Latest Interviews
Showing 46–60 of 62 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist25 min
Bulls’ AI: funding artificial intelligence
Rosie Bloor, Henry Trix, Anton LaGuardia, Helena Woods, Holly Burman, Evan Nathaniel Grimm
OpenAI projects a $150 billion valuation driven by soaring LLM training costs and exclusive funding from Microsoft, while the U.S. military modernizes its nuclear arsenal amidst a collapsing arms control framework with Russia and a rapidly expanding Chinese stockpile. Simultaneously, a growing demographic of young Americans increasingly relies on political astrology rather than traditional polling data to forecast election outcomes, as practitioners use birth charts to predict specific events involving Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. This convergence marks a broader shift where massive capital requirements are restructuring Silicon Valley finance, nuclear strategy is returning to complex trilateral rivalries, and subjective alternative forecasting is challenging established objective metrics.
- The Economist26 min
Fed-letter day: at last, a rate cut
Rosie Bloor, Simon Rabinovich, Shashank, Rachel Lloyd
The Federal Reserve executed its first pandemic-era interest rate reduction by cutting the benchmark rate by half a percentage point to a 4.75%–5% range, a move Chair Jerome Powell framed as a recalibration toward neutral policy amid shifting risks to inflation and employment. While the 11–1 voting split and immediate political reactions from the Biden and Trump campaigns highlighted the decision's significance, the central bank signaled that future adjustments will depend on labor market data rather than economic recession fears. Simultaneously, Western allies are deliberating whether to authorize Ukraine's use of long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles for strikes inside Russia, weighing the tactical necessity of denying Moscow safe havens against the strategic danger of escalating direct conflict.
- 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 Economist23 min
Don wan: Harris keeps Trump tame
Harris, Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, James Bennett, Amelia Wood, Ora Ogunbiyi
Vice President Kamala Harris dominated the election debate by reframing border security discussions and presenting specific economic policies, while Donald Trump failed to detail healthcare alternatives, repeated false claims about the 2020 election, and offered vague responses on Ukraine. Analyst James Bennett observed that although Harris put Trump "on the back foot" with this performance, the event is unlikely to significantly shift polling or the campaign's ultimate outcome. Simultaneously, a global medical review highlighted the United States' critical role as the primary plasma exporter, contrasting its payment-based donation model with restrictive European regulations driven by safety concerns and political contradictions. This economic strain also extends to Nigeria, where rising living costs are forcing Yoruba families to consolidate multi-day weddings into single-day events and replace luxury customs with modest, practical alternatives.
- 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.
- The Economist26 min
Nvincible? What could curb Nvidia’s supremacy
Rosie Bloor, Jan Piotrowski, Aaron Braun, Stanley Pignal
NVIDIA's stock price declined despite record $30 billion quarterly revenue and a $3 trillion market cap, as investors weigh supply chain bottlenecks from TSMC capacity limits against rising competition from AMD and cloud providers designing their own chips. Simultaneously, Highway 1 along California's Central Coast faces existential threats from climate-driven erosion and landslides that threaten a $9 billion tourism industry, sparking debate over whether to continue repairing the crumbling infrastructure or abandon the route entirely. In Europe, the cultural practice of public nudity is retreating to an aging demographic of over-65s, driven by the deterrent effects of social media, smartphone surveillance, and shifting social norms among younger generations.
- The Economist27 min
KamaChameleon: What does Harris stand for?
Harris, Wally Amos, Rosie Bloor, Charlie McCann, Auret Ogambi, Ana Lankas, Jessica, Fernando, Jiehao Chen, Anne Hanna, Shahzad Yunus, Anne Rowe
Following her replacement of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris energized the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with a speech emphasizing abortion rights, voting protections, and foreign policy stances that have narrowed the election to a 50/50 race against Donald Trump. The event successfully rallied a broad coalition, including Muslim American delegates, despite earlier pro-Gaza protests, while young voters prioritize the binary choice of Harris over Trump based on fears of policy reversals.
- The Economist24 min
More than Sheikh could stick at: Bangladesh’s PM resigns
Sheikh, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Lena Schipper, Don Wineland, Anne Rowe
Following the violent collapse of Bangladesh's 20-year Awami League rule, an interim government led by the President has taken power to release political prisoners and address the unrest sparked by student demands against job quotas and dynastic cronyism. Simultaneously, China solidifies its global leadership in autonomous mobility as Baidu expands its Apollo Go fleet in Wuhan to 1,000 vehicles, aiming for profitability while navigating regulatory competition and local taxi driver resistance. The geopolitical landscape also mourns the legacy of Thomas Neff, the "free agent" diplomat who engineered the 1993 conversion of dismantled Soviet warheads into US nuclear fuel, successfully eliminating 20,000 nuclear weapons through direct economic pragmatism.
