Latest Interviews
Showing 301–315 of 531 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist26 min
Beirut force: Israel kills Hizbullah leader
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Antul Pfeffer, Gareth Brown, Sarah Larniuk, Jason Chow, Jiehao
Israel's recent assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and twenty other commanders has triggered a major escalation in the Middle East, widening military operations to Yemen while forcing the displacement of nearly one million Lebanese civilians and sparking debates over a potential ground invasion. Concurrently, the United States faces diplomatic contradictions as it labels the strike "justice" yet urges a ceasefire, while Iran signals a reluctance to engage in direct war following intelligence leaks suggesting its security apparatus failed to protect Hezbollah. Meanwhile, independent media in Belarus continues to operate under severe pressure, with exiled journalists relying on operational security measures to avoid state reprisals against their families despite 37 remaining imprisoned domestically.
- The Economist52 min
The Weekend Intelligence: Crunch time for Ukraine
Jason Palmer, Zanny Minton-Bettos, Ivan Baryak, Vlad, Achilles, Yuri, Vadim Sukharevsky, Tatiana, Vitaly Klitschko, Andrei Yermak, Volodymyr Hobachuk, Roman Kuziv, Mike Pompeo, Chris Murphy, Christian Freuding
Ukrainian forces are currently facing a critical offensive on Pokrovsk that threatens to open the Donbass front, while simultaneously navigating severe manpower shortages and a shifting public willingness to negotiate. This humanitarian and logistical crisis is compounded by a technological asymmetry in drone warfare and a domestic industry struggling to outpace centralized procurement. Strategic outcomes now hinge on halting the Russian advance to secure current borders before the harsh winter, as uncertainty regarding US political continuity and the timeline for NATO membership creates an existential risk for the nation.
- The Economist51 min
Woke croaks: “peak woke” has passed
John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon, Ainslie Johnstone, Sacha Nauta, Musa al-Gharbi, John Priddo, Idris Kalloun, Ainsley Johnston
Analysis indicates that the height of "woke" ideology occurred between 2021 and 2022, after which a distinct decline in public opinion, media usage, and corporate diversity discourse has reshaped the American political landscape. This retreat correlates with Musa Al-Ghabi's "elite overproduction" theory and the Democratic Party's strategic pivot toward a broader electoral coalition to counter Republican mobilization against perceived social extremism. While the movement fostered positive workplace changes and heightened equity awareness, its current fragmentation faces future volatility contingent on Gen Z's moderation and potential political triggers like a Trump reelection.
- The Economist24 min
Missile-stop tour: Zelensky in America
Zelensky, Jason Palmer, Daniel Franklin, John Priddo, Tom Wainwright
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington to secure critical military aid and maximalist diplomatic concessions, including NATO membership, ahead of a US election that could drastically alter support levels for Kyiv's war effort. Simultaneously, The Economist reports that the US has passed "peak woke," as data indicates a sharp decline in identity-focused rhetoric and DEI initiatives following the electoral toxicity of 2020. In the gaming sector, EA Sports solidified its market dominance by rebranding its flagship title to EA Sports FC, leveraging exclusive licensing deals and network effects to withstand a potential challenge from FIFA's planned rival game.
- The Economist28 min
War or less? Lebanon on the brink
Greg Karlstrom, Jason, Rebecca Jackson, Mark Robinson, Kunal Patel, Claire Reid, Alyssia Burrell, Dasha, Harriet Noble, Margot Alexander, Jiehao Chen, David Rennie, Mr. Wu, Sam Western
Israel has escalated its aerial campaign against Hezbollah by targeting northern Lebanon, prompting ballistic missile strikes on Tel Aviv and raising fears of an imminent ground invasion alongside a severe humanitarian crisis involving over 90,000 displaced persons. Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts by the US and France to secure a three-week ceasefire have stalled due to conflicting strategic demands regarding Gaza and the Litani River. In a separate development, the US North Carolina gubernatorial race has been destabilized by a sex scandal involving Republican candidate Mark Robinson, creating significant electoral volatility in this key swing state.
- The Economist23 min
No right left: Afghanistan’s oppressed women
Rosie Bloor, Nagin Sadeed, Archie Hall, Sophie Pedder
The Taliban has consolidated its enforcement of strict gender restrictions through a new legal code that bans women from public speech and working, exacerbating an economic collapse while officials deflect accountability for the human cost. Simultaneously, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are rapidly expanding their foothold in the UK market by leveraging price competitiveness and a permissive government stance that contrasts with stricter tariff policies elsewhere, creating potential retaliatory risks for key British export sectors. In a cultural shift, the Netflix series "Emily in Paris" has transformed from a target of French ridicule to the platform's most-watched show in France, driven by increased French dialogue and patriotic sentiments following the 2024 Olympics.
- The Economist21 min
Shun while it lasted: never-Trumpers’ fading sway
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Rebecca Jackson, Jason Chow, Avantika Chilkoti
Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz have joined high-profile Republicans in endorsing Kamala Harris, creating a strategic rift within the "Never Trump" movement as it splits between abstention and prioritizing democratic preservation. Simultaneously, the Chinese government has implemented its first mandatory retirement age increase in decades to avert a 2035 pension crisis, a move that risks exacerbating fertility declines by removing essential grandparent childcare support and fueling labor market tensions. In the US consumer sector, luxury pet care spending is defying inflationary pressures to reach $261 billion by 2030, driven by Millennial and Gen Z owners treating pets as children while major conglomerates like Mars accelerate industry consolidation.
