The Prospect Podcast

What is the biggest threat to the international human rights system today? And, in such an unstable world, what hope is there for the future of human rights?This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Kenneth Roth, who served as the executive director of Human Rights Watch, the NGO, for almost 30 years. During his tenure, Human Rights Watch uncovered abuses across 100 countries and pressured offending governments to stop them.Ken’s new book, Righting Wrongs, tells this story.On the podcast, he discusses the importance of “shame” in holding governments to account, and explores the attacks on Human Rights Watch over the years, particularly regarding its analysis of Israel’s policies and its findings of apartheid in the occupied territories—criticisms which felt even more personal because of his Jewish heritage.Ken also analyses where progressives are failing, the challenge of identity politics, and whether international law truly has any teeth.To read more on this topic from our website, click here.Ken’s book ‘Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments’ is available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia is often referred to as “the lucky country”, a place where good fortune has delivered greater wealth, longer lives and better healthcare. But, as Andrew Low argues in We Should Be So Lucky, Australia’s achievements are not merely a matter of luck—they stem from a distinctive blend of political, social and economic institutions and values.Andrew sat down with Sir Clive Cowdery, Publisher of Prospect and Chairman of Resolution Life, to discuss the new book, which is published by Prospect Editions. Drawing on his vast experience in global business and finance and his deep connection to Australia, Andrew offers a compelling analysis of how “The Australian Way” works and why it matters. The book is both a celebration of what Australia has achieved and a guide for other democracies seeking solutions to their own challenges.Prospect Editions is the new book-publishing arm of Prospect magazine. You can find its inaugural title We Should Be So Lucky, here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a Sudanese-born writer and broadcaster, shares insights on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, dubbed the world's worst. She highlights the disconnection between international attention and the realities on the ground. Yassmin recounts her family's story and her last visit for her wedding, juxtaposing personal joy with current tragedies. The discussion delves into how regional powers like the UAE and Saudi Arabia exploit the chaos, and emphasizes the urgent need for self-determination among the Sudanese people.

Mehdi Hasan joins the Prospect podcast this week, talking to Prospect’s Ben Clark about Trump, tech bros, cancel culture and…“Gish galloping”.He opens up about his departure from MSNBC after the network cancelled The Mehdi Hasan Show and discusses his move from mainstream to alternative media, almost a year since founding Zeteo on Substack. Zeteo’s contributors now include Naomi Klein and Greta Thunberg.He criticises the media’s failings, from reporting on Israel’s violence to holding Trump and his acolytes to account, and what he identifies as “anticipatory obedience” to the president.Finally, Mehdi shares advice for young journalists, and reflects on where he finds hope in dark times.Plus, Ellen and Alona talk Valentine’s Day: “banger” or “dud”? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would a young Starmer join the Labour party today? Ellen and Alona are joined by Tom Clark, contributing editor at Prospect, who thinks not.From defending misfit environmentalists to denouncing them in the Daily Mail, Starmer’s evolution might dismay some on the left of the party. Once he was a young human rights lawyer and now he is a prime minister punishing MPs for rebelling on child poverty or arming Israel.Tom’s column received some criticism on Bluesky from those who see this as pragmatism befitting the UK's highest political office.But Tom analyses why Starmer’s “strongman” strategy might not be as electorally effective as he hopes. With Labour tanking in the polls, Reform UK is projected to be ahead for the first time. In the upcoming local elections, will Labour be a party for young people? And does this matter?Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss London nightlife: banger or dud?To read Tom’s column “Starmer is governing against his younger self”, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/labour-party/69157/keir-starmer-governing-against-younger-self-labourAnd to read our magazine cover piece on the battle between Labour and Reform, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/69111/labour-vs-reform-farage-starmer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s special episode, we bring you an exclusive interview with Prospect’s World’s Top Thinker of 2025, Brazilian journalist Eliane Brum. Eliane is the author of Banzeiro Òkòtó: The Amazon as the Centre of the World. In 2017, she co-founded Sumaúma, a journalism platform reporting on the Amazon from the inside, which trains young people from urban and indigenous communities.Dialling in from the Amazon rainforest, she spoke to Prospect’s deputy editor Ellen Halliday about her move from the city of São Paulo to the Amazon in 2017, as well as the thinking that underpins her work.Eliane argues that our separation from nature has destroyed our survival instincts and "disconnected [us] from life" itself.She explores why hope isn't actually the key to tackling the climate crisis—and why we should be fighting for life.Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss biopics: banger or dud?To read the interview with Eliane from the magazine, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/environment-news/climate/69109/eliane-brum-climate-amazon-top-thinker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Prospect Lives. In this episode, journalist and author Kiran Sidhu shares her journey of finding a sense of community in her rural Welsh village, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman explains how her clerical friends help her weather political turbulence.Actor and writer Sheila Hancock explores the powerful legacies left by those who change the world, both for better and for worse, while former England cricket captain Mike Brearley offers a hopeful vision for cricket as the world’s sport for refugees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Trump’s second inauguration, Ellen and Alona are joined by Labour peer and diplomat Catherine Ashton. Catherine was formerly leader of the House of Lords, as well as the EU's first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security policy.She shares her experience working with previous US administrations, and what she’s expecting to see from the special relationship. In the past, members of Starmer’s cabinet have called the president a “buffoon” and a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath”. Will this come back to bite them?The president’s choice of inauguration guests (Starmer: out, Giorgia Meloni: in) tellingly shows new alliances being forged with the right wing in Europe. But what will Trump 2.0 mean for European defence?Plus, banger or dud: Ellen and Alona question whether “Blue Monday” is just a marketing gimmick, or something more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Labour plans to remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords progress through parliament, not everybody is happy about it. Critics have called the legislation “bungled piecemeal reform”, “high-handed” and “shoddy”.Meg Russell, professor of British and Comparative Politics at UCL, joins Ellen and Alona to unpick the conflict and controversy in the second chamber. She discusses the history and future of this institution, whether our system really is unique, and why outrage over prime ministerial honours lists might be misplaced.Is this the beginning of the end of the Lords? How might our political system change forever? Will this constitutional reform be Starmer's legacy?Plus, as some other becloaked figures have captured the nation’s attention, Ellen and Alona muse over the reality TV show Traitors: banger or dud?To read more on the House of Lords from our website, including Meg’s writing, head to:https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/westminster/house-of-lords Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's going on in Ukraine and what does 2025 hold for its people? Journalist Jen Stout has reported on the war in Ukraine for Prospect, the Sunday Post and others—and her prize-winning book Night Train to Odesa was published last year.Now, for our first episode of the year, she joins deputy editor Ellen Halliday to talk about the situation. What will the year ahead look like in Ukraine? What challenges does Kyiv face? And what will its relationship with Trump’s America look like? She also reflects on the role of Derzhprom, a constructivist building in Kharkiv, in the psyche of the city.Plus, producer Imaan joins Ellen to weigh in on new year’s resolutions: banger or dud? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.