The Rachman Review

Kevin Rudd, the former Australian prime minister, has made a life-long study of China’s leadership. He tells Gideon how an understanding of Communist ideology helps explain Xi Jinping’s decision to roll back on the market reforms of his predecessor Deng Xiaoping. They are also a crucial guide to what could happen next. Clip: Sky News AustraliaFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:US-China relations will depend on which Trump shows upUS Space Force warns of ‘mind-boggling’ build-up of Chinese capabilitiesWhy Xi Jinping changed his mind on China’s fiscal stimulusSinologist Li Cheng: ‘America is not in the mood to study China’‘Too boring’: Chinese students are sleeping through propagandaSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to his colleague Ed Luce and to Susan Glasser of the New Yorker about what to expect from a second Trump presidency. Clip: Fox NewsFree links to read more on this topic:How Trump won in maps and chartsTrump’s new world orderElon Musk’s gamble on Donald Trump pays offSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Samantha Giovinco.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Ivo Daalder, a former American ambassador to Nato and chief executive of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, about the potential threat to US democracy if Donald Trump wins next week’s presidential election. Clip: PoliticoFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:How Trump learnt to love big businessTrump is the man who would be kingAmerica isn’t too worried about fascismKamala Harris warns of ‘more chaos’ under Donald Trump and vows ‘different path’Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, about her efforts to keep hope alive during a humanitarian catastrophe. Clip: United NationsFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Israel ‘starting to implement’ north Gaza starvation plan, say rights groups Hamas chief’s death opens up choice for Benjamin Netanyahu over Gaza warUS warns Israel humanitarian crisis in Gaza could threaten military aidIsrael, Lebanon and the mirage of a new Middle EastSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three years of sanctions, women's lives in Afghanistan are highly restricted and hunger is widespread. So if sanctions have failed, is it time for the outside world to change its approach and re-engage with the country's Taliban rulers? Gideon discusses this question with Saad Mohseni, chair of Afghanistan’s largest television station and co-author of a new book Radio Free Afghanistan, and Afghan women's rights activist Fatima Gailani. Clip: CBS NewsFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Leaving Kabul: what happened when the Taliban returnedTaliban’s closer ties with UAE signal global divide over Afghan regimeHow the Taliban’s return made Afghanistan a hub for global jihadisSinger Elaha Soroor on her anthem for Afghan womenSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Norbert Röttgen, a CDU member of the foreign affairs committee of the German parliament and author of a new book called Democracy and War. Röttgen criticises Chancellor Olaf Scholz for failing to live up to his early pledges of support for Ukraine. He laments the country's 'deplorable' divide on the Ukraine war, but says he is convinced that most Germans recognise that a victory for Russia would be disastrous for Europe. Clips: SPD; Info fur die WeltFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Germany, political extremism and the risks to UkraineVictory for the AfD raises difficult questions about east GermanyGermany to launch limited military service in push to be ‘war ready’Ukraine’s shifting war aimsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East programme at Chatham House in London, about what Israel and Iran may be planning for their next move as the region slides towards all-out war. Clips: The Telegraph; BBCFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Middle East at war: 12 key moments Oil prices climb as Iran missile attack prompts supply fearsIsrael steps up offensive against Hizbollah as region braces for retaliationHow Israeli spies penetrated HizbollahSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Kim Ghattas, an FT contributing editor based in Beirut, about Israel’s decision to step up its war against Lebanon’s Hizbollah. How will the militant group and its allies respond, and can the war be contained? Clips: Sky News; The GuardianFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Israel tells troops to prepare for possible ground offensive in LebanonMilitary briefing: Israeli intelligence and air force use ‘victory doctrine’ against Hizbollah ‘Leave your homes now’: Lebanon endures bloodiest day in decadesIts strategy may lie in ruins, but Hizbollah will not admit defeatSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, Gideon Rachman speaks to António Guterres, secretary-general of the UN. Guterres explains why he thinks the organisation remains indispensable - as the world struggles to get to grips with an array of daunting global challenges - including war and climate