The Mishal Husain Show

Bloomberg

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.

Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 35 min
History’s Not Just About Great Men: Peter Frankopan on Iran and Ukraine
Uncertainty about the US-Israel war with Iran and its endgame continues to cast a long shadow over global trade, while Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated counterattacks are imposing mounting costs on Russia. What are the combined implications of these two wars? In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Oxford University historian Peter Frankopan argues we are entering an era of consolidation and new alliances, especially between middle powers, and that predictions of US decline are wrong. Read Mishal’s notes on this conversation www.bloomberg.com/mishal Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 24 · 34 min
Karen Hao on the Reckless Race for Global AI Power
Over the last few years, artificial intelligence tools have revolutionized the way many people work and learn. But industry critic Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI, argues the choices AI companies make about scale, power and profit deserve far more scrutiny. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Hao explains her “empire” analogy and why she hopes the industry adopts higher standards as more initial public offerings draw near. Related episodes you may enjoy: Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley AI Wants Your Life: Tech Boss Meredith Whittaker Says No Fei-Fei Li Helped Create AI, Now She Feels the Responsibility Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 17 · 52 min
"He's Weak": Tucker Carlson on How Trump Failed America
Tucker Carlson was one of Donald Trump’s most prominent allies when he campaigned for re-election and through his first year back in the White House. The US-Israel war with Iran, however, marked a decisive split between the two men. Carlson, a right-wing media personality, now argues that Trump has abandoned his “America First” agenda and allowed Israel to drive US foreign policy. In this conversation, Carlson tells Mishal Husain about how he advised against starting the war with Iran. He also talks about his faith in Vice President JD Vance and his belief that feminism has exploited women in the workplace. Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 10 · 47 min
Taming Labour and Facing Down Farage: Steve Richards on Burnham's Plan
Andy Burnham appears set to walk into 10 Downing Street and take power as the UK’s latest prime minister. Behind the mid-term departure of Keir Starmer has been, at least in part, the rise of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Farage himself has dominated the headlines this week, amid an investigation and his decision to re-contest his parliamentary seat. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, longtime UK political commentator Steve Richards examines Burnham’s record and looks at what he stands for. They also discuss how the new Labour leader might deal with his own party and the popularity of Farage. Only Bloomberg subscribers can see Mishal’s reflections on this conversation, along with what she has been reading bloomberg.com/mishal Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 3 · 40 min
America in Free Fall? Historian Jill Lepore on the US at 250
For America’s 250th anniversary, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jill Lepore joins Mishal Husain to take her through her book on the US Constitution. We The People explores how the Constitution came about and, crucially, how there was an expectation that it would likely change over time. This is not, however, an episode entirely set in the past, because Jill Lepore is acutely alive to the pressures of the moment and of the contested sense of what America is or should be. Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 26 · 39 min
Can Republicans Win California Again? Steve Hilton Thinks So
In November, California will choose a new governor to replace Gavin Newsom, pitting Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra, a former US Secretary of Health and Human Services, US Congressman and state attorney general, against an unlikely Republican rival: Steve Hilton. Hilton was born in the UK and became a US citizen only five years ago. He had a career in center-right British politics, working as an adviser for former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. In 2012, Hilton moved to California, where he worked as a tech entrepreneur and as a host on right-leaning Fox News. Hilton, who wants to be the state’s first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells Mishal Husain how he joined the party, discusses the US-Israel war with Iran, his attitude to big tech and what he misses about life in Britain. He also discusses what having Donald Trump’s endorsement means for him and his campaign. Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 23 · 34 min
Bonus: Alastair Campbell & Jacob Rees-Mogg Debate Brexit 10 Years On (Live)
It’s 10 years since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. It was an enormous decision, one that has contributed to the churn of British prime ministers since, a phenomenon that has continued this week with the resignation of Keir Starmer. What effect has Brexit had on UK politics and the British economy over the last decade? This bonus episode of The Mishal Husain Show is an opportunity to reflect and look ahead. Earlier this month, Alastair Campbell, Co-Host of The Rest Is Politics podcast, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, a presenter on GB News, joined Mishal Husain in front of an audience of Bloomberg subscribers to mark the anniversary. Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 19 · 44 min
