A small group of Republican party zealots, backed by former president Donald Trump, have forced their way into a position of power in the US Congress. Gideon talks to Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest magazine in Washington and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, about what they are seeking to achieve and whether they will end up playing into the hands of President Joe Biden if he seeks re-election.

Clips: ABC, CNN

More on this topic:

Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces tough first week seeking to unify Republicans

Joe Biden’s claim to presidential greatness

The debt ceiling is scarier this time

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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How has Russia changed since Putin embarked on his Ukraine war nearly a year ago? Gideon talks to Angela Stent of Georgetown University about the origins of Russia’s imperialist ambitions, its rupture with Europe and reliance on revived alliances with the global south.

Clips: @Rumoaohepta7; Channel 4 News

More on this topic: 

‘Untrainable’: Russian army faces backlash over conscripts’ death in Ukraine attack

Turning the tide in Russia’s war on Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updates

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Jake Fielding

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Gideon Rachman is joined by a panel of colleagues: FT editor Roula Khalaf, Moscow correspondent Max Seddon and US editor Edward Luce. This year was defined by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Will 2023 be any different? Meanwhile, in China, Xi Jinping was confirmed for a third term as the country's leader, with many believing he's now set to rule for life. 

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon and Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. 

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Qatar’s decision to host the World Cup was mired in controversy from the start but ultimately seems to have paid off, bringing the tiny Gulf emirate new friends and winning over old enemies. Gideon talks to Simeon Kerr, the FT’s Gulf correspondent, about what motivates the emirate to seek to deploy its vast wealth for political ends.

Clips: Qatar Airways; France 24

More on this topic:

Qatar wooed EU lawmakers ahead of football World Cup

How the unlikeliest World Cup ever came to be

Qatar faces the harsh glare of World Cup publicity

Qatar World Cup provides rare source of unity to Arab states

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Australia’s relations with China have taken a dive in recent years, forcing Canberra to reassess regional security and trade ties. Gideon talks to Michael Fullilove, director of the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading foreign-policy think-tank, about how Australia is adapting to the new reality.

Clips: ABC, ChannelNewsAsia

More on this topic:

Australia, China and the judgment of the Solomons

Australia’s defence dilemma: projecting force or provoking China?

US to ‘deepen’ defence ties with Australia in face of China threat

Australian business hopeful of better ties with China

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Severe lockdowns associated with China’s zero-Covid policy have combined with economic woes to incite the most widespread protests since Tiananmen Square. President Xi Jinping is now under pressure to address this discontent. Gideon discusses what his options are with the FT’s Yuan Yang, who has recently returned to London from Beijing.

Clips: BBC

More on this topic:

Xi’s pandemic triumphalism returns to haunt him

Guangzhou eases restrictions despite worsening Covid outbreak

China’s high youth unemployment stokes student Covid protests

Restless Beijingers rise up against Covid controls

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Italy has become one of the main entry points to the EU for irregular migrants but its new nationalist prime minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a hard line and is demanding Europe do more to help.

Why has Meloni taken such a confrontational approach? Ben’s guest is Nicoletta Pirozzi, head of the EU programme at Italy’s Institute for International Affairs in Rome.

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Presented by Ben Hall. Produced by Fiona Symon and Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. 

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Brazil joins a group of Latin American countries that have elected leftwing leaders. What kind of change will they bring to the region and its relations with the rest of the world? Michael Stott, the FT’s Latin America editor, discusses these questions with Andrés Velasco, dean of the school of public policy at the London School of Economics and a former finance minister of Chile, and Chris Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House in London.

Clips: AP, VOA, BBC

More on this topic:

Lula seeks Brazil constitutional change to fund campaign pledges

Amazon destruction woes overshadow Brazil’s farming advances

Chile’s Boric seeks ‘new path forward’ after voters reject constitutional changes

Latin America moves to bring Venezuela’s Maduro in from the cold

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

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Thomas Wright, director of strategic planning at the National Security Council in the Biden White House, tells Gideon how the war in Ukraine changed US thinking about the need for broader alliances.

Clips: The White House, Channel 4 News

More on this topic:

Xi Jinping’s China and the rise of the ‘global west’

US coal phaseout plan meets divided response at COP27

China and the US remain locked in mutually assured co-operation

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Joe Biden’s Democrats look set to lose control of Congress in this month's elections. But many of the Republicans poised to take office support Donald Trump's claim that the last presidential election was stolen. Gideon discusses his prospects for a return to the White House with journalist Susan Glasser, co-author of The Divider, a history of the Trump presidency.

Clips: CNN, Forbes Breaking News

More on this topic:

Joe Biden fights to revive Democrats one week before midterm elections

This will be the mother of all American midterm elections

Britain and America’s electoral geographies are broken

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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.