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

  1. Netflix’s ‘Cover-Up’ Director Laura Poitras on ICE, ‘Domestic Terrorists’ and US Surveillance

    4D AGO

    Netflix’s ‘Cover-Up’ Director Laura Poitras on ICE, ‘Domestic Terrorists’ and US Surveillance

    The killing of two US citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis has made January a dark month for many across America. Both Alex Pretti and Renee Good were quickly labeled “domestic terrorists" by the Trump administration, which accused them of endangering the lives of law enforcement. Video evidence soon appeared to contradict government claims, but it’s still a label that filmmaker Laura Poitras says she finds chilling. Poitras has been producing and directing documentaries for more than 20 years, winning both an Oscar and a Pulitzer Prize for her 2014 work “Citizenfour,” which focussed on the whistleblower Edward Snowden and mass surveillance. She too has her own experience of being regarded as a threat by the US government and says she was on a terrorist watch list for years. Her latest film, which this week was nominated for a BAFTA, profiles renowned US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. “Cover-Up,” on Netflix, traces Hersh’s life from his early days in Chicago through his scoops of the 1960s to his current journalism on Substack. It’s a story of media both past and present. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Poitras also reflects on the role of citizen journalism in documenting government violence in places like Minneapolis.02:53 - “Legendary investigative journalist” Seymour Hersh05:35 - Poitras and Hersh’s Iraq connection06:40 - US public “failed by our legacy media”09:06 - Cycles of impunity09:50 - Criticism of Hersh’s journalism11:30 - Hersh quits the film15:00 - Hersh’s early life 16:19 - Poitras’ lens on America17:40 - Parallels between Iraq and Venezuela19:30 - “Regime change” in Venezuela 20:20 - Poitras under surveillance23:00 - Leaving the US24:40 - Edward Snowden and NSA secrets28:15 - “I’m very happy he’s not in a US prison”32:00 - “Cover-Up” and the present day33:33 - “Whistleblowers face the consequences”35:00 - “Citizen journalists” 37:00 - Mishal speaks to Poitras for a second time38:00 - Alex Pretti and the violence in Minneapolis39:30 - “Domestic terrorist”40:17 - “Journalists have an obligation”40:50 - A tipping point for ICE?  Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYSYou can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interviewContact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  2. Rutger Bregman Is Thinking About Billionaires, the US Versus Europe and Saving the World

    JAN 23

    Rutger Bregman Is Thinking About Billionaires, the US Versus Europe and Saving the World

    Rutger Bregman knows what appearing at Davos can do for your profile. His reputation was made when he went there in 2019 and attacked the rich. The clip went viral.  A historian and author originally from the Netherlands, Bregman has been focused on elites ever since, most recently in his book Moral Ambition, and in a series of lectures on the BBC, after which he accused the organization of censoring his views on Donald Trump. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, we hear more about his worldview, which is more nuanced than some might expect. He discusses how he is impressed by entrepreneurs, favors action over commentary and is putting his book profits toward building a community that furthers his beliefs. 00:00 - Introducing Rutger Bregman 02:30 - The rise of AI07:53 - Wasted talent 09:22 - I want to pull my hair out10:05 -  European leadership 11:14 - Europe is weak 12:25 - Ideals are worth little without power 13:45 - Building a movement 17:40 - Mamdani and populism 21:00 - The God shaped hole 25:12 - Elon Musk the entrepreneur26:08 - The BBC and Trump 30:49 - A new form of feudalism33:56 - Small groups can change the world 35:14 - The best place to thinkWatch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://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.

    38 min
  3. Jeanne Shaheen Is Pressing For Answers on Venezuela, Greenland and Iran

    JAN 16

    Jeanne Shaheen Is Pressing For Answers on Venezuela, Greenland and Iran

    What is Donald Trump’s plan for Venezuela? Does he have one? Will he go beyond threats in supporting the uprising in Iran or invading Greenland? Jeanne Shaheen has been in the US Senate since 2009 and is now the most senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Her position has given her access to information most lawmakers don’t have. She’s also known as someone prepared to work with Republicans. Indeed, she was one of the eight Democrats who joined the GOP to end last year’s government shutdown over healthcare subsidies that have since been allowed to expire. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Shaheen talks about how she’s hoping to reassure traditional American allies shaken by Trump’s attacks and threats as part of a Congressional delegation to Denmark this week. Closer to home, she discusses healthcare, the cost of living and the future of the Democratic party ahead of the midterms. 02:38 - US operation in Venezuela04:47 - Military action on Greenland?06:00 - Has Trump already damaged NATO?07:11 - Is Trump emboldened? 08:13 - Maduro replaced by another “repressive dictator” 12:20 - Trump and Iran13:31 - Tariffs and China15:21 - Bipartisanship in a polarized era18:17 - “I share that frustration”20:20 - The future of the Democratic party24:00 - Disquiet amongst Republicans24:55 - Healthcare and the shutdown27:25 - Policy differences with her daughter30:35 - Life after the Senate31:55 - Optimism for the future?Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend:www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/mishal Subscribe to Bloomberg Podcasts: https://bit.ly/BloombergPodcasts Visit us: https://www.bloomberg.com/podcasts For coverage on news, markets and more: http://www.bloomberg.com/video Illustration: Uli Knörzer for Bloomberg; Source Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  4. Peter Navarro Is Doubling Down on Tariffs

    JAN 9

    Peter Navarro Is Doubling Down on Tariffs

    US President Donald Trump’s tough talk about China and tariffs can be traced back in large part to economist Peter Navarro. A well-known China hawk, he has written books arguing Beijing poses a threat to the US economy and its national security.Navarro is a loyalist who has served as a key trade adviser in both Trump administrations. In between, he spent four months behind bars for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena tied to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.It is Navarro who stands behind Trump’s sweeping tariffs against China and other nations, levies that have in some cases raised prices for US companies and consumers. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, recorded in Bloomberg's Washington studio, Navarro discusses the US relationship with China and an upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the administration’s use of emergency powers to levy tariffs. They also look ahead to this year’s midterm elections and back at the controversial Vanity Fair profile of Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.  00:00 - Introduction from Mishal Husain02:16 - Navarro’s bond with President Trump05:04 - Navarro’s journey from Democrat to MAGA Republican08:01 - Time in Federal prison09:36 - US-China relationship12:21 - Navarro’s advice for Europe13:22 - Trump diplomacy15:35 - Allowing Nvidia to export advanced chips to China17:49 - Delivering for working class Americans20:08 - Rubio-Vance 202821:57 - Addressing affordability concerns23:38 - Manufacturing jobs: “We can’t wave a magic wand”26:45 - Supreme Court ruling30:17 - Cost of tariff refunds31:15 - “It's not a job, it's a mission” Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://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.

    35 min
  5. Kara Swisher Is Thinking About Life After Trump

    JAN 2

    Kara Swisher Is Thinking About Life After Trump

    Kara Swisher has followed the story of Silicon Valley for three decades, having started work as a tech journalist at a time when few people were interested in the beat. But through relationships she built with the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and many others, she became a formidable voice, and eventually more of a commentator and critic. Swisher now hosts the podcasts Pivot and On with Kara Swisher. Following a year in which Silicon Valley titans lined up behind Donald Trump, she tells Mishal Husain what she thinks 2026 will bring. Swisher unpacks fears of an artificial intelligence bubble, why she’s paying attention to robotics and what life after Trump may be like.02:16 - You would be “stupid” to ignore the AI bubble05:40 - The promise of AI07:16 - Swisher’s first download09:30 - “Serious wealth creates real problems”14:20 - Steve Jobs was an “adult” 17:15 - “What Tesla did was astonishing”20:30 - The influence of Peter Thiel22:20 - Generational shift in tech 23:30 - “You couldn’t have started an Uber now”26:15 - Swisher’s paying attention to robotics in 2026 29:30 - What Swisher learned from Silicon Valley31:50 - Swisher’s move into podcasting 35:40 - Life after Trump and why she’s watching KPop Demon HuntersWatch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYSFind Mishal’s conversations with the godmother of AI Fei-Fei Li and CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman here:https://link.podtrac.com/1wqpj1f8 You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interviewContact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.netSubscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  6. Elon Musk Wants Credit for Cutting Waste, Not Cutting Aid

    12/26/2025

    Elon Musk Wants Credit for Cutting Waste, Not Cutting Aid

    As the year draws to a close, we are bringing you one of Mishal Husain’s biggest conversations of the year, in full. In May 2025, Elon Musk joined Bloomberg's Qatar Economic Forum, in a rare media appearance.He remains as consequential a global figure today, as he was then, even if he is no longer working with Donald Trump.Within 10 days of this conversation, he had left DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, and soon after that he was publicly trading insults with the president.Musk talked about Tesla, his ambitions for SpaceX and Starlink and his political spending. Note: This episode was recorded with a remote guest in front of a live audience, and as a result, the audio quality may vary. 02:31 - Mishal Husain introduces Elon Musk03:21 - A week in the life of Elon Musk 04:25 - The future of Tesla 9:19 - Attacks on Tesla showrooms11:35 - The future of warfare14:30 - “I’m in no rush to go public”17:30 - OpenAI 20:45 - Regulating AI24:00 - “I’m simply an advisor”26:30 - Starlink29:44 - “Your question’s absurd”31:26 - DOGE33:15 - US Agency for International Development37:20 - Political spending Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://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.

    44 min
  7. Lynsey Addario Keeps Going Back to Photograph War

    12/19/2025

    Lynsey Addario Keeps Going Back to Photograph War

    Lynsey Addario’s life work means  taking great risks to tell other people’s stories. She is a Pulitzer Prize winning war photographer who has been abducted twice while documenting conflicts from Afghanistan to Ukraine and Sudan. There aren’t many women in her field. In a new National Geographic documentary called “Love+War,” currently streaming on Disney+, she lets us into that world, one she’s made her profession for three decades. Addario shows how she adjusts from a work environment of grave danger and high-adrenaline to being a mother making the school run and spending time with her sons. In this conversation, she tells Mishal Husain, why she believes her job is to “bear witness” and how she came to it. She remembers the first time she used a camera and shares how her childhood prepared her to walk into any situation and connect with anyone, from soldiers to refugees and civilians living through extreme times.This interview contains descriptions of abduction, violence and sexual assault which some listeners/viewers may find distressing.02:27 - Love+War03:34 - The turning point 06:00 - Learning about the risks07:00 “I don’t want to do this for a living”09:19 - Being held in Fallujah11:20 - On embed in Afghanistan 14:31 - Operation Rock Avalanche15:43 - Dealing with the emotion16:50 - The daughter of hairdressers in Connecticut17:44 - Getting her first camera19:30 - Planning a “shoot-list” 21:51 - Russian strike on Ukraine17:30 - Being held hostage in Libya31:02 - Survivor’s guilt33:30 Life at home36:30 - Social media and fake images 40:18 - Switching offWatch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  8. Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley

    12/12/2025

    Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley

    Mustafa Suleyman co-founded AI lab DeepMind when he was just 26 years old. Four years later, it was acquired by Google for a reported $400 million. He is now head of Microsoft’s AI unit, where he just unveiled a new superintelligence team tasked with creating an AI that can outperform humans at all tasks.In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Suleyman talks about the decisions society has to make about AI, the white-hot war over tech talent and the competition with other tech bros.  00:00 - Introduction from Mishal Husain02:20 - Suleyman’s daily use of AI04:52 - Stoicism and the magic of AI05:50 - Defining superintelligence07:35 - The AI Wild West09:20 - Humans misusing technology11:43 - Promise of abundance, universal basic income14:30 - Suleyman’s family and decision to drop out of Oxford19:37 - "Decisions we make may have very lasting consequences”21:04 - Exploring the ‘broligarchy’22:28 - His view of Sam Altman and Open AI24:11 - Conversations with Demis Hassabis about Gemini 326:15 - “I’m sort of a centrist these days”28:09 - AI containment and the role of government 29:58 - Microsoft’s revised deal with OpenAI: “It is a shift for us”31:42 -The talent war and ‘Zuck’s’ pay packages34:12 - Circular deals in AI: “Watching it carefully”36:22 - “I really want to nail medical superintelligence”37:36 - Suleyman on using AI for emotional support40:21 - The UK lacks the “hustle culture” of Silicon Valley42:13 - AI news reporters: “We’re exploring everything” Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://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.

    45 min
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About

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

Information

  • Channel
    Bloomberg
  • Creator
    Bloomberg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2026 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    The Mishal Husain Show
  • Provider
    Bloomberg L.P.

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