Donald Tusk’s re-election cheered democrats across Europe and paved the way for the biggest change in Poland since the fall of communism. He’s hoping to rebuild the country's institutions and began with a clear-out of state TV that had become a mouthpiece for the previous government. Now he's waging war with the president and constitutional court. Ben Hall, the FT’s Europe editor, discusses Tusk’s first month in office and what lies ahead with Andrzej Bobiński, managing dir...
Jan 25, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Introducing Untold, a new podcast from the special investigations team at the Financial Times. In its first series, The Retreat, host Madison Marriage examines the world of the Goenka network, which promotes a type of intensive meditation known as Vipassana. Thousands of people go on Goenka retreats every year. People rave about them. But some people go to these meditation retreats, and they suffer. They might feel a deep sense of terror, or a break with reality. And on the other side, they’re n...
Jan 23, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill Browder tells Gideon the story of his battle against Russian corruption, which took off when his lawyer was murdered in a Russian prison in 2009. The war in Ukraine has turbocharged his campaign. Can he now take it further to persuade western governments to use frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine? Clip: World Economic Forum Free links to read more on this topic: Washington puts forward G7 plan to confiscate $300bn in Russian assets The west would harm itself with rash seiz...
Jan 18, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, more and more regional actors are being drawn in, from the Houthis in Yemen, to Isis in Iraq and Syria. Gideon discusses whether a widening regional war can be averted with Kim Ghattas, distinguished fellow at Columbia University's Institute of Global Politics. Clip: Reuters Free links to read more on this topic: US intensifies efforts to prevent Middle East conflagration Senior Hizbollah and Hamas figures killed as fears gr...
Jan 11, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's an important year for the European Union, which holds parliamentary elections in June. As geopolitical turbulence continues to test the strength of global alliances, will Europe pursue further integration or start to pull apart? Gideon discusses these questions, and the role played by European Commission presidents, past and present, with Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform in London. Clip: European Commission Free links to read more on this topic: Jacques Delors, who ...
Jan 04, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Who will win the US presidential election? Will China continue its rapprochement with the west? What are the prospects for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza? Gideon discusses these and other questions with the FT’s Martin Wolf, Karin von Hippel, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, and Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group. Clip: CNN Free links to read more on this topic: Americans won’t be terrified into rejecting Trump Time is of the essence in defending Ukr...
Dec 21, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Countries at the COP 28 climate summit in Dubai have reached a deal to transition away from fossil fuels. Gideon speaks to the FT’s Simon Mundy, who’s in Dubai covering the talks, about the agreement. Will it actually help the world reach global net zero emissions by 2050? You can raise money for the FT's charity, the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, by bidding to have lunch with Gideon or one of his colleagues at top restaurants which are donating meals for an excellent cause. G...
Dec 14, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A recent visit to the US by China’s president Xi Jinping has raised hopes of a bilateral rapprochement. But how stable is this more positive relationship and can a conflict over Taiwan be averted? Gideon discusses these questions with Washington-based China experts Evan Medeiros and Jude Blanchette. Clip: CNBC Free links to read more on this topic: America and a crumbling global order Moody’s cuts China’s credit outlook to negative US, UK and Australia move to track ‘emerging threats’ in space E...
Dec 07, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to FT colleague Ed Luce and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker about Donald Trump’s campaign to be the Republican nominee in next year’s US presidential election. Is his success all but assured and, if so, what does this mean for Joe Biden’s chances of re-election? Looking further ahead, what would a second Trump presidency mean for American democracy? Clip: CNN Free links to read more on this topic: The Nikki Haley wild card for 2024 Ron DeSantis leads Donald Trump and Joe Biden in $2...
Nov 30, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The war in Gaza has provoked mass demonstrations across the Arab and Muslim world and exposed the policy failings of regional leaders. Gideon discusses regional leaders’ response to the crisis with Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East Programme at Chatham House in London. Is there now sufficient unity to bring about a new plan for Middle East peace? Clips: NBC News, Al-Jazeera Free links to read more on this topic: Israel, Oppenheimer and the laws of war The world must start preparing f...
