Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- The Economist25 min
Wall of duties: Trump’s towering tariffs
Trump, Shonda Rhimes, Rosie Bloor, Rachna Shambhog, Tom Gardner, Rachel Lloyd
On April 2, 2025, Donald Trump enacted sweeping global tariffs designed to rebuild American manufacturing while economists warn of an elevated recession risk and infrastructure challenges regarding enforcement. Concurrently, the Sudanese National Army recaptured Khartoum with international military backing, though a fragmented coalition and the Rapid Support Forces' continued resistance suggest a prolonged conflict rather than a decisive peace. In the entertainment sector, Shondaland solidified its dominance by generating $2.4 billion in revenue through distinct pacing strategies and expansive universe-building, despite a market increasingly risk-averse to new creative talent.
- The Economist23 min
With this ring: Trump and Putin omit Ukraine
Trump, Putin, Rosie Bloor, Shashank Joshi, Rachel Lloyd
In a significant geopolitical shift, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin initiated direct diplomatic talks to end the Ukraine war, with a newly formed US negotiating team excluding Ukraine and European allies while signaling a move away from NATO membership guarantees. Simultaneously, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group captured the eastern Congolese city of Goma, prompting a regional military escalation and raising concerns about further advances toward Kinshasa despite a lack of immediate negotiation prospects. In the cultural sector, the *Bridget Jones* franchise is returning with a fourth film that explores themes of bereavement and relatable imperfection, continuing the series' legacy of commercial success and social relevance over two decades.
- The Economist29 min
Mass graves: revealing Syria’s horror
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Gareth Brown, Sophie Petter, Andy Miller, Rachel Lloyd, Nicholas Barber
Ten days after Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, journalist Gareth Brown confirmed the existence of a massive mass grave in Al-Qutayfa where locals allege regime forces buried up to 100,000 political prisoners from Sadnaya prison. Meanwhile, France faces a deepening political crisis as President Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou to lead a caretaker government following the dismissal of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, leaving the nation without a 2025 budget amidst threats of immediate no-confidence votes from all parliamentary factions. In cultural news, critics highlight three distinct 2024 releases: Sean Baker's *Anora* subverts marriage tropes, *All of Us Strangers* explores grief through supernatural drama, and *The Substance* delivers a satirical body-horror critique of Hollywood's ageism.
- The Economist23 min
Bringing up Bibi: Netanyahu testifies
Bibi, Netanyahu, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Anshul Pfeffer, Mark Johnson, Rachel Lloyd, John Fassman, Alexandra Sewich-Bass, Caitlin Tolbert
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a dual crisis as he becomes the first serving Israeli prime minister to testify in a domestic corruption trial while managing war crimes allegations from the International Criminal Court and domestic protests over the Gaza conflict. Concurrently, research reveals that master's degrees in the United Kingdom offer no net financial benefit by age 35, while nearly 40% of US graduate programs yield negative returns after accounting for tuition and opportunity costs. In cultural news, The Economist highlighted four notable 2024 publications ranging from biographies of wartime figures to dystopian satires, underscoring a broader push for greater transparency and regulation in higher education financing.
- The Economist21 min
Michel shock: France’s government falls
Michel Barnier, Emmanuel Macron, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Sophie Petter, Henry Tricks, Rachel Lloyd, Jared Brown
Following a coalition of the left and far-right led by Marine Le Pen that successfully triggered a vote of no confidence, French President Emmanuel Macron has lost his third prime minister in a year, creating a constitutional deadlock that bars early elections until July 2025. In the corporate sector, while individual generative AI adoption remains high, widespread business implementation is stalled by regulatory uncertainty, legal liabilities, and a severe shortage of skilled specialists. Simultaneously, the UK gin industry faces a contraction threat as record duty hikes and rising costs dampen demand for spirits, driving a shift toward non-alcoholic alternatives despite a decade of explosive growth.
- The Economist22 min
All for one: Donald Trump and his key Musketeer
Donald Trump, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Patrick Fowles, Rachel Lloyd, Fraser McIlwraith
Elon Musk is set to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency under President-elect Donald Trump, a partnership driven by shared hostility toward federal bureaucracy and "woke" culture despite risks of conflicts of interest and a volatile alliance dynamic. Concurrently, Ireland is confronting its history of Magdalene laundries through new criminal legislation prohibiting record destruction and plans for a remembrance center, though church-controlled education stalls broader reform. Finally, Chile is witnessing a surge in salmon theft as criminal networks pivot from timber to the lucrative aquaculture sector, prompting enhanced security measures and legislative proposals to address the rising crime wave.
- The Economist22 min
Tax driver: Labour’s budget
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Archie Hall, Stevie Hertz, Rachel Lloyd
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a historic UK budget featuring £40 billion in tax increases and record borrowing to fund NHS and public service expansion, a move Conservative leader Rishi Sunak condemned as broken promises. Simultaneously, the North Carolina election faces significant logistical hurdles after Hurricane Hélène damaged infrastructure in key swing counties, complicating early voting operations despite record turnout elsewhere. In cultural news, a viral surge of pickle consumption on social media has driven culinary experimentation, though testing of these trends yielded mixed reviews regarding flavor combinations.
- 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.