Latest Interviews

Is Europe facing a "Muslim takeover"? The data says otherwise | The Economist

Edward Carr, Tom, Sophia, Sasha

Following the Alternative for Deutschland's decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt election, which explicitly targets limiting Islamic influence, experts warn of a symbiotic relationship accelerating the far-right's electoral momentum and Europe's demographic anxieties. While data reveals a modest 6% Muslim population share and successful integration patterns often overlooked by mainstream parties, these facts fail to counter the narrative fueled by social media amplification and figures like Elon Musk regarding a perceived civilizational crisis. Consequently, the discourse increasingly conflates distinct concepts of religion and political extremism, creating a feedback loop where European outcomes are viewed as a cautionary tale that threatens to destabilize future elections across the continent.

Why America is stepping away from the institutions it built | The Economist

John, Ed, Charlotte

U.S. foreign policy is undergoing a structural shift from values-based engagement to a transactional approach, driven by a bipartisan consensus that the post-World War II order has failed to deliver sufficient economic returns or strategic advantages. Former President Trump's 2015 platform catalyzed this pivot by framing the abandonment of multilateral institutions as a correction to decades of free-riding, leading to increased reliance on tariffs and coercive trade rather than traditional alliances. Experts project three potential futures for this realignment: a renegotiated U.S. hegemony, a fragmented status quo, or a chaotic descent into systemic collapse triggered by unchecked military coercion.

Why are young Indians joining the Cockroach Janta Party? | The Economist

Tom Sasse, Rosie Blau

Launched by Boston-based consultant Abhijit Dipka as a satirical response to a Supreme Court Justice's remark, the "Cockroach People's Party" evolved into a physical street protest in Delhi where 1,000 to 2,000 young Indians demanded the resignation of the Education Minister over exam scandals. While the movement has amassed millions of digital followers and frames the unrest as a reaction to systemic failure and economic stagnation, analysts caution that its impact is limited by a lack of organizational cohesion and the ruling BJP's continued popularity among the youth. Although street politics has historically driven change in India, observers suggest this specific mobilization remains in its infancy and lacks the sustained leadership necessary to challenge the government effectively.

How high could the oil price go? | The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Mathieu, Henry

Global oil markets face a structural crisis where a 14 million barrel-per-day supply deficit has eroded the "sanguine" expectation of a quick peace deal, creating a price disconnect that literature estimates would require $167 to $460 per barrel to correct. With production gains from non-conflicted regions proving negligible, the market is currently absorbing this shortfall through record-fast inventory drawdowns of 8 to 10 million barrels daily, driven by pre-war shipments and sanctions-induced cargo displacement. As critical buffers for jet fuel and diesel approach minimum levels and logistical constraints lengthen trade routes, the only remaining adjustment mechanisms involve further depletion of commercial stocks or active demand destruction in major consuming regions like Asia.

What America and Iran want from negotiations | The Economist

Amidst a severe trust deficit, US demands for Iran to surrender approximately 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium clash with Tehran's strategic pivot toward leveraging the Strait of Hormuz as a maritime toll mechanism. While pragmatic Iranian officials seek sanctions relief for their damaged petrochemical infrastructure, they remain resistant to ceding missile and drone capabilities that serve as critical regional deterrents. Consequently, the conflict has evolved beyond a narrow nuclear dispute into a broader contest over US-recognized leverage and the potential for a permanent toll system that could alienate American Gulf allies.

Why are Iranian drones so deadly? | The Economist

Shashank Joshi, Rosie Blau

Russia has adapted Iranian Shaheed drones into low-cost Geran munitions, creating a strategic challenge by outpacing traditional missile interceptors with volume and maneuverability. To counter this, Ukraine is exporting its operational expertise in FPV interceptor drones to Gulf states, offering technology transfers in exchange for defense investments and pressure on Western partners to supply high-end interceptors. This emerging alliance leverages Ukrainian successes in air and maritime defense to offset the economic imbalance of Russia's drone swarm tactics while reshaping regional security dynamics.

Will the Iran war spread across the Middle East?

