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.

Rebecca Patterson, former chief investment strategist for Bridgewater Associates, joins Glenn Hubbard, Columbia Business School professor and ex-chair of President Bush's Economic Council, alongside Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, and Elizabeth Economy, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. They discuss the market implications of a second Trump presidency, focusing on U.S.-China relations and potential trade impacts. The conversation touches on economic policies, capitalism perceptions, and the prospect of increased foreign direct investment post-election.