Headspace

So far, since 7th October, Hezbollah has held back from an all-out war with Israel. How long can that last? And, as tensions rise in the Red Sea, what motivates the Houthis, Iran and the “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East? Simona Foltyn, an independent journalist, writer and videographer, joins the podcast to discuss what she’s seen and heard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Swifties spotted connections between their favourite singer and a new spy thriller, Argylle, a theory took hold: was the book, ostensibly by a debut writer Elly Conway, actually written by the reigning queen of pop? Why did Apple Studios pay £200 million to adapt a book that hadn't even been published yet? And what does the mystery of Argylle say about the publishing industry and online fandom today? Assistant editor Sarah Collins and Books and Culture editor Peter Hoskin join Ellen Halliday to get sleuthing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economist Daron Acemoglu is officially Prospect's Top Thinker of 2024. A professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Acemoglu is an expert in labour, technology, development and political economy. His work tackles a difficult problem: how can we ensure power and reward are shared fairly as technology remakes our world? Acemoglu joins Prospect contributing editor Tom Clark on the podcast to discuss all that, plus democracy, liberty and the institutions that uphold them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary pollster and political analyst Peter Kellner joins Ellen Halliday and assistant editor Emily Lawford to explain how political polling works and to assess how effective it is at predicting election results. He also trails his new Election countdown column, which will launch on the 29th of January and will give a weekly dose of analysis in the run-up to the UK general election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to Parliament, Helen Mountfield, Murray Hunt and Richard Hermer discuss the myriad ways it breaches international law and undermines the rule of law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emeritus professor of international relations at the University of Oxford, Avi Shlaim joins Ellen Halliday to discuss his experience as an Arab Jew and how it has informed his perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Taiwan prepares to hold key elections on 13th January, China is escalating its campaign to influence the vote’s outcome. What will 2024 look like for Taiwan? And could the CCP’s “grey zone” tactics, which currently fall short of war, and include military drills and cyber operations, escalate into outright conflict? Elizabeth Green, a researcher on China, Taiwan and cross-strait relations joins Prospect contributing editor Isabel Hilton to discuss. Elizabeth has used a pseudonym to protect her identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team discuss the turbulent year that's passed and give predictions for the year ahead, as well as sharing their highlights from Prospect in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This classic Richard Curtis film turned 20 this year but has been criticised for being elitist, misogynistic and farfetched. In a festive Prospect conversation, Books and Culture Editor Peter Hoskin and Assistant Editor Sarah Collins debate whether the film is the defining Christmas movie or a dated dud.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A decade ago, Eliot Higgins founded an organisation that would transform investigative journalism. During the past ten years, Bellingcat has used (mostly) open-source methods to unmask the Salisbury assassins and Navalny’s poisoners, and give Putin a bloody nose. But who is the unassuming man behind that tenacious outfit? And will his skilled, open-source sleuths be able to keep up with the ever-growing mass of mis- and disinformation? Freelance writer Tom Lamont joins deputy editor Ellen Halliday to discuss.Read Tom’s profile here. Subscribe to Prospect here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do the Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine wars demonstrate about US power in the world? For the cover story of our latest issue, out today, author and professor of law and history at Yale, Samuel Moyn argues that America's mission to lead humanity in a new world order is failing.Read Samuel's essay here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As COP28 kicks off in the UAE, former UK diplomat Simon Sharpe joins Ellen Halliday to discuss why the current approach to climate diplomacy—the kind that saw deals struck in Paris and Glasgow—doesn’t really work. Drawing on his book Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change, Sharpe answers a pressing question: what could help us cut emissions at the pace the planet needs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prospect contributing editor Isabel Hilton draws on her experience reporting from Argentina as she joins the podcast to discuss the country’s new far-right, “anarcho-capitalist” president, Javier Milei, and what his election means for the world.Read Isabel's piece on the Argentinian economy here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of the humanities has become a new frontier in the culture wars. But are they really in crisis? Priyamvada Gopal, who is a professor of English at Cambridge and a scholar at Princeton, joins Ellen Halliday to discuss the assault on the humanities, and why we should defend them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Ricketts, former permanent representative to Nato and permanent under-secretary to the Foreign Office from 2006-2010, joins the podcast to discuss how ceasefires and humanitarian pauses work, and which conditions would need to be met to bring an end to the fighting between the IDF and Hamas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan-based writer Khaled Mansour—who spent thirteen years working for the United Nations—joins the podcast to discuss the geopolitical implications of the Israel-Gaza war. He discusses how states in the Middle East have responded to the conflict and what it would take to bring peace to the region. Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. Special offer: buy a digital subscription for only £3 for three months access (then £49 annually). Click here to subscribe.Click here to listen to our Prospect Lives podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a listener to the Prospect Podcast, we’d like to introduce you to another podcast series made by Prospect Magazine that we think you will enjoy. Media Confidential is presented by Prospect editor, Alan Rusbridger and he’s joined by Lionel Barber, former editor of the FT where he was at the helm for 14 years. Media Confidential takes you behind the headlines and beyond the click bait to discover the truth behind the big stories: this week Alan and Lionel analyse how the BBC and other news organisations have been covering the Israel—Hamas war.If you enjoy Media Confidential, please be sure to follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Goodwin and David Aaronovitch debate whether Britain is run by an out of touch elite. Matthew Goodwin thinks that there's a new elite of radically progressive, morally righteous graduates who are dominating Britain's major institutions and imposing on the British public costly policies of hyper globalization and mass migration. David Aaronovitch thinks this as an absurd conspiracy theory that is only serving as a cover for a far-right political agenda. Who's right? Let’s join the debate with David, Matthew and Jo Coburn, who kindly moderated the event last week. Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. Special offer: Buy a digital subscription for only £3 for three months access (then £49 annually).Click here to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we begin to understand the events in both Israel and Gaza from a legal perspective? In this episode of the Rule of Law podcast—produced in association with Matrix Chambers—human rights barrister Richard Hermer discusses the laws of war with Andrew Clapham, a professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Please note, this podcast was recorded on Sunday 16th October. Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. Special offer: buy a digital subscription for only £3 for three months access (then £49 annually). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investigative journalist Nicola Cutcher explains why nature is, surprisingly, struggling inside many of the UK’s national parks. So, can the Bannau Brycheiniog national park in Wales, formerly known as the Brecon Beacons, revive it, and bring wildlife back from the brink? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.