Economist Radio The Economist

Anne McElvoy’s interview with Jeremy Hunt had the tone That sounded like it was the BBC. It just didn’t have balance. The Economist says it has dived deep to prove remain is essential, but you ignore the most important point of all which is democratic legitimacy. If the 75 th anniversary of D day doesn’t tell you how much that matters nothing will. A temporary economic set back will not be as bad as all the establishment say ( it has already been proved so). The European Union needs to change substantially. It has proved time and again it won’t so we must leave. The Economist needs not to be establishment.

Discussion of Kim Darroch’s resignation, and what that might *mean* for UK/US relations. Pretty thinly disguised anti-Trump/Boris prejudice in the two Economist characters... “so there was nothing surprising in the DipTels?” Yes is the answer. Two huge surprises.

First that they didnt constitute intelligence in any way, they didnt have any insights, and depth. Darroch clearly had less access even than Michael Wolff. The observations were as cursory and as wrong (“dodgy Russians” are going to bring Trump down) as a third hand gossip website.

Second surprise was the evident unsuitability of Darroch for the role. You would imagine that arguably the most important diplomatic posting in the entire world would be a USA lover, maybe half American (as Churchill was), someone who had a deep understanding and empathy towards the complex culture of which Trump is a part. Instead, Darroch seems straight out of central casting, sharing his opinions with the two Economist speakers, that Trump is “chaotic” (seems to have been unchaotic enough to become a billionaire, won the presidency, boosted the economy with better figures than Obama, stepped into North Korea, averted war with Iran) and toxic and all the negative adjectives they generally employ to someone not educated as they are, and holding their opinions.

That in effect is what Boris’ reticence was about. What post a big-government-loving snob to get pally with Trump?

I had a high opinion of the Economist in years past and, against that, I find the podcast output disappointing. Usually informative but with a tendency to bias, and rarely making me think ‘wow, I’m glad I listened to that’. I see some other reviewers have opinions on the various interviewers and so do I. Listening to Anne McElvoy trying to flirt with Mark Carey was particularly cringeworthy