Latest Interviews
Showing 106–120 of 718 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
Could markets topple the global economy?
A recent analysis argues that the AI-driven stock market boom masks severe economic fragility, with consumer wealth exposure now exceeding 1990s levels and AI revenue falling far short of capital expenditure requirements. A potential market correction would directly impair US households, likely prompting a Trump administration to manage bailouts through discretionary lending while triggering a global recession that could shift investor preference toward Europe. As the 2026 horizon approaches, rising fears of AI-driven job displacement in entry-level roles may accelerate corporate adoption of automation technologies as a cost-saving measure amid economic downturns.
- The Economist14 min
Are nitazenes the new fentanyl?
Emerging on the illicit European market in 2019, nitrooxenes are a class of potent synthetic opioids derived from 1950s research that cause fatal overdoses through highly toxic active metabolites. This dangerous trend surged following global supply disruptions to traditional heroin, leading to confirmed clusters in countries like Ireland where authorities discovered the drugs were being laced into other substances without user knowledge. While some nations implemented public warnings and harm reduction strategies, policy experts argue that continued punitive approaches fail to address the market dynamics driving the production of increasingly lethal synthetic alternatives.
- The Economist10 min
Former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath’s warning for rich world economies
Former IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath assessed the global economy from 2019 to 2025, highlighting how emerging markets demonstrated unexpected resilience against the pandemic, war, and inflation thanks to improved fiscal governance and diversified borrowing. Despite this stability, she warned of looming systemic risks including a fragile US financial sector, the opacity of non-bank lending, and a projected global debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100% by 2030. Addressing these challenges requires advanced economies to confront structural fiscal imbalances and aging demographics, though necessary adjustments to retirement ages face significant political resistance.
- The Economist8 min
Kaja Kallas: can the European Union survive in an era of strongmen?
Representative Kaya Kalas reported that Chinese leadership intentionally prolongs the war in Ukraine to divert U.S. attention from China, while European nations struggle to leverage their market power due to fragmented coordination and a failure to deploy their Instrument to Counter Economic Coercion. Kalas argued that the West's slow democratic decision-making processes create a structural disadvantage against the rapid, unilateral actions of authoritarian leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Consequently, the proposed European strategy focuses on building diversified supply chains across the Global South to reduce dependency on Chinese exports and consolidate internal unity to effectively counter geopolitical rivals.
- The Economist9 min
How will Japan's prime minister change her country?
Noah Sneider, Rosie Blau, Rosie Bloor
Sanae Takaichi has become Japan's first female Prime Minister, marking a strategic rightward pivot for the Liberal Democratic Party that has already fractured its long-standing coalition with Komeito. Her agenda combines aggressive defense spending, a revival of "Abenomics," and strict social conservatism, while navigating delicate tensions with the United States and historical disputes with Asian neighbors. Although her administration aims to address domestic inflation, the survival of her government faces significant uncertainty due to internal party fractures and public skepticism regarding her right-wing populist appeal.
- The Economist13 min
Steve Bannon: Trump will have a third term
Steve Bannon, Trump, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Ed Carr
Steve Bannon articulates a vision for a MAGA revolution that replaces corporate control with an "entrepreneurial capitalism" dominated by populist nationalists, asserting the movement must seize and permanently defend state institutions regardless of legal or economic pushback. He predicts Donald Trump will secure a third presidential term in 2028 by redefining constitutional constraints and positions the United States as the catalyst for a global wave of right-wing victories in nations like the UK, France, and Germany. This strategy frames the current era as an existential political war where the movement will not compromise, arguing that radical action is necessary to avoid elite-managed decline and ensure the preservation of national sovereignty.
- The Economist8 min
Why are so many Chinese bosses disappearing?
Don Weinland, Rosie Blau, Rosie Bloor
China's "Liu Zhi" extra-judicial detention system, which allows the anti-corruption agency to hold individuals without court oversight for renewable eight-month cycles, has expanded from government officials to include private sector leaders. This mechanism has contributed to a projected record of one million corruption cases by 2024, with local authorities increasingly conducting cross-border "deep sea fishing" operations to seize assets from business networks connected to high-ranking probes. The resulting economic pressure has degraded business sentiment, added 200,000 individuals to credit blacklists, and triggered five high-profile suicides among entrepreneurs despite official efforts to signal private sector support.
