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 EconomistPulp friction: the trade war bites Apple
As Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs take effect, our correspondent explains how one of America’s most profitable companies may navigate the trade war. Are class…
The Intelligence from The EconomistEconomies of sail: migrant-smuggling entrepreneurs
More than 36,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats last year. Our correspondent investigates the increasingly sophisticated business…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDoomed traders: Trump’s tariff fallout
Since Donald Trump announced punishing tariffs on “Liberation Day” last week, stock markets have fallen and governments and businesses scrambled to respond…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOver the Yoon: South Korea ousts president
South Korea has been paralysed since its president declared martial law in December. Even after his impeachment, politicians face a divided polity and battered…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWall of duties: Trump’s towering tariffs
Even in the run-up to Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff hikes, few had expected such colossal levies. Our correspondent explains how they will shake…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBallot from the blue: will Ukraine hold a poll?
Months ago, holding an election in wartorn Ukraine seemed impossible. Now plans are being made. Our correspondent explains the prospects for the campaign – and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRight down: Le Pen barred
Marine Le Pen is one of France’s most popular politicians, who has brought the National Rally party to the heart of the political landscape. Our correspondent…
The Intelligence from The EconomistShock and war: Myanmar junta exploits quake
Civil war in Myanmar is hampering relief efforts after the devastating earthquake on Friday, as the ruling military regime intensifies attacks on resistance…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWhack of all trades: America’s economy
No surprises here: The Economist reckons tariffs are a terrible trade tool. But what is most clearly harming American businesses and scaring off investors is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYou spin me right round: Europe’s populists reckon with Trumpism
For Europe’s hard-right politicians, Donald Trump’s second White House bid looked like validation and opportunity. Now that he is in it, the tensions and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCanuck of the draw: Canada’s election campaigns
The Conservative Party, led by a Trump-tinged populist, once had the polls locked up. That is changing radically now that Donald Trump is seen as a threat to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe chat is out of the bag: a stunning leak
Put aside for the moment the outrageous security breach of a journalist being brought in on classified military planning: a leaked group chat reveals much…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBibi driver: battles led by and within Israel
The ceasefire in Gaza is in tatters; the campaign against Hizbullah is flaring up again. Yet the most telling battles are those happening inside Israel…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSpy-fall: Trump imperils intelligence pact
America’s international intelligence-sharing relationships have been decades in the making and rely not on a treaty but trust. Could Donald Trump damage the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNot so delightful: Erdogan arrests rival
Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested just days before he was likely to be elected leader of Turkey’s opposition. Where does this leave Turkish democracy? What Panama’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCold call: Putin thwarts Trump
Donald Trump hoped Vladimir Putin would agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead he made marginal concessions, then launched a missile attack. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPeace broken: war returns to Gaza
After Israel launched dozens of missiles into Gaza overnight, what does this mean for the prospect of a lasting ceasefire? As two stranded astronauts are…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIn sickness and in stealth: threats to America’s CDC
Donald Trump’s team has called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “the most incompetent and arrogant agency” in the federal government. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWheels of justice: the ICC gets Duterte at last
The International Criminal Court has arrested Rodrigo Duterte, a former president of the Philippines. The case highlights both the strengths and the weaknesses…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWhen the levy doesn’t break: a trade-war world adjusts
The Trump administration’s dedication to tariffs now seems more fervent than the first time around. Markets are noticing. We ask what might temper the trade…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThirty-day trial? A Ukraine-ceasefire proposal
The ceasefire proposal hatched by American negotiators and agreed by Ukraine is now a matter for Russia to consider. We ask how the not-yet-a-breakthrough will…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSects and balances: a violent flare-up in Syria
Horrifying attacks on Alawites, the sect of deposed leader Bashar al-Assad, throw into question the power—or the will—of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the country’s leader…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNo question, Mark: Canada’s new PM
The governing Liberal party is enjoying a stunning turnaround in the polls, and now it has a new leader. We ask how Mark Carney will tussle with Donald Trump’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOne week in the life of Volodymyr Zelensky
After a turbulent seven days, how will President Volodymyr Zelensky tackle the domestic and international challenges ahead? Our correspondent attends “Ode to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistKurds in the right place: a truce nears
The leader of Turkey’s Kurdish rebels has called on the group to disband. That could end one of the world’s longest running conflicts. How tariffs and…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPompcast: Trump rallies Congress
American presidents often use their first meeting with Congress as a chance to lay out their agenda for the next four years. Donald Trump, by contrast, treated…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBuck off: US pauses Ukraine aid
In an effort to bring Ukraine to the negotiating table, America has paused military help to the war-torn country. What will this mean on the ground? Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistConversation peace: can Europe bargain with Russia?
