The Rachman Review

Marine Le Pen has run for the French presidency several times before, but her chances of winning next year look better than ever. Gideon talks to the FT's Victor Mallet about the source of her growing popularity and what a far-right government would mean for France and the EU. Clip: The GuardianFree links to read more on this topic: Le Pen revives presidential bid echoing TrumpFrench far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she will run for presidentMarine Le Pen’s massive double gamble on presidencyFrance’s crowded race to replace Emmanuel MacronSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The war in Iran triggered a new round of conflict between the Hizbollah militia in Lebanon and the Israeli army. More than 4,000 people have been killed and about a million displaced. Lebanon and Israel signed a peace deal in Washington at the weekend to end the fighting, but without Hizbollah’s participation, can the deal hold? Gideon puts the question to the FT's editor Roula Khalaf and Andrew England, the FT's Middle East editor. Clip: This is BeirutFree links to read more on this topic:Lebanon’s deal with Israel sparks backlashHow Hizbollah’s fighters ended up in courtSteve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrive in Doha for talks over US-Iran dealHow Benjamin Netanyahu’s big moment backfiredSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

In this special edition of the Rachman Review, Edward Luce, the FT's Washington commentator, talks to Rahm Emanuel, former White House chief of staff for Barack Obama, about where the Democratic party has gone wrong in recent years and how to win back the confidence of middle America. This is an edited version of a discussion that took place at the recent FT Weekend Festival in New York.Free links to read more on this topic:Rahm Emanuel says Trump ‘got schooled’ by Iran in bad ceasefire deal Why young America is trending socialistRahm Emanuel and the 2028 ‘ideas primary’How Benjamin Netanyahu’s big moment backfiredSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman and Edward Luce. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Sean McGarrity.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

What are the repercussions of the Iran war for American power? How will the outcome be viewed by America’s allies and the leadership in Beijing? Gideon discusses these questions with Kevin Rudd, the former prime minister of Australia, Katherine Thompson, who until recently was a senior official in the Pentagon under President Trump, and Philip Gordon, who was national security adviser to vice-president Kamala Harris. This is an edited version of a discussion that took place at the recent FT Weekend Festival in New York. News clip: Fox NewsFree links to read more on this topic:America’s allies look to declare independence from the USThe rise and fall of US hegemonyNato chief reveals Italy allowed US planes to use bases in Iran warTrump and Xi will not determine Taiwan’s fateSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Where should Britain stand in the great power struggle between the US and China? Does the special relationship with Washington mean anything anymore or do all roads lead back to Europe? Gideon discusses these questions with Ben Judah, former special adviser to deputy prime minister David Lammy.Clip: Channel 4 NewsFree links to read more on this topic:Donald Trump warns US will soon hit Iran ‘hard’ againWill Trump abandon Taiwan?It is time for a European Security Council Britain re-entering the EU ‘an inevitability’, says Treasury ministerPutin and Trump don’t have the cardsSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

What is life like in the Iranian capital and is the regime ready to compromise to achieve a lasting peace? Gideon discusses the mood in Tehran and the changing political landscape in the country with the FT’s Tehran correspondent, Najmeh Bozorgmehr. Clips: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg.Free links to read more on this topic:Greek shipping tycoon Evangelos Marinakis ready to pay Strait of Hormuz transit feesOne killed and dozens hurt in Iranian strike on Kuwait airportBenjamin Netanyahu faces backlash after Donald Trump callWhy Iran fears a deal today means more war tomorrow Iran is beating Trump at the art of the dealSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Gideon talks to Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Infinity Machine, a book about the career of Demis Hassabis and his AI company, Google DeepMind. They discuss the growing backlash against AI, why people are worried, and what governments can do to mitigate the risks of the coming technological revolution. Clip: WSJFree links to read more on this topic:OpenAI’s foundation to spend $250mn on research into AI’s impact on economyPope’s appeal can’t change the AI race’s risky logicAI guardrails stripped from Meta and Google models in minutesHow AI threatens the giants of consulting AI companies are just companiesSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Gideon talks to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on Greece as a leading shipping nation. They discuss Greece’s recovery from the financial crisis of 2015, how to achieve European strategic autonomy and the best way to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. Clip: France 24Free links to read more on this topic:Three supertankers attempt Strait of Hormuz crossingAmerica owes its European allies a defence roadmapProtests spread in Africa as fuel crisis deepensUAE says drone strike caused fire at nuclear plantTipping point looms for global energy crisisSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com