AI Wants Your Life: Tech Boss Meredith Whittaker Says No
Meredith Whittaker has spent years arguing that privacy is a prerequisite for a free society. As the president of the nonprofit foundation behind the encrypted messaging app Signal, she now finds herself defending that principle in the face of mounting pressure from governments and tech companies alike. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Whittaker says she believes business models that rely on data collection, the rise of artificial intelligence assistants and even well-meaning efforts to protect children online risk undermining private communication. She also explains why Signal would rather leave a market than weaken the product’s encryption. If you enjoyed this episode, listen to Mishal’s conversation with Mustafa Suleyman from Microsoft AI: Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 12 · 38 min
Gary Lineker on the World Cup, Trump and the Fans Left Behind
For decades, Gary Lineker anchored live sporting events for the BBC. Now he’s a podcaster and media boss. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he talks about his new Netflix show and hopes for an England World Cup win. Lineker co-founded Goalhanger Productions, the UK’s fastest growing private company. Throughout the World Cup, his podcast “The Rest Is Football” will be streamed on Netflix. He talks about the politics around the tournament and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s relationship with US President Donald Trump. They also discuss Lineker’s departure from the BBC, which he describes as a “long marriage.” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 5 · 37 min
Ebola Is Back: Virus Pioneer Peter Piot Explains the Threat
Peter Piot first encountered the Ebola virus in a laboratory in Antwerp in 1976. At the time, the pathogen was largely unknown. Now, almost 50 years later, a new outbreak is spreading through parts of Central Africa, triggering travel restrictions and quarantines across the globe. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Piot, one of the world's leading authorities on the disease, discusses why Ebola, while deadly, is not easily spread. The Belgian scientist also explains the challenge of controlling outbreaks in conflict zones and lessons the world still hasn’t learned from Covid-19. 06:44 - "No future in infectious diseases" 10:50 - How contagious is Ebola? 12:05 - “I'm not concerned that this will become a pandemic” 13:23 - Are travel restrictions necessary? 18:00 - “Ebola is not their only problem” 19:07 - How far are we from a vaccine for this Ebola strain? 22:14 - Tackling Ebola in 1976 23:48 - Tracking the virus 32:25 - Vaccine disinformation 33:18 - “Long Covid really exists” 34:18 - “I was scared to die” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 29 · 42 min
Cuba on the Brink: Ada Ferrer on Life Under US Pressure
Ada Ferrer won the Pulitzer Prize in 2022 for her acclaimed book, Cuba: An American History, which examined the island’s relationship with the US. Her latest work, Keeper of My Kin, tells her family story: a mother who fled the island nation carrying an infant daughter, while leaving a brother behind. Now, as Donald Trump increases pressure on Cubans and their leaders, cutting off oil while obtaining an indictment of Raul Castro for the 1996 shootdown of a small plane, Ferrer tells Mishal Husain about the human cost of Cuba’s long crisis. 03:26 - Writing “Keeper of my Kin” 04:09 - A love-hate relationship with Cuba 05:40 - The Cuba of Castro 07:11 - Leaving Cuba in 1963 08:13 - Leaving her brother Poly behind 12:08 - Letters from Poly 15:48 - Cuba’s history of migration 17:58 - Helping family in Cuba 22:50 - People in Cuba are “suffering” 24:01 - A threat to US national security? 26:51 - A shared experience with Rubio 32:19 - Cuban-Americans and Trump 34:04 Obama’s visit to Cuba 37:52 - Calling myself an American 39:52 - The books is a “testament of love” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 22 · 40 min
Can Britain’s Politics Cope: David Dimbleby Thinks Not
David Dimbleby was for decades the face of election programs on the BBC. He anchored coverage of 10 UK general elections, as well as the 1975 and 2016 referendums on European membership, the funeral of Princess Diana and a host of other royal and state occasions. He’s seen prime ministers come and go, from Margaret Thatcher to Tony Blair and many more since. With Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing a potential leadership challenge, Dimbleby is uniquely placed to understand the characters and conflicts shaping Britain’s volatile politics today. In this conversation with Mishal Husain he gives his take on Starmer, Andy Burnham and Nigel Farage. 0:03:15 Why so many prime ministers? 0:09:14 Keir Starmer is a “dud” 0:09:55 “I don’t know what (Burnham) stands for” 0:11:31 Would Burnham be a different PM? 0:13:37 The UK is in a “dire state” 0:16:16 “I am worried about the future” 0:16:49 Nigel Farage as prime minister 0:21:35 Ten years on from Brexit 0:24:31 The UK rejoining the EU 0:31:52 King Charles' state visit to the US 0:37:15 “I'm not in any way a republican” Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 15 · 34 min
