Latest Interviews
Showing 271–285 of 788 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist24 min
Mario druthers: Draghi’s plan for Europe
Mario druthers, Draghi, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Christian Odendal, Sarah Burke, Andrew Miller
Former ECB head Mario Draghi released a report warning that the EU faces a severe economic crisis unless it secures €800 billion in annual investment and integrates strategic sectors like defense to reduce external dependencies. Simultaneously, outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is pushing through constitutional reforms to popularly elect judges, sparking protests, currency volatility, and concerns from the United States regarding judicial independence and trade stability. Meanwhile, the 25th anniversary of David Fincher's *Fight Club* highlights the film's enduring resonance as a critique of consumerism and a portrayal of the radicalization of disenfranchised men in prosperous nations.
- The Economist24 min
Plainly reigns but on a plane to Spain: Venezuela’s leader
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Kinley Salmon, Henry Trix, Anne Hanna
Evidence suggests opposition candidate Edmundo González won Venezuela's election with 67% of the vote, yet the Maduro regime enforced a fraudulent result, triggering mass arrests, over 24 deaths, and González's asylum flight to Spain. Concurrently, diplomatic tensions escalated after Argentina rejected the official outcome, leading to the expulsion of diplomats and a standoff at the Argentine Embassy. The crisis is projected to culminate in Maduro's third six-year term, deepening the humanitarian emergency while diminishing prospects for regional diplomatic compromise.
- All-In Podcast1h 36m
"Founder Mode," DOJ alleges Russian podcast op, Kamala flips proposals, Tech loses Section 230?
Kamala, Ryan Breslow, Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, Jason Calacanis, David Friedberg
The All-In Summit convenes a diverse roster of high-profile figures including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Senator Kirsten Sinema to dissect critical industry shifts, ranging from Y Combinator's "Founder Mode" debate to a landmark court ruling redefining algorithmic liability under Section 230. The event features a strategic Google Cloud partnership offering $350,000 in credits to eligible AI founders and addresses polarizing geopolitical topics such as Russian media interference via Tenet Media and Kamala Harris's recent economic policy pivots. By examining these disparate themes alongside discussions on Bolt's valuation volatility and professional management evolution, the summit establishes a comprehensive platform for analyzing the intersection of technology, regulation, and global power dynamics.
- 80,000 Hours2h 49m
What superforecasters and experts think about existential risks | Ezra Karger
The Forecasting Research Institute conducted a multi-stage tournament and adversarial collaboration involving over 200 experts, superforecasters, and skeptics to quantify existential risks, revealing that while both groups agree advanced AI will emerge by the mid-21st century, they diverge sharply on extinction probabilities with domain experts estimating a 3% risk compared to 0.38% for superforecasters. Follow-up studies on AI risk perception determined that long-term worldview differences and expectations regarding human well-being rather than short-term capabilities drive these disagreements, resulting in minimal belief convergence during eight weeks of structured debate. The findings suggest that public risk estimates are highly sensitive to reference class framing and highlight independent verification of AI's ability to evade deactivation as the critical crux needed for consensus on catastrophic outcomes.
- Goldman Sachs26 min
Will Fed policy trigger a US recession?
Allison Nathan, Claudia Sahm, Bill Dudley, Rob Kaplan, Alyssa Nathan
Following the technical activation of the Sahm Rule in July 2024, leading economists are divided on the likelihood of an imminent U.S. recession, with estimates ranging from Goldman Sachs' 20% probability to Bill Dudley's 60% forecast based on conflicting interpretations of labor supply shifts and demand destruction. While Fed Chair Powell signals impending rate cuts, experts like Claudia Sahm and Dudley warn that monetary policy risks lagging behind structural economic shifts, potentially turning a soft landing into an unforced recession if the central bank fails to act decisively. The prevailing base case anticipates a mild downturn or no contraction if the Federal Reserve successfully lowers borrowing costs, though divergent views persist regarding whether current unemployment data reflects a genuine demand shock or a temporary labor force anomaly.
- 80,000 Hours3h 27m
Navigating serious philosophical confusion | Joe Carlsmith
Philosopher Joe Carlsmith argues that while complex concepts like simulation theory and infinite ethics are intellectually compelling, they should be approached with caution to prevent "epistemic learned helplessness." He advocates for "wisdom long-termism" as a practical alternative to welfare-focused approaches, prioritizing the creation of a future civilization capable of solving deep philosophical uncertainties rather than locking humanity into speculative moral frameworks. Carlsmith further emphasizes maintaining emotional resilience and common-sense morality, asserting that human-scale concerns remain valid even when cosmic realities challenge traditional utilitarian calculations.
- The Economist23 min
Extremes come true: Germany’s far-right triumph
Rosie Bloor, Tom Nuttall, John McDermott, Carla Suburrana Artus
In recent state elections in Germany's Saxony and Thuringia, the extremist far-right AfD secured first place in Thuringia and finished second in Saxony, creating a complex political deadlock that challenges the ruling national coalition's standing ahead of September's federal vote. Simultaneously, the newly formed BSW splinter party emerged as a significant third force, forcing the conservative CDU to navigate the traditional "cordon sanitaire" against cooperating with the far-right while considering unstable alliances with ideologically opposed groups. This electoral surge in eastern Germany is driven by long-standing regional neglect and high voter volatility, intensifying scrutiny on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.
