Macrodose

Ann Pettifor, international political economist and author of The Global Casino, explains money as a social credit and critiques how finance shapes policy. She tackles central bank capture, the myth of bond vigilantes, shadow banking and commodity speculation. She outlines tools like capital controls and regional payment systems to curb finance’s power and protect public investment and the planet.

A deep dive into Mark Carney’s Davos speech and its call for new international arrangements. An exploration of how biodiversity loss is now framed as a national security risk. A look at China’s growing Arctic activity and its implications for regional power dynamics.

On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at the worsening trade and tariff war over Trump’s plans for Greenland (1:24), some positive climate news from India and China, where coal-fired power generation has fallen for the first time in decades (13:13), and an interesting new report on AI productivity (15:23).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.Planet B, the production company that brings you Macrodose, is hiring a new Head of Production: https://planet-b-productions.homerun.co/head-of-production/en

On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at the climate change context behind the current protests in Iran (1:05), and Donald Trump’s bustup with federal reserve chair Jerome Powell (10:12).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.Planet B, the production company that brings you Macrodose, is hiring a new Head of Production: https://planet-b-productions.homerun.co/head-of-production/en

For the first Macrodose episode of 2026, James Meadway takes a look at US President Donald Trump's operation in Venezuela and the seizure of the nation's leader Nicolas Maduro (1:26). Plus Trump's posturing about his desires to annex Greenland (7:39).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

On this week's macrodose - a special lookback at the tumultuous year that was 2025, and the various twists and turns for our global economy.James Meadway is joined by Faiza Shaheen — author, economist and Executive Director of Tax Justice UK — and Kojo Koram, author, Professor at Loughborough University, and host of Death in Westminster, a forthcoming narrative series about inequality in the UK, produced by Planet B Productions.Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

On this week's episode of Macrodose, James Meadway takes a look at how the drive to produce and consume more is creating a monumental trail of waste (0:33), and what the impacts of surpassing ‘peak’ demand in oil will be (5:09).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

Sabrina Fernandes, a Brazilian economic sociologist and head of research at the Alameda Institute, discusses Lula's complex presidency. She highlights early successes in reducing Amazon deforestation and the challenges posed by powerful agribusiness interests. Sabrina delves into land inequality, the tensions between development and environmental protection, and the impact of policies on family farming. She also critiques Brazil's mixed signals while hosting COP30, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms and a focus on legislative battles ahead of the 2026 elections.

Carys Afoko, a podcast host and political commentator, and Hannah Peaker, Deputy Chief Executive at the New Economics Foundation, join the discussion on fiscal strategies following Rachel Reeves' budget. They delve into the implications of the OBR forecast and the need for immediate tax expenditure to alleviate cost-of-living pressures. The duo critiques Labour's political choices, particularly the missed opportunity to enhance welfare support, and celebrates the abolishment of the two-child benefit cap. They also examine the paradox of low taxation on banks amid soaring corporate profits.

This week on The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Antonia Jennings - chief executive at the centre for London.Together they discuss Rachel Reeves' upcoming budget blunders (1:36). In the full version of the show available exclusively to Patreon supporters, James and Antonia also discuss the series of changes to Britain's asylum system announced this week by home secretary Shabana Mahmood (28:24), and how energy companies have recorded record profits in the UK (42.38)Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.