The Filipino people are paying a heavy price for regional tensions between China and the US, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr tells Gideon. He explains how he hopes to steer clear of conflict, build up the economy and focus on mitigating the economic damage caused by climate change. Clips: Inquirer.net More on this topic: Ferdinand Marcos Jr says Taiwan tensions ‘very, very worrisome’ for Philippines US military deepens ties with Japan and Philippines to prepare for China threat Chi...
Jan 26, 2023•29 min
The war in Ukraine has had dire consequences for millions of people beyond Europe. Gideon talks to David Miliband, IRC president, about why Putin's challenge to the world order must not go unpunished. Clips: CNN More on this topic: Geopolitics threatens to destroy the world Davos made War in Tigray may have killed 600,000 people, peace mediator says How the law finally caught up with notorious human trafficker Kidane Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen,...
Jan 19, 2023•26 min
A small group of Republican party zealots, backed by former president Donald Trump, have forced their way into a position of power in the US Congress. Gideon talks to Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest magazine in Washington and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, about what they are seeking to achieve and whether they will end up playing into the hands of President Joe Biden if he seeks re-election. Clips: ABC, CNN More on this topic: Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces tough f...
Jan 12, 2023•23 min
How has Russia changed since Putin embarked on his Ukraine war nearly a year ago? Gideon talks to Angela Stent of Georgetown University about the origins of Russia’s imperialist ambitions, its rupture with Europe and reliance on revived alliances with the global south. Clips: @Rumoaohepta7; Channel 4 News More on this topic: ‘Untrainable’: Russian army faces backlash over conscripts’ death in Ukraine attack Turning the tide in Russia’s war on Ukraine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in ...
Jan 05, 2023•25 min
Gideon Rachman is joined by a panel of colleagues: FT editor Roula Khalaf, Moscow correspondent Max Seddon and US editor Edward Luce. This year was defined by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Will 2023 be any different? Meanwhile, in China, Xi Jinping was confirmed for a third term as the country's leader, with many believing he's now set to rule for life. Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachm...
Dec 22, 2022•29 min
Qatar’s decision to host the World Cup was mired in controversy from the start but ultimately seems to have paid off, bringing the tiny Gulf emirate new friends and winning over old enemies. Gideon talks to Simeon Kerr, the FT’s Gulf correspondent, about what motivates the emirate to seek to deploy its vast wealth for political ends. Clips: Qatar Airways; France 24 More on this topic: Qatar wooed EU lawmakers ahead of football World Cup How the unlikeliest World Cup ever came to be Qatar ...
Dec 15, 2022•26 min
Australia’s relations with China have taken a dive in recent years, forcing Canberra to reassess regional security and trade ties. Gideon talks to Michael Fullilove, director of the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading foreign-policy think-tank, about how Australia is adapting to the new reality. Clips: ABC, ChannelNewsAsia More on this topic: Australia, China and the judgment of the Solomons Australia’s defence dilemma: projecting force or provoking China? US to ‘deepen’ defence ties with...
Dec 08, 2022•27 min
Severe lockdowns associated with China’s zero-Covid policy have combined with economic woes to incite the most widespread protests since Tiananmen Square. President Xi Jinping is now under pressure to address this discontent. Gideon discusses what his options are with the FT’s Yuan Yang, who has recently returned to London from Beijing. Clips: BBC More on this topic: Xi’s pandemic triumphalism returns to haunt him Guangzhou eases restrictions despite worsening Covid outbreak China’s high youth u...
Dec 01, 2022•19 min
Italy has become one of the main entry points to the EU for irregular migrants but its new nationalist prime minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a hard line and is demanding Europe do more to help. Why has Meloni taken such a confrontational approach? Ben’s guest is Nicoletta Pirozzi, head of the EU programme at Italy’s Institute for International Affairs in Rome. Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Ben Hall. Produced by ...
Nov 24, 2022•20 min
Brazil joins a group of Latin American countries that have elected leftwing leaders. What kind of change will they bring to the region and its relations with the rest of the world? Michael Stott, the FT’s Latin America editor, discusses these questions with Andrés Velasco, dean of the school of public policy at the London School of Economics and a former finance minister of Chile, and Chris Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House in London. Clips: AP, VOA, BBC More on t...
