The Rachman Review

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 TVMore on this topicMilitary briefing - Ukraine offensive ‘dooms’ Russia’s aims for DonbasRussian army hobbled by shortage of soldiersUkraine faces ‘tough fight’ even as Russian forces retreat, says USRussia’s invasion of Ukraine 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 TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Presented by Gideon Rachman.Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/ukFollow @gideonrachman Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newslettersRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 -Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newslettersRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 InstituteMore on this topic:Six months of war in Ukraine: ‘The enemy learned fast’Join the FT Telegram channel to receive Ukraine coverage alertsRussia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updatesThe global reach of Alexander DuginSubscribe 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 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 TelegraphMore on this topic:Taiwan tensions force multinationals to rethink China riskChina ratchets up pressure on Taiwan after US congressional visitTaiwan greets Chinese military intimidation with parties rather than panicXi Jinping grasps ‘knife’ of internal security to complete grip on powerSubscribe 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 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 SunMore on this topic:Bain barred from UK state contracts over ‘grave misconduct’ in South AfricaSouth Africa hopes private sector can help end Eskom power crisisSouth Africa’s Ramaphosa under fire after ranch burglary fuels questions over wealthHow three brothers ‘captured’ a countrySubscribe 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.

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 to support Ukraine.Presented by John Paul Rathbone. Produced by Fiona Symon and Persis Love. Sound design by Breen TurnerClips: BBC, MSNBC, Associated Press Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-SPANWant to read more?A tale of two Facebook whistleblowersBig Tech makes concessions on EU’s new anti-disinformation codeEU approves groundbreaking rules to police Big Tech platformsCivil society must be part of the Digital Services ActSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 but indispensable allyUkraine grain deal and Syria top agenda for Putin’s talks with Iran and TurkeyFruit becomes a luxury in Erdoğan’s Turkey as inflation threatens re-election bidUkraine warns that only lifting Black Sea blockade can avert global food crisisSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 NewsMore on this topic:Iran plans to provide drones to Russia for Ukraine war, says USPutin warns of ‘catastrophic’ energy crisis if west boosts sanctionsChina’s image loses its shine in EuropeSubscribe 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 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, APMore on this topic:Europe’s new defence bloc: Nordics and Baltics unite in face of Russian threatEstonia’s PM says country would be ‘wiped from map’ under existing Nato plansWar in Ukraine: will the Baltics become the ‘new West Berlin’?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 BreenRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Pushkin. To listen to new episodes, search ‘Hot Money’ wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It took years of digging and a lucky break to uncover the fraud at the heart of Wirecard. Gideon talks to Dan McCrum about the strange netherworld of financial speculators, private detectives, bumbling accountants and outright criminals that he encountered along the way.Clips: Bloomberg, Money TalksMore on this topic:Why we trust fraudstersLess work for EY auditors? What about more accountabilityWirecard middleman pleads guilty to hackingInside WirecardSubscribe 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 BreenRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European leaders have been united in their support for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. But as costs mount they could face growing calls to compromise with Russia. Gideon talks to Ulrike Franke, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, about how France and Germany in particular are handling the crisis. Clips: Euronews; CNN; France24More on this topic:Farewell to Russia and to the Sinatra doctrineOlaf Scholz says partnership with Putin’s Russia is ‘inconceivable’Ukraine weighs up impact of EU leaders’ trip to KyivSubscribe 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 BreenRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to the billionaire investor Ray Dalio about the connections he's found between the rise and fall of markets and the rise and fall of nations. Clips: CBS, CNBC, BBCMore on this topic:  Policy errors of the 1970s echo in our timesFed begins quantitative tightening on unprecedented scaleTop investors split on direction of ‘tempestuous’ China’s marketsSubscribe 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 BreenRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s global power has rested in large part on its oil and gas reserves. Will Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine and Europe’s decision to seek alternative supplies shrink this power irreparably? Gideon talks to the American expert Dan Yergin about the role played by energy in the Ukraine conflict and its implications for the rest of the world.Clips: BBC, ABC, Sky NewsMore on this topic:  Europe at risk of winter energy rationing, energy watchdog warnsLNG revolution: Germany’s plan to wean itself off Russian gas takes shapeSaudi Arabia is increasing supply — so why is the oil price holding firm?Trafigura warns oil prices could reach ‘parabolic state’ in threat to