- The Economist26 min
Destruction instruction: Western armies learn from Gaza
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Shashank Joshi, Emma Irving, Andrew Kitness
Recent analysis of the Gaza conflict reveals that while Israel claims to have eliminated Mohamed Deif, the war continues to yield critical tactical lessons on urban defense, drone efficacy, and the complexities of fighting in tunnel networks that are reshaping Western military doctrine. Simultaneously, Silicon Valley remains divided over J.D. Vance, whose venture capital background and anti-regulation stance attract a core group of billionaire allies despite generating anxiety among broader tech executives concerning his protectionist trade policies. In Hong Kong, a distinct cultural phenomenon sees "haunted house" superstitions driving a 20% to 33% reduction in property values, forcing legal disclosure mandates and technological adaptations to manage a market where social isolation and rapid urbanization fuel ghost-related fears.
- The Economist26 min
Veep show: America meets J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance, Donald Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Adam O'Neill, Kinley Salmon, Kenneth Kukie
Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance delivered a populist speech emphasizing his working-class roots and isolationist economic views to differentiate himself from Donald Trump and reshape the GOP's intellectual foundation. Meanwhile, economists identify Latin America's severe trade underperformance as a result of geographical barriers, economic homogeneity, and political fragmentation that limit intra-regional commerce. Finally, Kenneth Kukie argues that classic literature such as *The Trial* and *Macbeth* provides more profound insights into leadership and organizational chaos than contemporary management manuals.
- The Economist22 min
Degree programme: stopping heat deaths
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Rachel Dobbs, Mark Johnson, Annie Crable
Record global heatwaves have exposed severe climate inequalities, prompting urgent adaptation measures such as worker protections and cooling infrastructure to address disproportionate risks for low-income populations and the elderly. Concurrently, a major demographic shift in international higher education sees Indian students overtaking their Chinese counterparts as the primary growth engine, fundamentally altering tuition revenue models and immigration policies in the US and UK. In the consumer goods sector, a rapidly expanding $6.6 billion market for full-body deodorants is challenging traditional hygiene norms, driving sales through anxiety-inducing marketing while raising medical concerns regarding the safety of applying fragrances to sensitive skin areas.
- The Economist24 min
Rule and divide: Donald Trump is judged immune
Donald Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Stephen Mazey, Katrine Braig, Nicole Phan
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling granting former President Donald Trump partial immunity from federal prosecution for official acts, a decision critics warn may establish a monarch-like "president for life." Concurrently, scientists are debating polar geoengineering projects to halt ice sheet melting, though experts predict these extreme interventions will fail due to logistical impossibility and high environmental risks. Meanwhile, the iconic Hoi Fong Sriracha brand faces prolonged production halts stemming from a 2017 supply dispute, prompting consumers to switch to competitors while the rancher who supplied the chili launched a rival product.
- The Economist26 min
Debate and switch? Biden’s stumble
Biden, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Idris Kholoun, Emily Steinmark, Lane Green
President Joe Biden faces intensifying scrutiny and succession speculation after a CNN debate marked by significant memory lapses, while Donald Trump countered with mixed policy shifts and historical inaccuracies. Simultaneously, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument released preliminary data suggesting dark energy density fluctuates over time, potentially invalidating the standard cosmological model. In Spain, the San Isidro Festival demonstrated bullfighting's cultural resilience despite declining participation rates and rising political opposition from left-wing officials.
- The Economist24 min
Rocketing science: China’s newest superpower
Rosie Bloor, Ainsley Johnston, Lane Green
Chinese research institutions have achieved global leadership in high-impact scientific output through massive state investment and large-scale laboratory structures, though this rapid ascent raises concerns regarding citation manipulation and military dual-use technologies. Simultaneously, Southern European nations demonstrate that longevity is driven more by physical activity, urban density, and social cohesion than by wealth, challenging the modern erosion of traditional dietary habits. In the United States, a rare convergence of 13- and 17-year cicada broods has triggered the emergence of one trillion insects across the East, presenting critical research opportunities to understand evolutionary adaptation mechanisms amidst the threat of climate change.
- The Economist25 min
Labour's pains: Britain’s growth problem
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Archie Hall, Sophie Petter, Max Norman
Amidst the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in Normandy, UK political analysts anticipate a decisive Labour victory under Keir Starmer, though the campaign has prioritized avoiding specific economic pledges over defining a bold mandate. While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Starmer debated cultural topics, the broader British economy faces stagnation driven by low productivity and demographic shifts that may necessitate tax hikes unless modest EU integration occurs. Simultaneously, Venice has launched a controversial €5 day-tripper fee intended to deter over-tourism and protect its shrinking resident population, despite significant operational costs and exemptions that limit its immediate crowd-reducing impact.