Gideon talks to the US political theorist John Ikenberry about why the Ukraine war has been both a challenge and a spur for those who want to see liberal democratic values thrive. Clip: Global News More on this topic: The new Washington consensus Lula vows partnership with China to ‘balance world geopolitics’ ‘Dare to fight’: Xi Jinping unveils China’s new world order It is time to cut Russia out of the global financial system Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - plea...
Apr 20, 2023•27 min
Emmanuel Macron sparked an international backlash over remarks he made to the press about Taiwan after a visit to China. The French president is also facing growing opposition at home after he pushed through an unpopular policy to raise the retirement age. Gideon talks to Célia Belin of the European Council on Foreign Relations about Macron’s image, his diplomatic gaffes and his struggle to win support for his policies at home. Clips: Sky, Daily Telegraph. More on this topic: Macron allies defen...
Apr 13, 2023•21 min
Gideon talks to Hlib Vyshlinsky, director of Ukraine's Centre for Economic Strategy, about keeping Ukraine's economy alive while the war goes on. Despite a shortage of cash and labour, efforts are under way to try to build a more dynamic and transparent economy when the fighting is over. Clips: CTV, Sky More on this topic: The breaking and making of Ukraine Saving Ukraine’s economy: the grain giant fighting for survival Ukraine clinches $15.6bn IMF loan Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever y...
Apr 06, 2023•28 min
Gideon talks to the FT’s Max Seddon and Miles Johnson about Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group and its once secretive leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. They discuss how Prigozhin came to prominence during the fighting around Bakhmut in Ukraine and whether he can hold on to his position of influence with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. Clips: euronews; NBC; CNN More on this topic: ‘Like Icarus’: Russian mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin falls foul of Kremlin old guard Wagner leader generated $250mn from san...
Mar 30, 2023•21 min
Gideon talks to the FT’s Middle East editor Andrew England about his recent visit to Iran in the aftermath of some of the worst unrest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. Iran’s reconciliation with Saudi Arabia and its growing trade with Russia may help the regime survive, but relations with the west have plummeted and hopes for a revival of the nuclear deal look bleak. Clips: Reuters; BBC Read More on this topic: Exiled son of Iran’s last shah steps up to lead galvanised di...
Mar 23, 2023•22 min
Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal tells Gideon why he believes Israel is on course for a full-blown constitutional crisis. The Netanyahu government’s plan to curtail the power of the judiciary, he says, will remove democratic checks and balances that are crucial for the survival of a liberal democracy. Opponents include business, the military and the country's intellectual elite, as well as many middle-class Israelis who will not accept the proposed changes. Clips: Anadolu Agency; NBC Protests by Is...
Mar 16, 2023•25 min
Gideon talks to academic and writer Denise Dresser about President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s autocratic tendencies and why she thinks the leader she once voted for is dismantling democracy in Mexico. Clips: France 24, Andrés Manuel López Obrador Amlo’s strongman act is weakening Mexico Thousands protest in Mexico against cuts to electoral watchdog Mexico’s former security chief convicted in US of helping cartel smuggle drugs Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - pl...
Mar 09, 2023•30 min
The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist talks to Gideon about his efforts to keep global development goals alive amid rising geopolitical tensions. They discuss shrinking aid budgets, climate, technology, China-US tensions and whether Gates remains an optimist about the future. Bill Gates warns Ukraine war is sapping Europe’s foreign aid budgets Elon Musk’s Twitter is ‘stirring up’ digital polarisation, says Bill Gates Bill Gates loves trash Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get y...
Mar 02, 2023•28 min
Christopher Miller moved to the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in 2010 as a volunteer for the US Peace Corps. Now an FT correspondent in Kyiv, he tells Gideon about how the eastern city came to play a central role in the war and how he sees the conflict unfolding in the coming months. Clips: CNN More on this topic: A 12-year journey to the heart of the war in Ukraine ‘Hell. Just hell’: Ukraine and Russia’s war of attrition over Bakhmut Behind the Money podcast: The costs of Russia’s invasion of Ukr...
Feb 23, 2023•21 min
In the second episode in our special series, Gideon talks to war historian Hein Goemans about what it would take to end the fighting in Ukraine. FT podcast survey More on this topic: A year of war in Ukraine has left Europe’s armouries dry Military briefing: Russia prepares Ukraine spring offensive The keyboard warriors on Ukraine’s digital front line Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updates Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and sub...
Feb 16, 2023•20 min
In the first of a three-part series, Gideon talks to Ukraine MP Lesia Vasylenko about what it was like to wake up in a country at war, how Ukrainians surprised the world with their fightback, and the need for reparations and justice for the victims of Russia’s war crimes. More on this topic: FT podcast survey Volodymyr Zelenskyy demands ‘wings for freedom’ as UK pledges fighter pilot training Military briefing: what the west’s shifting red lines mean for Ukraine Russia’s budget deficit soars as ...
Feb 09, 2023•28 min
Gideon talks to Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, about his new book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism . They discuss why the post-war settlement between democratic governments and their people is no longer fit for purpose and what can be done to restore our faith in it. More on this topic: FT podcast survey Martin Wolf: in defence of democratic capitalism The great disruption has only just begun CEOs beware: cost-cutting isn’t the same as growth Subscribe to The Rachman Revi...
Feb 02, 2023•25 min
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 China an...
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 first we...
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 maps — latest...
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 Rachman. Produce...
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 faces t...
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 Austra...
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 this top...
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 podcasts - please...
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 This wil...
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 become a poten...
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
