Macrodose

Last week, Macrodose returned to SPACE4 for another live show, looking at the future of global political economy under the shadow of Trump 2.0.We explored where the UK fits into this shifting global landscape, what a radical economic programme could look like, and how green politics can rise to meet the moment.Speakers:​James Meadway​Maria Finnerty (Cafod's economic lead)​Kojo Koram (Author of Uncommon Wealth)​Nick Dearden (Director, Global Justice Now)

To celebrate the launch of The BREAK—DOWN ISSUE #1, editor Adrienne Buller was joined by Quinn Slobodian and Geoff Mann for a timely conversation on the afterlives of neoliberalism, the climate crisis, and the global rise of the far right.ISSUE #1The BREAK—DOWN is dedicated to exploring the political economy of the climate crisis. We bring together personal stories, cultural critique, expert insight and radical imagination to explore the systems driving ecological collapse — and what it might take to confront them.In the wake of Donald Trump's return to the White House, our first issue, RIGHT TURN, explores climate politics in an age of rising authoritarianism, asking what happens when the future of the planet is shaped by a hardening new right.Issue ⁠⁠#1⁠⁠ is available now. Buy a print copy ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: First, the UK avoids recession! Where did recent positive GDP figures come from and are they sustainable? (0:48) Second, more news from "The Uninsurable World", as global losses from natural disasters hit $318 billion in 2024 (3:28). And finally, how the Labour government is responding to historic droughts in the UK (12:07). For exclusive content - including our new chat show, The Curve, and Macrodose's monthly newsletter, The Fix - visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.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.

FULL SHOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/macrodose⁠⁠⁠On this week's episode of The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Faiza Shaheen - distinguished policy fellow at the London School of Economics - to discuss the trade deal recently announced between the UK and US (1:49).In the full episode, James and Faiza investigate the sudden flurry of interest in the term “geoeconomics”, and reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is about to review Cash ISAs.Macrodose LIVE tickets (May 22nd): ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/macrodose-live-green-futures-in-the-age-of-trump-tickets-1325086472309⁠ Pre-order issue one of The Break Down magazine: ⁠https://www.break-down.org/issues/1⁠Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠⁠⁠To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway breaks down two big stories. First (0:43), fresh warnings from UK food suppliers about the threat of climate change. Second (3:24), tensions between India and pakistan have seen the dismantling of a key treaty over the supply of water. And finally (10:32), a look at what Reform's successes in the local elections could mean for England's flood defences.

FULL SHOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/macrodose⁠⁠On this week's episode of The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Adrienne Buller from The Break Down to discuss the electrical blackouts that hit southern europe, what caused them, and what they mean for climate policy (2:05).In the full episode, James and Adrienne go over the Canadian election results, the latest on international trade after Trump's liberation day, and the launch of The Break Down's first magazine issue.Macrodose LIVE tickets (May 22nd): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/macrodose-live-green-futures-in-the-age-of-trump-tickets-1325086472309 Pre-order issue one of The Break Down magazine: https://www.break-down.org/issues/1Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠⁠To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway breaks down two big stories. First (0:35), as US investors continue their sell-off, what could de-dollarisation mean for global markets and the balance of economic power? Second (8:41), James reflects on the legacy of Pope Francis following his passing—highlighting the economic themes of his papacy that have been largely overlooked in mainstream tributes.

FULL SHOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/macrodose⁠On this week's episode of The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley are joined by Nick Dearden, Director of Global Justice Now and author of Trade Secrets: The Truth About the US Trade Deal and How We Can Stop It. Together, James, Grace & Nick discuss the continued fallout from Trump's tariff turbulence (2:12).In the full episode, they unpack the big British Steel debate here the UK, and the landmark UN decision to force shipping firms to pay for CO2 emissions. Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway focuses on the one huge story of the week: Trump's tariffs and the end of globalisation (1:17). As Washington announces a sweeping 10% minimum tariff on all US imports, decades of economic orthodoxy are being upended—and the world economy is being reshaped before our eyes. What do we make of it, and what happens next?For exclusive content—including our new chat show, The Curve, and Macrodose's monthly newsletter, The Fix—visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.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.

