Latest Interviews
Showing 121–135 of 476 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
Why does Trump admire Saudi Arabia?
Trump, Rachana Shanbhogue, Jason
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has steered Saudi Arabia toward a foreign policy of regional stabilization and ambitious domestic social liberalization to secure the political foundation for his economic transformation agenda. While the kingdom has rapidly dismantled religious restrictions and positioned itself as a mediator in global conflicts, its effort to diversify away from oil through massive giga projects like Neom faces significant hurdles due to stubborn reliance on energy revenues and fiscal strain. Consequently, the regime's long-term stability remains precarious, hinging on its ability to successfully deliver economic prosperity to a young population while managing the risks of potential dissent and investor skepticism.
- The Economist7 min
Is Putin‘s narrative working?
Marked by the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's 80th Victory Day parade transformed the 1945 Allied triumph into an isolated, state-orchestrated ritual that explicitly excludes Western allies. Vladimir Putin leverages this historical narrative to forge a continuous "cult of victory" that legitimizes his rule and the ongoing war in Ukraine as a reenactment of Soviet-era greatness. The event underscores Russia's geopolitical severance from the West, replacing the original concept of a shared liberation with a dependency on non-Western alliances and a focus on great power status rather than territorial expansion.
- The Economist7 min
Why US tariffs on China will hurt American shoppers
Effective May 2, the Trump administration revoked the "de minimis" exemption, eliminating duty-free status for Chinese imports under $800 and directly impacting the US market-dependent business models of fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu. Facing high tariff costs that threaten their core pricing advantages, these companies currently rely on direct shipping from Chinese hubs while navigating geopolitical pressure from Beijing against relocating manufacturing to avoid tariffs. Experts anticipate Shein and Temu will survive this regulatory shift by diversifying into new global markets and transitioning into multinational corporations despite strict US efforts to close trade loopholes.
- The Economist21 min
Modi behaviour: will India retaliate against Pakistan?
Narendra Modi, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Jeremy Page, Kerry and Richmond Jones, Daniel Knowles
Escalating India-Pakistan tensions have surged following a deadly 2024 attack in Kashmir, prompting New Delhi to suspend river treaties and mobilize forces while Islamabad threatens to withdraw from the Shimla Agreement. Analysts warn that high pressure for military retaliation, exacerbated by reduced US influence in the region, creates a significant risk of a broader conflict surpassing the 2019 crisis. Concurrently, domestic economic and technological dynamics persist, with religious institutions in Brazil expanding via tax incentives and global demand for magnetic tape storage surging for AI data archiving despite government claims of obsolescence.
- The Economist26 min
Carney score: last days of Canada’s campaign
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Sarah Larniuk, Noah Snyder, Fraser McGilraith
Hosted by Rosie Bloor and Jason Palmer, this broadcast examines Canada's volatile election driven by US protectionism concerns, media fragmentation, and a toxic political climate where Conservative leader Pierre Poilievé leverages social media to bypass traditional journalism. The program simultaneously analyzes the United States' critical shipbuilding deficit relative to Chinese and South Korean capacity, highlighting legal barriers to international co-production and the strategic choice between domestic revitalization or foreign reliance. Concluding with a 1945 archival perspective, the episode reflects on the human cost of Berlin's fall and the geopolitical complexities that followed the Allied victory over the Third Reich.
- The Economist9 min
Is the world still working from home?
A 2024 survey by Stanford's Nicholas Bloom across 40 nations reveals that hybrid work adoption correlates strongly with cultural individualism, ranging from 1.9 days weekly in Canada to 0.5 days in South Korea. These divergent patterns have reshaped housing markets by driving suburban price surges of up to 50% while depressing urban centers, alongside increased leisure efficiency but a notable 30-minute rise in daily solitary time. Despite concerns over social isolation, the aggregate assessment remains that remote work delivers a net positive global impact by unlocking economic efficiencies in housing and providing critical autonomy for workers.
- The Economist23 min
Division multiplication: the UAE’s foreign meddling
Jason Palmer, Greg Karlstrom, Moeka Iida, John Fassman
The United Arab Emirates faces international condemnation and legal challenges at the International Court of Justice for allegedly supplying weapons to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces while simultaneously advancing diplomatic ties with the EU and acting as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war. In Japan, thousands of farmers staged rare protests during a historic rice shortage driven by climate damage and supply chain distortions, forcing the government to release strategic reserves despite structural policies that continue to suppress domestic production. Concurrently in the United States, the cultural debate over gender-neutral language has intensified politically, prompting a linguistic reassessment of English pronouns that highlights the historical validity and practical necessity of the singular "they" amidst efforts to codify usage through government mandates.
- The Economist21 min
Cardinals in: choosing the next pope
Jason Palmer, John Hooper, Sarah Burke
Following Pope Francis's death, the Catholic Church prepares for a high-stakes conclave where key figures like Camerlengo Kevin Farrell and Dean Giovanni Battista Re must navigate deep ideological divisions regarding geopolitical strategy and sexual abuse accountability. Simultaneously, Mexico faces a deepening humanitarian crisis as the discovery of a CJNG cartel training camp with cremation ovens underscores the rising disappearance rate under current and previous administrations, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to propose reforms despite severe forensic resource gaps. In the entertainment sector, the *Minecraft* film's record-breaking $300 million opening signals a potential revival for theatrical eventing by targeting the teenage demographic, even as unruly TikTok-fueled behavior forces theaters to implement strict attendance policies.
- The Economist20 min
A man of the people: Pope Francis has died
Pope Francis, Jason Palmer, Anne Rowe, Avantika Chalkoti, Juergen Esser, Andrew Palmer
Pope Francis has implemented a radical reform strategy within the Catholic Church by prioritizing mercy and direct engagement while facing internal resistance from the Curia regarding child abuse protocols and doctrinal changes. Simultaneously, the global high-protein market is surging due to GLP-1 drug usage and shifting consumer demographics, prompting major manufacturers like Danone and Nestlé to launch specialized products despite warnings of unnecessary supplementation. In the corporate sector, organizations are increasingly addressing workplace turnover by replacing indirect "quiet firing" tactics with purpose-alignment workshops, a method proven to improve productivity while naturally separating low-performing employees.
- The Economist25 min
Trump’s fickle, Xi’s pickle: the dynamic driving US-China tensions
Trump, Xi, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, David Rennie, Hanna Vioque, John Fassman
Amid escalating trade friction involving US tariffs and Chinese export controls, Beijing has diversified its diplomatic ties to Southeast Asia and Europe while rejecting direct negotiation tactics it deems chaotic. Concurrently, Spain faces a humanitarian crisis as record migrant arrivals and sea-route deaths overwhelm local morgues, forcing authorities to implement rapid burials that compromise identification protocols. In a contrasting sectoral shift, the pinball industry has experienced a resurgence driven by technological upgrades and a surge in competitive participation, reversing decades of decline to become a global market of nearly 40,000 players.
- The Economist13 min
Has Trump damaged the dollar?
Following President Trump's reciprocal tariff announcements, a simultaneous sell-off in US bonds, equities, and the dollar signals a breakdown in historical market correlations and a generalized flight from American assets. This volatility is driven by aggressive fiscal expansion plans and administration rhetoric questioning the benefits of dollar dominance, which have raised concerns about the sustainability of foreign capital holdings in US Treasuries. While no current alternative currency offers comparable liquidity to challenge the dollar, the resulting permanent risk premium has created a less stable global financial system that requires urgent political coordination to avoid further instability.
- The Economist24 min
The buck stops here? The threats to dollar primacy
Jordan Bardella, Jason Palmer, Henry Kerr, Sophie Bedder, Emma Irving
Following President Trump's April announcement of reciprocal tariffs, a financial sell-off has triggered concerns that the US dollar may lose its reserve status, potentially forcing bond yields higher and complicating the Federal Reserve's ability to manage inflation without a Congress unable to pass unpopular fiscal corrections. In France, Jordan Bardella has emerged as the strategic successor to Marine Le Pen after her 2027 election ban, leveraging his youth-oriented digital persona and critical stance on Vladimir Putin to modernize the National Rally while navigating internal party scrutiny. Concurrently, Hong Kong authorities are implementing strict regulatory measures for taxi drivers, including surveillance and penalty systems, to restore tourist confidence amid a sharp drop in visitor numbers and fierce competition from unregulated ride-hailing services.
- The Economist23 min
Bloody Sunday: Russia’s strikes on Sumy
Jason Palmer, Tim Judah, Christian Odendal, Jess, Catherine Nixie
Amidst escalating Russian missile strikes that killed dozens of civilians in Sumy and Krivyi Rih, US envoy General Keith Kellogg condemned the violence while President Trump's administration faces internal division over peace timelines. Simultaneously, European nations are launching aggressive recruitment campaigns to reverse brain drain caused by US policy shifts, aiming to boost strategic autonomy despite significant R&D spending gaps. In a separate economic update, the UK's Consumer Price Index continues to evolve through the Office for National Statistics' rigorous tracking of a 750-item basket that now reflects modern leisure and pet care alongside historical inflation data.
- The Economist27 min
The great brawl: China v America
Donald Trump, Friedrich Merz, Betty Webb, Rosie Bloor, Don Wineland, Tom Nuttall, Anne Rowe
Escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, marked by reciprocal tariffs exceeding 125%, have triggered market volatility while forcing a strategic reshaping of global supply chains away from US dependence. Simultaneously, Germany's incoming coalition government led by Friedrich Merz has secured a mandate to address economic stagnation and defense obligations, navigating the new reality of aggressive US protectionism. In a historical parallel to current geopolitical anxieties, the life of Betty Webb, a WWII codebreaker who died at 101, has been revealed as a cautionary tale against modern fascist movements.
- The Economist21 min
Art of the real: Trump bows to markets
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Rachna Shambhog, Tom Standage, Andrew Miller
Following President Trump's announcement of a 90-day tariff pause amid market-driven recession fears, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent utilized the delay to reward non-retaliation while maintaining a 125% rate on China, prompting global leaders to prepare direct concessions on defense and trade. Simultaneously, the commercial space sector advances toward orbital data centers as StarCloud plans a 2024 AI chip demonstrator and Axiom Space operates station racks, with viability hinging on the projected launch cost reductions of SpaceX's Starship. Marking the centennial of its 1924 publication, F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby* continues to define the American experience by contrasting the Jazz Age's glamour with a rigid class structure that grants the wealthy immunity from the consequences of their carelessness.