Nov 17, 2022•30 min
Thomas Wright, director of strategic planning at the National Security Council in the Biden White House, tells Gideon how the war in Ukraine changed US thinking about the need for broader alliances. Clips: The White House, Channel 4 News More on this topic: Xi Jinping’s China and the rise of the ‘global west’ US coal phaseout plan meets divided response at COP27 China and the US remain locked in mutually assured co-operation Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podca...
Nov 10, 2022•27 min
Joe Biden’s Democrats look set to lose control of Congress in this month's elections. But many of the Republicans poised to take office support Donald Trump's claim that the last presidential election was stolen. Gideon discusses his prospects for a return to the White House with journalist Susan Glasser, co-author of The Divider, a history of the Trump presidency. Clips: CNN, Forbes Breaking News More on this topic: Joe Biden fights to revive Democrats one week before midterm elections T...
Nov 03, 2022•26 min
Gideon talks to economist Linda Yueh of Oxford university about recent dramatic developments at the Chinese Communist party’s congress in Beijing. They discuss what the growing centralisation in China tells us about how Xi Jinping will handle the private sector, the property crisis and international tensions over Taiwan. Clips: CGTN; CNA More on this topic: China’s limitless presidency means limited diplomacy China’s growth stutters as exports fail to rescue economy China’s wealthy activate esca...
Oct 27, 2022•31 min
There was outrage in Washington over Saudi Arabia’s decision to back Opec output cuts during a global energy crisis. What was the kingdom’s motive for putting its strategic partnership with the US at risk? As a regular visitor to Saudi Arabia, Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London offers his view of the Saudi leader’s calculations and plans for a new global role for the country. Clips: France 24; CNN; Fox news More on this topic: The plight of expat workers...
Oct 20, 2022•28 min
Ukrainian cities have faced an onslaught of missiles from Russia this week in retaliation for the attack on the Kerch bridge that links Russia with occupied Crimea. Russia has threatened to go further and to use tactical nuclear weapons rather than face the defeat of its forces in Ukraine. But would it? Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow for the Carnegie Endowment think-tank, tells Gideon he thinks Putin’s threat is deadly serious. Clips: BBC More on this topic: Putin suggests Nord Stream gas exp...
Oct 13, 2022•30 min
The death of a young woman detained by Iran’s ‘morality police’ has sparked nationwide protests that the government is struggling to control. Gideon talks to Iranian analyst Sanam Vakil about what the unrest tells us about the weakening authority of the regime that has been in place for the past 40 years. Clips: BBC, France 24 More on this topic: How Iranian students are shaping anti regime protests Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei blames US and Israel for street protests Mahsa Amini has beco...
Oct 06, 2022•23 min
Europe’s priorities have undergone a massive shift in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Gideon talks to political scientist Ivan Krastev about how central Europe is gaining influence within the EU as a result of the Ukraine war. Clips: United Nations; France24 More on this topic: EU to put price cap on Russian oil in new sanctions package The 90km journey that changed the course of the war in Ukraine Denmark, Germany and Poland warn of ‘sabotage’ after Nord Stream leaks Endless fr...
Sep 29, 2022•26 min
Britain's new prime minister is facing huge challenges on both the domestic and international stage. Gideon talks to Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London about how Liz Truss will deal with the Ukraine war, Brexit and relations with the US and China. Clips: Royal Family Channel; France 24 More on this topic: Liz Truss admits UK trade deal with US is not on the agenda The economic consequences of Liz Truss Liz Truss to launch UK defence...
Sep 22, 2022•23 min
Ukraine’s rapid recapture of territory in recent days has put Russian forces on the back foot and raised the prospect of an early end to the war. Gideon talks to Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College in London about the dramatic turnaround and what happens next. Clips from BBC, Russian state TV More on this topic Military briefing - Ukraine offensive ‘dooms’ Russia’s aims for Donbas Russian army hobbled by shortage of soldiers Ukraine faces ‘tough fight’ even as ...
Sep 15, 2022•20 min
Polls suggest that the largest single party will be the Brothers of Italy - and its leader Giorgia Meloni will therefore be prime minister. That’s causing consternation in some quarters because the party has roots in the fascist-influenced politics of post-war Italy. Gideon’s guest this week is Nathalie Tocci, the director of the Institute for International Affairs, a think-tank based in Rome. Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Pre...
