Henry Farrell, an expert in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University, and Ed Conway, Sky News' economics editor, dive deep into the hidden frameworks of the global economy. They discuss how the US manipulates control over communication and finance, highlighting the power dynamics between the US and China over essential materials like rare earth elements. The conversation also examines vulnerabilities in supply chains exacerbated by recent global events, urging a reevaluation of economic strategies focused on foundational materials.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Jess Morley, a postdoctoral research associate at the Yale Digital Ethics Centre, shares insights on the intersection of NHS data and AI's transformative potential in healthcare. They explore the complexities of using medical data for innovations like patient passports and early disease prevention. Jess emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and privacy safeguards while integrating AI. The conversation highlights both the promising benefits for patients and the challenges of ensuring that personal stories aren’t lost in the algorithm.

In 2024, more than two million crimes went unsolved in England and Wales, with police unable to identify a suspect. That figure has increased by 180,000 since 2022, despite there being 86,000 fewer crimes in the same period. So with detection rates down, and constant financial pressures on the police services across the UK, should crime prevention play a greater role in policing? Targeting preventable crimes and the people most likely to commit them, a process called "focused deterrence" is being trialled at five sites in England. Police services already have better intelligence resources available than in any time in history, and they are also working with care services and other agencies to flag up potential problems. How could crime prevention be taken further? Would a more academic approach to policing result in knowledge being spread more quickly, and how could police be better prepared for emerging crimes as society and technology change? Ultimately, could it lead to lower crime rates and financial savings, and is there any evidence to suggest it does either?Presenter: Ben Ansell Producer: Ivana Davidovic Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: Katrin Hohl, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at City University Alexander Murray, Threat Leadership at the National Crime Agency and the Chair of the Society for Evidence Based Policing Alex Sutherland, Professor in Practice Criminology & Public Policy at Oxford University Dr Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation

In this discussion, guest Ben Zhao, a Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago and expert in generative AI, dives into the complex interactions between individuals and big tech companies. He explores how AI's increasing need for data raises ethical questions about privacy and copyright. Zhao highlights innovative solutions to protect creatives and the urgency for regulatory clarity. The conversation also touches on how tech benefits and societal trade-offs affect everyday life, prompting listeners to rethink their relationship with technology.

The UK has many world-leading museums that inspire wonder and fascination in their visitors. Many were originally created to display artefacts from empire or house the collections of their wealthy Victorian founders but recent decades have seen museums finding innovative ways to challenge what a modern museum can be. However, in tough economic times many museums are facing serious challenges. The sector is having to make the case for why museums should receive public money when there’s a lot less to go around. They are also facing criticism about who visits them, who curates them, and what objects they collect and display. What are museums for? Who are they for? And how can they teach us about our past whilst remaining relevant and exciting for today’s visitors? Presenter: Ben Ansell Producer: Viv Jones Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors: Sara Wajid, co-CEO of Birmingham Museums Trust Tony Butler, Director of Derby Museums Trust Stephen Bush, columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times

In this conversation, Sara Hobolt, a leading expert on European politics, and Paula Surridge, a political sociologist, dive deep into the evolving landscape of political labeling. They discuss how Britain's traditional left and right parties are struggling amid rising support for smaller parties, suggesting that these labels might be outdated. The duo examines how voters now seek alternatives that resonate with personal beliefs, driven by issues like immigration and social justice. They question whether a shared political sphere is feasible without common terms.

Rethink considers how we might take a different approach to issues that affect all of us, asking some of the brightest minds what we could do to make the world a better place.This week, we're rethinking energy. The massive rise in the price of wholesale gas in 2022, and the subsequent rise in our household energy bills highlighted the need for the UK to have a secure, reliable and cheap energy supply. So what choices do we have? UK fossil fuel reserves are dwindling, but we have offshore wind, and sunshine in the south. Renewable power is also cheaper than fossil fuels. In the first three months of 2024, the UK's wind, solar and other forms of renewable power generated just over half of our energy and by the end of September, coal had been phased out completely.But there is still a long way to go before the UK is self-sufficient. It can take as long as 15 years to connect a renewable power plant to the National Grid. A nuclear power station hasn't been completed in the UK for nearly 30 years Do we have enough power storage for cloudy or windless days? And industry and homes are still reliant on gas. So how to we need to rethink energy to keep the lights on, charge our many devices and power our electric vehicles in the future? And if we get it right, what will be the rewards for everyone? Presenter: Ben Ansell Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors: Aoife Foley, Professor & Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure at the University of Manchester. Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, the Climate Change Committee. Sam Richards, a former special advisor on energy to Boris Johnson, and now the Chief Executive of campaign group Britain Remade. Andrew Crossland, Associate Professor in practice at the Durham Energy Institute.

The care system in Britain is creaking at the seams. People who need care aren't receiving it - or if they do it's untenably expensive. There aren’t enough staff for care homes, and unpaid family carers often burn out looking after their loved ones without support.Successive governments have recognised it’s a problem, but they haven’t been able to fix it. Rachel Reeves is just the latest in a long line of chancellors to back away from care reform.How can we reform the care system so it works better for everyone involved? And crucially - how can we pay for it?In this edition of Rethink we look at some of the big ideas that could revolutionise social care in this country. We look at the arguments for a National Care Service to match the National Health Service. We hear about new technological fixes, from robots in care homes to smaller scale initiatives to help with medication or paperwork. Or maybe we all need to think about the whole system differently - and all care for each other a little more.Contributors: Sir Andrew Dilnot, head of the 2011 government review on Funding of Care & Support Kathryn Smith, chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence Ben Cooper from the Fabian Society, co-author of their report Support Guaranteed: The Roadmap to a National Care Service Hilary Cottam, designer, social activist and author of Radical Help: How We Can Remake the Relationships Between Us and Revolutionise the Welfare StatePresenter: Ben Ansell Producer: Lucy Burns Editor: Clare Fordham

Rethink looks at the issues of our time, and considers how we might approach them differently. Scrutinising the latest thinking and research, we look at what this might mean for policy and society. In this episode: the cost of living has been high, but all too often, we also pay a premium. It's because of dynamic pricing, drip pricing and now personalised pricing. Dynamic pricing is why, after queuing for hours, Oasis fans were offered tickets that were considerably more expensive than the ones advertised. It's also why do you can be offered different prices each time you try and book an airline ticket, or a hotel online. Big data means that companies can figure out exactly what you are willing to pay online and can shift the price you face to match that. AI data-gathering software is causing cartel-like behaviour amongst competitors, who can draw similar conclusions about their market, and set similar prices.The depth of information available to companies means that they know the price a market will bear, rather than how much customers can afford and regardless of interest rates set by central banks. Regulators are playing catch-up, but what other strategies could be used to combat anti-competitive pricing led by algorithms? And what needs to change to ensure buyers can work out if they're getting a fair deal? Presenter: Ben Ansell Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: David Dayen, writer and journalist, and the executive editor of The American Prospect magazine. Tom Smith, partner at Geradin, and former Legal Director at the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, Professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. Martyn James, consumer rights campaigner and journalist.

Sunder Katwala leads British Future, focusing on immigration and identity. Alan Manning, an LSE professor, offers economic insights, while Madeleine Sumption analyzes migration trends from Oxford. Robert Colvile discusses policy implications. The group delves into public sentiment, revealing divides over immigration that mask agreement on specific groups, like Ukrainian refugees. They tackle the polarization fueled by media and politicians, advocating for honest discourse to bridge gaps in understanding and improve policy for a diverse UK.