Mohamed Guhaad's podcast

The World Cup may seem to be proof that the digital commons centralises a global audience. We find that entertainment is in fact fragmenting , with big implications for soft power. Our series examining America’s 250 years of history tackles the AIDS crisis and the war on terror . And mosquitoes may in fact be attracted to a gold-standard repellent.  Guests and host: Tom Wainwright, media editor An...

Despite exchanges of missiles and drones between Israel and Lebanon, the start of a deal was struck overnight. What exactly has been agreed, and will it hold? We examine the idea that part-nationalisation could be a way to share the coming onslaught of AI wealth. And our series on World Cup contenders concludes with a look at England’s side. Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspond...

Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track? Guests and Hosts John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor Sean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison  Je...

John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, embarks on a roadtrip to see how America’s democracy is faring in the era of Trump.  His companion is a long-dead French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville, author of arguably the best book ever written about America.  When Tocqueville arrived in New York in 1831, it was a small, low-slung city where pigs roamed the streets. But he was able to see pas...

An interview with Lee Jae Myung , South Korea’s president, a year into his role. Though he has stabilised a turbulent polity and overseen a stock market rally, the path ahead may be bumpy. Can India’s cockroach party become a powerful political movement? And celebrating the creator of “Persepolis”, Marjane Satrapi . Watch extended clips from Insider here Guests and host: Noah Sneider, East Asia bu...

Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track? Guests and Hosts John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor Sean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison  Je...

John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, embarks on a roadtrip to see how America’s democracy is faring in the era of Trump.  His companion is a long-dead French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville, author of arguably the best book ever written about America.  When Tocqueville arrived in New York in 1831, it was a small, low-slung city where pigs roamed the streets. But he was able to see pas...

Millions of people will tune in when the World Cup starts today. But demonstrators in Mexico, which hosts the first match, are using the international spectacle to draw attention to their causes. Commercial enterprises are on the cusp of making money in space: who will tax the heavens ? And Narendra Modi is unsettling India’s middle class. Guests and host: Hal Hodson, Americas editor Shera Avi-Yon...

When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America from France in 1831 he saw a new kind of society. Not just a country, but an idea that would change the world. His book “Democracy in America” was a big influence on later generations of political analysts, including The Economist’s US Editor John Prideaux. Now, 250 years after its birth, the vitality of that democracy is under question. In this series, J...

The British government tightened immigration in response to public demand. Yet that policy damaged both the country and the Labour party. Our correspondent embeds on a US nuclear submarine to find out how China and Russia are vying for dominance in the Pacific. And what anti-ageing products actually work?  Guests and host: Joel Budd, Britain social affairs editor Anton La Guardia, diplomatic edito...

Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years has been marked by pomp and shows of friendship. But what does the Chinese leader really want from the trip? Our correspondent visits Goma in Congo to see what life is like under Rwanda-backed rebel group M23. And why curry may soon be off the menu in Japan.  Guests and host: Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent John McDermott, chief Africa...

The fragile ceasefire between America and Iran is threatened by an exchange of ballistic missiles overnight between Iran and Israel. Our correspondent examines the consequences. China’s BYD cars are losing ground to other electric vehicles. And why hit TV shows inspire “ companion podcasts ”.   Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent Don Weinland, China business editor Elizabet...

After decades of overpopulation worries, the country now has the opposite concern. We examine India’s unusual demographic turn , and why it is a wider warning to the world. Vegan substitutes have broadly improved in recent years—so why is there no good vegan cheese ? And remembering Sonny Rollins , an absolute colossus of the saxophone.  Watch extended clips from Insider here . Guests and host: To...

Nigel Farage, leader of the populist-right Reform UK party, wants Britons to be enraged by a killing in the street. We ask why his tone has changed from “colour-blind” to race-baiting. NATO must now take seriously the idea that America is pulling back; we ask how it is adjusting . And why skipping title sequences is forgoing some of television’s magic . Guests and host: Hugo Gye, British political...

Now that America has stepped back, Europe is at last stepping up. We examine the bloc’s tactics (if not yet a strategy) and how steady its support is likely to be. With the coming public listings of SpaceX and Anthropic, we ask whether stockmarkets can handle a string of “ giga-IPOs ”. And our World Cup series looks at Iran’s side. Guests and host: Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent Joshua R...

The AI world’s go-to chipmaker is blazing a trail toward your personal computer. We ask what moving out of the cloud indicates about the future of computing. The three candidates for mayor of Los Angeles could not be more different, and they are running neck and neck. And updating generic filler text for the business-jargon era. Guests and host: Shailesh Chitnis, global business writer Aryn Braun,...

Aid is ramping up to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and vaccine work is progressing. But what the Ebola response most lacks is trust of the community. European governments and businesses are wary of their dependence on America’s tech giants; we examine a spate of home-grown efforts . And sticky toffee pudding, a staid British classic, gets a sweet social-media boost .  Guests and host: John McD...

Our outgoing defence editor reflects on how war has changed during the eight years of his tenure. Wars have become easier to start and harder to finish , and the little guy has a better chance than ever before. And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Barney Frank , a trailblazing Democratic congressman. Watch extended clips from Insider here Guests and host: Shashank Joshi, defence editor Ann Wr...

The American administration’s next round of sabre-rattling has been directed at Cuba. But more military adventures there would probably prove disastrous . We profile the three starkly different contenders in Colombia’s hyper-polarised presidential election . And our series looking at World Cup squads goes to Mexico. Guests and host: Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Car...

Economic support, drone capability, defence under new management: the tide may have turned for Ukraine. But domestic politics and perceptions will define what kind of win the country might hope for. We examine how Home Depot, the world’s largest DIY chain, is a window into America’s ailing housing market. And what is pinching the supply of England’s famed cricket bats.  Guests and host: Oliver Car...

More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking . China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI —with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them ).  Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent D...

What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.  This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen“Red Rising” by Pierce...

Elon Musk has launched the largest stockmarket listing in history. The accompanying space mission remains grounded. Our correspondent weighs SpaceX’s extraordinary ambitions. The Republican party trades on its masculine image, but some young men are turning away. And, after a blind tasting 50 years ago unleashed a new wave of wine drinking , the market is drying out. Guests and host: Tim Cross, se...

Within the space of a week Chinese president Xi Jinping has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the Premier League got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish adrenaline-fuelled activities. Guests and host: Jeremy Page, chief Chin...

Is Binyamin Netanyahu ’s time up as Israel’s prime minister? As a vote in parliament triggers the election campaign, our correspondent – and Netanyahu’s biographer – analyses what comes next. We join a US-backed counter-terrorism training exercise in Africa and question whether such missions will outlast Trump. And how Cape Verde came to take part in its first World Cup . Guests and host: Anshel P...