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 EconomistScarcely surviving: Zimbabwe
Electricity, food, water: everything is in short supply in the country, including faith in the government’s ability to recover from Robert Mugabe’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYield signs: the global economy
Investors are piling into safe assets as markets whipsaw: what’s driving the global economy these days is anxiety. Is all the worry justified? Nestled among…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPoll reposition: Macri fights back
President Mauricio Macri’s thumping presidential-primary loss in Argentina left the markets fearing a left-wing resurgence. To win over voters, he’s announced…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLet’s not make a deal: Brexit
Talk grows ever-louder of Britain exiting the European Union without a divorce agreement. Most parliamentarians would rather avoid that—but can they do…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSex cells: the modern fertility business
Companies are rushing to fill new niches for would-be parents: in vitro fertilisation extras, swish egg-harvesting “studios” and apps to track reproductive…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRaid in Aden: Yemen’s fragmented conflict
Over the weekend, armed rebels overran Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. They had defected from a loose, Saudi-backed coalition…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWithdrawal symptoms: America-Taliban talks
America’s envoy claimed “excellent progress” in negotiations ahead of the country’s planned exit from Afghanistan. But stickier talks await, between the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistClear-cut risks: the Amazon degrades
Deforestation is on the rise and Brazil’s government is all but encouraging it. Beyond a certain threshold, the world’s largest rainforest will dry out into a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistState of alarm: India moves on Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has gutted the autonomy of the restive and disputed Jammu & Kashmir. India’s only majority-Muslim state is locked…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPLA a part? Hong Kong’s growing unrest
China’s central government held another press conference to address increasingly chaotic unrest in Hong Kong. A close listen reveals language that may be…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSticking to their guns: violence in America
Two mass shootings over the weekend add to the unrelenting stream of gun violence in America. We look at the political and social forces that ensure it will…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA farewell to arms control: the INF treaty dies
As America abandons the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty we examine the future of arms control. New weapons abound and new countries are using them…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDisbelief, dysfunction, disaster: Congo’s Ebola outbreak
As aid workers battle the second-worst outbreak in history, they face violence and disbelief. A history of conflict, suspicion of the rich world and wild…
The Intelligence from The EconomistApply liberally: Trudeau’s re-election bid
Canada’s prime minister may not have an easy campaign ahead; we sit down with Justin Trudeau to discuss his tenure so far. The country’s role as a liberal…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPrimary culler: Democrats’ second debates
The fields of American presidential candidates just keep getting bigger, and party rules incentivise extreme views and dark-horse entrants. That might not be…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOne country, one system: Hong Kong’s protests
Authorities in Beijing held a rare press conference addressing unrest in Hong Kong. That gives lie to the region’s “one country, two systems” governance; fears…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA plight in Tunisia: the president passes
Beji Caid Essebsi promised to fix the economy, re-establish security and consolidate Tunisia’s democracy—but all of that remains unresolved as the country…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNothing new to report: Robert Mueller testifies
As promised, the special counsel revealed no more than appeared in his report into Russian election-meddling and obstruction of justice. The story hasn’t moved…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRicky situation: Puerto Rico’s protests
Rolling protests have rocked the island after leaked texts revealed the governor’s insults. But Puerto Rico’s problems are far greater than almost 900 pages of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYou, May, be excused: Boris Johnson ascends
Britain has a new prime minister—who will inherit all the same problems his predecessor had. Good luck guiding a divided nation through Brexit with a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGet one thing strait: Iran’s tanker stand-off
The seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf may seem counter to Iran’s international objectives. But at home, hardliners are in the ascendancy—for…
The Intelligence from The EconomistServant’s entrance: Ukraine’s elections
Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party looks set to make big gains in Ukraine’s parliament this weekend. It must, if it wants to weaken oligarchs’…
The Intelligence from The EconomistUnmoving movement: Venezuela’s bloody stalemate
The opposition’s momentum has faded; many protesters are too tired to go on. Nicolás Maduro, the illegitimate president, is showing his grip on power with…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIn like a Leyen: the European Commission’s new president
Ursula von der Leyen has a tough task ahead, pressing a broad agenda in a fragmented European Parliament. We take a look at the vast international…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAt stake, chips: Japan-South Korea trade spat
A dispute about industrial chemicals reveals tensions that have remained unresolved since the second world war—and threatens the global electronics market. In…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTip of the ICE work: the immigration raids that weren’t
There was little evidence this weekend of the widespread immigration raids long promised by President Donald Trump. But his campaign of sowing fear seems to be…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTsai hopes: Taiwan’s president on tour
The delicate diplomatic dance that America is performing during Tsai Ing-Wen’s visit hints at the island’s strategic importance. Two of the deadly blazes of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistUnspeakable truths: Britain’s US ambassador
The “special relationship” has been strained this week, following the leak of frank diplomatic cables. The conditions of Sir Kim Darroch’s departure are a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFrom Russia with launch codes: Turkey’s new hardware
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces increasing pressures at home and abroad, and he’s adding to them—most of all by acquiring Russian missile defences that…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLate to the parting: Deutsche Bank shrinks
For years, management at Germany’s largest bank knew the firm was in serious trouble. Why didn’t they do more? The massive cuts announced this week may be too…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIn the after-Ba’ath: Syria’s rising Kurds
