The Mishal Husain Show
News & Politics
About
Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them. Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview
Episodes
- Anthony Scaramucci: Trump and the Humiliation That Made Him Famous
Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director, speaks with Mishal Husain about his experiences with Donald Trump, his career bets, and his take on American politics. They discuss his early life, mistakes, and current polit…
- Why India Has Lost Its Way: Writer Amitav Ghosh on the New World Order, Politics and Past Lives
Amitav Ghosh joins Mishal Husain to delve into his new novel, Ghost-Eye, and discusses themes including India's diplomatic path, the environment, and the challenges of writing in the current world.
- How to Get a Deal With Iran: Former US Negotiator Wendy Sherman on Power, Pressure and Reality
Former US negotiator Wendy Sherman discusses the challenges of dealing with Iran, the impact of current regional conflicts, and the roles of China and Russia in the evolving geopolitical landscape. She also reflects on her previous experie…
- Hamlet, James Bond and SNL UK: Riz Ahmed on Reinventing Cultural Icons
Riz Ahmed joins Mishal Husain to discuss his new adaptation of Hamlet, his series Bait where he plays a version of James Bond, and his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise. He also talks about creativity, politics, and how fatherhood has impacte…
- America’s Limits, Iran’s Leverage, Pakistan’s Moment: Maleeha Lodhi on a Shifting Order
In this episode of The Mishal Husain Show, Maleeha Lodhi discusses America's influence, Iran's leverage, and Pakistan's moment in a shifting global order. She focuses on Pakistan's role in enabling dialogue between the US and Iran, and the…
- Lionel Shriver on Immigration, Identity and Why She Refuses to Stay Quiet
In this episode of The Mishal Husain Show, Lionel Shriver discusses her novel, "A Better Life," which she describes as a metaphor for undocumented US immigration. She also touches on her political views and various societal topics.
- Why Israel Could Be Forced to Stop: Shira Efron on War, Fatigue and Netanyahu's Strategy
Mishal Husain interviews Middle East analyst Shira Efron about the dynamics of the ongoing conflict involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. They discuss Israeli government strategy, public opinion, the potential for elections, and US-Is…
- Ro Khanna on Stopping the Iran War, Taking on the ‘Epstein Class’ and Taxing Billionaires
US Representative Ro Khanna discusses his efforts to release the Epstein files, his work on a War Powers resolution regarding Iran, and his belief that taxing billionaires could unite diverse political factions in the United States.
- Why Iran Isn’t Breaking: Vali Nasr on Pain, Patience and the Uprising That Isn’t Coming
Mishal Husain interviews Vali Nasr about Iran's stability, the regime's response to geopolitical pressure, and the historical context of US-Iran relations. They discuss why Tehran may view a prolonged conflict as a factor that could streng…
- Middle East Expert Bernard Haykel on the Three Futures for Iran After the Strikes
Mishal Husain interviews Professor Bernard Haykel on the current conflict in the Middle East following strikes on Iran. They discuss potential future scenarios for Iran, the role of regional powers like Saudi Arabia, and the political lead…
- WHO Chief Tedros on Covid, China and Texting RFK Jr
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus discusses the impact of US withdrawal from the organization, the search for Covid-19's origins in China, and his communications with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He also reflects on how his childhoo…
- ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Creator Maggie Kang on the Global Hit No One Saw Coming
Maggie Kang, creator of the Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters,” joins Mishal Husain to discuss the success of the animation, her career in Hollywood, and her experience growing up between two cultures.
- Bonus Episode: The Andrew Story
Mishal Husain discusses the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with Allegra Stratton and Harry Wilson. They examine his business connections and the potential implications for the British monarchy.