Greg, Anshul, Adam, Pete Hexeth

Experts warn that regional chaos in Iran could trigger a prolonged conflict, spiking energy prices and threatening the security models of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. While historically neutral, these nations are shifting toward military alignment with the US and abandoning diplomatic restraint as Iranian strikes backfire by uniting regional populations against Tehran. This escalation occurs amidst a US strategy driven by legacy considerations rather than broad public support, aiming to transform Iran's political landscape while balancing fears of a quagmire against the need to signal power to global rivals like China.

What would be the point of an American strike on Iran? | The Economist

Edward Carr, Ed, Shashank, Greg

Two US aircraft carrier strike groups and over 100 fighter jets, including F-22s landed in Israel, have assembled in the Gulf and Mediterranean to execute high-intensity strikes without establishing a large-scale ground presence in Saudi Arabia or the UAE. Analysts warn that the undefined strategic aim—ranging from punitive punishment to coercive diplomacy or regime change—fundamentally determines the conflict's duration and feasibility. Negotiations remain deadlocked over specific nuclear constraints, as Washington seeks a permanent agreement eliminating sunset clauses while Iran resists total uranium enrichment restrictions.

How OSINT has given Ukraine a strategic advantage

Will Marshall, Shashank Joshi

The company initiated direct data sharing with Ukrainian military officials and former spy chief Kyrylo Budanov to provide strategic intelligence on Russian operations in the Black Sea and deep territory. While an ethics committee reviews government requests to ensure transparency, the founders emphasize that their role involves guiding technology use through selective partnership rather than claiming neutrality in conflicts with distinct societal impacts. Despite facing Russian cyber threats and being viewed as a hostile entity, the fleet maintains operational resilience through a disaggregated architecture that ensures continuous service even when individual satellites are compromised.

Why this crypto crash is different

Henry, Mike

Amidst a regulatory landscape reshaped by the Trump administration's appointment of industry insiders and the removal of past constraints, the global crypto market has matured from a niche asset class into a multi-trillion dollar financial component. Despite significant political support and the launch of family-backed ventures like World Liberty Financial, the sector is currently grappling with a unique downturn where new investors face substantial losses even as Bitcoin trades near $90,000. This shift marks a departure from historical boom-bust cycles, signaling a transition where decentralized finance aligns with conservative anti-establishment sentiments while institutional adoption accelerates through ETFs and banking licenses.

How is Russia testing the West?

Gordon Corera, David Rennie

Russia currently perceives itself under a continuum of low-intensity conflict with the West, interpreting Ukrainian strikes as direct aggression while employing hybrid tactics to destabilize Western democracies and undermine the existing international order. While Moscow retains high risk tolerance born of this siege mentality, recent escalations appear tempered by the fear of triggering an all-out war that would contradict its strategic goal of dismantling Western dominance. Simultaneously, China maintains a cautious distance from Russian recklessness to preserve its own economic stability, creating a complex dynamic where global powers calibrate responses to deter adversary activities without sparking accidental escalation.

What we know about the Ukraine peace plan

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Olly, Ed, Shashank, Zannie, Chris

Emerging from Geneva talks, a draft treaty to partition Ukraine has evolved from a 28-point plan to an 18-point document featuring relaxed military caps and the potential removal of constitutional bans on NATO membership. While special representative Steve Witkoff allegedly advised Russian negotiators on pressure tactics and leaked communications cast suspicion on the security of the process, key disputes remain regarding the status of Donbass, the enforceability of vague US security guarantees, and the exclusion of European military forces. Analysts warn that despite the removal of restrictive weapon bans, the proposed framework relies on unenforceable terms and creates a strategic vacuum for Ukraine's post-war defense.

How strong is Iran’s regime?

Nicolas Pelham, Adam Roberts, Nick, Ed

Iran's strategic pivot from a proxy-heavy "forward defense" to a missile-centric approach follows the erosion of its Syrian alliances, while the regime grapples with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's frailty and a shifting succession landscape dominated by factional money rather than ideology. To maintain power amidst a secular populace, the leadership is adopting nationalist narratives and rebranding the nuclear program as a permanent national asset, signaling a retreat from revolutionary theocracy. This reinvention faces an existential conflict between the public's desire for global integration and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' vested interest in preserving a closed economy that fuels its monopolies.

Former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath’s warning for rich world economies

Gita Gopinath, Mike Bird

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.

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.