How China controls the elements that power your life
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:
Could the world move away from the dollar?
2026-01-22
The dollar has been the world’s primary reserve currency for the best part of a century. But as the alliances and institutions that underpin America’s dominance wither, could the currency lose its privileged position? Rachana Shanbhogue, The Economist’s business-affairs editor, and Henry Curr, economics editor, are joined in Davos by economists Gita Gopinath and Kenneth Rogoff. Together they assess the dollar’s vulnerabilities and ask what could take its place.
00:00 – When and why did the dollar start to decline?
02:40 – How does democratic backsliding impact America’s currency?
03:40 – The risks to the financial system
04:36 – Why the dollar remains resilient
05:21 – Could the euro replace the dollar?
Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4a21YKt
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Why is America ramping up executions?
2025-12-06
Why are more Americans being executed? Rebecca Jackson, our Southern correspondent, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss how politicians and the Supreme Court have helped usher in a new era of capital punishment.
Chapters:
00:00 – Why is America increasing the number of executions?
00:57 – Do Americans actually support executions anymore?
01:40 – If public support is low, what’s driving the surge in executions?
03:06 – With declining support, will execution rates continue to rise?
03:54 – Are states pushing the Supreme Court to expand executions even further?
Links:
Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4iDfvuR
More Americans are being executed: https://econ.st/49Zm3Sc
Sign up to our weekly newsletter: https://econ.st/3J0xzBr
#TheEconomist #Florida
Keir Starmer: Reform UK is “pro-Putin”
2025-12-04
Sir Keir Starmer called Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s populist right-wing party, “pro-Putin or Putin-neutral”. In an interview with The Economist’s editor-in-chief, @ZannyMintonBeddoes, Britain’s embattled prime minister said a Reform government would harm Britain and potentially break the West.
The full interview will be available to watch at 4pm UK time. Click the link to watch: https://www.economist.com/insider
Why Britain’s budget is a failure
2025-11-27
Is Britain’s budget a failure? Tom Carter, our Britain economics correspondent, and Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss why this is a missed opportunity for the Labour Party and why the government’s new policies are anti-growth.
00:45 – What is the economic backdrop to the budget?
01:31 – Was the government’s economic windfall put to strategic use?
02:38 – Did the budget cause "violent market reactions"?
03:23 – Was this a good budget for Labour?
Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4rpIndI
This bodge-it budget does not give Britain what it needs: https://econ.st/4p9Hl4c
Sign up to our weekly newsletter: https://econ.st/3J0xzBr
#TheEconomist #Budget2025 #Labour
Mark Carney on dealing with Donald Trump
2025-10-08
Zanny Minton Beddoes, our editor-in-chief, sat down with Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister, to discuss tariffs, trade and negotiating with Donald Trump.
You can watch the full interview, as part of our new video series “The Economist Insider”, on Thursday October 9th at 7pm London time.
00:00 – The impact of tariffs on Canada
00:58 – What it’s like to deal with Donald Trump
01:46 – Is Trump monetising US hegemony?
04:00 – The future of the global trading system
Watch the full interview: https://econ.st/3KXJVLh
Mark Carney’s radical vision for handling Trumpian America: https://econ.st/3IW3vah
Sign up to the Insider newsletter: https://econ.st/4nOyzIb
Is McKinsey losing its shine?
2025-08-12
McKinsey, the consulting giant, is approaching its centenary, but growth has slowed and rivals are closing in. Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, and Tom Lee-Devlin, our business editor, explore whether this industry titan can stay top dog.
How is America upgrading its nuclear arsenal?
2025-08-09
Are America’s nukes too old? The US government seems to think so—it’s in the middle of the biggest overhaul of its nuclear infrastructure in 50 years. Our diplomatic editor visited a strategic-missile base to find out more.
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