economySubscribe 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 Venezuelan economist Moisés Naím about the reasons for the collapse of the political centre in Latin America, and about the tactics used by populist politicians to rise to power in the region and beyond.Clips: Euronews; AP; Al Jazeera; NBC; Andrés Manuel López Obrador channelWant to read more?How the Colombia election could change Latin AmericaColombia’s Rodolfo Hernández goes from also-ran to the brink of powerConservative young Brazilians complicate Lula’s path to presidencySubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s blockade of the port of Odesa is preventing Ukraine from exporting vital supplies of grain to a hungry world. A failure to resolve the problem will lead to food price rises and starvation, resulting in more migration and global unrest, according to David Beasley, head of the UN World Food Programme. He talks to Gideon about what needs to be done to avert catastrophe.Clips: NewsNation, ABC news, CNNWant to read more?Military briefing: Ukraine seeks way to break Russia’s Black Sea blockadePakistan seeks to renegotiate IMF loan as food prices surge‘Millions’ at risk of death as Ukraine war hits food supplies, Egypt warnsWorld’s poorest nations to receive aid amid soaring food pricesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The roots of Ukrainian nationalism go back to the second world war, when one prominent group sided briefly with Hitler against the Soviet Union. Gideon talks to Princeton academic Kim Lane Scheppele about the legacy of this group and whether any remnants of its ideology still have influence over the country’s politics and military.Clips: NBC, Open Ukraine, Eurovision Song ContestMore on this topic:  ‘Don’t confuse patriotism and Nazism’: Ukraine’s Azov forces face scrutinyUkraine says rescue under way for troops at Azovstal steel mill in MariupolRussia’s invasion of Ukraine 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.

Why do some countries stay poor while others find a rapid path towards growth and development? Economist Stefan Dercon thinks it’s all about the willingness of those in power to prioritise development over protecting their own interests. He explains how he came to this view in conversation with the FT’s Africa editor, David Pilling.Clips: IMF, Africa NewsMore on this topic:  Gambling on Development, by Stefan DerconThe Rachman Review: the rising toll of famine and conflictEthiopia is a tragedy for the whole of AfricaSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by David Pilling. 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.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, a group of countries in the global south, including India and South Africa, held back from the chorus of condemnation led by Europe and the US. Gideon discusses why they have adopted a neutral stance with Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution and Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs.Clips: Reuters; Republic WorldWant to read more?Nato’s eastern front: will the military build-up make Europe safer?Indonesia under pressure as it weighs buying Russia’s ‘blood oil’How Russia’s war in Ukraine upended the breadbasket of EuropeXi Jinping faces a fateful decision on UkraineSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia raised the spectre of nuclear war this week as it struggles to make headway in Ukraine. How seriously should this threat be taken and can Vladimir Putin rely on his friendship with China’s Xi Jinping? Gideon discusses these questions with US political scientist Graham Allison, author of the classic study of the Cuban missile crisis, ‘Essence of Decision’, and of a book on US-China relations, ‘Destined for War’.Clips: ABC, BloombergWant to read more?‘At war with the whole world’: why Putin might be planning a long conflict in UkraineBiden, Putin and the danger of VersaillesRussia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps 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 by Jasiu SigsworthRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to former World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy about the French election and what political trends in France tell us about nationalism and anti-globalist movements around the world.Clips: France 24Want to read more?‘She’s radiant’: what French voters like about Le Pen this timePatriots vs globalists replaces the left-right divideFrench election polls: the race for the presidencySubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Jasiu SigsworthRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a country besieged by war, Ukrainian politicians continued to meet in their parliamentary building, despite the clear threat of attack from Russian troops. Ukrainian MP Dmytro Natalukha shares his experiences of keeping parliament running while Kyiv was under siege. As chairman of Ukraine’s economic affairs committee, Natalukha tells how the country’s economy has been ravaged, and how he expects the war will develop over the coming months.Clips: NBC News, BBC, DW News, CNAPresented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Persis Love. Sound design by Guldem Masa. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has put in an unexpectedly strong showing and looks set to go head to head with Emmanuel Macron in the second round of France’s presidential election. Gideon talks to the FT’s Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Bruno Cautrès of Sciences Po about the issues French voters care about and what happens next.Clips: Reuters, HuffPost, France inter www.ft.com/rachman-reviewhttps://play.acast.com/s/therachmanreviewWant to read more?French election polls: the race for the presidencyRightwing presidential candidates’ immigration ‘obsession’ belies reality of modern FranceEmmanuel Macron warns he could lose French election to the far rightFrance votes: Macron’s frontrunner status conceals deep rifts in societySubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Jasiu SigsworthRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Catherine Belton, author of the bestselling book Putin’s People, about who is likely to be influencing the Russian president as he decides whether to step back or press on with the war in Ukraine.Clips: Reuters, BBCWant to read more?Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Turned on the WestGermany and Austria plan for gas rationing over payment stand-off with RussiaWar in Ukraine: what explains the calm in global stock markets?Antigua investigates yacht with possible Abramovich tiesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Jasiu SigsworthRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe has been united by opposition to Putin’s war in Ukraine, but will this new found unity last and will Russia be permanently isolated? Gideon talks to Alexander Stubb, former prime minister of Finland, about how the conflict is reshaping Europe’s alliances with the rest of the world.Clips: British PathéWant to read more? Nato to discuss extending Jens Stoltenberg’s term as secretary-generalBiden heads for Europe with mission to maintain west’s unity in response to RussiaWe should not abandon Russian citizens to a culture of brutalityPutin’s war demands a concerted global economic responseSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Hall talks to Rose Gottemoeller, an American diplomat who was deputy secretary-general of Nato from 2016 to 2019, about the kind of deal Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are working towards. Will Ukraine agree to give up its ambitions for Nato membership and pledge neutrality instead? How might the west guarantee its security and could Vladimir Putin tolerate an independent Ukraine?Clips: Sky News, BBC, NBCWant to read more?Ukraine and Russia signal progress in talksHow is Ukraine using western weapons to exploit Russian weaknesses?Life under occupation: how Ukrainians are resisting Russian ruleTracking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Ben Hall. Produced by Fiona Symon and Persis Love. Sound design by Breen TurnerRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How long can the Ukrainians hold out? Will Vladimir Putin be stuck in a never-ending war and how would Russians tolerate that? Might western powers be dragged in? Ben Hall, the FT’s Europe editor, discusses these questions with John Paul Rathbone, defence and security correspondent, and Henry Foy, European diplomatic correspondent and former Moscow bureau chief. Clips: BBC, Nato NewsWant to read more? Ukraine accuses Russia of Mariupol hospital bombing ‘atrocity’Russia’s techies flee country they fear is ‘flying into an abyss’War in Ukraine: will the Baltics become the ‘new West Berlin’?Military briefing: Russian invaders exposed to guerrilla attacksSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Ben Hall. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Jasiu SigsworthRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putin’s war in Ukraine is not going to plan, but it’s as yet unclear how the Russian leader will react to these failures. Gideon talks to strategic expert Lawrence Freedman about what the Russian military can realistically achieve and, in particular, how worried Nato should be about Russia’s decision to put its nuclear weapons on standby.Clips: BBC, CNN Want to read more?Another Stalingrad’: assault on Kharkiv shatters ties that once bound two nationsAir power counts for little in Ukraine war as caution prevails on both sidesWest takes Putin’s nuclear weapons threat seriouslyTracking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in mapsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia has confirmed what western powers had long predicted and invaded Ukraine. On the eve of war, Gideon spoke to Sabine Fischer of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, a Russian specialist recently back from Moscow, and to Polina Ivanova, FT correspondent in Kyiv, about the mood in the two capitals.Clips: RT, The White HouseWant to read more?EU hits Putin’s defence minister and chief of staff with sanctionsPutin’s denial of Ukrainian statehood carries dark historical echoesUkraine prepares to impose state of emergency and calls up reserve troopsPutin’s made-for-TV security debate gives him answers he wants to hear on UkraineSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week of frenetic diplomacy, the Ukraine crisis has yet to be resolved. But it has had a significant impact on reshaping western alliances. Gideon talks to Charles Grant, head of the Centre for European Reform, a London-based think-tank, about the impact of the Russian threat on US ties with Europe, and on Nato and the EU.Clips: The White House, Sky NewsWant to read more?Poland prepares for possible influx of refugees fleeing UkraineTop finance watchdog urges west to ‘think twice’ about Russia sanctionsCan the Minsk accords help de-escalate Russia-Ukraine tensions?Ukraine crisis pushes Russia and China into a closer embraceSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Governments and militias around the world, from Ukraine to Ethiopia, have a new and powerful weapon at their disposal: armed drones. Gideon talks to Ulrike Franke of the European Council on Foreign Relations about how this is changing the balance of power and causing growing concern about civilian casualties.Clips: WSJ, CBS,Sky NewsRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Hungary’s opposition leader Peter Marki-Zay about his chances of overcoming the powerful political machine created by Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party in April's elections.Clips: Fox News, ReutersRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s military build-up on its border with Ukraine has set off alarm bells and led to a flurry of transatlantic diplomacy. Gideon talks to Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, about what President Vladimir Putin is seeking to achieve, and whether he can realise these goals without launching an attack on Ukraine.