In a new show from Macrodose:The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley break down the week's biggest economic stories and what they mean for all of us.Joining them on this episode is former Greek finance minister and Diem25 secretary Yanis Varoufakis to discuss Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day' of tariffs (1:46).In the full episode, Yanis James & Grace discuss Germany opting for 'military keynesianism' & whether a wealth tax is an idea whose time has come.FULL SHOW: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/macrodose

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: the UK's Spring Statement and Labour's reckless welfare cuts (0:51), how Trump's America is using dollar swap lines to pressure the EU (7:55), and how global shipping companies are raking in record profits from worldwide trade disruptions (16:55).For exclusive content—including our new chat show, The Curve, and Macrodose's monthly newsletter, The Fix—visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.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.

James is away from the show this week, so we're sharing a great conversation between him and Paris Marx for the podcast Tech Won't Save Us - a show offering a critical take on Big Tech and its impact on society.Paris and James dive into the UK's relationship with tech. Why is Keir Starmer promising to, quote, “mainline AI into the veins of the nation”? Can we do anything about the UK's dependence on Silicon Valley? And what might an alternative tech future look like?For exclusive content—including our new chat show, The Curve, and Macrodose's monthly newsletter, The Fix—visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.Support Tech Won't Save Us ⁠here⁠.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, James Meadway unpacks: Germany's dramatic break from austerity as the government abandons its balanced budget commitments for the first time since 2009 (1:14), and a look at Rachel Reeves' planned cuts in Britain, sticking to the same old austerity playbook even as Germany goes the other way (10:37).For exclusive content—including our new chat show, The Curve, and Macrodose's monthly newsletter, The Fix—visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.MICHAEL BURKE – INCREASING MILITARY SPENDING WILL NOT RAISE LIVING STANDARDS 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.

In a new show from Macrodose:The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley break down the week's biggest economic stories and what they mean for all of us.In this excerpt, they discuss the recent German federal election results and how Die Linke managed to turn things around (1:08).In the full episode, James and Grace look at how US food imports are at a record level, and some recommended reading on the global debt crisis.FULL SHOW: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/macrodose

On this week's MACRODOSE James Meadway unpacks: Trump and Putin's plans for Ukraine – and the geopolitical stakes for Europe (1:29), why new research debunks the myths about working from home (7:50), and our top economics reads for beginners (12:08).For exclusive content, including our new Macrodose chat show - The Curve - visit: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.⁠Post-Work: What It Is, Why It Matters and How We Get There - by Helen Hester and Will StrongeCEP LSE: Not incentivized yet efficient: Working from home in the public sectorOur Macrodose Reading List 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.

In a new show from Macrodose:The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley break down the week's biggest economic stories and what they mean for all of us.In this excerpt, they discuss the Bank of England's interest rate cut and its forecast of 3.5% inflation- are we seeing the return of stagflation? (0:40) In the full episode, James and Grace examine why Britain's gas prices are soaring, and tackle a listener question: where do they stand on the hotly debated notion of techno-feudalism?FULL SHOW: ⁠Patreon.com/macrodose

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: the Bank of England's gloomy forecast for the UK economy (1:08), new warnings about just how water-hungry Britain's data centres will be (6:23), and how the rising price of eggs is the fresh political headache for US president Donald Trump (13:57).Red Shadow - 'Stagflation'Jo Michell - 'Rate cuts won't save us: why Rachel Reeves must do more to fix the economy'For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/macrodose.⁠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.

In the first episode of The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley dive deeper into the economic stories hitting the headlines and what they mean for all of us. First up is US President Donald Trump announcing a slew of tariffs that have provoked reaction globally. For the full episode with James and Grace, head to Patreon.com/macrodose

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: how China's new DeepSeek AI model is sparking chaos in Silicon Valley (0:38), a look back at the first 10 days of Trump 2.0 and the early economic trends emerging (6:53), and a listener question: what the hell is Trump coin, and why is it now worth millions of dollars? (13:18). For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose. 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.

