Latest Interviews
Showing 1–6 of 6 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist22 min
When the levy doesn’t break: a trade-war world adjusts
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Rachana Shanbhog, Owen Winter, Lane Green
Markets and investors are reacting to a shift in Donald Trump's protectionist agenda, characterized by broader steel and aluminum tariffs and a predicted trade war with Canada and Mexico that threatens to raise costs without boosting domestic production. Simultaneously, hard-right political parties in Europe have gained significant ground, now securing 24% of the continental vote and breaking post-war voting records in Germany, driven largely by economic insecurity and immigration anxieties. Complementing these geopolitical and economic shifts, new research by Michael Erard debunks cultural myths regarding the significance of first words and deathbed statements, reframing them as products of specific societal expectations and medical realities rather than universal truths.
- The Economist24 min
The club rules? India’s RSS
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Avantika Chilkoti, Anjani Trivedi, Lane Green
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leverages its 5 million members and network of celibate pracharaks to deeply influence Indian policy-making, despite internal friction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal cult and the organization's collective ethos. Simultaneously, Gulf states are pivoting from fossil fuels to applied scientific research, aiming to solve regional challenges like water scarcity and food security through partnerships with Western universities despite current low R&D spending. In the United States, the term "kakistocracy" was crowned the 2024 Word of the Year, reflecting widespread political anxiety over Donald Trump's re-election and controversial cabinet appointments.
- The Economist27 min
Come on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Oliver Morton, Jared Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Scott Petit, Natasha Loda, Adam Roberts, Lane Green
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully executed the first commercial spacewalk with crew member Jared Isaacman and three companions exiting a modified Dragon capsule at an unprecedented polar orbit altitude. This operation tested new low-pressure spacesuits and vacuum-compatible conditions, positioning SpaceX ahead of competitor Boeing in the commercial crewed spaceflight sector while validating three planned missions led by billionaire Isaacman. The achievement underscores a broader shift toward private-sector-led exploration, contrasting with the government-driven Apollo era and highlighting significant engineering advancements in human spaceflight.
- The Economist23 min
The chips are down: will diet drugs devour junk food?
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Shailesh Chitnas, Simon Long, Lane Green
The food industry is adapting to massive market consolidation and the rising prevalence of weight-loss drugs by shifting toward high-protein nutrition, even as debates over ultra-processed food definitions continue alongside sustained sales in traditional junk food sectors. Concurrently, global health initiatives highlight that 45% of dementia cases are preventable through modifiable lifestyle changes and sensory health management, though rising prevalence in Asia and policy implementation gaps remain critical challenges. Finally, the decline of the traditional siesta due to modern industrial schedules is linked to increased heart disease mortality and reduced productivity, underscoring a paradox where continuous work hours exacerbate chronic health risks.
- The Economist26 min
Debate and switch? Biden’s stumble
Biden, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Idris Kholoun, Emily Steinmark, Lane Green
President Joe Biden faces intensifying scrutiny and succession speculation after a CNN debate marked by significant memory lapses, while Donald Trump countered with mixed policy shifts and historical inaccuracies. Simultaneously, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument released preliminary data suggesting dark energy density fluctuates over time, potentially invalidating the standard cosmological model. In Spain, the San Isidro Festival demonstrated bullfighting's cultural resilience despite declining participation rates and rising political opposition from left-wing officials.
- The Economist24 min
Rocketing science: China’s newest superpower
Rosie Bloor, Ainsley Johnston, Lane Green
Chinese research institutions have achieved global leadership in high-impact scientific output through massive state investment and large-scale laboratory structures, though this rapid ascent raises concerns regarding citation manipulation and military dual-use technologies. Simultaneously, Southern European nations demonstrate that longevity is driven more by physical activity, urban density, and social cohesion than by wealth, challenging the modern erosion of traditional dietary habits. In the United States, a rare convergence of 13- and 17-year cicada broods has triggered the emergence of one trillion insects across the East, presenting critical research opportunities to understand evolutionary adaptation mechanisms amidst the threat of climate change.