- Author Andrey Kurkov on Winter in Kyiv and Why Putin Won’t Stop
Writer Andrey Kurkov discusses the reality of living in Kyiv during a brutal, war-torn winter, his experiences documenting the conflict, and his perspective on the ongoing war in Ukraine. In conversation with Mishal Husain, he addresses pr…
- David Miliband on Global Disorder, Labour’s ‘Mistakes’ and Deploying $1 Billion on Crises
David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, discusses global crises, the evolving role of the US, and the current political landscape in the UK with host Mishal Husain. Miliband also reflects on his past in the Labour Party…
- Netflix’s ‘Cover-Up’ Director Laura Poitras on ICE, ‘Domestic Terrorists’ and US Surveillance
Filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Mishal Husain to discuss her Netflix documentary 'Cover-Up' about journalist Seymour Hersh. They also discuss government surveillance, the label of "domestic terrorist," and the role of citizen journalism in d…
- Rutger Bregman Is Thinking About Billionaires, the US Versus Europe and Saving the World
Rutger Bregman, historian and author of "Moral Ambition," discusses his views on elites, European leadership, AI, and entrepreneurship with Mishal Husain. He also addresses his recent experiences with the BBC and his efforts to build a mov…
- Jeanne Shaheen Is Pressing For Answers on Venezuela, Greenland and Iran
Senator Jeanne Shaheen joins Mishal Husain to discuss US foreign policy regarding Venezuela, Iran, and Greenland. They also cover healthcare, the cost of living, the future of the Democratic party, and the challenges of bipartisanship in t…
- Peter Navarro Is Doubling Down on Tariffs
Mishal Husain interviews economist and trade adviser Peter Navarro about his work with former President Donald Trump. They discuss US-China trade relations, tariffs, Navarro's time in prison, and upcoming political events.
- Kara Swisher Is Thinking About Life After Trump
Journalist Kara Swisher joins Mishal Husain to discuss her career covering Silicon Valley, the influence of tech leaders, and the industry's future. They discuss the potential AI bubble, the rise of robotics, and perspectives on the politi…
- Elon Musk Wants Credit for Cutting Waste, Not Cutting Aid
Mishal Husain presents her full May 2025 interview with Elon Musk from the Qatar Economic Forum. The conversation covers Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, AI regulation, and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- Lynsey Addario Keeps Going Back to Photograph War
Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer Lynsey Addario discusses her three-decade career documenting global conflicts and her experience being abducted. She also speaks with Mishal Husain about her childhood and balancing her professional…
- Mustafa Suleyman Isn’t Like Everyone Else in Silicon Valley
Mishal Husain speaks with Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and head of Microsoft's AI unit. They discuss the societal decisions needed for AI, the competition for tech talent, and the new superintelligence team tasked with creating…
- Salman Rushdie Isn’t Afraid of Free Speech
In this episode, Salman Rushdie shares his experiences following the attack he endured, his journey back to writing fiction, and his thoughts on free speech. He also touches upon personal connections and his relationship with places he has…
- Ken Burns Says Gratitude Is the Missing Ingredient in Our Politics
Mishal Husain speaks with Ken Burns about his new PBS series on the American Revolution, the complexity and global significance of the historical event, and gratitude during Thanksgiving.
- Fei-Fei Li Helped Create AI, Now She Feels the Responsibility
Fei-Fei Li, often called the "godmother of AI," shares her 25-year journey in artificial intelligence research with Mishal Husain. She discusses her emigration from China, early inspirations in physics, and her current focus on creating AI…
- Richard Moore Was Paid to Steal Secrets, Not Solve Mysteries
Richard Moore, former chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, shares insights with Mishal Husain on managing China, understanding Vladimir Putin's mindset, and the realities of a career in espionage. Moore discusses his transition…
- Julia Ioffe Wants You to Know Russia Is Bigger Than Putin
Russian-American journalist Julia Ioffe discusses her book "Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia" with Mishal Husain. The conversation covers the history of Russian women, Putinism, Trump
- María Corina Machado Believes US Pressure on Maduro Is the Only Way
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado discusses US intervention, the Nobel Peace Prize, and her plans for Venezuela with Mishal Husain.
- Nigel Farage Thinks Britain Has Had Too Many Unifiers
Mishal Husain interviews Nigel Farage about his political return as leader of Reform UK, discussing consensus politics, the UK's future EU relationship, and his views on Donald Trump's policies.
- Mark Carney Has Learned From Donald Trump
Mishal Husain interviews Mark Carney, who discusses trade battles, Vladimir Putin's miscalculations, and insights gained from Donald Trump. The interview also touches on Carney's personal journey and the climate crisis.
- Introducing: The Mishal Husain Show
Mishal Husain introduces her new show, aiming to guide listeners through complex current events using journalistic experience.