In the media, the importance of the legacies of empire and colonialism are often dismissed, with the public conversation often centring on the "culture war" elements of this history, from debates about statues to institutions like the National Trust becoming "woke". The implication of much of this discourse is that empire and colonialism are features of the past, and should be left there.In reality, it is far from that simple. Our guest for Episode 18 is legal scholar Kojo Koram, whose first book, Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire, unpacks how the legacies of empire continue to structure every part of our unequal global economy, from international tribunals that protect corporate interests to the systems that leave countries trapped in cycles of debt. Rather than a thing of the past, Kojo expertly breaks down just how present empire really is, and critically, how it has shaped both the roots and impacts of climate and ecological crisis.

James is on personal leave this week, so we're bringing you a special recording from October 2024: the book launch of From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire by Sarah Jaffe. Find the full episode at patreon.com/Macrodose. Grief is everywhere in today's world, yet even in our movement spaces, it's often a topic left unspoken. As we navigate an era of intersecting crises, how can we carve out space for our essential human needs—rest, care, and time to mourn—while organising to meet the urgent challenges of our time? Sarah is an acclaimed labour journalist based in New Orleans, USA, is the best-selling author of Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion To Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone and Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt. This event is guest-hosted by Dalia Gebrial, Lecturer in Geography and Social Justice at King's College London, and features Camille Barbagallo and Asad Rehman - interviewees in Sarah's book, offering their powerful perspectives on grief and organising. Buy the book: From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire James will be back behind the microphone very soon, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy this important and inspiring conversation.

Politics is increasingly polarised, but if there's one thing politicians of all major parties can agree on, it's growth — that their political rivals failed to deliver growth, that we need more of it, and that getting it will solve all of our problems, from inequality and poverty to crumbling public services and stalling investment. But not everyone agrees. For a growing movement of post-growth and degrowth economists, economic growth is neither neutral nor desirable. Instead, many increasingly call for the abandonment of our growth-dependent economic model on the basis that unfettered growth is driving our climate and ecosystems to the brink. Our guest today, Hans Stegeman, is an unusual figure in this community — a banker who wants finance, and the wider economy, to move beyond growth for the sake of the planet. Hans is Chief Economist at Triodos Bank, as well as a leading writer and thinker on post-growth economics. In today's episode, Hans and Adrienne discuss degrowth, the myth of green finance, and why breaking the rules of mainstream economics is the first step to a sustainable future.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: the wildfires in California and their potentially catastrophic economic fallout (1:20), a New York Times piece on the politics of climate change and whether it's time for a new “green populism” (11:54), and the financial mess Keir Starmer's government is already finding itself in (17:00). Biden Left us Behind with a "Prius Economy": https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/opinion/electric-vehicles-tax-credits.html For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose. 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, James Meadway unpacks: India's economic slowdown and how climate change is transforming traditional models of development (0:48), Trump's bid to buy Greenland and the geopolitical race for Arctic resources (8:00), and the surprising economics of olive oil, with prices finally expected to fall this year (13:08). For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose. 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.

Macrodose is on a winter break this week, but we're excited to share a special recording from back in May 2024: the book launch of The Exhausted of the Earth by Ajay Singh Chaudhary. This compelling conversation, hosted by Dalia Gebrial, Lecturer in Geography and Social Justice at King's College London, dives into the urgent political and scientific realities of the climate crisis. Ajay explores the bitter struggle between those clinging to the power, wealth, and security of the status quo and the rest of us—exhausted, in every sense, by “business-as-usual.” Together, they unpack the radical politics and collective power needed to navigate our burning world, moving beyond survival toward something far better.

