Tom Sass
Showing 1–4 of 4 transcripts.
- The Economist21 min
Doomed traders: Trump’s tariff fallout
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Rachna Shambhog, Tom Sass, Emily Steinmark
Following the US announcement of global tariffs on April 2, major economies including China and Canada implemented retaliatory measures that triggered a $12 trillion drop in global market value and elevated recession probabilities to 60%. Despite diplomatic outreach from approximately 50 nations, the US administration maintains its stance, with officials describing the policy as a permanent restructuring of trade that has forced corporations to delay capital investments. Analysts warn that these developments will likely result in two decades of protectionism and reduced global economic integration.
- The Economist27 min
Look at who’s talking: divining Trump’s Middle East plans
Trump, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Greg Karlstrom, Andy Laidlaw, Tom Sass, Anne Lowe
Donald Trump's anticipated second term presents a complex Middle East dynamic where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks relief from diplomatic pressure while Iranian leaders brace for potential nuclear sanctions and a return to "maximum pressure" tactics driven by a fractured advisory circle. Concurrently, Western European nations face a severe prison overcrowding crisis, prompting British officials to reject the long-standing "prison works" ideology in favor of decarceration models proven effective in the Netherlands and select US states. The era is further marked by the passing of Quincy Jones at 91, whose career broke racial barriers in music and film while producing historic works like *Thriller* and the charity single "We Are The World."
- The Economist26 min
Warpath: Israel vows revenge on Hizbullah
Rosie Bloor, Anshul Pfeffer, Tom Sass, David Harrington, Paul Wianco
A rocket attack in the Golan Heights that killed twelve Druze children has intensified Middle East tensions, placing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under pressure to balance a necessary retaliation against Hezbollah with the strategic need to avoid all-out war while Gaza ceasefire negotiations proceed. Simultaneously, the UK faces a critical prison crisis with severe overcrowding and unsanitary conditions prompting the new Labour government to implement emergency early releases while pursuing long-term rehabilitation strategies to reverse decades of rising incarceration rates. In the cultural sector, the Kronos Quartet marks its fiftieth anniversary by retiring founding members, introducing new leadership, and launching a digital archive that prioritizes diverse commissions to fulfill its mission of expanding the classical repertoire.
- The Economist21 min
Doing their not-own thing: “generation rent”
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Tom Sass, Holly Berman, David Benin
Global analysis reveals a significant rise in private renting across Western democracies, driven by economic stagnation and housing inflation, while strict rent controls in Stockholm prove counterproductive compared to Auckland's successful upzoning strategies that boosted supply. Concurrently, the Biden administration's ultimatum to force TikTok's divestiture over national security concerns has sparked a high-profile legal battle alleging First Amendment violations, despite the administration's continued political reliance on the platform. In the cultural sphere, major artists like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are revitalizing the album format to secure dual revenue streams and challenge historical gender biases in music consumption.