- The Economist49 min
Election rejection: fears of a contested result
John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon, Geoff Duncan, Jamie Raskin, John Priddo, Idris Khaloun
Drawing parallels to the 1960 Nixon concession and the 2020 "Stop the Steal" playbook, the Republican Party is preparing legal and political strategies to challenge a potential 2024 loss for Donald Trump by exploiting decentralized election systems and filing lawsuits to manufacture doubt. While reforms like the Electoral Count Act and audit results in states like Georgia aim to secure certification, experts warn that the primary risk remains the creation of lasting public mistrust and governance paralysis rather than a successful legal overturn of the results. Concurrently, the political landscape faces internal fragmentation, exemplified by figures like Jeff Duncan urging the removal of Trump from the party, as both sides brace for an election defined by procedural ambiguities and competing narratives of integrity.
- The Economist16 min
How to rig an election
Fadzai Mahere, Khaloud Khair, Robert Guest
The 2024 global election cycle, the largest in history, is characterized by authoritarian regimes systematically utilizing a coordinated playbook to rig outcomes through lawfare, disinformation, and tactical manipulation. Leaders such as Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Zimbabwe's officials leverage constitutional amendments and criminal laws to imprison dissent while digital tools and gerrymandering dilute opposition power and suppress voter participation. Despite Western geopolitical concessions, these "phony democracies" endure by gutting institutions without abolishing them, fundamentally undermining the free and fair standards necessary for democratic consolidation.
- The Economist22 min
Pager turn: the Israel-Hizbullah conflict escalates
Rosie Bloor, Greg Karlstrom, Doug Dowson, Lizzie Hingley, Stuart Godman
A coordinated pager explosion in Lebanon and Syria has injured thousands and wounded the Iranian ambassador, triggering immediate threats of retaliation from Hezbollah while analysts attribute the physical sabotage to Israel's strategic intent to disrupt command structures. Simultaneously, a comprehensive analysis of US traffic safety data reveals that heavy vehicles are disproportionately lethal, killing over a dozen pedestrians or occupants in lighter cars for every fatality they prevent, a crisis exacerbated by electrification and federal tax policies that ignore external safety costs. In England, a surge in amateur fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast driven by social media and commercial potential has led to dangerous cliffside rescues and illegal extraction, prompting experts to balance conservation efforts with the need to prevent further fatalities.
- The Economist23 min
Playing the fuel: reforming Nigeria’s subsidies
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Ore Ogunbiyi, Robert Guest, Rebecca Jackson, Joko Anwar
Nigeria is transitioning to market-based fuel prices following the activation of the Dangote refinery, a move that ends decades of costly subsidies but triggers immediate inflation and necessitates difficult shifts in public spending. Simultaneously, Texas regulators are tightening restrictions on cryptocurrency mining after data centers and miners drove energy demand to critical levels, creating a political stalemate between grid stability and pro-crypto lobbying ahead of the 2024 elections. In the entertainment sector, Indonesia has established itself as a global horror film powerhouse by leveraging local folklore and cultural identity, securing significant streaming success and attracting Hollywood collaboration offers while domestic production volumes soar.
- The Economist23 min
Foiled again: a second attempt on Trump
Trump, Rosie Bloor, John Priddo, Paul Markely, Anne Rowe
Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt by former activist Ryan Wesley Routh, sparking renewed scrutiny over Secret Service protocols and prompting Republicans to leverage the incident for fundraising while media narratives shifted toward security. Concurrently, the expanding utility of digital twin technology is transforming sectors from Formula One racing to medical diagnostics by enabling real-time virtual simulations that predict maintenance needs and test surgical procedures. In a separate cultural development, Brazilian bossa nova legend Sergio Mendes died at 83, leaving behind a legacy of blending global pop hits with Brazilian rhythms and maintaining a strong national identity despite decades in the United States.
- The Economist46 min
The Weekend Intelligence: Detoxified
Vendeline von Bredow, Jason Palmer, Arne Wasmuth, Egidio Mazzona, Daniela Spiegel, Jermaine Barnes, Herr Tischner, Andreas Silbersack
Berlin-based entrepreneurs Arne Wasmuth and Egidio Mazzona have acquired the former estate of Nazi ideologue Paul Schulze-Naumburg to establish the D-DAS Design Academy, a documentation center aimed at confronting the site's history with diverse voices. This initiative directly counters the rising influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany party in the region, where the party recently secured victory in Thuringia and significant support in Saxony. Supported by the German government, the academy seeks to "detoxify" the location and mitigate fears of Eastern Germany becoming a modern "Nazi heartland" through active engagement and international fellowship.
- The Economist53 min
Open to debate: Harris and Trump clash
Harris, Trump, John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Adam O'Neal, James Bennet, Lane Greene, Owen Winter, John Priddow
The September 2024 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump drew over 67 million viewers and established a critical juncture in a historically tight election. Analysis indicates that Harris successfully employed a prosecutorial strategy to expose Trump's policy vagueness and age-related concerns, earning a post-debate victory according to 63% of surveyed viewers. Consequently, major forecasting models have adjusted the race to a near toss-up with Harris's probability rising to 49% amidst her campaign's significant financial advantage and the strategic deployment of debate moments against her opponent.
- The Economist27 min
Come on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Oliver Morton, Jared Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Scott Petit, Natasha Loda, Adam Roberts, Lane Green
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully executed the first commercial spacewalk with crew member Jared Isaacman and three companions exiting a modified Dragon capsule at an unprecedented polar orbit altitude. This operation tested new low-pressure spacesuits and vacuum-compatible conditions, positioning SpaceX ahead of competitor Boeing in the commercial crewed spaceflight sector while validating three planned missions led by billionaire Isaacman. The achievement underscores a broader shift toward private-sector-led exploration, contrasting with the government-driven Apollo era and highlighting significant engineering advancements in human spaceflight.