Shows / The Intelligence from The Economist
The Intelligence from The Economist
Join Jason Palmer and Rosie Blau for noise-cancelling news and analysis from The Economist's global network of correspondents. Every weekday this award-winning podcast picks three stories shaping your world—the big shifts in politics, business and culture, plus things you never knew you needed to know. On Saturdays, download The Weekend Intelligence to dive deep into a single story, vividly told. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part…
Episodes
The Intelligence from The EconomistCryptic message: why arrest Telegram’s founder?
As Pavel Durov sits in a French cell waiting to find out if he will be charged, our correspondent probes the links between Telegram and Russia. What central…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBlock busters: how Russia flouts sanctions
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the West has deployed massive economic restrictions on Russian trade. So why is Russia’s economy growing? A survivor’s story…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe chips are down: will diet drugs devour junk food?
Snack-food companies have long shown their adaptability to changing diets. How could the rise of appetite-suppressing drugs and fears about ultra-processed…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: The war the world ignores
In this episode of The Weekend Intelligence, Africa correspondent Tom Gardner tells the story of 21st century Sudan. A story bookended by war. Darfur, a state…
The Intelligence from The EconomistKamaChameleon: What does Harris stand for?
After an electric week at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Kamala Harris now faces the real test in her bid to be president. Can she convince…
The Intelligence from The EconomistElectric eye: AI is helping fight terrorists
Predicting political violence is a painstaking job. Now AI is helping analysts look for clues and throwing up fascinating insights into the shifts that may…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe human strain: can mpox be contained?
Mpox is spreading fast across Africa, yet public information campaigns are scant and vaccines in short supply. Is a new pandemic in the offing? Strategists are…
The Intelligence from The EconomistByte by byte: Iran and Israel’s escalating cyberwar
While many people fear the risk of a wider war breaking out in the Middle East, a parallel battle is already ongoing – in the digital sphere. Can China…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHail Harris: the Democratic convention begins
As Democrats convene in Chicago, polls suggest Kamala Harris is ahead by a whisker in the US presidential race. Can the party sustain the momentum? In…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLanding padded: the global-recession risk
Inflation, interest rates and jobless numbers are on healthy trends; markets are gaining back ground. As the spectre of global recession fades we ask why fear…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOne peace at a time: Gaza, Israel and Iran
Peace talks in Doha have a chance at progress even in Hamas’s absence. The outcome could determine the scope of Iran’s promised retaliations against Israel…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBait the hook! Fishing in the global talent pool
Skilled immigrants bring more than just their expertise to job markets. But governments miss opportunities to attract them—or make them feel entirely…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAIOU: what if the AI boom busts?
Corporate investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure reaches $1.4trn by some estimates. We ask what might threaten the expected windfalls that…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe boot is on the other foot: Ukraine’s surprise incursion
Part of Russia is under foreign control for the first time since the second world war. We ask about the strategy behind the surprise raid—which may not be the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistExpelling mistake: the costs of hardline immigration policy
The rich world is experiencing record migrant flows—and the attendant social upheaval. Finding immigration policies that are not economically ruinous is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistArrivals haul: anti-tourism’s folly
Tourists are getting decidedly less-warm welcomes in popular spots, but blunt anti-tourism policies are self-defeating. We look at how to maintain benefits for…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWalz onto the stage: Kamala Harris’s VP pick
Tim Walz, a folksy Midwesterner who came late to politics, is on the Democratic ticket. We ask how he got there and whether he was the best tactical pick. A…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMore than Sheikh could stick at: Bangladesh’s PM resigns
Sheikh Hasina, who led the country for 20 of the past 28 years with an increasingly authoritarian grip, was ultimately undone by student protests that would…
The Intelligence from The EconomistEnter staged right: misinformation feeds Britain’s riots
Unrest across the country has been driven in part by the provably false claims of right-wing provocateurs. We examine the real concerns underlying the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTense exchange: Russia’s prisoner swap
The biggest exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West since the Cold War included opposition leaders, journalists and prisoners of conscience. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYuan direction: Chinese firms head south
As domestic demand in China slows, and the West puts up trade and political barriers, Chinese firms are shifting their focus to poorer parts of the world…
The Intelligence from The EconomistStruck out: A Hamas leader is assassinated
After the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, what are the prospects for ceasefire talks in the region? In Venezuela Nicolas Maduro has…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDown to the wires: Africa’s digital lag
The dearth of fixed-line infrastructure that allowed the continent to leapfrog into the mobile-phone age now holds it back. We ask how to ensure the even…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWarpath: Israel vows revenge on Hizbullah
After an airstrike killed 12 children in Israel-controlled territory at the weekend, retaliation in Lebanon seems inevitable. The end result could be a war on…
The Intelligence from The EconomistField of streams: sports viewing changes
As the Olympics begin, more people than ever will be watching via streaming services. We examine the changing viewing habits transforming sport’s role in the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBibi talk: a speech light on detail
Anyone hoping to glean hints of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s plans for the Gaza war and its aftermath will have been disappointed: it was a political…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDestruction instruction: Western armies learn from Gaza
From tunnels to tanks to drones, Gaza’s horrors provide object lessons in urban warfare. We ask what Western forces will be learning about their own future…
The Intelligence from The EconomistKeep Kamala and carry on: Harris’s smooth route
A day is a long time in American politics: Kamala Harris has reportedly already secured the votes to become Democrats’ presidential nominee, a pile of campaign…
The Intelligence from The EconomistJoe of good faith: Biden bows out
Joe Biden has at last succumbed to the pressure to step aside and has endorsed his vice-president, Kamala Harris. We ask how things should progress from this…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDicky birds: the next pandemic?