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diplomacy has so far failed to defuse the crisis in Ukraine and many fear that war is imminent. Gideon discusses the remaining diplomatic possibilities and, if they fail, what a war might look like, with Samuel Charap, a political scientist at the Rand Corporation think-tank in Washington.Clips: Sky News, CBS NewsRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, about the organisation’s 2022 watchlist, which reveals that people in 20 countries, representing 10 per cent of the world’s population, are at risk or in dire need of humanitarian aid, and the situation is getting worse. What has gone wrong and are there any solutions?Clips: DW, Live Aid, ReutersIRC’s 2022 Emergency WatchlistDavid Miliband’s speech to the Council on Foreign RelationsRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/c2a23023-df6b-49ed-af06-149bb0b35237Three years of demonstrations have proved the Sudanese people’s strong desire for democratic change after decades of military rule. But this week the latest attempt to secure a peaceful transition foundered with the resignation of Abdalla Hamdok, interim prime minister. Gideon Rachman discusses what happens next with London-based journalist Yousra Elbagir and Muzan Alneel, a writer based in Sudan.Clips: BBC, Euronews, CNN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/03234d8d-0548-4e84-b7c9-5ed87b2b7a57For the last podcast of 2021 and to review the year, Gideon Rachman is joined by his FT colleagues Martin Wolf and Gillian Tett.We’re coming to the end of a tumultuous year, which began with the unprecedented storming of the US capitol by supporters of Donald Trump. And which ends with a pandemic still raging, inflation on the rise and Vladimir Putin threatening to invade Ukraine.Audio: BBC, ABC News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/ce91ffd7-0549-4187-8dda-61b20548d2c8Gideon talks to Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the ways in which global powers try to exert influence over others in an interconnected world. Mark Leonard is author of The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict.Clips: Reuters, BBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/402578f3-6ad6-45f8-8340-cb1e809fe95bIn this special interview, Sir Jeremy Fleming, head of the UK signals intelligence agency GCHQ, talks to FT editor Roula Khalaf and FT correspondent Helen Warrell about cyber threats from China and other state actors, the global competition for data and the "Snowden effect" on spy agencies.Clips: IISS, NBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/34bb8aee-612e-4b2e-ab59-0d11518e1d82Gideon talks to Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, about Russia’s military build-up on the Ukraine border and about how policymakers in Nato and the EU are responding.Clips: Nato News; VOA; BBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/c40abc3c-5a4b-4ebe-9f24-82241f2939f5Gideon talks to former White House official Evan Medeiros about the recent summit between the US and Chinese presidents. Was the relative cordiality of the meeting a sign of reconciliation or are the two powers heading towards a military confrontation?Clips: The White House, Deutsche Welle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/f1dbd73c-381c-475b-8b22-fa07abd6d92fGideon talks to Simon Mundy, author of Race For Tomorrow, about how he would assess global efforts to tackle climate change in the wake of this month’s gathering of world leaders in Glasgow.Clips: Bloomberg; NBC; ABC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/e66fa8b7-7b92-4497-8585-cf43e8cd41fcPoland’s judicial reforms have put it on a collision course with the EU over human rights and the rule of law. Can the bloc adapt to accommodate its more awkward members or should it take a hard line? Gideon discusses the problem with Catherine De Vries, a professor of political science who specialises in the EU and is based at Bocconi University in Milan.Clips: BBC, Euronews. European Commission Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/07579093-643e-4300-87c3-3b3e6b36526bGideon talks to Leslie Hook, the FT’s environment correspondent, about what to expect from the UN climate change conference in Glasgow. Will determination to give teeth to the Paris accord survive the global energy crisis?Clips: UN; ITV News; Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/7dd6de54-58d0-4a5f-9c74-d599b513a668Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, finally left office this year. He is now on trial on corruption charges and Israel is ruled by the most diverse coalition in its history. Gideon discusses Israel’s new political landscape with Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute.Clips: IsraeliPM, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to historian Paul Kennedy about how long America’s period as the world’s most powerful nation can last in the face of a rising China.Clips: British Pathé Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon discusses the strength of America’s political system with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the foreign policy magazine The National Interest. Are fears about the Republican party’s commitment to democracy justified, and can Joe Biden win back the support of white, working class America?Clips: MSNBC, TODAY, CNN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon talks to Parag Khanna, founder and managing partner of FutureMap, a global strategic advisory firm, and author of a new book on mass migration called Move: the forces uprooting us. Clips: PBS, Channel 4 News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.