What are Donald Trump’s options in Iran? | The Economist

2026-03-20

"The US is not going to defend and cannot defend Taiwan"—Tucker Carlson tells The Economist’s editor-in-chief that America has reached the limits of its power and has to now share it with China.

2026-03-18

It’s a striking turn for two countries that used to be close—Pakistan once aided and sheltered the Afghan Taliban, the very government it’s waging war against.

2026-03-13

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a slim waterway between Oman and Iran through which a large proportion of global oil and gas supply flows—has consequences for much of the world. The fall-out will not be felt evenly. Russia has a lot to gain from the escalating conflict. Zanny Minton Beddoes is joined by a panel of our journalists to unpack the impact and assess the economic damage.

#iran #America #DonaldTrump #economy #oil #StraitofHormuz #Russia #China #Gulf

00:00 – How Russia is benefiting from the war
02:24 – What does the conflict mean for the Gulf?
04:38 – Why China will be watching the war closely

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4sgkqpA
Sign up to the Insider newsletter: https://econ.st/4nOyzIb

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2026-01-30

“The most important power a government has is its monopoly on violence”—Edward Carr, our deputy editor, explains why he thinks this is a monumental moment for American democracy.

On the latest Insider show, our editors discuss the killings in Minneapolis and why what happens next is a test of Donald Trump’s power.

2026-01-26

Rare earths are integral to modern daily life, yet China has a near-monopoly on them. Could anything break its grip? And are there any alternatives for these critical metals?

Video supported by @mishcondereya

00:00 – What are rare earths?
00:37 – Where are they found?
00:50 – China’s control of the market
01:42 – Why this is causing a problem
02:33 – Diversifying rare-earth sources
03:06 – Recycling existing rare earths
03:53 – Alternative materials
04:33 – Consistent investment is needed

A visual guide to critical materials and rare earths: https://econ.st/49CGZwk

The rare-earth industry needs more than Trumpian deals: https://econ.st/49B7yls

China’s power over rare earths is not as great as it seems: https://econ.st/4aZQesT

How to build strong magnets without rare-earth metals:

2025-12-08

Since the ceasefire in Gaza was announced, nothing has been done to rebuild the devastated territory. Our Middle East editor, Josie Delap, looks at how much reconstruction could cost, and who might foot the bill.

2025-12-01

Looking for a Christmas present for a bookworm in your life? Rachel Lloyd, our deputy culture editor, shares five of our favourite non-fiction books of 2025.

2025-10-17

America’s economy continues to grow, despite Donald Trump’s tariffs. Our editors ask whether they were wrong about the President’s trade policy in the latest episode of Insider.