Latest Interviews
Showing 31–35 of 35 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist26 min
Spring a leaker: Assange goes free
Assange, Peter Navarro, Donald Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Shashank Joshi, Simon Rabinovich, Varinia Sardines, Lizzie Peet, Mei Liao, Melanie Bartelm, Becca Milstein
Former Wikileaks founder Julian Assange secured a plea deal with the United States to avoid prison time for disclosing classified documents on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the 2016 election, ending a seven-year legal saga that raised concerns over journalistic freedom under the Espionage Act. In the realm of economic policy, former Trump advisor Peter Navarro is championing a protectionist agenda for a potential second administration that prioritizes aggressive global tariffs over subsidies to counter Chinese influence, despite widespread expert criticism regarding the inflationary impact on consumers. Simultaneously, a luxury shift in the American food market has rebranded canned fish as a premium consumer good, driven by social media influencers and nostalgic packaging to push sales of high-end tins to over $3 billion while challenging traditional perceptions of canned goods as mere hardship rations.
- The Economist7 min
Could Putin really start a nuclear war?
Vladimir Putin has placed Russia's strategic nuclear forces on high alert to deter Western military intervention, a move that Western allies have condemned as reckless yet have chosen not to mirror with reciprocal escalations. While this action signals Russian vulnerability regarding the slower-than-anticipated progress of the Ukrainian campaign, experts assess the risk of deliberate nuclear war as low due to mutual assured destruction, leaving accidental escalation as the primary danger. Consequently, the current geopolitical climate represents the most severe security crisis in a generation, characterized by intense conventional warfare and a critical need to maintain communication channels to prevent unintended conflict.
- The Economist9 min
Ukraine and Russia: what is really going on?
By February 2022, Russian forces had surrounded Ukraine from three sides, prompting Western intelligence to assess that Vladimir Putin faces a political dilemma between appearing weak by withdrawing or risking severe consequences by invading. Experts warn that while Ukraine lacks the air defenses to halt a full-scale assault, executing a regime-change campaign would trigger a prolonged war with substantial casualties, severe economic sanctions, and potential destabilization of the Russian regime. The crisis has forced NATO to reaffirm its territorial defense mission with new deployments in Eastern Europe and has tested US credibility regarding alliances in Asia, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled due to a fundamental lack of clarity regarding Moscow's objectives.
- The Economist7 min
China and Russia: MI6’s top concerns
MI6 Chief Richard Moore signaled a strategic realignment for the intelligence service by publicly prioritizing the challenge of China's rise, particularly its access to global data streams which threatens UK sovereignty and artificial intelligence development. Distinguishing this systemic digital threat from traditional Russian kinetic aggression, Moore outlined a dual-track approach to maintain cooperation on global issues while defending British values against authoritarian influence. Simultaneously, he addressed the Ukraine conflict, asserting that Russia's invasion would incur severe economic costs and that Ukraine is now better positioned to resist than in 2014.
- The Economist9 min
Alexei Navalny: will the West stand up to Russia?
Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Shashank Joshi
Vladimir Putin has escalated tensions by re-detaining opposition leader Alexei Navalny and deploying over 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border to signal domestic strength and test Western resolve. While the United States and its allies respond with targeted sanctions against intelligence operatives and diplomatic expulsions, experts warn that these measures have thus far failed to alter Kremlin behavior or prevent the intimidation of Ukraine. The West now prepares for a severe security crisis and fresh sanctions should Moscow pursue further aggression or annexation in the Donbass region, marking a critical shift in European security dynamics.