This week, Macrodose teams up with our partner show The Break Down for a special crossover episode. James Meadway and Adrienne Buller look back on the whirlwind that was 2024 – a year defined by political upheaval, economic instability, and escalating climate crises. They revisit the standout stories of the year, from surging infectious diseases and climate-driven inflation to the unraveling of the post-war global order. Looking ahead to 2025, they explore the big macroeconomic trends we need to be tracking and ask: how do we make sense of these challenges, and what does a hopeful, sustainable path forward look like? A huge thank you to our Patreon supporters for making this show possible over the past twelve months. From all of us at Macrodose and The Break Down, we wish you a joyful and restful winter break. For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose. 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: James Meadway explores the new Cold War as Trump gears up to escalate US-China trade tensions (1:47) and examines the broader geopolitical and environmental shifts challenging the postwar order (12:04). AI-Generated Production Networks Paper: https://aipnet.io/paper/ For exclusive content, including The Fix—Macrodose's monthly newsletter—and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose. 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.

In 2024, we're set to break a major climate threshold for the first time: this will be the first calendar year in which global average temperatures breach the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold enshrined in the Paris Agreement. Importantly, while one year at this temperature doesn't mean all is lost, it does fire a profound warning shot over our faltering progress on mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis. While every fraction of a degree matters when it comes to the climate, the consensus is clear that above 1.5C the severity of impacts and risk of tipping points like mass coral reef die off or the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet become substantially higher. You might therefore expect this to be front page news. Yet compared with its gravity, it has barely made headlines. If, like us, you're wondering why — as it turns out, this was always part of the plan. In this episode, Adrienne and Andreas Malm break down the concept of “overshoot”, how it's tied up with the power of fossil fuels, and the future of climate politics, from ecofascism to geoengineering. Andreas Malm is an associate professor at Lund University, an activist and the author of several books, most recently Overshoot: How The World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown, co-written with Wim Carton.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway discusses the battle to develop climate-resilient potatoes (0:50), a new proposal on revamping Britain's council farms (7:33) and a brief note on Trump's new appointments, what can we expect from MAGA 2.0? (11:23). Abundance Report: https://www.in-abundance.org/latest/new-report-food-systems-in-common For more content, including The Fix - Macrodose's monthly newsletter - and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk 

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway explores the disappointing outcomes of COP29 in Baku, focusing on the economics of financing green transitions in the Global South (0:38), and examines how China's $2 billion bond sale in Saudi Arabia reflects the rise of a multipolar world (8:16). For more content, including The Fix - Macrodose's monthly newsletter - and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway examines the growing political battle over food policy as farmers protest inheritance tax changes (0:46), new forecasts from the Network for Greening the Financial System on the economic damage climate change could inflict globally (7:11), and finally, James tackles a listener question: do we need more than a Green New Deal to revive our struggling economy? (11:24). NGFS Report: https://www.ngfs.net/sites/default/files/media/2024/11/05/ngfs_scenarios_high-level_overview.pdf For more content and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

In the wake of the US election, hot takes and autopsies of the Democrats' fairly spectacular loss are a dime a dozen. Amid the swirl of diagnoses there has also been real fear about what a Trump presidency means for the climate — an issue that felt almost entirely absent from either campaign, despite its significant role in Biden's policy platform.  How should we understand what just happened? What comes next for climate policy, both in the US and, through its huge influence, in countries around the world. And crucially, in a moment where it feels so politically sidelined, how can we build a broad base of popular support for action on climate? Joining us on The Break Down to work through these questions is Matt Huber, a Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Climate Change as Class War”. If the book's title is any indication, Matt makes the case that climate and ecological crisis are fundamentally class issues, and that any chance of political success means taking climate out of the world of technocrats and experts, and connecting it to the everyday issues that shape people's lives.  Notes and Further Reading Cedric Durand, Elena Hofferberth & Matthias Schmelzer, "Planning Beyond Growth: The Case for Economic Democracy Within Ecological Limits", Journal of Cleaner Production Matt Huber, Climate Change as Class War, Verso, 2022 Matt Huber, The Problem with Degrowth, Jacobin Gabriel Winant, "Exit Right", Dissent Magazine

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway dives into the fallout from the US election, exploring what another four years of Trump could mean for US climate policy and the global economy (1:16), before turning to another major election—this time in Japan—where the ruling conservative coalition lost its majority in a snap election (7:58). With incumbents failing across the world, what lessons can we learn for the future of economics? For more content and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk. For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk.