For years, Syria’s Kurdish people were largely invisible: their language, flag and festivals were all suppressed. Now, in much of the country’s north and east…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNew Democracy in an old one: Greece’s election
Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks likely to lead his New Democracy party to victory in this weekend’s snap election. But can he deliver on all the promises of his…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPutin on a show: Russia’s resurgence
Russia’s president is glad-handing in Italy, where his anti-liberal roadshow resonates. But Mr Putin’s is a twisted vision of liberalism, and at home many of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGrowth anatomy: America’s expansive decade
What’s behind the record-breaking economic boom and how much longer can it last? Does America’s central bank have the tools it needs to handle the inevitable…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBreak a LegCo: Hong Kong’s protests boil over
Protesters are in a defiant mood—a hard core of them has smashed up Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. But demonstrations aren’t going to make the territory any…
The Intelligence from The EconomistArmoured Khartoum: Sudan’s bloody transition
Protesters returned to the streets of Khartoum this weekend, again with deadly consequences. We look back to last month’s violent crackdown, and consider…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCensus and sensibility: landmark SCOTUS rulings
America’s highest court has handed down decisions that will shape voter representation for years to come. The rulings make clear the court’s reluctance to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFight if you Haftar: the struggle for Libya
Life in Libya’s capital seems calm, even as a warlord backed by ragtag forces bids to take the city. Meanwhile the putative government can muster little…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRights on Q: same-sex marriage in Japan
A bill to recognise same-sex marriage has failed in Japan’s parliament, exposing a widening divide between the views of its politicians and the values of its…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMoney in the West Bank: Kushner’s peace plan
Tensions between Iran and America are distracting from Jared Kushner’s long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. It’s got plenty of dollar signs, but no…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLover or Leaver? How Brexit divided Britons
Exactly three years after the referendum result, it’s clear: Brexit has driven Britain a bit batty. We look into the grand societal divides that the vote…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBlonde ambition: Boris’s bid for power
Charming buffoon or cunning chameleon? Welcoming liberal or snarling Brexiteer? We ask why, despite having no guiding philosophy, Boris Johnson is so likely to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHawks, stocks and peril: Iran-America brinkmanship
Iran’s downing of an American drone today is just the latest source of tension between the countries. Where does it end? As facial-recognition technology…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMoving stories: the UN’s refugee report
The worldwide count of people forced from their homelands has increased sharply, again. What’s driving these movements, and what are governments doing about…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFlorida Man: Trump’s re-election campaign
America’s president heads back to the Sunshine State today to announce his candidacy. What to expect this time around? Muhammad Morsi, Egypt’s first…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLam to the slaughter: Hong Kong’s shocking U-turn
Calls for the resignation of Carrie Lam, the territory’s leader, are intensifying. Hong Kongers may have put a recent freedom-crimping bill on ice, but more…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWhat’s yours has mines: the Gulf of Oman attack
America has blamed Iran for yesterday’s tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman. If that’s true, Iran is playing a dangerous game that involves the whole of the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistVlad the un-jailer: the Ivan Golunov case
An investigative journalist’s release may look like a press-freedom win in Russia—but it represents much more than that. Democratic presidential hopefuls have…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOnce more, with felines: half the world gets online
Half of humanity is now online. What will the second half do when it logs on? The same as the first: friendly chat, personal expression and a lot of cat…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIndependence say: Hong Kong’s ongoing protests
A proposed change to the judicial system is just the latest sign that mainland China is exerting pressure on Hong Kong’s autonomy. Authorities seem ready to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNo way to tweet a friend: Trump’s Mexico tariffs
In the end, President Donald Trump’s tariff threat did what he had hoped: Mexico has pledged to tighten immigration flows. But such weaponisation of tariffs…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTory story: Britain’s next prime minister
Today Theresa May stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party, and would-be replacements are already lining up. There’s little hope that any would be able…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBasta! The EU challenges Italy’s finances
European officials have threatened a substantial fine if Italy doesn’t shrink its debt and budget deficit. Whether or not it follows through, markets are…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSame as the old boss? Crackdown in Sudan
Nearly two months after staging a coup, military leaders have brutally cracked down on protesters in Sudan. Talks with the opposition have fallen apart—as have…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThirty years of forgetting: Tiananmen
On the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square tragedy, our correspondents reflect on a dark and confusing day—and the Chinese government’s efforts to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGet pomped up: Trump’s British visit
President Donald Trump kicks off his state visit to Britain with some opening shots at London's mayor Sadiq Khan. But larger issues will take center stage…
The Intelligence from The EconomistProtectionist racket: trade-war rhetoric
As President Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on Mexican goods, retaliatory ones between China and America are starting to bite. That puts China’s party…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLikudn’t: Israel’s political crisis
For the first time since Israel’s founding, efforts to form a government have failed. What will the resulting snap election mean for Prime Minister Binyamin…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBaba Go Slow: Nigeria’s President gets another term
Muhammadu Buhari earned the nickname “Baba Go Slow” for a lackadaisical approach to reform as Nigeria’s president. He mismanaged the economy, failed to tackle…
The Intelligence from The EconomistContinental breakfast: European elections
Europe’s voters have shown they are not happy with traditional parties. But even as the Brexit Party surged in Britain, populists across the continent found…