China vs the US: Kishore Mahbubani on a Zero-Sum Rivalry
Beyond this week’s talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men. Kishore Mahbubani is a former Singaporean diplomat who served as president of the United Nations Security Council. For two decades, he has argued that the West fundamentally misunderstands the rise of China and its challenge to American supremacy. Mahbubani. who eventually turned to academia, now specializes in governance and public policy. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he traces the story behind the Xi-Trump talks, the handshakes and the social media posts–and what may lie ahead. Mahbubani also reveals how his own successes were made possible by Singapore’s remarkable growth. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/Mishal 03:34 - “The most important contest of our time” 5:50 - “It's not about personalities” 6:26 - “China can no longer be stopped” 07:28 - US versus China: It’s a “zero-sum” game 08:40 - Bill Clinton’s first meeting with Jiang Zemin 12:35 - Cold War Comparisons 18:30 - Growing up in Singapore in the 1950s 19:53 - "My mother never cracked” 26:25 - “China has become a tiger” 30:24 - US war is a “gift” to China Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 8 · 48 min
Anthony Scaramucci: Trump and the Humiliation That Made Him Famous
For a brief moment in 2017, Anthony Scaramucci became a unit of time. His 11-day stint as White House communications director was so short-lived that it entered the political lexicon. Almost a decade on, he has proven more durable than the joke. The Trump loyalist-turned-critic, Wall Street financier and podcast host remains a well-known figure in American political culture. Scaramucci is still holding forth on the US president he once backed, as well as bets that have shaped his own career, including on crypto and Sam Bankman-Fried. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Scaramucci talks about his early life, his mistakes and his view of the political landscape ahead of the midterm elections. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 03:00 - The midterms are “a longtime off” 06:58 - “I’m a loyalist” 08:35 - Who’s Trump’s successor? 08:55 - A president needs “name recognition” 11:41 - Meeting Trump for the first time 13:14 - Trump’s “phenomenal political instincts” 14:45 - Joining the Trump campaign 16:11 - “Donald Trump was talking to my Dad” 20:56 - Getting fired by Trump 24:16 - It was “humiliating” 25:56 - Meeting Sam Bankman-Fried 27:53 - “I made false assumptions” 31:18 - Bitcoin “I want to judge it over a five or 10 year period” 33:05 - Growing up on Long Island 35:17 - “The Mooch” 37:17 - The future of the Democrats 44:51 - History is a guide Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 1 · 33 min
Why India Has Lost Its Way: Writer Amitav Ghosh on the New World Order, Politics and Past Lives
For more than 30 years, the Indian-born writer Amitav Ghosh has built a global following with novels that draw on deep historical research. But his latest offering, Ghost-Eye, is more esoteric. The plot moves back and forth between India and the US, using past lives to explore the ties between the personal and the political. The plot centers on a psychiatrist treating a 3-year-old who shocks her family by insisting she remembers a past life in a fishing community. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ghosh explains why he’s finding it harder to write nowadays, how the memories of his childhood came flooding back during the Covid pandemic, why he sees capitalism as an obstacle to protecting the environment and thinks India has lost its way diplomatically. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 03:37 - “She had a near-death experience” 05:37 - Reincarnated past lives 08:05 - “The world has lost all its wonder” 08:28 - Growing up in Kolkata 10:56 - Kolkata and New York are the “opposite ends of the telescope” 11:44 - “I really learned to think against the grain” 12:13 - Creating a “bubble of tranquility” to write 12:32 - Writing from “within the crisis” 14:45 - India has lost its way diplomatically 16:25 - Watching Zohran Mamdani grow up 19:12 - India and China 23:11 - Writing a story to be read in 100 years 27:31 - Writing books by hand Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 24 · 44 min
How to Get a Deal With Iran: Former US Negotiator Wendy Sherman on Power, Pressure and Reality
We’re now eight weeks on from the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, a conflict that’s been watched with increasing alarm by Wendy Sherman, architect of the 2015 nuclear deal between the US and Iran and a former deputy secretary of state. Having spent years across the table from Iranian officials, she sees a far more volatile landscape today. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, she shares how her concerns go beyond the Middle East and explains how China and Russia are beneficiaries of the war. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 03:13 - Iran’s “culture of resistance” 05:00 - “The regime now is more hardline” 05:33 - Iran won’t make concessions “easily” 09:38 - Control of the Strait of Hormuz 10:36 - “They have not bombed away all of Iran’s knowledge” 14:35 - Negotiating with Iran 17:13 - Negotiations aren’t about trust 23:47 - What might a US deal with Iran look like? 25:14 - Iran will want the US “out of the Middle East” 29:10 - China is “stronger” 32:50 Trump’s visit to China 41:19 - “I have found myself angrier” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 17 · 38 min