Today we're publishing a crossover episode with our friends over at the Politics Theory Other podcast. Alex and James discussed what the result means for the global economy, US domestic policy and the wider context of a world in crisis. Support Macrodose and receive updates here: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Support PTO, and receive some of the best political insights available anywhere: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

Last week we celebrated our 100th episode of the show with another live event! James was joined by Co-Leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer MP, and economists Faiza Shaheen, and Grace Blakeley, to break down Labour's Autumn Budget. A massive thank you to everyone who joined us at Space4! Apologies to anyone awaiting our ELECTION ECONOMICS episode with Thea Riofrancos - we've had to delay that recording but we'll be posting a review of the election results once they are in. As always you'll find that at patreon.com/macrodose.  Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

Amid the threat of “Project 2025”, ongoing genocide in Gaza, and a nation-wide battle over reproductive rights, to name a few major issues, the climate crisis has been considerably sidelined in the US election taking place on November 5th. But even if it's not grabbing headlines, what the United States does — or does not do — on climate has profound implications for the entire world.   So where does climate stand in this election? With Kamala Harris praising both the Green New Deal and her role as a champion of fracking, how should we understand the Democratic position on climate? What is the legacy of the Inflation Reduction Act, and does it even register with voters? What, if anything, is the future of the Green New Deal? And, for the many people who don't feel represented by either major party, is a third party, or not voting, the answer? These are big questions — here to help us answer them are two brilliant guests, journalist Kate Aronoff and Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid. In this special episode, Adrienne, Kate and Waleed unpack the chaos and the stakes of the US election, and what it means for climate action in the US and beyond. Kate Aronoff is a journalist, Staff Writer at the New Republic and Fellow at The Roosevelt Institute. She is also the author of books including Overheated: How capitalism broke the planet — and how we fight back (2021), and A Planet To Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal (2019).  Waleed Shahid is a Democratic strategist and movement organiser. He previously served as the Director of Communications for the Justice Democrats, the political initiative that worked to elect “The Squad” and helped to launch The Green New Deal in the US. NOTES AND FURTHER READING Kate Aronoff, "Green Industrial Policy's Unfinished Business: A Publicly Managed Fossil Fuel Wind-Down", Roosevelt Institute Kate Aronoff, "The IRA Is An Invitation to Organizers", Dissent Magazine Waleed Shahid, "Democrats, Parties and Palestine: Five stages of political grief", Convergence Waleed Shahid, "What The Left Can Learn From Jamaal Bowman's Loss", The Nation

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway looks ahead to this afternoon's Autumn Budget, breaking down what you need to know about Labour's devoutly “pro-growth” agenda and how it all fits into a bigger picture of our changing political and economic landscape (2:20). Check out our new ELECTION ECONOMICS series, available only for MACRODOSE supporters on Patreon, covering all things political economy ahead of the US election on 5th November. You can find our recent episode with Adam Tooze at patreon.com/Macrodose. Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk.For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk.

FULL EPISODE: patreon.com/Macrodose Election Economics is back! Over the next few weeks, James will be joined by an array of expert thinkers to cover all things political economy in the run-up to the US Presidential Election on 5th November. On this week's show, James sat down with renowned economic historian Adam Tooze to discuss his recent writings on US political economy and foreign policy, how the two are shaped by longer term trends in American and global history, and where the upcoming election might leave us all. We'll be posting new episodes of Election Economics weekly. So if you're enjoying the series, make sure to subscribe to stay updated. As always, you can find that over at patreon.com/Macrodose.  You can find Adam's work here: https://adamtooze.com Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