change.Clip: The GuardianFree links:World must exit ‘highway to climate hell’, UN boss warns, as records are again brokenChina and US push each other on priorities for UN COP29 climate talks‘Enfeebled’ UN fights for relevance in divided worldAlarm raised on sea level rise and ocean warming as Pacific Islands leaders meetNobel winners hit out at removal of fossil fuels from draft UN pactChina and US push each other on priorities for UN COP29 climate talksFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner and Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region of Russia represented another sign that Vladimir Putin’s invasion is not going to plan. But numerous setbacks, and the sanctions regime imposed by the west, have so far failed to loosen the Russian leader’s grip on power. Gideon discusses why Russians are still backing Putin with Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.  Clip: Deutsche WelleFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Vladimir Putin visits Mongolia despite international arrest warrantUS accuses China of directly supporting Russia’s ‘war machine’The Kremlin princelings cementing Putin’s ruleUkraine’s battle against Russia in maps: latest updatesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Gabriel Gatehouse about his new book, The Coming Storm: A Journey into the Heart of the Conspiracy Machine. They discuss the US Republican party’s embrace of far-fetched conspiracy theories, and how these are being deployed in the upcoming presidential election. Clip: CNNFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Conspiracy theories are being baked into American politicsA mind-infecting virus: the dark dreams of QAnonMisinformed about misinformationAmerica’s election year battle over who polices online disinformationSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Takako Hikotani of the Asia Society Policy Institute about how Japanese attitudes towards security have changed in light of the war in Ukraine and China’s more aggressive stance in the South China Sea. Clips: CNAFollow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic: Japan says China’s airspace incursion ‘totally unacceptable’Never a zealot, Fumio Kishida showed a surprising fearlessnessChina rejects Nato accusations of supporting Russia’s war in UkraineUS and Japan announce ‘most significant’ upgrade to military allianceSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Hall, the FT’s Europe editor, discusses Ukraine’s Kursk incursion with Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former defence minister and chair of the Centre for Defence Strategies in Kyiv. What is the strategy behind the move? How could it affect the fighting elsewhere on the frontline and could it prove to be a turning point in the war?  Clips: Global News; France 24To take part in the audience survey mentioned by Benn, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Free links to read more on this topic: Ukraine wants to create ‘buffer zone’ with Kursk incursion, says Zelenskyy‘People are horrified’: Moscow turns to reluctant conscripts to defend KurskHow Ukraine pulled off its biggest gamble: invading RussiaUkraine’s battle against Russia in maps: latest updatesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Benn Hall. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Stott, the FT’s Latin America editor, talks to Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group and Michael Shifter, former president of the Inter-American Dialogue think-tank in Washington, about the crisis in Venezuela. How long can Maduro cling to power, having so obviously lost the July election. Clips: Channel 4 News, The Economic TimesTo take part in the audience survey mentioned by Michael, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Free links to read more on this topic:How Venezuela’s Maduro is clinging on to powerVenezuela ramps up fear campaign after disputed presidential voteNicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s contested presidentNicolás Maduro blocks access to X amid feud with Elon MuskSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Michael Stott. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two assassinations carried out by Israel, one in Beirut and one in Tehran, have brought threats of retaliation from Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah. Andrew England, the FT’s Middle East editor, discusses whether the latest escalation can be contained with Emile Hokayem, a Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Clips: AP; CBSTo take part in the audience survey mentioned by Andrew, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Free links to read more on this topic:Netanyahu is prepared to escalate in the Middle East How all-out war between Israel and its adversaries might play outHamas picks Yahya Sinwar as new political leaderIran will ‘definitely’ retaliate against Israel for killing of Haniyeh, says new presidentSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Andrew England. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Sean McGarrity.