahan, Chris Hussey

Goldman Sachs reports a near-historic tech rally driven by an 80% year-to-year surge in semiconductors and robust earnings revisions that support current valuations. The firm projects 2027 capital expenditures to exceed $900 billion as infrastructure orders extend through 2027, while the software sector undergoes a selective re-rating based on demonstrated AI revenue growth. Despite concerns that the market has advanced too rapidly, analysts maintain a constructive medium-term outlook anchored by fundamental financial improvements rather than interest rate dynamics.

Why does political violence seem to be getting worse in America? | The Economist

John Prideaux, Rosie Blau

During the White House Correspondents' Dinner, 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen breached the Hilton Hotel security checkpoint to attempt an attack on President Trump before being tackled by police. The incident forced an immediate evacuation of the ballroom, resulted in an officer injury, and triggered a review of Secret Service protocols following the shooter's prior claims of lax access measures. While President Trump utilized the event to advocate for new defensive infrastructure and praised the agency's response, experts warn that despite a perceived rise in political violence, the long-term impact on governance and approval ratings will likely remain tied to broader economic conditions rather than the assault itself.

Untangling Signals of Market Stress

John Flood, Chris Hussey

Markets are navigating extreme volatility driven by unresolved geopolitical conflicts, evidenced by a VIX spike to 30, oil approaching $100 per barrel, and S&P 500 futures depth collapsing to $3.8 million from historical averages. Institutional investors are executing heavy macro hedges and shorting broad products while rotating capital into U.S. equities as a safe haven, despite record trading volumes and degraded liquidity quality. The near-term market trajectory hinges on consecutive negative jobs data potentially destabilizing retail sentiment, though a return to geopolitical clarity is expected to trigger a rapid unwinding of macro shorts and a rotation back into Asian and European assets.

Why are ICE agents targeting Minneapolis?

Edward Carr, Jason Palmer

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 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.

How To Use AI In Your Startup

Brad, Pete, Gustav, Nicola

The Y Combinator Spring Batch application deadline of February 11th offers selected startups a $500,000 investment and critical network access, with a strong emphasis on relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area to stay synchronized with rapidly evolving market conditions. Founders are advised to integrate large language models into their core product or operations rather than merely pivoting for trendiness, leveraging their physical proximity to industry leaders to identify automation opportunities in sectors like healthcare and legacy software replacement. Case studies such as WAPI illustrate how embedding within the SF community enabled an early pivot to voice AI, contrasting with remote companies that failed to adapt due to an informational lag in understanding current technological capabilities.

10,000 Small Businesses UK Participants Share Experiences of Time on Programme

Launched in 2012, this intensive program guided struggling entrepreneurs through a rigorous diagnostic process that identified critical financial leaks and strategic pivots from B2B to B2C models. By pairing founders with growth experts and fostering a transparent cohort of vetted peers, participants transformed their ventures from loss-making entities into cash-positive businesses generating up to £1.5 million in revenue. The initiative delivered a transformative return on investment, enabling companies to hire strategically, secure major capital projects, and establish a lasting support network that continues to drive long-term operational efficiency.

A Conversation with Chief Information Officer Marty Chavez

Marty Chavez

Marty Leverett details a 25-year career trajectory at Goldman Sachs that evolved from a serendipitous biochemistry degree to leading computational trading strategies by leveraging the firm's unique data assets and avoiding the separation of technology from markets. He analyzes how exponential growth in compute power and cloud infrastructure has transformed machine learning from an impractical theory into a vital tool for solving complex financial problems. Beyond his corporate achievements, the discussion highlights his commitment to philanthropy, specifically his leadership in the foundation plan to cure HIV/AIDS and his involvement in the High Line urban development project.