The scars of the covid pandemic are still raw, but now a virus spreading among farm animals could leap to humans. Could bird flu become the next pandemic?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistVeep show: America meets J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance was largely unknown in American politics until Donald Trump picked him as his running-mate for vice-president. Last night he gave his first speech…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFood for thought: raising the world’s IQ
If you don’t have enough food in the first 1,000 days of your life, your brain may never reach its full potential. Our correspondent discusses what better…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLost in stagnation? Japan’s economic paradox
After decades of torpor, is Japan recovering its dynamism? Our correspondent turns to an ancient bento box merchant to test Japan’s economic future. A new…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAn assassination attempt: what next for America?
After the shocking attempt to kill former President Donald Trump, how will America respond? Though leaders have called for calm, the risk is that an already…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAn officer and a gen AI: the future of war
Artificial intelligence is already making a difference in the theatre of war, and more involvement will certainly come. That raises a host of thorny ethical…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBidin’: will Joe go or no?
Democrats’ worried murmurs have become public statements. Polls give Donald Trump a widening lead. Why won’t President Biden make way for a younger successor?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistChange of heart surgeon: Iran’s reformist president
Masoud Pezeshkian rode to victory on a promise of reforms that Iran’s people seem desperately to want. Will the former heart surgeon be permitted to carry them…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHoley alliance: NATO’s worries at 75
It was formed to unite the world’s strongest countries and preserve peace, but as NATO holds a celebration summit for its 75th anniversary, it faces tricky…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLurch in the left: France’s election shock
A tactical ploy to diminish the chances for Marine Le Pen’s hard-right National Rally has worked—a surprise result that puts the left in front, but no party in…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBoom! Episode 1: 1968 - Born to be wild
Why are two old, unpopular men the main candidates for the world’s most demanding job? It’s the question John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, gets asked…
The Intelligence from The EconomistStarming victory: Labour sweeps to power
Britain has elected a Labour government for the first time in 14 years. The party inherits a spattered legacy and a country that is often seen as a laughing…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLeader of the package: Amazon turns 30
It has changed our lives and become one of the world’s most valuable companies. As Amazon turns 30, what comes next? Education is key to social mobility in…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTrailer: Boom!
How did two old, unpopular men end up running for the world's most demanding job? The answer lies in the peculiar politics of the generation born in the era of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDegree programme: stopping heat deaths
As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, they exacerbate existing inequalities. The poor, sick and elderly are particularly vulnerable. How should…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRule and divide: Donald Trump is judged immune
The US Supreme Court has granted the former President immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office. We ask what that means for future…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBet noir: Macron’s electoral gamble backfires
Marine Le Pen’s far-right party made great gains in the first round of France’s parliamentary election. The left did too. We ask what this means for France and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: The state of Britain
On July 4th Britain will have a general election, one in which is widely expected to result in dramatic losses for the ruling Conservative party. If so, it…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDebate and switch? Biden’s stumble
America’s president had one primary task at last night’s debate: to close down speculation about his mental faculties. It went so poorly his whole campaign is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLabour-saving: Britain’s probable next leader
After 14 years in opposition, Britain’s Labour Party is on track for a comprehensive win in next week’s general election. We profile Keir Starmer, its leader…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPier pressure: a visit to Gaza’s aid platform
Our correspondents were the first media to see the American-built JLOTS pier, intended for aid deliveries into Gaza. Things have not at all gone to plan. After…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSpring a leaker: Assange goes free
As Julian Assange is released from prison our correspondent reflects on how the work of Wikileaks changed whistleblowing in the internet era, for good and for…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRocketing science: China’s newest superpower
After decades as a scientific also-ran, China is becoming a superpower particularly in the physical sciences. We examine the risks and opportunities that poses…
The Intelligence from The EconomistArgentina turning? Milei’s surprising political success
Since his election last year, President Javier Milei has enjoyed some economic and political wins in Argentina. But his toughest fight is yet to come. On…
The Intelligence from The EconomistEmpire of the sun: a solar power revolution
No energy source has ever increased as fast as solar photovoltaics. The technology will transform humanity’s energy consumption–even when the sun doesn’t…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFrench fried: will the election lead to chaos?
Both the left and right are likely to do well in France’s upcoming parliamentary poll, with President Emmanuel Macron’s party squeezed in the middle. The snap…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHeir tight: why boomers are so stingy
The post-war generation reaped the benefits of peace and prosperity. Yet rather than spend that bounty, retired boomers are hoarding their riches–and upending…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSudan impact: the war the world forgot
Much of Sudan has already collapsed into chaos. Now a crucial city may fall, the United Nations is belatedly scrambling to avert a bloodbath. Gary Lineker is a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFight for his party to the right: Nigel Farage
Britain’s pint-sipping rabble-rouser of the right has joined the campaigning ahead of a general election. Win or lose, he will make an impact. America’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA real work of peace? An Israel-Hamas deal
America’s upbeat assessment of a ceasefire deal masks deep divides that may not, in fact, be bridgeable. There are nevertheless reasons for optimism. Our data…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAmerica's next top-job model: our election forecast
We have dusted off and tuned up our forecast model for America’s presidential race. So far it gives Donald Trump a marginally higher chance of a second term…