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The Bigger Picture: Reform UK's policies, Trump's agenda and the rise of fake scientific papers

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Reform UK's policies, Trump's agenda and the rise of fake scientific papers
Rather than rely upon press reports, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University delves into Reform UK's policies, finding no evidence of far-right attitudes but instead a mix of old-school Thatcherite ideas with socialist control. He suspects some ideas could be appropriated by other parties. Donald Trump's Agenda 47 baffled him more, being a smorgasbord combining centre-left ideas on welfare with more nationalistic, protectionist policies. By offering something for almost everyone, he may have a broader base than previously. Tim is very concerned about the rise of thousands of fraudulent scientific papers, with 10,000 believed to have been retracted last year alone. This black economy, driven in large part from China, India, Iran and Russia, could prove extremely dangerous in the scientific arena.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: The US returns to the Moon, Darwin online, safer lithium batteries & Taylor Swift and CPR

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: The US returns to the Moon, Darwin online, safer lithium batteries & Taylor Swift and CPR
Steve Caplin discusses the US returning to the Moon for the first time since 1972, entirely in private hands rather than equipped by NASA. There's an electric rickshaw with a detachable scooter. A top-of-the-ranger mobility scooter has all mod cons. Brian Eno's limited edition turnable is a work of art – but an ugly one. Steve wonders why there's a new portable CD player. Charles Darwin's library is online in its entirety, but dreadfully presented. Lithium batteries could be made far safer, if people are prepared to pay. Taylor Swift's songs could save people from heart attacks. Repeated vaccines should be given in alternate arms. An underwater kite could be the solution to strong wave power. And chocolate could have much less sugar – and more oat flour.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

The Business of Film: The Iron Claw, Upgraded & How To Have Sex

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Business Of Film

The Business of Film: The Iron Claw, Upgraded & How To Have Sex
James Cameron-Wilson reports that 2023's box office was up 9% at £978m. This week, though, it's down 25% with no new big films. True-life wrestling pic The Iron Claw, with Zac Efron, made only £750,000 at #3 but nothing rings true and James found it dull. With no other new releases other than Peppa's Cinema Party, James turned to Amazon Prime for the romcom Upgraded which, while hardly a true original, he found smart, savvy and very funny. The dialogue zings and he was left with a stupid smile on his face. Not so with How To Have Sex, out for home viewing. This Cannes prizewinner about Brits holidaying in Crete was disturbing, sometimes shocking but authentic and skilfully directed. He was surprised, however, at the 15 certificate.
Guest:

James Cameron-Wilson


Published:
Simon Rose

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The UK's banks

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: The UK's banks
Are the banks cheap or are investors right to be wary? With results season upon us, Russ Mould of A J Bell points out how the sector has been underperforming, even though 2023 profits are forecast to be at an all-time high along with cash returns. It may be that investors feel 2023 will be as good as it gets and are wary of the economy's future. But for long-term investors who aren't particularly gloomy about the outlook, while the banks may be plodders, they do provide a decent yield.
Guest:

Russ Mould


Published:
Simon Rose

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Barratt Developments, Redrow & housebuilders

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors

The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors: Barratt Developments, Redrow & housebuilders
Neil Shah of Edison Group looks at the housebuilding sector in the light of Barratt's bid for Redrow, a deal the market has not looked favourably upon. There is a severe shortage of new housing but it is a difficult time for housebuilders, with difficulties over planning and environmental rules and higher interest rates, Neil feels that the sector is cyclical and that, over the long term, the fundamentals are attractive for investors.
Guest:

Neil Shah


Published:
Simon Rose

The Business of Film: Migration, Argylle, The Zone of Interest & American Fiction

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Business Of Film

The Business of Film: Migration, Argylle, The Zone of Interest & American Fiction
While UK box office rose 25%, James Cameron-Wilson found the animated Migration, #1, as processed as American cheese. #2 spy spoof Argylle from Matthew Vaughn he found over-familiar, over-long, unbelievable and lazy filmmaking. #5 is The Zone of Interest which, despite its 5 Oscar nominations, can be hard to see in cinemas. James, however, heartily recommends American Fiction at #10, also garnering 5 Oscar nominations, with Jeffrey Wright as a multi-faceted writer trying to break down stereotypes.
Guest:

James Cameron-Wilson


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Apple Vision Pro, healing broken bones, driling straight & dinosaur feathers

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Apple Vision Pro, healing broken bones, driling straight & dinosaur feathers
Steve Caplin enviously discusses Apple's Vision Pro's features, still only available in the US. Korean scientists believe electric bandages will heal bones more quickly. An app will guide blind people directly to bus stops and another will help identify anything they pick up. A clever gadget will ensure that you can drill perpendicular holes. Seoul scientists believe they're discovered the reason that dinosaurs had feathers before they could fly. A new minimal phone does less for a steep price. And an American scientist has been told AI cannot be an inventor.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Debt problems, the BRICs and the downside of government interference

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Debt problems, the BRICs and the downside of government interference
Tim Price of Price Value Partners considers the possible outcomes, given that interest rates have risen from a record low in a world awash with debt. He discusses the pendulum of economic growth shifting towards the BRICs and Asia (minus China). And he laments the failure of governments to learn the conseqences of interfering with markets. He suggests, when it comes to the drive to Net Zero, that people ask "Who benefits"? And, explaining his own investment principles, while he still feels inflation is a clear and present danger, he believes that precious metals and commodity stocks are at bargain levels.
Guest:

Tim Price


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Milei lecturing the WEF, plummetting EV car sales & the truth about Gen Z

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Milei lecturing the WEF, plummetting EV car sales & the truth about Gen Z
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University explains why he so enjoyed new Argentine President Javier Milei lecturing the great and good of the World Economic Forum about libertarian and Austrian economics, attacking corporatism and socialism. He feels Milei could be the most consequential politician economically-speaking for many years. He also looks at falling EV car sales, lamenting the way in which politicians set goals for achieving their hobbyhorses irrespective of scientific progress and consumer demand. And he is fascinated by a meeting between journalist John Humphreys and members of Gen Z, which showed them to be different to the popular perception.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Business of Film: All Of Us Strangers, The Color Purple & Peeping Tom

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Business Of Film

The Business of Film: All Of Us Strangers, The Color Purple & Peeping Tom
James Cameron-Wilson says UK box office is down another 21%. While Mean Girls is #1 but fading, garlanded UK low-budget 4-hander All Of Us Strangers from Andrew Haigh is #2 with £1.1m. Andrew Scott is outstanding in a mesmerising, original film about a gay writer. He was less complimentary about the musical version of The Color Purple at #8, with the showstopping tunes at odds with the dark underlying material. Restored for home video, 1960's Peeping Tom, a voyeuristic film from Michael Powell about a killer, might have destroyed his reputation but, thanks to Martin Scorsese, it's now recognised as a misunderstood classic and quite playful and witty at times. The bonus material is terrific.
Guest:

James Cameron-Wilson


Published: