Episodes

  • Why Spain Stands Up to Trump

    Why Spain Stands Up to Trump
    Oct 15 2026
    What’s the best way to navigate the Trump White House? Some countries employ flattery; others look to keep a low profile. Spain is a rare country that openly disagrees with several U.S. positions. On issue after issue, from the war in Iran to immigration policy, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-wing government has publicly forged a path that runs counter to a global trend of right-wing policies. But is such a path electorally viable? We’ll find out when Spaniards head to the polls in November. On the latest episode of FP Live, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares explains how Madrid thinks about the trade-offs in following its progressive agenda while risking the ire of the world’s biggest economy. Plus, Ravi shares his read on how conflicts around the world, from Ukraine to Iran, are increasingly linked. Keith Johnson: Trump’s Diesel Deal Has No Winners Antonio De Loera-Brust: Spain Is the Friend That the United States Needs Omar G. Encarnación: A Tale of Two Socialists Michele Barbero: Spanish Immigration Is Different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Can America Stay Ahead of China on AI?

    Can America Stay Ahead of China on AI?
    Oct 8 2026
    It is well known that at least part of Washington’s reluctance to regulate artificial intelligence comes from wanting to make sure the United States stays ahead of China. But what exactly are the two countries racing for? Matt Sheehan, a co-director of the China AI Initiative at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins FP’s Ravi Agrawal to explain the countries’ very different definitions of winning and why U.S. models are only months ahead of their Chinese competitors. Plus, after Brazil’s first round of elections, Ravi shares his read on Latin America’s rightward swing. Adam Goldsmith: Brazil’s Election Won’t Fix Its Biggest Problems Van Jackson: Trump’s ‘Greater North America’ Is Fascist Geopolitics New York Times: Jack Nicas: A Bolsonaro Win Would Nearly Complete Trump’s Latin America Map Agathe Demarais: China’s AI Rollout Has No Off Switch Robert A. Manning and Giulia Neaher: China’s Success Is Forcing a U.S. AI Rethink Fareed Zakaria: America Can Regulate AI—and Still Win the AI Race Suzanne Nossel: Don’t Let China Stack the Deck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Can Development Work in Wartime?

    Can Development Work in Wartime?
    Oct 2 2026
    How can you tackle poverty and create infrastructure amid an active conflict? Alexander De Croo is the head of the U.N. Development Program, and he joins FP’s Ravi Agrawal to make the case for spending development dollars on building long-term resilience. He’s exploring solutions to opium poppies in Afghanistan, electric grids in Ukraine, and sanitation in Gaza, even as major donors such as the United States pull back. Plus, Ravi shares his read on the war rapidly escalating in Ethiopia. Nosmot Gbadamosi: Ethiopia’s Return to War Threatens to Engulf the Horn of Africa World’s Toughest Job: The Triage Game: Own, Delegate, or Drop Adam Tooze: The End of Development David Miliband: It’s Time to Update the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • The Case for Trump’s Global Strategy

    The Case for Trump’s Global Strategy
    Sep 30 2026
    U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz has become one of the Trump administration’s most visible spokespeople, publicly explaining and defending its policies on everything from Iran to Venezuela and Sudan. But how has Washington’s global role changed as the White House pulls back from multilateral institutions? How does the administration make the case for an unpopular war in Iran? Waltz sits down with FP Live to talk through the White House’s foreign-policy strategy. Michael Waltz and Massad Boulous: Peace in Sudan Can Only Flower After a Weapons Embargo Abdalfatah Alburhan: How to Bring Peace to Sudan New York Times: David E. Sanger, Tyler Pager, Katie Rogers, and Zolan Kanno-Youngs: Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Maria Ressa on Fighting Back Against Big Tech

    Maria Ressa on Fighting Back Against Big Tech
    Sep 25 2026
    Maria Ressa is one of the most inspiring journalists of our age, a media leader whose bravery against authoritarianism earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Now, she’s focusing her energy on artificial intelligence and Big Tech and how ordinary citizens can reclaim their attention, their time, and their democracies. She’s also a co-chair of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Ressa joined Ravi Agrawal on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this week at FP’s Tech and AI Forum. Plus, Ravi shares his read on what gave him chills, and what gave him hope, this UNGA week. Rockefeller Foundation: New Global Poll: Amid Growing Pessimism, Security Tops Priorities for International Cooperation Preliminary Report of the U.N. Independent International Scientific Panel on AI U.N. Independent International Scientific Panel on AI: Thematic Brief on AI Agents, Misalignment, and the Risk of Losing Human Control Adam Elkus: Are AI and Democracy Compatible? Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze: Can AI Be Regulated? Sarosh Nagar and David Eaves: The World Needs to Know When AI Goes Wrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • How to Create a Billion Jobs

    How to Create a Billion Jobs
    Sep 23 2026
    Ajay Banga has a simple north star as he runs the World Bank: jobs, jobs, jobs. And for good reason. The World Bank estimates that developing countries are on track to create only a third of the approximately 1.2 billion jobs they will need to keep up with demand. How can countries and companies bridge this gap? Banga sat down with FP’s Ravi Agrawal to detail how the bank is mobilizing private capital and working with governments to create sustainable jobs. Mariana Mazzucato: How to Write Better Rules for Global Finance David Miliband: It’s Time for the World Bank to Break With Tradition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • ‘Ask Me Anything,’ and Why Ravi’s Kyiv Visit Left Him So Worried

    ‘Ask Me Anything,’ and Why Ravi’s Kyiv Visit Left Him So Worried
    Sep 16 2026
    It’s time for another ask-me-anything edition of FP Live. After a trip to Kyiv, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal explained why new developments in drone technology have him worried about conflicts around the world. Plus, he takes on the energy market, why both the United States and Iran have overreached in their ongoing conflict, and how Chinese President Xi Jinping sees the world. Ravi Agrawal: Why My Kyiv Visit Worried Me So Much Ravi Agrawal: Trump Has Peaked Ravi Agrawal: Iran Could Be Trump’s Greatest Failure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Has Trump Peaked?

    Has Trump Peaked?
    Sep 11 2026
    In this bonus episode, host Ravi Agrawal presents his recent essay arguing that U.S. President Donald Trump has peaked. While Trump still has two years left in office and immense potential for global disruption, Ravi makes the case that his coercive powers are in clear decline, as seen through a depleted military and an array of global moves to de-risk from the White House. As companies and countries realize this shift, they will change how they act toward the United States and how they think about a future world order. Ravi Agrawal: Trump Has Peaked Hal Brands: How to Survive in a World Without Rules Charles A. Kupchan: The World’s Only Real Hope of Maintaining Order Mariana Mazzucato: How to Write Better Rules for Global Finance Michael Beckley: A New Engine of Development Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 mins