Latest Interviews
Showing 1–10 of 10 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist23 min
Ballot from the blue: will Ukraine hold a poll?
Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Andrew Knox, Natasha
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have recently challenged Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy, sparking a domestic political shift where Zelensky's approval rating of 45% now surpasses his military rival's 30% despite constitutional barriers preventing elections during martial law. Simultaneously, President Trump plans to announce "Liberation Day" tariffs that could mirror the destructive economic fallout of the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Act by triggering a global trade war and reducing American growth. While international and domestic political maneuvering continues, public health experts warn that the recent Daylight Savings Time shift disrupts circadian rhythms, linking the change to increased risks of heart attacks, depression, and sleep deprivation among vulnerable populations.
- The Economist25 min
Thirty-day trial? A Ukraine-ceasefire proposal
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Shashank Joshi, Sophie Petter, Ainsley Johnston
Ukrainian officials accepted a US-brokered proposal for a reciprocal 30-day ceasefire and immediate negotiations to end the conflict, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Watts leading constructive bilateral talks that secured President Zelensky's public endorsement. While the agreement paves the way for resuming American military assistance, the final outcome remains contingent on Moscow's response to demands for Ukraine's neutrality and potential territorial concessions. Parallel to these diplomatic developments, a new longitudinal study using UK Biobank data identifies chronic loneliness as a primary predictor of early death, carrying a mortality risk equivalent to physical inactivity and outweighing genetic factors in overall longevity.
- The Economist23 min
One week in the life of Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky, Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Sarah Lanyuk
Amidst a sudden suspension of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing, President Donald Trump's administration has leveraged financial demands and alleged behind-the-scenes diplomacy to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while the leader's term is legally extended under martial law to prevent destabilizing wartime elections. Parallel to this geopolitical turmoil, cultural figures like military conductor Serhii Lykomenenko and composer Gabriel De Niro are utilizing damaged venues and orchestral performances to raise funds for specific units and bolster national morale against the threat of total aid withdrawal. Historical archives from 1945 provide a contrasting backdrop of Allied victory, yet the current conflict sees Ukrainian elites and the public navigating a fragile balance between external political maneuvering and internal resilience.
- The Economist25 min
Kyiv calm and carry on: Trump’s win may benefit Ukraine
Trump, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Katherine Nixie
Amidst a deteriorating military situation in Ukraine characterized by Russian offensives toward Pokrovsk and internal morale crises, the incoming Trump administration's potential peace plans, including neutrality proposals from J.D. Vance, face skepticism regarding their feasibility within a 24-hour window. Simultaneously, African diaspora churches are experiencing rapid global expansion and financial integration through tithes and digital innovation, while the release of *Gladiator II* sparks cultural debate over its departure from the original film's democratic optimism in favor of modern themes like anti-elitism and racial diversity. These divergent developments highlight a geopolitical landscape shifting under new leadership, a religious sector adapting to Western demographics, and entertainment reflecting contemporary societal anxieties about institutional trust.
- The Economist24 min
Chip wreck: Intel is on the rocks
Vadym Sukharevsky, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Jan Petrovski, Oliver Carroll, Annie Crable
Intel is executing a revised turnaround plan involving further layoffs and potential asset sales to address a crisis rooted in missed mobile and AI pivots, while Ukraine has established a dedicated unmanned systems command under Vadim Sukhorevsky to leverage asymmetric drone tactics against Russia's superior production capacity. Simultaneously, the political landscape is fractured by a viral disinformation campaign stemming from Donald Trump's false claims about immigrant pets in Springfield, which were amplified by Senator J.D. Vance and Elon Musk despite lacking factual basis. Together, these developments highlight critical challenges in technology leadership, asymmetric warfare, and media manipulation affecting global security and electoral outcomes.
- The Economist28 min
Beyond the bullets: we go to Ukraine
Andriy Khlyvnyuk, Jason, Oliver Carroll, Sarah Larniuk, Yevhen Klopotenko
Two-and-a-half years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine contends with critical military pressures on the Pokrovsk front and a controversial Kursk incursion that has emboldened allies while straining domestic reinforcements. Simultaneously, the nation is undergoing a profound cultural renaissance that rejects post-Soviet identity through government bans on Russian media, the resurgence of traditional fashion, and culinary initiatives championed by Chef Yevhen Klopotenko to reclaim Ukrainian heritage. Despite these symbolic victories and the mobilization of folk traditions, civilians face relentless energy attacks and deep-seated anxieties regarding long-term economic stability and post-war survival.
- 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 boot is on the other foot: Ukraine’s surprise incursion
Jason Palmer, Oliver Carroll, Sophie Pedder, Paul
Ukrainian forces under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Sirsky have executed a secretive incursion deep into Russian territory, advancing forty kilometers toward Kursk to draw enemy troops away from the Donbass front. Concurrently, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games demonstrated a successful low-cost strategy that achieved a record medal haul for France while avoiding the construction of "white elephant" venues, a model now influencing the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 organizers. Finally, Envisix is introducing the first commercial three-dimensional holographic head-up displays for Cadillac vehicles later this year, a technological shift projected to grow the automotive HUD market to ten billion dollars by 2034.
- The Economist28 min
Tense exchange: Russia’s prisoner swap
Rosie Bloor, Oliver Carroll, Anton LaGuardia, Catherine Nixie
A historic 24-person prisoner swap facilitated by geopolitical signals freed notable figures like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza, while Russia reclaimed FSB operative Vadim Krasikov and German mercenary Rico Kriegler just prior to the U.S. presidential election. Simultaneously, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin deployed a new Joint Force Headquarters in Japan to coordinate first island chain operations and deter potential Chinese aggression against Taiwan, signaling a major structural shift in American military alliances. This diplomatic and strategic realignment contrasts with the concurrent observance of the 800-year-old "swan upping" ceremony on the River Thames, where officials census Crown-owned swans to ensure conservation and educate the public.
- The Economist24 min
Field of streams: sports viewing changes
Evan Gershkovich, Kamala Harris, Jason Palmer, Tom Wainwright, Oliver Carroll, Holly Burman
Major media companies are reallocating substantial content budgets to live sports rights as streaming platforms capture one-third of Olympic viewership, prompting traditional cable networks to launch exclusive services while tech giants like Netflix enter the market to aggregate global audiences. Simultaneously, the US faces a critical diplomatic standoff after a Russian court sentenced WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, with both sides actively exploring potential prisoner exchanges involving high-profile detainees ahead of the American elections. In the domestic political arena, Kamala Harris's campaign leveraged the viral "Brat" internet aesthetic to energize younger demographics and close polling gaps, signaling a shift toward social media-driven engagement that challenges traditional polling and policy-focused messaging.