In a 2023 referendum, the people of Ecuador voted 59% to 41% to stop exploiting oil in the Yasuní region, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with more tree species in one single hectare than in all of the landmass of Canada and the US combined. It was a massive break with the global status quo, in a year when fossil fuel use around the world reached record highs and profits soared. However, the referendum was not an overnight success. It built on years of struggle, including the failed Yasuní-ITT initiative undertaken by then-president Rafael Correa in 2007, which asked foreign governments to pay Ecuador not to exploit the oil in this region.  So how did it happen, and what lessons can the rest of the world learn from Ecuador? Here to answer these questions, and many more, is Andrés Arauz, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Economic Policy Research and, formerly, a politician in the Ecuadorian government. In this special episode, Adrienne speaks to Andrés about Ecuador's pursuit of climate and environmental justice, as well as the barriers facing lower income countries in the context of a highly unequal global economic system. From the International Monetary Fund to the rules of international trade, Andrés unpacks the ways that injustice is built into global capitalism, and lays out a blueprint for a radical alternative. Andrés Arauz is an economist and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic Research and Policy in DC. He has an extensive and diverse background in economic policy, research, organising, and politics, serving in several positions in the Ecuadorian government and running as Vice President in the 2023 Ecuadorian elections.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway dives into growing concerns over the use of surveillance technology by US supermarkets and how it's being leveraged to drive price gouging (1:14), before turning to a recent BBC report on the UK's health crisis and it's economic fallout (5:29). Check out our new ELECTION ECONOMICS series, available only for MACRODOSE supporters on Patreon, covering all things political economy ahead of the US election on 5th November. You can find tomorrow's episode with Adam Tooze at patreon.com/Macrodose.  Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

We have become incredibly good at producing food. In doing so we have transformed our planet. Yet when we go to the supermarket or eat at a restaurant, the supply chains, labour and environmental impacts that went into our food are all but invisible.  Those impacts are huge. Today, humans and livestock make up 96% of all mammals. Agriculture consumes about 70% of global freshwater, and is responsible for some 80% of deforestation. And yet despite producing more than enough food to feed everyone on earth, every day a minimum of 800 million people go hungry, while a fifth of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste. Clearly, something's got to give. Thankfully, here to help us out of the mess is Dr. Sonali McDermid, a climate scientist and Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies at NYU. In this episode, she breaks down how climate and ecological crisis threaten our food systems — and how we can feed the world without wrecking the planet. Find more about the Break Down at break-down.org and be sure to follow us across social media to stay up-to-date with upcoming episodes, essay launches and more.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway breaks down how climate change is wreaking havoc on Britain's harvests and threatening food security (2:04), why Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) doesn't offer the answers we need for today's economic challenges (6:49), and the reasons behind the rising cost of butter, with climate change once again playing a key role (14:53) Check out our new ELECTION ECONOMICS series, available only for MACRODOSE supporters on Patreon, covering all things political economy ahead of the US election on 5th November. Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

FULL EPISODE: patreon.com/Macrodose Election Economics is back! Over the next few weeks, James will be joined by an array of expert thinkers to cover all things political economy in the run-up to the US Presidential Election on 5th November. On this week's show, James sat down with the writer and economic historian Andrew Elrod, whose recent piece in Phenomenal World asks the simple but vital question: What Was Bidenomics: from build back better to the national security synthesis. You can check out the full article here, as well as the rest of the sharp analysis published by our friends over at Phenomenal World. https://www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/what-was-bidenomics/  Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway breaks down: China's economic slowdown and new stimulus package (1:39), and how much will it actually cost to fix Britain's broken economy? (9:37). We'll be releasing tickets for our upcoming live event to Patrons on Friday. Support the show and receive updates here: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway breaks down the global economic impact of Storm Helene and how it could disrupt the tech supply chain (0:36), plus a listener question about changes to the fiscal rules and their potential effect on Keir Starmer's government (7:40). For more content and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

Today's episode of The Break Down explores the idea and the power of utopian fiction with guest Kim Stanley Robinson, the acclaimed science fiction author whose most recent novel, The Ministry for the Future, offers a harrowing and detailed vision of how we might respond to the climate crisis.  Among other things, Adrienne and Stan discuss the politics of science and technology; the place of speculative fiction in an era dominated by nostalgia and the importance of utopia at a time when our political imaginations are so constrained.  Like The Ministry for the Future itself, this episode is dedicated to the late Fredric Jameson. You can find many of Jameson's incredible works here: https://shorturl.at/fYDNJ Find more about the Break Down at break-down.org and be sure to follow us across social media to stay up-to-date with upcoming episodes, essay launches and more.

