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 the winner of "Best Daily Show" at the 2026 British Podcast Awards, 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.
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Episodes
The Intelligence from The EconomistBlown speaker: Kevin McCarthy is out
Another shutdown standoff, funding worries for Ukraine, more leadership chaos: the booting of America’s speaker of the House of Representatives bodes ill for…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSBF, FTX, WTF? Sam Bankman-Fried goes on trial
The founder of FTX, a spectacularly failed cryptocurrency exchange, is a curious character. He denies the stack of charges he faces in a New York court, but…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThey need to talk about Kevin: America’s near-shutdown
The literal 11th-hour deal to avert a government shutdown is only a stopgap—and the battle may end up costing Kevin McCarthy his post as leader of the House of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWhen politics dictates policy: China’s faltering economy
During past economic downturns, officials have been both swift and bold. This time not so much—because their hands are tied by knotty internal politics. We ask…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA better pill to swallow: the bid to end AIDS
Many of the pieces are in place to bring the disease entirely under control—but our correspondent finds it will take more than advances in medication. Japan’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGeneral’s knowledge: a chat with Ukraine’s spy chief
Where the defensive lines really are, the state of Russia’s reserves, battlefield tactics: Kyrylo Budanov is a candid interviewee—but he claims to know nothing…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe French disconnection: a retreat from Niger
President Emmanuel Macron’s about-face on maintaining a presence in the coup-stricken country portends a broader change in France’s relations on the continent…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGoing bump in the right: Europe’s worrisome politics
Populist, right-wing parties are already in power in Hungary, Poland and Italy—and getting closer to it across the continent. We ask why. At long last Rupert…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNo end in sight: how Ukraine is being shaped by a long war
Reporting from the ground, our Eastern Europe editor explores how the country is bracing for a new phase of war. In some ways, people have adapted, but equally…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMissing in action: China’s defence minister has disappeared
It would not be the first time that a member of the government has gone missing, not even the first time this year. But what does this say about the leadership…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAre the allegations tru deau? Canada and India’s diplomatic row
The murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Najjar has deepened a long-running spat between the two countries. Will Canada’s allies be willing to get involved?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistArgo the sequel: America and Iran’s hostage deal
This is not the first time the Islamic Republic has taken foreigners hostage. It’s proven an effective bargaining chip for decades and this time around, it has…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRadical shift: an interview with Argentina’s presidential frontrunner
The libertarian right-winger is leading in the polls, a surprise for a country that has typically leaned left. He has drastic plans to shrink the state. Could…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSupport systems: allies debate Ukraine’s tactics
As progress on the front line slows, Western countries are divided over how the army should proceed. There are disagreements about where should be targeted and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRefresh your feed: introducing Economist Podcasts+
For 17 years, The Economist has brought you a host of brilliant shows. Now we are taking that even further. But to bring you even more of the content that you…
The Intelligence from The EconomistChilean effect: the 50th anniversary of the coup
On September 11th 1973, president Salvador Allende shot himself in the head after being overthrown in a coup, giving rise to the violent rule of General…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMidnight train to Moscow: Kim Jong Un cosies up with Russia
In a rare trip outside of the hermit state, it seems the dictator is planning to meet with Vladimir Putin. With the prospect of an arms deal on the table, how…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPreparing for the long war: an interview with President Zelensky
As the counter-offensive continues, Ukrainian forces are running out of time to make substantial gains. Diplomatic attempts to isolate Russia have failed and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMoves over: American house prices
The highest interest rates in years should lead to a fall in house prices. But peculiarities of America’s mortgage market are driving them up. Egg-freezing was…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA messy oil change: Nigeria’s fraught reforms
Axing generous fuel subsidies was just one necessary reform promised by Bola Tinubu. A hundred days into the president’s term, we examine his ideas for…
The Intelligence from The EconomistShow and sell: Amazon v Hollywood
The retail behemoth is splashing tremendous amounts of cash on streaming content; critics are unimpressed with the outcomes. But Amazon may have the best…
The Intelligence from The EconomistUpping arms: the new three-way nuclear race
The calculus of the cold war is back, but there are new variables in the equation—namely China’s growing arsenal. We look at how three-way deterrence could…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHeld fire: America’s murder rate slips
The absolute numbers remain troubling but a close look at statistics reveals that, across American cities, fewer people are being killed. That democracy is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistParanoia politics: a Tunisian lesson in demagoguery
The president is using racist hate-mongering as both a rallying tool and a distraction mechanism. It is the oldest trick in the autocrat playbook and it…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGoing, going… Gabon: another African coup
Putsches in Africa are becoming more common and there appears to be a trend. Are there more to come and is there any hope of restoring democracy? Lebanon’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGame of drones: can Ukraine pull ahead?
Three months into the counteroffensive, the military is reaping the fruits of several months of drone development. But as the war continues, will it be able to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTeutonic plague: is Germany the sick man of Europe?
Owing to a host of deep-rooted economic and political challenges, it could be the only G7 economy to contract this year. How might it turn the tide? More…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGoing non-nuclear: East Asia’s changing families
From Japan to South Korea, from China to Taiwan, family structures are becoming less traditional. More premarital cohabitation, single parenthood and…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Fellow-BRICS road: a club expands
The alliance was always based more on common fortunes than common interests. We ask what to make of the six new members, and whether the bloc’s motley nature…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Flight of the long knives: Prigozhin’s reported death
History would suggest that the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plane was an assassination. Our correspondent considers what the supposed death of the Wagner…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Vote with no confidence: Zimbabwe goes to the polls
Arranging friendly media coverage, giving handouts to voters, stifling opposition rallies: once again the country’s ruling party has put its thumb on the…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Home groan: China’s housing-sector crisis
Once again, fears are ripping through the industry—this time starting from a firm once thought too big to fail. In an economy so dependent on housebuilding…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Latin lessons: two contrasting elections
Ecuador and Guatemala faced similar preoccupations with violence and corruption—one of Ecuador’s candidates was assassinated on the campaign trail—but their…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Gun-shy: why Niger’s coup stands, for now
For weeks, the regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to undo the putsch by force. But appetite for a military response—the ultimate deterrent in a coup-prone…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Make ore break: Latin America’s commodities
The region is home to most of the world’s known lithium. Given the mineral’s usefulness in batteries and electric vehicles, could it be on the cusp of a…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Through the fire: an update from Hawaii
As the death toll surpasses 100, we report from Maui where fires have ravaged the island in the deadliest American wildfire in over a century. Why was this one…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
“Witch hunt”, Part Four: Trump indicted, again
The former president has been hit with a new set of charges, under a catch-all racketeering act that has been used to prosecute everyone from rappers to…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
West-siding story? Turkey’s tactical shift
Despite cosying up with Russia and accusing America of trying to topple him, the newly re-elected president now appears to be flirting with old allies. But…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
In the big leagues now: Saudi Arabia’s push into sport
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman says a presence in top-level global sport is one route to modernising; critics call the effort a distraction from the…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Taken too soon: why so many Americans die young
An appalling record compared with much of the rich world is not just down to drugs and guns. We ask what changes, both in policy and philosophy, might reduce…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Trust the processor: America’s CHIPS Act one year on
Big-money legislation to bring microprocessor manufacturing to the country is off to a reasonable start—but dominance of the industry is and will probably…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Bloc can tackle? ECOWAS and Niger’s coup
The Economic Community of West African States may yet try to restore President Mohamed Bazoum militarily. Either way, Niger’s status as a bulwark against…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Back to front: visiting Ukraine’s firing line
As diplomatic efforts played out in Saudi Arabia our correspondent recounts travels along the nearly unbroken front line of the war—finding frustrated but…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Too big tech: is Alphabet approaching a growth ceiling?
As the tech giant approaches its 25-year anniversary, there are questions of just how much more it can possibly grow. Investors are used to stratospheric…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Industrial waste: the world’s misguided manufacturing policies
The industrial arms race is on. For many political reasons, countries with the means are throwing billions of dollars into local industries. But when will…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Big-claims court: Donald Trump’s latest indictment
The former American president is facing a new set of unprecedented legal challenges linked to his claims that he won the 2020 election. These charges are…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Strong arms: North Korea’s pandemic era weapons program
The country is not new to seclusion, but under the aegis of the pandemic, Kim Jong Un tightened borders even more. His regime has enjoyed the extra control…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Putsched out: Niger’s coup d’état
Following years of military takeovers in the region, Niger is the West’s last solid ally in the Sahel. But with this coup, and growing alignment with Russia…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Trading criminality for autocracy: El Salvador
A country that was not long ago gripped by gang violence and crime is slowly emerging from fear, thanks to a brutal roundup of young men by a wildly popular…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
With a grain assault: a deal abandoned
Russia’s axeing of the Black Sea grain deal reveals a war machine running out of options. We explore how to get the deal back on track. A month-long mystery…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Forewarned before armed: how to predict war
Military types need not wait until mass movements of troops to know a conflict is coming. We examine a raft of subtle and not-so-subtle market moves that would…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Squash court: Israel’s controversial law reform
A seemingly small change to the Supreme Court’s powers to adjudicate “reasonableness” represents a significant risk to the country’s democratic functioning—and…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Small-Vox symptoms: Spain’s elections
After no party won a majority, forming a government may take weeks—or another election. But predictions that Vox, a far-right party, might enter government…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Palace intrigue: the Kremlin after the mutiny
It has been a month since the head of the Wagner group led a march on Moscow. Although it failed, Putin appears considerably weaker. What does this mean for…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Runaway soldier: American detained in North Korea
Little is known about why he fled across the border into the hermit kingdom, but securing his release will require some tactical diplomacy. Given the tense…
The Intelligence from The EconomistModel growth: Tesla’s ambitious plans
The carmaker, which reports results today, is still celebrating impressive growth and its boss has even bigger plans for it. But with the threat of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCharming the prince: Biden seeks a deal with Saudi Arabia
America is keen to mend the relationship between the Gulf state and Israel, but Muhammad bin Salman has hefty demands. Is the deal worth the price? Asia’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCruel summer: heatwaves rage across the world
Europe, America and Asia are all enduring scorching heatwaves, air temperatures are repeatedly breaking records and the health impacts are alarming. But is the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMass destruction: is the Ethiopian government covering up war crimes?
The burning of burial grounds in the northern region of the country suggests that authorities are destroying evidence. If these claims are proven true, will…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSecond thoughts: Donald Trump’s policy plans
When he was last elected, many were surprised, even in his own camp. This time around, his backers are taking no such chances. We take a closer look at his…