Nov 23, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some have described Russia’s war against Ukraine as being at a stalemate. But one side could quickly gain the upper hand. Gideon discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both sides with Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute in London. Clips: Deutche Welle; NBC News Free links to read more on this topic: Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia in maps — latest updates Russia’s war economy leaves businesses starved of labour Ukraine reaches deal with insurers for grain s...
Nov 16, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to Emile Hokayem, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. How long is it likely to last and what will be the repercussions for Israel and the wider region? Clips: Channel 4 News; AFP Free links to read more on this topic: Iran’s interests are trumping the Palestinian tragedy From the US to Ukraine, the Gaza war will change the world ‘Dead man walking’: How Yahya Sinwar deceived Israel for decades Ga...
Nov 09, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to Wally Adeyemo, US deputy Treasury Secretary, about the power of US financial sanctions to punish autocrats and dictators and curb terrorism. What exactly are these sanctions designed to do and how effective are they? Clip: PBS Free links to read more on this topic: US pushes allies for more sanctions on Hamas China capitalises on US sanctions in fight to dethrone dollar Russia is increasingly using China’s currency to evade sanctions Qatar’s super-fixer role in Israel-H...
Nov 02, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to Comfort Ero, president of the International Crisis Group, about what’s behind the recent resurgence of military coups in the Sahel region. Clip: BBC Free links to read more on this topic: US signals intention to engage with Niger junta Where is the next African coup? Niger is the graveyard of French policy in the Sahel Ethiopia’s plan to rebuild in the wake of a ‘brutal’ war Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presen...
Oct 24, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to Baroness Catherine Ashton, former high representative of the EU on foreign affairs, about the role of diplomacy in helping to contain the Israel-Gaza conflict. Clip: The White House Free links to read more on this topic: The Israel-Hamas war in maps: latest updates Humanity must prevail in Gaza Supporting Israel and protecting Palestinians are not contradictory policies Iran is positioning itself to benefit from the Israel-Gaza conflict Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever yo...
Oct 18, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to the historian and writer Lawrence Freedman about what led to the catastrophic events of the past week in Israel and what options the Netanyahu government has to respond to Hamas's deadly attack. Clips: 11Alive; NBC News Free links to read more on this topic: The Israel-Hamas conflict in maps ‘Nothing is normal any more’: war with Hamas reshapes life in Israel A bitter blame game will follow Israel’s wartime unity All involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict should heed the...
Oct 11, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Will Bidenomics help the US Democrats win another term in office? Will the policies be effective in tackling the climate crisis? Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, thinks not. In the last in our series on Bidenomics, he tells Gideon why offering incentives to private sector businesses is, in his view, a bad strategy. Free links to read more on this topic: John Kerry: Energy transition is the ‘new industrial revolution’ Adam Posen: ‘Russia and North Korea...
Oct 05, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the second of our three-part series, Gideon talks to WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala about the impact of Bidenomics on countries' attitudes to free and open global trade and the WTO's role in protecting this. Clip: France 24 Free links to read more on this topic: Western companies take slow steps towards China ‘de-risking’ South American leaders issue ultimatum on EU trade pact US and China to launch economy and finance working groups to stabilise ties Global trade falls at fastest pace since p...
Sep 28, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the first of a three-part series on Bidenomics, Gideon talks to Brian Deese, former head of the National Economic Council in the Biden White House. They discuss how big a change of direction this was for the US, what motivated the policy and whether it is working well enough to convince American voters to re-elect Joe Biden next year. Clip: Biden-Harris 24 Free links to read more on this topic: White House embraces ‘Bidenomics’ as it seeks to woo sceptical voters Investors must realise the pe...
Sep 21, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Subscribe now to the FT's Tech Tonic podcast: Some scientists believe that rapid advances in artificial intelligence may also hold the key to decoding animal sounds, allowing us to ‘translate’ them into human language. In a new season of Tech Tonic, FT innovation editor John Thornhill and series producer Persis Love explore how the same technology that powers ChatGPT is being applied to research in animal communication. Could we one day learn to ‘speak whale’ or even chat with bats? And if so, c...
