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Tell Me Why

Prospect Magazine

In an era of news fatigue and constant information, Prospect steps back from the daily news grind—asking not just what is happening, but why.


Join Prospect editors Alona Ferber and Imaan Irfan, along with the magazine’s cast of contributors, to explore the people and trends that explain the world today.


Each week, we explain the ideas behind the week’s biggest stories. From populism and protest to artificial intelligence, our guests share their unique perspectives.


Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives:

https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/OCT1MFBG/prospect-magazine/OCT1MFG


Produced by Ellie Jay

Music “Big Continent” composed by Maayan Madar

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

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • September 16 · 42 min

    Ethan Zuckerman: Will artificial intelligence destroy us all?

    As tech insiders warn about an impending apocalypse, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Ethan Zuckerman, Prospect contributor and associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to examine those claims. He discusses AI agents going rogue in the Hugging Face incident, as well as recent calls from tech leaders to slow down AI development. With Trump dismissing safety concerns, Ethan also discusses US competition with China, how global thinking around AI differs—and why he doesn't trust the industry to self-regulate. Ethan explores how we can reclaim agency around AI, and the importance of local and community-oriented conversations, including a surprising initiative from a Maori radio station. Plus, what might a uniquely British AI look like? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exciting news! From October, the Prospect Podcast will have a new format and a new name: On ‘Tell Me Why’, Prospect’s editors, writers and guests will explore the ideas behind the biggest news stories of the week. Subscribe to the channel to be part of our new chapter. And to read Ethan’s piece ‘Should Trump create an AI sovereign wealth fund’, click here or head to prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 10 · 32 min

    Prospect Lives: Unexpected lessons from my alcoholic father

    This month, Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu shares her love for her late father, who was an imperfect but brilliant parent. Meanwhile, Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev is reminded of his former, Soviet life when he reads about the hounding of Cambridge academic Jason Arday. Mindful life writer Sarah Collins extolls the benefits of embracing a beginner's mindset when approaching new hobbies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 9 · 29 min

    Elon Musk, space solar and eternal power

    Have scientists found the secret to eternal power? Engineers, inventors and sci-fi writers have long dreamed of harvesting the constant power of the sun. Now, plans to build solar panels in space are tantalisingly close to fruition. This week, Ellen is joined by Prospect contributing editor Isabel Hilton to explains why it could just work. From rocket launches to robots assembling solar farms in space, Isabel explains the vision and its main obstacles. She also discusses the role of private companies and tech billionaires like Elon Musk, as well as China’s active solar-based programme. Plus, Isabel explores how the UK can be part of the future, and how space-based solar compares to plans for nuclear fusion as an energy solution. After flash floods in Nepal, they also discuss the need for emergency power responses across the world. To read Isabel’s article, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/74474/space-solar-have-scientists-found-the-secret-to-eternal-power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 2 · 34 min

    Andy Burnham’s theory of power

    Who really runs the United Kingdom? Power is badly misallocated, argues journalist and author Phil Tinline, and Andy Burnham understands that better than most of his recent predecessors. But there is still a major gap in the prime minister’s analysis. This week, he joins Ellen and Alona in a wide-ranging conversation that covers the shift away from centralised state power in the 1980s and the weakening of local government, through to how the Hillsborough disaster and Burnham’s early political career shaped the prime minister he wants to be. Phil reflects on the disappointments of the Starmer era, and also analyses the perspectives of leftwing politicians, from Zohran Mamdani to Zack Polanski. Plus, how is Burnham’s thinking different to past prime ministers? Is he willing to take on unaccountable corporations, or not? And what’s at stake if he fails to deliver on the promise he has made to the public about redistributing power? To read Phil’s cover essay for the latest issue of Prospect, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/labour-party/andy-burnham/74583/andy-burnham-great-power-struggle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 26 · 35 min

    Daron Acemoglu: How to save liberal democracy

    According to Nobel prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, liberal democracy made three promises: that prosperity would be shared equitably, that capable government would deliver public services and that citizens would have voice to express their opinions and participate in governance. But in recent decades, these promises have been broken across the world. This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Acemoglu, who explains how the shift to a postindustrial, tech-driven economy—compounded by neoliberal policies, rising inequality and the internet—has eroded trust in democratic institutions. He criticises identity politics, on the right and the left, and discusses the economic effect of developments in artificial intelligence. How great of a risk is AI to social cohesion? And is new technology actively undermining cross-cultural “social learning”? Plus, he makes the case for “working-class liberalism” as a philosophy that can overcome this crisis. Daron Acemoglu’s exclusive op-ed for Prospect will be published here on September 2nd. His book What Happened to Liberal Democracy? Remaking a Politics of Shared Prosperity is published by Profile Books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 19 · 32 min

    How cabbies see England

    What can a taxi ride tell us about the state of the UK? Driving home is an immersive documentary staged inside a real black cab where audiences hear from taxi drivers across the UK about migration, belonging, politics, and community. Today on the podcast, Daphna Attias and Terry O’Donohue, the co-founders and artistic directors of Dante or Die, the theatre company behind the documentary, join Prospect’s Sarah Collins to discuss what the interviews can tell us about life in the UK. They’ll also discuss why they chose the locations of Hull, Bradford, Peckham, Basildon, Essex, Brighton, and the Isle of Sheppey to record their interviews with cabbies, and how each cab gives unique insights into the mood of the area. It feels almost like being in a confessional, they say. Sarah wrote a feature for the latest issue of Prospect, in collaboration with Dante or Die. Read it now on our website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 5 · 35 min

    How long will the ‘Burnham bounce’ last?