Hamlet, James Bond and SNL UK: Riz Ahmed on Reinventing Cultural Icons
A new and radical take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet is out in US cinemas. The force behind it is actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed. He says the 400-year-old story has never felt more current. Ahmed, Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal and star of the Oscar-winning live-action short The Long Goodbye, has a new series on Prime Video called Bait. It’s a black comedy about an actor on the cusp of a life-changing role as James Bond. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ahmed talks about creativity and politics, discusses his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise and how becoming a father affected his acting. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 02:32 - Hamlet “never goes out of fashion" 03:39 - “The old order is falling apart” 05:00 - “Is it the world that’s gone crazy or is it me?” 07:50 - The dream of playing Hamlet 09:51 - To be, or not to be is “misunderstood” 13:40 - “It's authentic. I'm not acting” 17:00 - Bait “it’s a very personal show” 17:24 - Why Barbara Broccoli said yes to using Bond 21:43 - Looking for acceptance 22:34 - “Culture works in cycles” 25:04 - Acting was an extension of real life 28:20 - “I don’t like being pinned down” 28:42 - SNL UK 30:01 - Working with Tom Cruise 32:21 - “My weekends are really simple” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 9 · 31 min
America’s Limits, Iran’s Leverage, Pakistan’s Moment: Maleeha Lodhi on a Shifting Order
After almost six weeks of war, how did Pakistan manage to get the US and Iran to talk? Amid a still-fragile situation in the Middle East, that question sits at the heart of this conversation with Maleeha Lodhi. She has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, as well as to the UK and United Nations. For her, the Islamabad talks mark a moment of wider significance, as the middle powers demonstrate their capacity to influence geopolitics. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 02:55 - Pakistan as a peacebroker 05:00 - Field Marshal Asim Munir and President Trump 07:49 - Pakistan and Iran 10:00 - Economic pain in Pakistan 13:40 - Israel and Lebanon 14:45 - “I'd like to be optimistic” 19:30 - US miscalculations 22:00 - “US dominance is fading” 23:00 Middle powers can “shape geopolitics” 23:53 - Is China a winner? 29:00 - Trump’s Board of Peace 29:50 - “Common ground can be found” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 2 · 44 min
Lionel Shriver on Immigration, Identity and Why She Refuses to Stay Quiet
Lionel Shriver has often tackled complex or contentious issues in her fiction. From school shootings in We Need to Talk About Kevin to economic collapse in The Mandibles. Her new novel, A Better Life, is the story of a family home taken over by outsiders. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Shriver discusses the sociological concerns behind the story, which she says is a metaphor for the increase in undocumented US immigration during the Biden administration. Shriver is a regular columnist for The Spectator, a conservative UK magazine. The link between the writing styles in that publication and her novel also feature in this episode. In the written version of this conversation, you’ll find more information on how Mishal Husain researched and prepared for this interview, including her own notes, data, historical context and further quotes from Lionel Shriver. www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 02:27 - Inspiration for A Better Life 03:39 - Extended adolescence 06:32 - A metaphor for America 10:21 - Shriver’s political journey 12:42 - Declining populations 17:02 - ICE tactics 20:34 - From North Carolina to Northern Ireland 22:57 - Rebelling against church 24:30 - Transgender debate 30:07 - Why Shriver left the UK 32:26 - Muslim immigration 35:32 - Novels versus columns 40:12 - Writing for shorter attention spans 41:30 - Shriver’s recovery from illness Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 27 · 41 min
Why Israel Could Be Forced to Stop: Shira Efron on War, Fatigue and Netanyahu's Strategy
With attention fixed on the potential developments between the US and Iran, could the Israeli government be forced to end the war earlier than it might like? The last few weeks have seen daily air strikes by Israel on Iran, and retaliatory attacks that have killed and injured Israelis. The wider picture is of two and a half years of constant conflict, particularly in Gaza. In this conversation, Mishal Husain speaks to Shira Efron, who has been a Middle East analyst for the last 20 years and is now Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy at RAND. They discuss Israeli public opinion on Iran, the extent of the military operation in Lebanon and what’s at stake in the Israeli election due later this year. 02:25 - Life in Tel Aviv 04:42 - Israeli public opinion on Iran 06:24 - “A feeling of deja vu” 07:42 - Netanyahu's calculation 09:17 - Will elections go ahead? 10:59 - Did the Mossad get it wrong? 12:44 - American public opinion 14:24 - US and Israeli relations 18:24 - “There's one boss and this boss is President Trump” 20:11 - The future of Lebanon 23:52 - “Everyone forgot where Gaza is” 31:21 - Smotrich’s plan 33:44 - “We are seeing a shift to the right” 37:37 - Looking ahead to 2028 Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.