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The Rachman Review

Financial Times
United States
China
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
Israel
NATO
European Union
Gaza
Middle East
Taiwan
Trump Administration
Artificial Intelligence
Hamas
India
Vladimir Putin
South Africa
Ukraine War
Xi Jinping

Gideon Rachman, the Financial Times chief foreign affairs columnist talks to the decision-makers and thinkers who are shaping world affairs.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes373Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

More than three decades after The End of History and the Last Man made Francis Fukuyama one of the world’s best-known political thinkers, he is still correcting misconceptions about what he actually meant. In a wide-ranging conversation with host Gid... more

The world is experiencing a record number of conflicts, just as governments retreat from international aid and diplomacy to leave a more politically fragmented international landscape in their wake. That is the view of David Miliband, the former UK f... more

War is raging in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan, while tensions are rising between China and Taiwan. What is driving this surge in global conflict, how should we respond and where, if anywhere, are the prospects for peace? Gideon is joined by Sir... more

US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent is calling for an “economic D-Day” for the Iranian regime while threatening secondary sanctions on countries that do business with the country. Will this be more effective than previous attempts at economic pressur... more

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Recent Guests

David Miliband
President of the International Rescue Committee (IRC)
International Rescue Committee
Episode: David Miliband: ‘Peacemaking has gone into retreat’
Sir John Sawers
Former head of MI6, Britain's Secret Intelligence Service
Former MI6 chief
Episode: The world at war
Tom Tugendhat
Shadow Foreign Secretary for the Conservative Party in the UK
Conservative Party
Episode: The world at war
Emma Ashford
Senior fellow at the Stimson Center and columnist at Foreign Policy magazine
Stimson Center; Foreign Policy
Episode: Will Bessent’s ‘economic D-Day’ break Iran?
Thant Myint-U
Former UN official and historian, grandson of U Thant
Historian, Author
Episode: Making the UN great again
Simon Sebag Montefiore
Author of The Cauldron, The Making of the Modern Middle East
Author
Episode: The making of the modern Middle East
Vali Nasr
Author of Iran's Grand Strategy and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University SAIS
Episode: Iran’s growing strategic ambitions
Mukulika Banerjee
Professor at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: The cockroach rebellion in India
Edward Fishman
Author of Chokepoints; Director of the Center for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: The weaponisation of trade

Host

Gideon Rachman
Host of The Rachman Review

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Great

    I look forward to this every week. My favourite international affairs podcast. A little slice of the UK. Great stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    St-walker
    Germany5 months ago
  • 4/23/26 episode with fellows of AIPAC-funded The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)

    Why isn’t Rachman making clear that the two panelists’ parent organization is funded by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee?

    I was wondering why the two panelists seemed so careful in discussing the Iran War situation, so I had to look up WINEP on Wikipedia:

    “John Mearsheimer, a University of Chicago political science professor, and Stephen Walt, academic dean at Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University, described it [WINEP] as ‘part of the core’ of the pro-Israeli lob... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Refined Taster
    United States5 months ago
  • Guest?

    Why on earth would you have Boris Johnson on as a guest. Ridiculous. Time to unsubscribe.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Terrible Guest
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Disappointed

    to see interview with Bill Gates after emails recently released show that he had a relationship with Epstein, relations with “Russian girls” and attempted to drug his wife so she wouldn’t find about about his STI from the “Russian girls”. What a deplorable man. The fact that this was not explicitly addressed and the decision to post this interview revised reveals something of how seriously Gideon Rachman takes, and objects to, association with a known perpetrator of child sexual abuse - i.e. not... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    anna6383626172837
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Reflexively left

    Gideon features commentators who appear more concerned about discrediting the Trump administration than conveying thoughtful analysis. In the most recent example, a commentator claims that the administration‘s actions are purely the result of Marco Rubio’s personal agenda. He doesn’t mention that this is consistent with Trump’s first administration. In the same episode, the unsubstantiated claims that the administration has a racial agenda go unchallenged. This show is a prime example of why the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    allothernamesaretaken23
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise thoughtful, balanced analysis and access to leading experts.
Some episodes spark debate over affiliations and external funding of guest organizations.
Audience values concise, insightful discussions even when covering dense geopolitics.
Long-form interviews are often highlighted as a strength for depth and nuance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#176
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#69
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#95
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#52
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#54
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Bessent’s ‘economic D-Day’ break Iran?
Q: What does the comparison with the JCPOA teach us about sanctions' ability to reach negotiated outcomes?
The JCPOA period shows that sanctions can incentivize negotiation but did not produce a permanent regime change; current dynamics differ as the goal shifts toward blockade and coercion, highlighting the risks of overreliance on punishment without credible incentives.
Will Bessent’s ‘economic D-Day’ break Iran?
Q: Do you think the administration will actually implement the proposed secondary sanctions on Chinese and other foreign firms, or is this a bluff?
Ashford expresses skepticism, suggesting political and economic considerations make broad secondary sanctions unlikely in the near term, and that the administration may bluff or threaten rather than execute sweeping measures that could derail relationships with key partners.
Will Bessent’s ‘economic D-Day’ break Iran?
Q: What are the main challenges with the 'economic D-Day' framing for Iran, and why might this rhetoric be more sensational than substantive?
She argues that declaring an 'economic D-Day' risks misrepresenting sanctions policy, as past efforts show limited capacity to impose regime collapse and may mislead markets about actual policy intentions, potentially destabilizing energy markets and international diplomacy.
Will Bessent’s ‘economic D-Day’ break Iran?
Q: Let's talk about the lessons from the Iran sanctions to the Russia-Ukraine context and how they might apply to broader great-power competition.
Emma Ashford contrasts the different scales and aims of sanctions, noting that while financial sanctions can be effective, large embargoes tend to hurt civilians and may not topple regimes, suggesting a nuanced, calibrated approach rather than broad economic warfare.
The making of the modern Middle East
Q: Do you think the American era in the Middle East is ending, or can the US still shape events?
Montefiore suggests that American influence remains significant if it exercises strategic resolve, but alliances are hedged and other powers are increasingly involved, signaling a shift rather than a simple end to American dominance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rachman Review

What is The Rachman Review about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form conversations with top foreign-policy experts, policymakers, and journalists that explore international security, geopolitics, and global power shifts. Episodes frequently analyze Iran, US–Europe relationships, NATO dynamics, and regional flashpoints in the Middle East and Europe, often elevating historical context to illuminate current decisions. A standout trait is the caliber of guests, ranging from former ambassadors to prominent FT editors, with a clear emphasis on nuanced, enterprise-level insights rather than hot takes. Listeners can expect thoughtful questioning, rigorous analysis, and a global perspective that's valuable for decision-makers and stakeholders in politics, diplomacy, and business operating in complex markets... more

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1. The Economics Show
2. Unhedged
3. The Story of Money
4. FT News Briefing
5. Political Fix

How many episodes of The Rachman Review are there?

The Rachman Review launched 7 years ago and published 373 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Rachman Review?

Recent guests on The Rachman Review include:

1. David Miliband
2. Sir John Sawers
3. Tom Tugendhat
4. Emma Ashford
5. Thant Myint-U
6. Simon Sebag Montefiore
7. Vali Nasr
8. Mukulika Banerjee

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