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite some early setbacks the Paris Olympics is proving a big success. The French have set aside their initial doubts and are enjoying a breather from the disagreements that have torn apart the political classes. Gideon asks Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director of Le Monde, how long the truce can last. Clips: BBCTo take part in the audience survey mentioned by Gideon, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Follow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Olympics organisers apologise as risqué ceremony sparks backlashInside France’s Olympic medals factoryA bold leap towards a leaner and greener OlympicsFake Games, cyber threats and disinformation: Russia reacts to sporting isolationSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman hosts the show from Washington, DC, with his guest Jacob Heilbrunn, the editor of the National Interest magazine. They discuss the state of the US presidential election after Joe Biden’s decision to stand down and endorse his vice-president, Kamala Harris. Heilbrunn makes an unusual prediction: he thinks Harris could win big. Clip: MSNBCFree links:Read Gideon’s latest column, Trump, Harris and a fear-filled campaignRead the latest FT report, What are Kamala Harris’s chances against Donald Trump?To take part in the audience survey mentioned by Gideon, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Follow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon discusses the latest drama in the US presidential race with his friend and colleague Ed Luce at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. After his narrow escape from an assassination attempt, Donald Trump is looking like a winner. How would he change the US political landscape during a second term and can the Democrats find a strategy that will get them back in the race? Clip: CNNTo take part in the audience survey mentioned by Gideon and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.Follow Gideon on X @gideonrachmanFree links to read more on this topic:Republicans are delighted with BidenJoe Biden looks for early Democratic nomination to silence criticsThe US itself could be the biggest loser in this electionSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How easy will it be for Keir Starmer, Britain’s new prime minister, to reset relations with the EU, and what impact will political disarray in France have on leadership within the bloc? Gideon discusses these questions with Charles Grant, director of the London-based Centre for European Reform think-tank. Clip: BBCFree links to read more on this topic:France and Britain are changing placesThe French left needs to urgently learn the art of compromiseKeir Starmer plans ‘road map’ for UK to hit higher defence spending goalSurvey linkPrize draw terms and conditionsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to John Sawers, a former head of MI6, Britain’s secret intelligence agency, about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Is there any prospect of peace in Gaza? And how do the region's most powerful countries see their interests? Clip: BBCFree links to read more on this topic:Benjamin Netanyahu lays out plans for a summer of conflict‘Smuggled’ food and $64 peppers: Gaza’s grocery stores fight to surviveUS expected to lift ban on sale of offensive weapons to Saudi ArabiaThe Israel-Hamas war — in maps and chartsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would US foreign policy look like under a second Trump presidency? Gideon puts this question to former US state department official Jeremy Shapiro, who talks about the three camps hoping to shape the Republican nominee’s thinking on global affairs. Clip: Inquirer.netFree links to read more on this topic:The folly of the pro-Trump plutocrats The economic consequences of Mr TrumpTrump donors warm to Marco Rubio as running mateSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa took office at the head of the country’s first power-sharing government since the immediate post-apartheid period. Many are hoping this will offer the prospect for economic renewal and bring much needed investment back to the country. Gideon discusses its chance of success with the FT’s Monica Mark and Alec Hogg, editor and publisher of Biznews.com.Clip: eNCA TVFree links to read more on this topic:Investors cheer as Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in as South Africa’s presidentRamaphosa re-elected South African president after striking deal with oppositionCan the party that liberated South Africa still hold it together?In charts: 30 years of ANC rule in South AfricaSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a grim showing for his party in the European elections, President Emmanuel Macron stunned observers by calling snap elections in France. With Marine Le Pen’s National Rally riding high in the polls, could French voters elect a far-right government? Gideon discusses the possible ramifications of Macron’s gamble with Célia Belin, head of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Clip: La ProvinceFree links to read more on this topic:Jordan