Sep 18, 2023•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Opinion polls now suggest that about two-thirds of British people think that Brexit has failed. So was it all a terrible mistake? Gideon talks to FT colleague Peter Foster about his new book, What Went Wrong With Brexit: And What We Can Do About It Clip: BBC Free links to read more on this topic: UK SMEs not ready for ‘avalanche’ of Brexit 2.0 rules and taxes London and the fight for its future as a fashion hub The EU’s transformations will reshape its ‘British question’ too EU and UK to u...
Sep 14, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are our politicians doing enough to protect humanity from the potential risk of a nuclear war, a deadly pandemic or AI without guardrails? Gideon discusses these risks with Jason Matheny, president of the Rand Corporation in California and former director for technology policy on President Joe Biden’s National Security Council. Clips: YahooFinance; Dr Strangelove , Columbia Pictures (1964) Free links to read more on this topic: The US and Iran look for de-escalation Regulating artificial intelli...
Sep 07, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, about the strength of bipartisan support for Ukraine and about President Joe Biden’s proposed “grand bargain” that could see Saudi Arabia and Israel normalise diplomatic relations in return for American security guarantees. Clip: CBS News Free links to read more on this topic: Joe Biden makes his big Middle East push: a Saudi Arabia-Israel pact Grand Delusion — America’s imposition on incompatible M...
Aug 31, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to political commentator and economist Sergei Guriev about the lessons Russians and the outside world will draw from the apparent killing of Yevgeny Prigozhin. How does this affect the stability of the Russian regime and the outlook for the war in Ukraine? Clip: BBC Free links to read more on this topic: When democratic spin conceals a descent into dictatorship Russia files lawsuit against billionaire oligarch Andrey Melnichenko Russia fires ‘General Armageddon’ in Wagner crackdown ...
Aug 24, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Who is Sergei Leontiev? To the US asylum system, he’s an exiled Russian banker who was persecuted by the state and forced to flee. To Russia, he’s said to be responsible for massive fraud. On The Russian Banker, a new series from the Financial Times, reporters Courtney Weaver and Stefania Palma try to uncover the truth, and find a story that tells us about Russia today and how people in the west build stories about who’s good and who’s bad. The Russian Banker is a special series t...
Aug 21, 2023•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gideon talks to the FT’s Miles Johnson, author of a new book called Chasing Shadows about the links between international crime and geopolitics. They discuss how wars and the breakdown of democratic accountability have contributed to the ability of criminals to operate across borders and, in some cases, with state backing. Free links to read more on this topic: Wagner leader generated $250mn from sanctioned empire Using crypto for crime is not a bug — it’s an industry feature Ecuador gripp...
Aug 17, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast China’s assertiveness on the global stage has reinvigorated economic and political ties between the US and Japan. Leo Lewis, the FT’s Asia business editor, discusses what’s changed with Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan. Want more? Free links: Corporate Japan back in the hunt for US deals Japan looks to expand diplomatic corps in overseas charm offensive Tokyo could win ‘not China’ global hub status — but it must want it Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your pod...
Aug 10, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump was indicted this week on charges related to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But the former president is also in the running for the 2024 presidential election and polls suggest he’s likely to win the Republican nomination. Gideon Rachman is joined by Professor Peter Trubowitz, director of the US Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, to discuss what this all means for Trump’s future and the future of American democrac...
Aug 03, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Sudanese people are being held hostage by warring generals in a power struggle that has already lasted 100 days. With no solution in sight, the fighting risks drawing in outside actors like Russia’s Wagner group and destabilising neighbouring countries. David Pilling, the FT’s Africa editor, discusses the state of the conflict and its repercussions for the region with political analysts Kholood Khair and Alan Boswell. Clips: Middle East Eye; VOA; Human Rights Watch; Sky News. More on this to...
Jul 27, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast The government of Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez looks set to lose Sunday's elections to the centre-right People's party. But the PP may be unable to form a government without the participation of the hard-right party Vox. Henry Mance, standing in for Gideon Rachman, discusses what this will mean for Spain with the Madrid-based political scientist Pablo Simón. Clips: Deutsche Welle; El País More on this topic: Franco’s ghost fails to scare Spain away from the hard right ‘Spain first’: Vox party ...
Jul 20, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