Sep 08, 2022•24 min
Gideon’s guest this week is Ramachandra Guha, who is often hailed as the most distinguished historian of modern India. He is also a noted critic of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon and Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. -Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk -Follow @gideonrachman &nb...
Sep 01, 2022•21 min
Six months into the Ukraine war, Gideon talks to Phillips O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, about the balance of forces on each side. With Russian forces bogged down, is a Ukrainian victory now a possibility? Clips: The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Aspen Institute More on this topic: Six months of war in Ukraine: ‘The enemy learned fast’ Join the FT Telegram channel to receive Ukraine coverage alerts Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest upda...
Aug 25, 2022•24 min
Gideon talks to Chinese-American academic Minxin Pei about China’s reaction to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. What does it tell us about Xi Jinping’s leadership as he bids for a third term as president? Clips: The Sun; Daily Telegraph More on this topic: Taiwan tensions force multinationals to rethink China risk China ratchets up pressure on Taiwan after US congressional visit Taiwan greets Chinese military intimidation with parties rather than panic Xi Jinping grasps ‘kni...
Aug 18, 2022•28 min
Gideon talks to the South African writer and political activist, Songezo Zibi, about the need to build a coalition for change to help restore some of the high hopes that accompanied the end of apartheid. Clips: SABC, The Sun More on this topic: Bain barred from UK state contracts over ‘grave misconduct’ in South Africa South Africa hopes private sector can help end Eskom power crisis South Africa’s Ramaphosa under fire after ranch burglary fuels questions over wealth How three brothers ‘captured...
Aug 11, 2022•28 min
Sergio Jaramillo was one of the architects behind Colombia’s landmark peace deal with Marxist guerrilla group Farc. Now, as a senior adviser at the European Institute of Peace, he explains if and how Ukraine and Russia could ever arrive at a ceasefire or peace negotiation. John Paul Rathbone, security and defence correspondent for the Financial Times, talks to Jaramillo about how negotiations are as important a part of military strategy as fighting on the battlefield, and what Europe should do t...
Aug 04, 2022•21 min
Human rights lawyer Cori Crider co-founded Foxglove, a group that fights on behalf of those harmed by the misuse of technology. She talks to the FT’s Madhumita Murgia about why social media companies need to bear more of the cost for the poisonous content they host on their platforms. Clip: C-SPAN Want to read more? A tale of two Facebook whistleblowers Big Tech makes concessions on EU’s new anti-disinformation code EU approves groundbreaking rules to police Big Tech platforms Civil society...
Jul 28, 2022•30 min
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been working hard to help open up an export route for Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea. But as he wins plaudits for this key mediating role, his nation is struggling with soaring inflation and a cost of living crisis. Andrew England, standing in for Gideon, talks to Asli Aydıntaşbaş of the European Council on Foreign Relations and Laura Pitel, the FT's Turkey correspondent, about what’s motivating Erdoğan. Want to read more? Erdoğan is an infuriating ...
Jul 21, 2022•23 min
Alexander Gabuev, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tells Gideon why he believes Russia is destined to become a giant Iran of Eurasia. It will remain a significant military power, but one that is increasingly under the sway of China, the main destination for its energy exports. Clips: DW; Global News More on this topic: Iran plans to provide drones to Russia for Ukraine war, says US Putin warns of ‘catastrophic’ energy crisis if west boosts sanctions China’s image ...
Jul 14, 2022•21 min
Gideon talks to Kersti Kaljulaid, former president of Estonia, about the policy failures that led to the war in Ukraine. A weak response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia and Crimea gave Vladimir Putin the green light. Now the strength of Ukrainian resistance is giving the west another chance to "put its house in order". Clips: Sky News, AP More on this topic: Europe’s new defence bloc: Nordics and Baltics unite in face of Russian threat Estonia’s PM says country would be ‘wiped from map’ under ex...
Jul 07, 2022•20 min
The FT just launched a new podcast on porn, power and profit. When FT reporter Patricia Nilsson started digging into the porn industry, she made a shocking discovery: nobody knew who controlled the biggest porn company in the world. Now, she and her editor, Alex Barker, reveal who is behind it and much more. This eight-part investigative podcast reveals the secret history of the adult business and the billionaires and financial institutions who shape it. Brought to you by the Financial Times and...
Jul 04, 2022•33 min
