Can Iran be stopped from getting a nuclear bomb? | The Economist

2026-04-01

After the global financial crisis of 2007-09, non-bank lenders nabbed some of banking’s riskier activities, offering companies flexible financing and dazzling investors with the promise of double-digit returns. Private-credit lending to firms increased to $1.5trn. Now, though, there’s concern about private credit.

The Economist’s top economics journalists explain what private credit actually is, what’s causing concern and analyse the systemic risk to the wider financial system.

#economics #finance #privatecredit #markets

00:00 – What is private credit?
03:04 – What’s the appeal of private credit?
04:20 – Why is the concern about private credit?
07:19 – How does it compare to the 2008 financial crisis?

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4136B1L
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2026-03-27

Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, says Europe-bashing is “vastly excessive”. She spoke to Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, about how Europe compares to America and the continent’s recent wake-up calls for genuine change.

#Europe #EU #ECB #America #Politics #US

00:00 – Why Europe-bashing is unfair
00:37 – Europe versus the US
02:22 – The Draghi report and Trump’s wake-up call
03:44 – How the Trump administration sees Europe

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4mc6Scx
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2026-03-24

America’s war in Iran is weakening the United States’ stockpile of munitions and air defences. Even if its armed forces gain valuable combat experience, the toll on its military readiness could reverberate for years.

Tap the link to read how costly the war has been so far.

2026-02-10

China wants a military base in the Pacific Islands. But countries in the region are traditionally allied with Western powers. Aaron Connelly, The Economist’s Asia diplomatic editor, explains how China is using pushy diplomacy to try and break the status quo. #china #pacific #australia

Read more: https://econ.st/46rRems
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2026-02-06

Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. But what does Warsh really stand for? Our top editors unpack “Warshanomics” and its implications for the wider American economy.

#usa #economics #trump #federalreserve

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/3NY7nd3
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2025-12-18

Micro-dramas may only be a few minutes long, but they are crammed with racy plot lines and taboo topics. Don Weinland, The Economist’s China business and finance editor, visited one of the largest production studios to see behind the scenes of this popular industry.

2025-11-05

Trillions of dollars are being poured into artificial intelligence. How does this compare to the booms (or bubbles) of the past? Our deputy editor, Tom Standage and our AI writer, Alex Hern ask whether investors’ big bet might make sense.

Chapters:
00:00 – Why is investment not slowing?
01:09 – Is just one company going to win?
02:51 – Will the AI bubble burst?
03:07 – What will be left if the boom goes bust?
06:18 – The role of open source models

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/3LKmxRP

What to expect if the AI stockmarket blows up: https://econ.st/3WIF8Aa

The battle of AI business models: https://econ.st/4nHFceB

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2025-10-29

How powerful is your passport? Michelle Hennessy, our graphic detail editor, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss how global passport rankings are shifting and why America’s passport power is fading.

00:00 What passport do you have?
00:27 Which passport is more powerful — British or Irish?
00:50 What is passport power?
01:20 Why does passport power matter when you travel?
01:46 How are passports ranked?
02:04 Which country has the most powerful passport?
02:39 Why has the US passport dropped in power?
03:28 Which countries are moving up or down the rankings?
04:21 Why are more Americans getting second passports?
05:31 What does passport power say about opportunity?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/43wO5Ak
The world’s most—and least—powerful