Ana Lankes
Showing 1–4 of 4 transcripts.
- The Economist28 min
Pompcast: Trump rallies Congress
Trump, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, John Priddow, Ana Lankes, Alex Hearn
President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine following a dispute with Volodymyr Zelensky, triggering retaliatory 25% tariffs from Mexico and Canada and prompting Zelensky to signal readiness for a new minerals deal. In his first congressional address, Trump claimed record-breaking approval swings and erroneously contrasted European and American aid contributions while asserting he ranks alongside George Washington. Simultaneously, Ecuadorian Attorney General Diana Salazar continues high-stakes investigations into corruption linking drug cartels to former President Rafael Correa, with the outcome threatening to determine whether the nation remains a democracy or becomes a narco state before upcoming elections.
- 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 Economist20 min
Dark side of the Yoon: South Korea’s chaos
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Emma Hogan, Ana Lankes, Tim Cross
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to declare martial law for six hours to counter alleged North Korean infiltration, a move rejected by lawmakers who have since united to pursue his impeachment amid claims of an attempted coup. The crisis stems from deep political polarization and could trigger a constitutional trial that would likely shift the nation's foreign policy away from hawkish stances toward engagement. This instability threatens South Korea's regional alliances with the US and Japan while leaving the country's constitutional order vulnerable to further internal conflict.
- The Economist21 min
Rio brand: why Brazil is courting China
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Ana Lankes, Natasha Loder, James Francham
At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized neoliberal globalization and proposed reforming international institutions while Brazil pivots economically and strategically toward China to offset tensions with an anticipated Trump administration. Concurrently, a Guy Foundation report warns that space travel induces accelerated aging by damaging astronaut mitochondria, suggesting that deep-space colonization may eventually require genetic engineering to overcome biological barriers. Finally, the United Kingdom's telecommunications infrastructure has deteriorated to rank among the worst in the developed world due to regulatory setbacks, insufficient investment, and planning restrictions, prompting a controversial proposed merger between Vodafone and 3 to alleviate capacity constraints.