- The Economist10 min
Were we wrong about Trump's tariffs?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Henry, John, Ed
Recent trade policies have established the highest tariff levels in ninety years, creating a significant gap between announced rates and effective collection due to supply chain shifts and business cost absorption. While the U.S. economy experienced its weakest half-year growth since 2012 with rising inflation, political dynamics are shifting toward protectionism across both parties despite bipartisan opposition from key figures like Mitch McConnell. Experts warn that arbitrary policy implementation and entrenched lobbying interests will likely create long-term structural damage and market isolation, even if an immediate recession is avoided.
- The Economist8 min
Why is Saudi Arabia buying up the video game industry?
Led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a consortium is acquiring Electronic Arts for $55 billion while deploying a $38 billion Savvy Games portfolio to dominate the global gaming sector. This strategy targets the 330 million Arabic-speaking demographic and diversifies the Kingdom's oil-dependent economy by creating 39,000 jobs and leveraging competitive gaming for soft power. Although immediate content changes to existing Western franchises remain uncertain, the initiative integrates local cultural narratives and sports assets to eventually establish a distinct "Saudi accent" in international game development.
- The Economist13 min
Has science finally cracked the secret to invisibility?
Alok Jha, Professor Sir John Pendry, John Pendry
Physics professor John Pendry introduced metamaterials as geometrically engineered structures capable of manipulating light paths to achieve the effects described in his "invisibility cloak" concept. This theoretical framework, initially named by Pendry's wife to aid a 2005 DARPA presentation, faced early skepticism before David Smith's team at Duke University successfully constructed a functional prototype for radar waves. The field has since evolved from resolving debates over negative refraction to experimental recreations of conditions existing near black holes.
- The Economist7 min
Mark Carney on dealing with Donald Trump
Mark Carney, Donald Trump, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Prime Minister Carney, Sani
Prime Minister Carney attributes Canada's recent economic stagnation to persistent tariff uncertainty while characterizing U.S. trade policy as a coercive "mafioso" strategy driven by President Trump. In response to this geopolitical rupture, Ottawa is pivoting toward strategic sovereignty by bolstering Arctic defense and cultivating a "variable geometry" of trade alliances to reduce reliance on the American market. This dual approach acknowledges a permanent shift toward high-tariff U.S. protectionism, compelling Canada to prioritize self-sufficiency and diversify global partnerships beyond traditional transatlantic frameworks.
- The Economist9 min
How Donald Trump made the Gaza talks happen
Donald Trump, Jason Palmer, Anshel Pfeffer
Amid unprecedented war fatigue, the Trump administration has deployed a high-level delegation led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Sharm El Sheikh to drive an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The proposed Phase 1 plan mandates a full halt to hostilities, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and a reciprocal exchange of 48 Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to prevent famine and release military reservists. While long-term governance details regarding disarmament and international security forces remain deferred, the U.S. is aggressively enforcing this framework to bypass previous diplomatic failures and secure a permanent end to the conflict.
- The Economist11 min
Has Mars revealed a new clue about life on its surface?
Dr Katie Stack Morgan, Alok Jha
NASA's Perseverance rover recently identified distinct mineral patterns in Mars' "Chiava Falls" outcrop that the science team voted to classify as potential biosignatures, marking the closest any agency has come to detecting ancient life. While these findings strongly suggest a biological origin due to their specific chemical arrangement, the rover's limitations require the samples to be returned to Earth for definitive analysis. This critical next step relies on the Mars Sample Return program, which currently faces budgetary uncertainty even as scientists describe the discovery as a historic scientific milestone.
- The Economist9 min
Will President Trump’s Gaza peace plan work?
Trump, Gregg Carlstrom, Rosie Blau, Rosie Bloor
Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-point plan for Gaza that mandates Hamas to release all hostages and disarm in exchange for an international peacekeeping force and a Board of Peace co-led by the former president. While the proposal includes immediate humanitarian aid and a long-term governance framework, it faces significant friction due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to Palestinian Authority involvement and divergent views on establishing a Palestinian state. The initiative places direct pressure on both Hamas to accept terms before facing potential unilateral action by Israel and on the Israeli government to adhere to the stipulated governance structure despite internal disagreements.
- The Economist8 min
How much protein do you really need?
A recent discussion detailed the physiological role of proteins as primary structural materials while analyzing dietary guidelines that range from the World Health Organization's 0.8 grams per kilogram recommendation to sports science suggestions of up to 1.6 grams per kilogram. The presentation highlighted that excessive protein intake above this threshold offers no additional muscle growth benefits and may pose kidney risks, particularly when derived from saturated fats and processed meats. Instead of prioritizing extreme dietary calculations, experts advised combining consistent strength training with enjoyable exercise routines to ensure long-term health and muscle maintenance.