    As Andy Burnham marks his first two weeks in Downing Street, the polls are registering a bump in support for Labour. This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Prospect’s contributing editor Tom Clark to assess the prime minister’s first steps in office. Tom discusses surprising policy pledges, “sugar-rush politics” and how Burnham’s thinking has changed, from devolution to drastic social care reforms. What challenges will he face in making his promises a reality? After the Ceuta border crossing, does political rhetoric around immigration signal change or continuity? Is Burnham willing to make enemies over the drilling of oil and gas in the North Sea? And what are the chances of an early election? Plus, Tom compares Burnham with Keir Starmer and reflects on whether his leadership signals a departure from factionalism. Has Burnham finally unified the Labour party—and, if so, can it last? To read more of Tom’s analysis, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/author/2823/tom-clark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 31 · 35 min

    Prospect Lives: I’ve had an old-lady fall!

    This month Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu decides to embrace materialism, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman recounts the ballad of the Tithe pig. Actor and writer Sheila Hancock is taken to hospital after a fall and is very impressed by the attractive doctors treating her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 22 · 31 min

    Marie Le Conte: Britain's youth and the death of social mobility

    The UK’s young adults are ready to be taken seriously—so why aren’t they? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by journalist and author Marie Le Conte to discuss why a whole generation seems stuck in an extended adolescence, priced out of housing and routinely ignored by politicians. In an intergenerational conversation, they discuss whether the social mobility experiment has failed, the reality of “delayed adulthood”, and claims that young people are being actively infantilised as traditional milestones become further out of reach. Marie challenges the idea that young people are politically disengaged and explains why high political awareness doesn’t translate neatly into votes. With a new prime minister now in Downing Street, how might Andy Burnham help turn things around? And should voting be compulsory for 18-year-olds? Plus, they discuss the merits of Australia-style “democracy sausages” versus Gregg’s sausage rolls, and the lessons to be learned from the happiest place in the world for young people. To read Marie’s essay, ‘Britain’s next generation is all grown up’, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/74118/britains-next-generation-is-all-grown-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 15 · 25 min

    Big money, big problems: Reform’s donation problem—with Peter Geoghegan

    As Nigel Farage continues to face scrutiny over his finances and undeclared donations, is big money hurting our democracy? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by Peter Geoghegan, investigative journalist and founder of Democracy for Sale. Peter unpacks the scandal and introduces a cast of Reform backers, from “Posh George” to Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne. He also discusses the police investigation into a political donation to Robert Jenrick, and criticises the Labour government for its approach to electoral reform. And, he shares his findings into the “black hole” in Reform’s accounts. Is Farage an outlier, or does his case expose deeper flaws in Britain’s political funding rules? If he wins the byelection, will the scrutiny disappear? And with proposals for donation limits on the table, what else needs to change? To read Peter Geoghegan’s writing for Prospect, click here. His newsletter Democracy for Sale is published on Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 8 · 35 min

    A history of power: the creation of data empires

    Humans have collected data for thousands of years—but now we’re doing it on a whole new level. This week, Ellen and Alona and joined by Roopika Risam, professor of Digital Humanities and Social Engagement at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, whose new book Data Empire explores the ancient roots of data-gathering and the rise of the “data state”. Drawing on examples from the East India Company to Palantir, she explains why advances in technology—and our means to collect, sort and deploy data—have almost always been captured by colonial powers or companies for profit, rather than for public good. She reveals how data is used to monitor and control, and how AI is rapidly accelerating the capacity of states and private companies to surveil populations, including against the Uyghur people of Xinjiang. Roopika also explains the disturbing reason she had to rewrite one section of the book three times Has the “Data Empire” effectively moved beyond the reach of the democratic social contract? And will the future be dystopian—or is there another way? Roopika Risam’s book “Data Empire: How information shaped human history” is published by Torva. To read to more on this topic, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 1 · 31 min

    A barrel of rotting apples: Political corruption in modern Britain

    Lying, lobbying, and luxury donor gifts—has UK politics gone crooked? This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Robert Barrington, professor of anti-corruption practice at Sussex University’s Centre for the Study of Corruption. He argues that corruption is more widespread than assumed in Britain, from politicians to prisons, the monarchy to the Met. Robert discusses the Boris Johnson era misconduct, the “good chap theory”, and his four-part test for corruption. He also analyses corporate scandals from Grenfell to Thames Water sewage. Do conspiracy theorists have a point? What’s at stake if things continue as they are? And, with a new prime minister on the cards, what can be done to tackle the problem? ‘Corrupted Kingdom: Britain's Disappearing Integrity–And How We Can Get It Back’ will be published by Profile Books on 16th July. To read more from our website, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 26 · 27 min

    Prospect Lives: I can’t stop singing my thoughts

    This month, our Mindful life writer Sarah Collins explains how her OCD had her singing her thoughts, while Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev asks: what’s in a nose? A trip to the Museum of Brands takes actor Sheila Hancock down memory lane, while Alice Garnett asks her parents for advice on uncertainty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 24 · 37 min

    Jens Beckert: Democracy won’t beat climate change

    As a heatwave sweeps across Europe, Ellen and Imaan are joined by sociologist Jens Beckert, the author of 'How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change'. He argues that the cultural, political and economic structures of capitalist modernity are themselves barriers to fighting the climate crisis. From profit maximisation to short term limits for politicians, is capitalist democracy ill-equipped to tackle climate change? He also discusses the philosophical roots of the problem, stemming from the Enlightenment, and suggests the idea of progress may actually be hindering us. Jens explores geopolitical inequality, the role of corporate power in blocking climate action, and whether renewables are really the answer. He offers a sobering analysis of the situation but also offers solutions, explaining why pragmatism is our best bet, and what we can do next. How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change is published by Polity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes