Zani Minton-Beddoes, Editor-in-chief of The Economist, and Nicholas Pelham, Middle East correspondent, engage with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's new transitional president. Al-Sharaa shares his unexpected journey from jihadist to ruler, hinting at a vision for Syria's future yet withholding key details. The conversation touches on skepticism surrounding promised democratic reforms, the challenges of post-conflict recovery, and the complicated landscape of foreign investments. Addressing Syria's dire state, they emphasize the urgency for economic revival amid ongoing insecurity.

Writer and journalist Nicolas Pelham discusses the Moroccan monarchy, King Mohammed VI's friendship with a German kickboxer, and the future of Morocco. The conversation also compares the ruling strategies of Arab kings and explores leadership and stability in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.