European leaders met in London this weekend after Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s public row shattered hopes for a US-led truce in Ukraine. What did the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOde to dread: Europe after Trump
This week European leaders have lined up to charm Donald Trump. But the broad smiles belie a bigger fear: what would it mean for the continent’s security if…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHeir-raising: the boom in inheritance
As the baby-boom generation starts to die and economic growth slows many more people are getting rich from family wealth. Are we returning to the age of Jane…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPhase transition? Gaza’s shaky peace
The first phase of Gaza’s ceasefire is near its end, but planning for the even more fraught second phase has hardly begun. What chance for near-term peace? We…
The Intelligence from The EconomistEmmanuel dexterity: Trump and Macron chat
The meeting between France’s and America’s presidents had a familiarly chummy feel. We ask whether Emmanuel Macron’s charm offensive might have changed Donald…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLeft, right and centre: Germany’s election
Instead of needing three parties to cobble together a majority, the country’s two traditional main ones have the numbers. What to expect once the talks are…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFriends (the one with estrangement): Europe without the US
Europe must move boldly as the American-led world order shatters beneath it; we explain how. Many people view the freedom to work from home as a perk. Some…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYoung, gifted and black: Africa’s next generation
Africa’s young are educated, ambitious side-hustlers. But they are hampered by their economies and dispirited by their politicians. How to harness their vast…
The Intelligence from The EconomistColour visions: a German-election lookahead
The possibilities for an inevitable coalition government are a head-spinning colour wheel of party logos. We look at the most likely outcomes, and the smaller…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGet your Strait facts: China’s quiet Taiwan push
We investigate China’s under-the-radar push to get other countries to change their official language on Taiwan’s independence. Would it make a difference in a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMunich insecurity conference: a re-ordering begins
Backing away from European security guarantees and seeking mineral rights in Ukraine as recompense for military aid: at the Munich Security Conference the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLove match: Modi-Trump’s tariffs tussle
The American president and Indian prime minister have long been friends. But when the two met at the White House yesterday, they had many thorny issues to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWith this ring: Trump and Putin omit Ukraine
During a 90-minute telephone conversation, the American and Russian presidents started negotiating a future for Ukraine. What will this mean for Europe? Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWar hoarse: is Zelensky being heard?
In an interview with The Economist ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Ukraine’s president is pessimistic that Trump can end the conflict. How fish…
The Intelligence from The EconomistEye to the chancellor: interviewing Friedrich Merz
The winner of Germany’s upcoming election will also play a crucial role in Europe. The Economist’s editor-in-chief speaks to Friedrich Merz, the front-runner…
The Intelligence from The EconomistI’ll be jammed: electronic warfare in Ukraine
Some of the most frenetic innovation of Ukraine’s war happens in the electromagnetic spectrum: detecting and denying signals to and from materiel. This…
The Intelligence from The EconomistScam Inc 3: The bottom line
How do you run a scam operation? Perks, recruitment, outsourcing and a monthly landscaping budget—this is Scam Inc. To listen to the full series, subscribe to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistScam Inc 2: Opportunity of a lifetime
Who are the scammers? They aren't who you think. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The…
The Intelligence from The EconomistScam Inc 1: Pigs in a barrel
You wouldn’t fall for a scam—would you? A small town in Kansas is left reeling after one of its best and brightest gets sucked in. To listen to the full…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIt could happen to you: introducing “Scam Inc”
Our new podcast series is a shocking look at transnational organised crime: nearly as big as the illegal-drug trade and far more sophisticated than you might…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLeeward: we meet South Korea’s probable president
We meet the opposition leader who is likely to be the next president. Cleaning up the domestic mess after an alleged coup would seem easy compared with his…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAs a next resort: Trump’s vision for Gaza
The details President Donald Trump laid out for American ownership and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip took everyone by surprise—not least Israel’s prime…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRebel with a new cause: meeting Syria’s president
From media-studies dropout to international jihadist to Syria’s ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa has an unlikely résumé. He speaks with our editor-in-chief, sharing…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThy neighbours, beggared: Trump’s opening tariffs
President Donald Trump followed through on his tariff threats, starting with Canada, Mexico and China. We look at the first skirmishes in what promises to be a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBelow Delhi, the search for India's mythical past
The Mahabharata is one of India’s two great Hindu epics. It is thousands of years old and thousands of pages long. Over the past 75 years archaeologists in…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTurkish delight: influencing the new Syria
The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria will reshape the wider region. Our correspondent says few countries have as much to gain from a stable Syria as Turkey…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPutty people: can Trump get his picks?
As some of Donald Trump’s most controversial choices for top jobs are questioned this week, our correspondent analyses how supine Republicans may be in his…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRemote control: Rwandan proxies occupy Congo
Rebels linked to Rwanda have occupied the city of Goma in eastern Congo. Our correspondent reports on the horrific scenes there, and warns that Rwanda’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBot against America: a Chinese AI jolts markets
Silicon Valley firms have poured billions of dollars into artificial intelligence. But a new cheap AI model from DeepSeek, a Chinese start-up, has sent…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTrailer: Scam Inc
A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGaza, stripped: Palestinians return to ruins
Though thousands of Palestinians are going back to northern Gaza, rebuilding their lives and homes will take years. Just a week into the ceasefire, our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIn with a chancellor: dissecting Britain’s growth plan
Rachel Reeves has had a rocky start as chancellor of the exchequer. Our editor-in-chief meets her at Davos to dissect her plans for growth. Australia Day is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRight turn at a broken traffic light: Germany’s AfD
After the collapse of the governing “traffic light” coalition in December, the hard-right AfD has a renewed swagger. How long can other parties keep it from…