Latest Interviews
Showing 1–7 of 7 transcripts.
Clear all filters- 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 Economist25 min
Conversation peace: can Europe bargain with Russia?
Rosie Bloor, Ed Carr, Mia Dahl, Anne Rowe
Convened at London's Lancaster House, European leaders signaled solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while pledging a European-led coalition for Ukraine peace, though the initiative remains critically dependent on uncertain US support and binding financial commitments. Simultaneously, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's limited deployment of National Guard troops to the US border failed to address the structural causes of the fentanyl crisis, prompting experts to emphasize that reduced overdose deaths stem from US health policy shifts rather than increased border enforcement. In a separate tragic development, Mohsen Hendrix, the world's first openly gay imam, was killed in South Africa after decades of reinterpreting Islamic scripture to defend LGBTQ+ rights and fostering inclusive communities.
- The Economist23 min
Billions of voices heard: a year of elections
Rosie Bloor, Ed Carr, Gabriel Crossley, Maria Wilczek
The 2024 global election cycle saw Donald Trump secure a decisive US victory and marked a surge in right-wing populism across Europe, challenging centrist technocratic rule in nations like Germany and France. Simultaneously, major shifts occurred in autocracies such as Russia and Bangladesh, while India and South Africa delivered rejections of unchecked nationalism through coalition governments. Parallel political and economic trends emerged in China, where urbanization is pivoting from megacities to provincial hubs, and in Poland, where communist-era "milk bars" face subsidy cuts while modernizing to survive rising operational costs.
- The Economist30 min
Starming victory: Labour sweeps to power
Sir Keir Starmer, Rosie Bloor, Ed Carr, Duncan Robinson, Catherine Nixie, Matthew Holhouse
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party secured a historic landslide victory, ending fourteen years of Conservative rule by winning approximately 410 seats while Rishi Sunak conceded defeat and former Prime Minister Liz Truss lost her seat. The new administration immediately faces the challenge of governing within a restrictive fiscal framework while pursuing economic growth through planning reform, a green transition, and stabilized EU relations. As Starmer prepares for a ceremonial transition with the King and an urgent cabinet formation, the government aims to restore international reliability despite a governing style characterized as cautious and technocratic rather than populist.
- The Economist8 min
Covid-19 vaccines: what information can you trust?
Regulatory bodies and bioethicists are navigating complex challenges including the deployment of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the strategic extension of mRNA dosing intervals to boost population immunity, and the ethical implications of mandatory vaccination or vaccine passports. While media outlets must carefully distinguish between chance adverse events and vaccine causation, experts emphasize that the rapid adaptability of mRNA platforms provides a robust foundation for updating shots against future viral mutations. Ultimately, governments favoring pragmatic public health measures over legal mandates are balancing rising hospitalization rates with the risk of fueling vaccine hesitancy among the public.
- The Economist12 min
Covid-19: what the world has learned during lockdown
Ed Carr, Callum Williams, Edward Carr
A comprehensive review of the pandemic examines uncertain long-term immunity, the divergent economic impacts of lockdowns on wealthy versus emerging markets, and the tension between national self-interest and global vaccine distribution. Epidemiological case studies from Sweden, India, and various Asian nations highlight the varying effectiveness of voluntary versus enforced social distancing amidst constraints like school safety and informal labor. The discussion concludes by urging institutional reforms for the World Health Organization and mandatory domestic production audits to ensure nations can better withstand future viral threats.
- The Economist12 min
Covid-19: more questions about coronavirus, answered
Ed Carr, Alok Jha, Edward Carr
Policymakers and economic analysts are addressing the severe trade-off between strict disease containment and deepening economic contraction, with US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warning that unemployment could reach 20% without intervention. The event evaluates the likely L-shaped recession trajectory while examining how global aid, healthcare disparities, and the virus's seasonal mutation patterns will shape long-term recovery. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the necessity of international cooperation to restore scientific trust and accelerate vaccine development within an 18-to-24-month window despite rising nationalistic trends.