Bardella: the far-right TikTok king gunning for France’s premiershipEmmanuel Macron appeals for rivals to join his fight against ‘extremist fever’Victory for French far right could trigger Liz Truss-style debt crisis, warns finance ministerWhy Emmanuel Macron went all in against Marine Le PenSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Oriana Skylar Mastro, author of Upstart: How China Became A Great Power. They discuss China’s rapid rise, Beijing’s ambitions on the global stage and how the US will respond.Clip: Bogdan KokkonenFree links to read more on this topic:China emerges as one of biggest bilateral lenders to PhilippinesChina hits out at ‘aggressive’ Taiwan for military build-upUS and allies say China is ‘aggressively recruiting’ their fighter pilotsChina accuses US of seeking ‘Asia-Pacific Nato’China’s army tests gun-toting version of robot dogSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Henry Foy, the FT’s bureau chief in Brussels, about next week’s EU parliamentary elections. Far-right parties are set to win more seats, but how will this translate into their ability to influence policy? Clip: Bruegel TVHow will the European parliamentary elections change the EU? Join Henry Foy and colleagues on June 12 for a subscriber webinar on the election results. You can register by going to ft.com/euwebinarFree links to read more on this topic:Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for second term in trouble over Giorgia Meloni tiesHow the far right is winning over young EuropeansPolice raid European parliament staffer’s office in Russian influence probeRussia plotting sabotage across Europe, intelligence agencies warnSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Power for Sale, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. In Untold: Power for Sale, host Valentina Pop and a team of FT correspondents from all over Europe investigate what happened in the Qatargate scandal, where EU lawmakers were accused of accepting payments from Qatar to whitewash its image.Subscribe and listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon discusses the state of Ukraine’s defences with Jack Watling, senior fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute. Russia’s advantage in ammunition and forces is beginning to show on the battlefield. What would it take to turn things back in Ukraine’s favour? Clip: BBCFree links to read more on this topic:Russia has advanced 10km towards Kharkiv, says UkraineG7 warms to plan for Trump-proofing Ukraine aidNato training soldiers in Ukraine does not escalate war, says Estonian PMStrikes in Russia with US weapons would help Kyiv hold line, says officialSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the US election looms, President Joe Biden has announced huge new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other green tech goods. Gideon Rachman sits down with Michael Froman, former US trade representative and the president of America's Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss the widening of protectionism in the US and globally, and the dangers this could bring.Clip: PBSFree links to read more on this topic: Joe Biden and Donald Trump battle to prove who can be toughest on ChinaAmerica is pulling up the drawbridgeChinese competition a ‘defining challenge’ for EU companiesVolkswagen warns Brussels against raising tariffs on Chinese electric carsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a new season of Tech Tonic, longtime FT China reporter Jame Kynge travels around the world to see how China is pushing towards tech supremacy. Will China be able to get an edge in crucial technological areas? What does China’s attempt to leapfrog the west look like on the ground? A 6-part series looking at China’s tech industry.Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With elections for the European parliament a month away, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is emerging as a key figure in European politics. Gideon talks to Amy Kazmin, the FT’s Rome correspondent, about the rise of Meloni, her roots in the Italian far right, her close relationship with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and the great challenges that lie ahead for Italy. Clip: Fratelli d’ItaliaFree links to read more on this topic: Italian journalists strike in dispute with Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing governmentItaly’s far-right leader Matteo Salvini fights for political survivalMeloni’s radical plan: rewriting Italy’s post-fascist constitutionSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe. Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narendra Modi looks set to win a third term in office thanks to the popularity of his economic policies. But the Indian prime minister has a vision of a Hindu homeland that clashes with the country’s original secular values. Gideon talks to Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine, about the secret of Modi’s success and what the future holds for India. Clip: Capital TVFree links to read more on this topic: Narendra Modi increases anti-Muslim rhetoric in India election campaignHow to understand Modi’s IndiaIndia’s Jekyll and Hyde journeyIndia’s Rahul Gandhi bets on 6,700km trek to stop Narendra Modi’s election juggernautSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outgunned and outmanned, Ukraine has been forced to cede territory to Russia in recent months. Now it has been thrown a lifeline with the latest US military aid package. How much difference will this make and can Ukraine still hope to win the war? Gideon puts these questions to the FT’s Christopher Miller, recently back from the frontline. Clips: Sky News, MSNBCFree links to read more on this topic:Ukraine is the front line of a much larger conflict Greece and Spain under pressure to provide Ukraine with air defence systemsUkraine faces race against time to deploy US fundingMilitary briefing: Russian ‘glide bombs’ pound Ukrainian troops and townsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon discusses Iran’s attack on Israel with Emile Hokayem, senior fellow for Middle East security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. What will the leaders of Israel and Iran be thinking about as they ponder their next move? And where does this leave the prospects for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza? Clip: ABC News Free links to read more on this topic: Ukraine’s air defence struggle highlights risks to IsraelUS and EU prepare fresh sanctions against Iran after Israel attackThe Biden dilemma on IsraelMilitary briefing: Israel’s options to strike IranSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon discusses the history of international humanitarian law since the first world war with Boyd van Dijk, a historian at Oxford university and author of a recent book, Preparing for War - The Making of the Geneva Conventions. They discuss current efforts to prevent war crimes and hold leaders engaged in conflict to account. Clip: The Fog of War, RadicalMedia and SenArt Films, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, 2003Free links to read more on this topic:Russia ‘prepared’ for nuclear war, warns Vladimir PutinIsrael grapples with ‘Eichmann’ dilemma over Hamas attack trialsMexico and Chile ask ICC to investigate Israel-Hamas conflictS Africa accuses Israel of breaking international laws on genocide in GazaSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan has been celebrating the end of a near 20-year deflationary cycle. But the country’s shrinking population remains a serious cause for concern. Gideon talks to the FT’s Kana Inagaki and Leo Lewis about whether the new mood of optimism about Japan is justified. Clip: BBC Free links to read more on this topic: Why good news for Japan may be bad news for hedge fundsJapan relaxes defence export rules to allow sales of new fighter jetUS and Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in over 60 yearsMarriage holds key to Japan’s falling birthsThe professor vs the PM: a political funding probe shakes Japan’s governmentSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Bastian Giegerich, chief executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, about the state of Europe's defences. The scramble to come to the aid of Ukraine and doubts about future US willingness to contribute have exposed significant vulnerabilities. How quickly can Europe’s armed forces be upgraded to meet the Russian threat? Clips: CBS News; France 24; Daily TelegraphFree links to read more on this topic:Europe’s leaders have woken up to hard powerEU looks to bypass treaty ban on buying arms to support UkraineWars in Ukraine and Middle East boost orders at German defence supplierDefence CEO calls for European version of Israel’s Iron DomeSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull about the prospect of a second Trump presidency. They discuss why Rupert Murdoch’s ‘anger-tainment’ industry has done less harm to Australia’s democracy than it has in the US, and why the recent referendum on Aboriginal rights in Australia failed.Free links to read more on this topic:China urges Australian caution on ‘third-party’ disruption of relationshipDonald Trump’s betrayal of UkraineDemocracy dies in Trumpian boredomSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Mance discusses the breakdown of the rule of law in Haiti with Robert Fatton, professor of government and foreign affairs in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia. How has the past influenced recent events and is there a way out of the nightmare? Clips: The Times and The Sunday Times; APFree links to read more on this topic:The gangster named ‘Barbecue’ who controls Haiti’s violent slumsHaiti prime minister to quit as gang violence rocks countryHaiti declares state of emergency after mass jailbreakSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Henry Mance. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Mance, standing in for Gideon, talks to James Shotter, FT correspondent in Jerusalem, about the Israeli political landscape and why the country’s leadership is pursuing such a scorched earth policy in Gaza. Clip: Sky NewsUS begins Gaza aid airdrops after Joe Biden rebukes IsraelThe Israel-Hamas war in maps: latest updates Berlin and Paris join outcry over Israel’s role in Gaza aid convoy deaths The urgent need to end the catastrophe in GazaIsrael’s Rafah offensive: a tipping point for US support?Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Henry Mance. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman talks to Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute in Sydney, about the differing views he encountered at recent security conferences in India, Europe, the US and Australia. Clip: midday indiaFree links to read more on this topic:The squawkus about Aukus is getting louderLeaked Russian military files reveal criteria for nuclear strikeWhite House decision to not replace Asia tsar stokes concern among US allies Asia space race heats up as China, Japan and India reach for the starsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much of a threat would Russia pose to Europe if its invasion of Ukraine was successful? Given recent remarks by the US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, does Europe have the firepower to defend itself without the aid of the US? Gideon discusses these questions with the writer and historian Anne Applebaum, just back from the 2024 Munich Security Conference. Clip: Deutsche WelleFree links to read more on this topic:Ursula von der Leyen calls on EU to subsidise defence productionRussian victories shake global leaders’ faith in Ukraine war prospectsAlexei Navalny, Russian opposition activist, 1976-2024Joe Biden blasts Donald Trump for ‘un-American’ comments about Nato alliesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s property crisis and slowing growth rate have raised questions about its future as an economic and military power. Gideon discusses whether it’s time to call ‘peak China’ with Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Clip: BloombergFree links to read more on this topic:China’s consumers tighten belts even as prices fallChina’s growth enigmaThe looming trade tensions over China’s subsidiesWe shouldn’t call ‘peak China’ just yetSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Mark Malloch-Brown, former deputy secretary-general of the UN and president of the Open Society Foundations, about the role of the United Nations. While it sometimes struggles to make an impact on matters of global security, it plays a unique and often unrecognised role in shaping policy on migration, refugees and climate. Clip: The GuardianICJ’s Israel judgment seeks to restore rule of law to a brutal conflictHead of UN agency for Palestinians defies Israeli calls to quitA ‘multipolar’ world defies the ‘rules-based’ orderSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have questions about this year's US presidential election, we have answers.Swamp Notes is a new podcast from the FT News Briefing. Listen every Saturday morning as our journalists analyse and discuss the latest happenings in US politics. We’ll go beyond the horse race for the White House and offer a global perspective on the election.  You can subscribe to Swamp Notes here or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germans have been staging mass protests against the far-right ideology of the AfD party. This followed revelations about a meeting late last year in which the party and its backers discussed the potential for mass deportations of people of foreign origin. Gideon discusses whether this could be a turning point in German politics with international affairs analyst Constanze Stelzenmüller. Clip: The GuardianFree links to read more on this topic: In praise of mass immigrationGerman far right defeated in regional electionGermany’s top court paves way for financing ban on extremist political partiesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 director of Polityka Insight. Clips: CNBC, tvpFree links to read more on this topic:EU to sidestep Polish president’s veto to release billions in fundingPoland’s escalating power strugglePoland’s ‘iron broom’ shows that democrats can bite backSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 not themselves anymore. Untold: The Retreat launches Jan. 24.Subscribe and listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ForumFree links to read more on this topic:Washington puts forward G7 plan to confiscate $300bn in Russian assetsThe west would harm itself with rash seizures of frozen Russian assetsWe must keep fighting Russia with banks as well as tanksFreezing Order — Bill Browder on the trail of dirty Russian moneySubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: ReutersFree links to read more on this topic:US intensifies efforts to prevent Middle East conflagrationSenior Hizbollah and Hamas figures killed as fears grow of regional warThe edge of the abyss looms in the Middle EastSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 CommissionFree links to read more on this topic:Jacques Delors, who drove EU integration, dies at 98How migration is pushing Europe to the rightEU readies €20bn plan B to fund UkraineUkraine and its backers need a credible path to victorySubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.