Latest Interviews
Showing 1–7 of 7 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
The Iran war will cause inflation to surge | The Economist
The escalation of conflict in Iran has triggered a surge in oil prices that threatens to transmit inflationary pressure globally through energy costs and critical fertilizer shortages at the Strait of Hormuz. Central bankers face a complex dilemma balancing the risk of a historical wage-price spiral against the potential for economic stagnation, while navigating political pressure to lower rates despite IMF forecasts predicting a two percentage point inflation jump. This crisis compels immediate policy intervention to prevent a permanent structural shift in inflation expectations, mirroring the cautionary precedents of the 1970s and recent cumulative global shocks.
- 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 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 Economist26 min
Phase transition? Gaza’s shaky peace
Greg Carlstrom, Jason, Rachel Dobbs, Ana Lankes
Negotiations for a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire are stalled as the initial truce approaches expiration, with a short-term extension considered the most likely scenario while future reconstruction plans clash between Arab proposals and Israeli suggestions. Simultaneously, the US faces significant disruption in its federal science sector due to proposed budget cuts of up to 50% and the removal of indirect costs, prompting fears of a mass exodus of scientific talent and a decline in global research output. Meanwhile, Brazil is undergoing a national reckoning with its military dictatorship legacy, driven by the Oscar-nominated film *I'm Still Here*, which has intensified judicial scrutiny over past disappearances like that of Rubens Paiva and underscored political tensions surrounding former President Jair Bolsonaro's pending trial.
- The Economist23 min
Don of a new age: Trump’s decisive win
Trump, Jason, John Prudhoe, Charlotte Howard, Idris Kalloun, Tamara Gilkes-Boer, Adam O'Neill, Aaron Braun
Donald Trump is projected to secure the presidency and a unified Republican trifecta, becoming the only president since Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms while defeating Kamala Harris across key swing states. The campaign's "base-first" strategy drove significant gains among working-class and cross-racial demographics, allowing Trump to potentially appoint new Supreme Court justices and pursue an unchecked legislative agenda. Conversely, the Democratic Party faces intense internal scrutiny over its nomination process and policy failures as Republicans prepare to leverage their control of Congress and the judiciary for a second term.
- The Economist28 min
War or less? Lebanon on the brink
Greg Karlstrom, Jason, Rebecca Jackson, Mark Robinson, Kunal Patel, Claire Reid, Alyssia Burrell, Dasha, Harriet Noble, Margot Alexander, Jiehao Chen, David Rennie, Mr. Wu, Sam Western
Israel has escalated its aerial campaign against Hezbollah by targeting northern Lebanon, prompting ballistic missile strikes on Tel Aviv and raising fears of an imminent ground invasion alongside a severe humanitarian crisis involving over 90,000 displaced persons. Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts by the US and France to secure a three-week ceasefire have stalled due to conflicting strategic demands regarding Gaza and the Litani River. In a separate development, the US North Carolina gubernatorial race has been destabilized by a sex scandal involving Republican candidate Mark Robinson, creating significant electoral volatility in this key swing state.
- The Economist28 min
Beyond the bullets: we go to Ukraine
Andriy Khlyvnyuk, Jason, Oliver Carroll, Sarah Larniuk, Yevhen Klopotenko
Two-and-a-half years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine contends with critical military pressures on the Pokrovsk front and a controversial Kursk incursion that has emboldened allies while straining domestic reinforcements. Simultaneously, the nation is undergoing a profound cultural renaissance that rejects post-Soviet identity through government bans on Russian media, the resurgence of traditional fashion, and culinary initiatives championed by Chef Yevhen Klopotenko to reclaim Ukrainian heritage. Despite these symbolic victories and the mobilization of folk traditions, civilians face relentless energy attacks and deep-seated anxieties regarding long-term economic stability and post-war survival.