The Mishal Husain Show

A new and radical take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet is out in US cinemas. The force behind it is actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed. He says the 400-year-old story has never felt more current.Ahmed, Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal and star of the Oscar-winning live-action short The Long Goodbye, has a new series on Prime Video called Bait. It’s a black comedy about an actor on the cusp of a life-changing role as James Bond.  In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ahmed talks about creativity and politics, discusses his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise and how becoming a father affected his acting. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview02:32 - Hamlet “never goes out of fashion"03:39 - “The old order is falling apart”05:00 - “Is it the world that’s gone crazy or is it me?”07:50 - The dream of playing Hamlet09:51 - To be, or not to be is “misunderstood”13:40 - “It's authentic. I'm not acting”17:00 - Bait “it’s a very personal show”17:24 - Why Barbara Broccoli said yes to using Bond21:43 - Looking for acceptance22:34 - “Culture works in cycles”25:04 - Acting was an extension of real life28:20 - “I don’t like being pinned down”28:42 - SNL UK30:01 - Working with Tom Cruise32:21 - “My weekends are really simple” Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After almost six weeks of war, how did Pakistan manage to get the US and Iran to talk? Amid a still-fragile situation in the Middle East, that question sits at the heart of this conversation with Maleeha Lodhi. She has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, as well as to the UK and United Nations. For her, the Islamabad talks mark a moment of wider significance, as the middle powers demonstrate their capacity to influence geopolitics.Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview02:55 - Pakistan as a peacebroker05:00 - Field Marshal Asim Munir and President Trump07:49 - Pakistan and Iran10:00 - Economic pain in Pakistan13:40 - Israel and Lebanon14:45 - “I'd like to be optimistic”19:30 - US miscalculations22:00 - “US dominance is fading”23:00 Middle powers can “shape geopolitics”23:53 - Is China a winner? 29:00 - Trump’s Board of Peace29:50 - “Common ground can be found” Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lionel Shriver has often tackled complex or contentious issues in her fiction. From school shootings in We Need to Talk About Kevin to economic collapse in The Mandibles.  Her new novel, A Better Life, is the story of a family home taken over by outsiders. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Shriver discusses the sociological concerns behind the story, which she says is a metaphor for the increase in undocumented US immigration during the Biden administration.  Shriver is a regular columnist for The Spectator, a conservative UK magazine. The link between the writing styles in that publication and her novel also feature in this episode. In the written version of this conversation, you’ll find more information on how Mishal Husain researched and prepared for this interview, including her own notes, data, historical context and further quotes from Lionel Shriver. www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 02:27 - Inspiration for A Better Life03:39 - Extended adolescence06:32 - A metaphor for America10:21 - Shriver’s political journey12:42 - Declining populations17:02 - ICE tactics20:34 - From North Carolina to Northern Ireland22:57 - Rebelling against church24:30 - Transgender debate30:07 - Why Shriver left the UK 32:26 - Muslim immigration35:32 - Novels versus columns40:12 - Writing for shorter attention spans41:30 - Shriver’s recovery from illness Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With attention fixed on the potential developments between the US and Iran, could the Israeli government be forced to end the war earlier than it might like? The last few weeks have seen daily air strikes by Israel on Iran, and retaliatory attacks that have killed and injured Israelis. The wider picture is of two and a half years of constant conflict, particularly in Gaza. In this conversation, Mishal Husain speaks to Shira Efron, who has been a Middle East analyst for the last 20 years and is now Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy at RAND. They discuss Israeli public opinion on Iran, the extent of the military operation in Lebanon and what’s at stake in the Israeli election due later this year. 02:25 - Life in Tel Aviv 04:42 - Israeli public opinion on Iran 06:24 - “A feeling of deja vu”07:42 - Netanyahu's calculation09:17 - Will elections go ahead?10:59 - Did the Mossad get it wrong? 12:44 - American public opinion14:24 - US and Israeli relations18:24 - “There's one boss and this boss is President Trump”20:11 - The future of Lebanon23:52 - “Everyone forgot where Gaza is”31:21 - Smotrich’s plan33:44 - “We are seeing a shift to the right”37:37 - Looking ahead to 2028 Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Representative Ro Khanna of California helped force Donald Trump to release the Epstein files. Now he wants to end the war with Iran. Earlier this month, the Democratic Congressman joined forces with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, on a War Powers resolution seeking to halt the military action, though it ultimately failed in the GOP-controlled House. Speaking to Mishal Husain almost three weeks after the US and Israel began coordinated attacks on Iran, Khanna says he believes that  opposing war in the Middle East and taxing billionaires could unite progressives and disaffected Trump voters.02:57 - Hearing Epstein’s name for the first time05:18 - Forcing the release of the Epstein files 10:07 - Holding this Epstein class accountable11:05 - A new found confidence 11:59 - Hoping for a split in MAGA? 12:43 - “It’s a coalition that’s gonna win”14:24 - Stopping the war in Iran 15:53 - Trump’s “looking for an off ramp to end the war”17:21 - Increasing pressure on Trump over Iran 19:50 - Could Cuba be next? 21:21 - Khanna’s grandfather was an Indian MP23:15 - Running for president in 2028? 24:58 - Taxing billionaires30:08 - A progressive coalition34:06 - “You can't help but be hopeful about the American story”Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.