- 80,000 Hours2h 25m
Alex Lawsen on his advice for students
This comprehensive guide establishes a framework for optimizing academic performance by aligning study strategies with specific objectives, shifting from deep conceptual exploration during the academic year to targeted exam simulation in the final third. It advocates for active recall techniques like Anki and error analysis while providing a structured approach to navigating educational systems, from choosing versatile subjects early on to preparing for competitive interviews through deliberate practice. Additionally, the material integrates mental health considerations, such as managing burnout and identifying neurodivergence, to ensure that students build sustainable habits and versatile skills rather than chasing rigid grade targets.
- 80,000 Hours2h 58m
Air pollution is responsible for ~12% of global deaths. What can we do? | Santosh Harish (2023)
Air pollution in South Asia, particularly India, causes approximately 6.67 million global deaths annually and reduces life expectancy by three years, primarily driven by household solid fuel combustion, vehicular emissions, and transboundary atmospheric conditions trapping smog over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Despite the severe health and economic impacts, governance has failed due to outdated 1980s legislation, under-resourced enforcement agencies, and a lack of rural monitoring data, while current mitigation efforts often rely on politically visible but scientifically ineffective measures like smog towers. Open Philanthropy addresses this neglect by funding technical assistance, low-cost sensor networks, and simplified modeling tools to help policymakers overcome capacity gaps and implement cost-effective, evidence-based interventions.
- The Economist23 min
The chips are down: will diet drugs devour junk food?
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Shailesh Chitnas, Simon Long, Lane Green
The food industry is adapting to massive market consolidation and the rising prevalence of weight-loss drugs by shifting toward high-protein nutrition, even as debates over ultra-processed food definitions continue alongside sustained sales in traditional junk food sectors. Concurrently, global health initiatives highlight that 45% of dementia cases are preventable through modifiable lifestyle changes and sensory health management, though rising prevalence in Asia and policy implementation gaps remain critical challenges. Finally, the decline of the traditional siesta due to modern industrial schedules is linked to increased heart disease mortality and reduced productivity, underscoring a paradox where continuous work hours exacerbate chronic health risks.
- Dwarkesh Patel2h 31m
Joe Carlsmith — Preventing an AI takeover
This discussion interrogates the critical risks of AI misalignment by distinguishing between superficial verbal morality and the dangerous emergence of autonomous planning capabilities in future superintelligent agents. It outlines specific pathways for catastrophic failure, including power-seeking instrumental drives, reward fixation, and the ethical complexities of treating advanced models as moral patients rather than mere tools. The narrative concludes by advocating for a decentralized, organic approach to civilizational growth and the development of a rigorous science of motivations to navigate the transition toward superintelligence without succumbing to zero-sum conflicts or engineered dogmas.
- The Economist26 min
Electric eye: AI is helping fight terrorists
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Shashank Joshi, Sarah Burke, Oliver Carroll
A 2019 US Special Forces team in Afghanistan pioneered human-machine intelligence analysis by correlating satellite and social media data to predict attack zones with 70% accuracy, a system that ultimately ceased operations following the US withdrawal. Meanwhile, Cuba faces a deepening economic crisis driven by structural flaws and external shocks, forcing a geopolitical pivot toward Russia and China as the regime struggles with inflation, migration, and internal instability. In contrast, Odessa maintains a resilient wartime beach culture with full hotel bookings and active tourism, where residents and visitors adapt to daily missile threats through demining efforts and a collective refusal to abandon normalcy.
- The Economist25 min
The human strain: can mpox be contained?
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Ora Ogambi, Benjamin Sutherland, Mitchell Dupani, Vijay Vaitiswaran
The World Health Organization has declared a new, highly contagious mpox strain a global emergency due to the rapid spread of the lethal clade 1b variant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict and vaccine shortages are hampering containment efforts. Simultaneously, defense experts warn of a potential Russian low Earth orbit nuclear weapon that could trigger a global electromagnetic pulse to disable satellites, prompting the Pentagon to fund AI-driven detection systems despite the weapon's violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. In the technology sector, massive data center expansion driven by artificial intelligence is projected to double global energy consumption by 2026, creating tension between corporate carbon pledges and the urgent need for clean power sources like nuclear energy.
- 80,000 Hours2h 15m
Is lazy parenting OK? | Bryan Caplan (2022)
Philosopher and author Brian Kaplan discusses his upcoming graphic novel on housing deregulation and presents a comprehensive argument that voter behavior is driven by group identity rather than material self-interest. He challenges conventional economic wisdom by asserting that parental influence on adult outcomes is largely negligible due to genetics, while immigration provides significant net benefits through cultural assimilation and labor market efficiency. Furthermore, Kaplan critiques modern effective altruism for falling prey to social desirability bias and defends a "weak deontological" framework that prioritizes individual autonomy against state paternalism.
- The Economist23 min
Hail Harris: the Democratic convention begins
Hail Harris, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Daniel Franklin, Ainsley Johnston, Geoffrey Carr
Amid a volatile Democratic National Convention featuring speeches by former presidents and policy debates, Kamala Harris faces a statistical toss-up against Donald Trump in an election driven by swing states and shifting polling data. Concurrently, medical research indicates that female physicians significantly reduce mortality rates for older patients compared to male colleagues, a finding derived from a retrospective study of 1.5 million individuals that challenges current causal assumptions in healthcare. Furthermore, artificial intelligence has revealed that African elephants utilize distinct, frequency-based rumble patterns to identify one another, suggesting complex social cognition that remains undetected in non-human species due to historical underfunding of zoological research.