On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway breaks down: Rachel Reeves' first speech as Chancellor at Labour Party Conference (0:46), the reopening of Three Mile Island to fuel a Microsoft data center (7:13), and a listener question on the concept of public luxury in an era of economic stagnation (12:08). For more content and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week's Macrodose James Meadway breaks down: the resurgence of US fossil fuel power and its impact on the energy transition (0:39) Feedback from last week's theory episode, on the role of technology in combating the rising costs of climate change (5:17) For more content and to support the show, visit: https://www.patreon.com/macrodose Got a question or a comment? Reach us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠⁠

Followers of Macrodose may remember our Roundtable episode from earlier this year, in which Adrienne spoke to James and the brilliant Brett Christophers about the many and varied reasons why — despite all the hype about how cheap renewables have become — the transition to renewable energy cannot be left to the market and the profit motive. What that conversation didn't leave us with, however, was an answer to the obvious question: if not the market, then what? Here to make the case for a simple but radical solution are Chris Hayes and Melanie Brusseler, the Chief Economist and US Programme Director, respectively, at Common Wealth, a progressive UK based think tank and our partners in this series. In today's episode, Chris and Melanie break down how public ownership can transform our energy system, providing not only a faster and cheaper path to 100% clean energy, but also the foundations of a more just and democratic economy overall.

James returns after a Summer break! This week we're running a special episode on Macrodose theory, taking you behind the scenes to look at some of the theoretical building blocks of how we put the show together (1:23).  What is Macrodose, why are we doing it, and who are the thinkers we should be reading to understand the world we now live in today? READING LIST Michael Kidron 'Failing growth and rampant costs': https://www.marxists.org/archive/kidron/works/2002/xx/ghosts.htm Jason W. Moore & Raj Patel 'The History of the World in Seven Cheap Things': https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/817-a-history-of-the-world-in-seven-cheap-things?srsltid=AfmBOoovsDH9x0Ul8B5VanJBOwDVnQwTDcwd7Dcl0M9wXADgRgze-HBi Jason W. Moore 'Capitalism and the way of life': https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/74-capitalism-in-the-web-of-life?srsltid=AfmBOopvBjmgELZS0p0byISi61atpkB_6TxzT96WxfkUwf4QAiGmWHDg Kohei Saito 'Karl Marx's Ecosocialism': https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/karl-marxa-tm-s-ecosocialism-capital-nature-and-the-unfinished-critique-of-political-economy-kohei-saito/2345756 Tithi Battacharyya 'Social Reproduction Theory': https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745399881/social-reproduction-theory/ Mike Davies 'Old Gods, New Enigmas': https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/820-old-gods-new-enigmas?srsltid=AfmBOorvAsqCHVKnEPCn-ynLLGA40RuCFWNZOpVpbD2HZGWiuVBA3VZp Thomas Philippon 'Additive Growth': https://www.nber.org/papers/w29950 Potsdam Institute Research: https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/38-trillion-dollars-in-damages-each-year-world-economy-already-committed-to-income-reduction-of-19-due-to-climate-change Isabella Weber: https://academic.oup.com/icc/article/33/2/297/7603347 Enjoy! As always, a massive thank you to all of our existing Patreon subscribers - you make this show possible. Find our socials, newsletter and more here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/macrodosepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk ⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk ⁠⁠

On this week's Macrodose, Craig Gent explores algorithmic management. What is at stake when we speak of the creeping introduction of algorithms? Is it just an inevitable fact of the long march toward progress? Or does it open a new frontier that we need to take seriously and strategically? Craig Gent is a writer and researcher and the North of England Editor at Novara Media. He's also the author of a new book Cyberboss: The Rise of Algorithmic Management and the New Struggle for Control at Work, which is out this month tinyurl.com/3sxy2nsf A massive thank you to all of our existing Patreon subscribers, your support keeps the show running and we are very grateful. If you have the means and enjoy our work, head over to ⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose⁠⁠ and subscribe today. Find our socials, newsletter and more here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/macrodosepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or get in touch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠⁠