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 EconomistThe Peking order: Can China’s army surpass the US?
China is enacting a rapid project of military modernisation. Though in some areas its forces are already stronger than America, that does not mean China is…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNeeds Musk: Donald Trump’s new appointments
A week after Donald Trump won a decisive victory in the presidential election, he is making appointments to his new White House. What do they tell us about his…
The Intelligence from The EconomistParting Scholz: what next for Germany?
At a time when Russia is making gains in Ukraine and Donald Trump has been re-elected as president, Europe needs strong leadership. Instead, Germany’s ruling…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSome like it hot: could Trump derail climate talks?
Last time Donald Trump was president he pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement. What is on the agenda at COP29, as world leaders meet after a second…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLook at who’s talking: divining Trump’s Middle East plans
Donald Trump will inherit a tangle of conflicts in the Middle East; will he deliver on his promise to “stop the wars”? That will depend on who has his ear. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDo the after math: how Trump won
The American presidential election delivered a mercifully quick and decisive outcome. Our data editor explains why such a tight-seeming race was likely to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDon of a new age: Trump’s decisive win
In the end America got a swift and decisive call as to the next president: Donald Trump. We invite the hosts of “Checks and Balance”, our subscriber-only…
The Intelligence from The EconomistVote! Our election-day special
America and the world hold their proverbial breath for what has become a dead heat. Our special episode explains how the vote works and how the count will…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLast-ditch pitch: America’s campaigns conclude
Both campaigns have racked up air miles covering the swing states that will decide America’s knife-edge election. We take a measure of things one day before…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTurn up the PA: the last in our swing-state series
Our series concludes with an examination of the state with the most electoral-college votes: Pennsylvania. It is practically a must-win for either…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTax driver: Labour’s budget
Rachel Reeves’s first budget as chancellor of the exchequer saw the biggest tax rises in decades, as well as promises of high spending and investment. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistHot shot: the wider promise of weight-loss jabs
First they treated diabetes. Then obesity. Now GLP-1 drugs are being tested on a range of other diseases too. Though the US economy is roaring, many Americans…
The Intelligence from The EconomistUkraine reaction: Russia deploys North Koreans
Russia is advancing in Ukraine, has more troops and more weapons. In Kyiv and beyond, questions are being raised about the future. Why does America make it so…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTimed bombs: Israel’s pre-election attack on Iran
Israel has been expected to attack Iran for weeks. Why was the assault at the weekend more limited than some expected? How Artificial Intelligence could…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: The Apology
The subject of reparations - making amends for wrongs, is a topic which has been building momentum over the past decade. And last week it was especially…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFollow the leader: who will run Hamas?
There is a vacuum at the top of Hamas following the killing of the militant group’s commander in Gaza. Our correspondent tells us about two of the men who…
The Intelligence from The EconomistComing up Trump: our election model puts Harris behind
The two American presidential candidates have been neck and neck. But this week, the Economist’s forecast model noted a shift towards Donald Trump. Why you…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLeft field: a new force in German politics
Our correspondent interviews Sahra Wagenknecht, the popular leftist whose eponymous political party is now making the political weather in Germany. How Russia…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMarching borders: what was Hizbullah’s plan?
Israel is planning to strike Iran within days, even as its wars in Lebanon and Gaza deepen. Our correspondent reports from the Lebanese border, where he…
The Intelligence from The EconomistSpies isn’t everything: Putin’s global-chaos machine
Aggression, election-meddling, “psychological destabilisation”: Russia’s leader is sowing chaos like never before. We ask what power the West has left to…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLeaderless: the death of Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7th attacks, is dead. What does that mean for Hamas, for a ceasefire in Gaza and for regional stability more…
The Intelligence from The EconomistShoal searching: the South China sea simmers
A constellation of islands, reefs and rock-piles has been the source of disputes for decades. As a new phase in the conflict begins, how to calm things down?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYour money for a run? Campaign finance in America
Kamala Harris has proven to be an enormous draw for campaign donors. But the size of a candidate’s war chest influences the outcome much less than it once did…
The Intelligence from The EconomistKeir eye for the FDI: an interview with Britain’s PM
Our correspondent sits down with Keir Starmer on the sidelines of a conference dedicated to drawing much-needed investment. We examine the prime minister’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOne giant, cheap for mankind: SpaceX’s Starship
The fifth test flight of the absolutely enormous Starship went entirely to plan, returning everything to Earth for reuse and heralding a new era of big space…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLabour’s love lost: Keir Starmer’s first 100 days
Britain’s Labour Party came to power promising to restore order and stability. Our correspondent explains whether its rocky start exposes a bigger political…
The Intelligence from The EconomistParadise lost: Hurricane Milton bashes Florida
Global warming is increasing the intensity of storms like the one that just hit Florida. Our correspondent explains the science. In a week of reflection on the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGoogle’s lurch: how to fix its monopoly
This summer, an American judge ruled that Google’s search dominance was illegal. Now the Department of Justice has revealed possible solutions. How robots…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGeneral rule: how to reinvent America’s army
Twenty years ago America was fighting insurgents in Afghanistan and Iran. As state-on-state clashes become more likely, Randy George is the person in charge of…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYear of destruction: how October 7th shattered the Middle East
After Hamas militants attacked Israel a year ago, few people predicted how deep and devastating the ensuing conflict in the Middle East would be. The…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: Gaza, after the dust settles (republished)
*This episode was first published 20/07/24After a year of war in Gaza, people are beginning to discuss the aftermath. Schools, hospitals, the sanitation system…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: Black boxes (part one): Michael Kovrig on how he became a political hostage in China
One evening, Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, grabbed a late dinner in Beijing with his partner. When they arrived back at his apartment, men in…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe arc of war: a bloody week in Lebanon
In a matter of weeks the conflict between Israel and Hizbullah has transformed life in Lebanon. Our correspondent reports from the streets of Beirut. After a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistYuan for the money: China stimulates its economy
After years of slowing growth, the Chinese government is finally attempting to bolster consumer demand, business confidence and the stock market. Our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistVeep state: the running mates debate
After JD Vance and Tim Walz squared off against each in last night’s vice-presidential debate, our correspondent assesses their performance – and its effect on…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGround assault: Israeli forces invade Lebanon
As Israeli troops move into Lebanon and missiles strike Damascus in Syria, can Israel’s next offensive really stay “limited, localised and targeted”? Japan’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBeirut force: Israel kills Hizbullah leader
Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Yemen this weekend will have implications far beyond the militant groups that were the apparent targets. Our correspondents…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe Weekend Intelligence: Crunch time for Ukraine
Ukraine’s President has been in New York this week. With a victory plan in his pocket, he’s been shoring up support at the UN and among America’s presidential…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMissile-stop tour: Zelensky in America
Ukraine’s president is again on American shores, trying to secure support of all kinds. He needs it—diplomatically, militarily and politically. America’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistWar or less? Lebanon on the brink
For now, Israel’s moves seem to be posturing, a means to intimidate Hizbullah into backing down. But there remains a prospect of a ground invasion—and another…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNo right left: Afghanistan’s oppressed women
Even before last month’s revised religious rules, Afghanistan’s women were being crushed under the Taliban’s thumb. Now they cannot even so much as raise their…
The Intelligence from The EconomistShun while it lasted: never-Trumpers’ fading sway
A handful of Republican leaders have been denouncing Donald Trump since his first presidential campaign. Will the voices of those who remain be heeded this…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBulls’ AI: funding artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has gained ground so fast that OpenAI, the firm powering ChatGPT, is changing Silicon Valley’s investment model and how it innovates…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRocketing: Israel escalates Lebanon conflict
After Israeli fires rockets into Lebanon and Hizbullah warns of “red lines” crossed, the Middle East is braced for further attacks. As the planet warms, sport…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFed-letter day: at last, a rate cut
The first reduction in interest rates for four years shows America’s Federal Reserve thinks inflation is now in check. But does the central bank’s decision…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPager turn: the Israel-Hizbullah conflict escalates
The explosion of thousands of pagers across Lebanon and Syria was an attack on Hizbullah, a Shia militant group which had been trying to evade Israeli…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPlaying the fuel: reforming Nigeria’s subsidies
Large fuel subsidies in Nigeria are popular but ruinous to other public services. Our correspondents report from Lagos on how home-grown oil refining could…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFoiled again: a second attempt on Trump
With less than eight weeks to go to the presidential election, tension is running high after a second probable assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Has…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCome on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX
Capsule that can withstand vacuum? Check. Low-pressure spacesuit? Check. Space-friendly Doritos? Check. The first spacewalk by private citizens showcases…
The Intelligence from The EconomistChip wreck: Intel is on the rocks
One of America’s stalwart tech giants is on the ropes, having first missed the move to mobile and then the one to AI. We ask what fate awaits it. Our…
- The Intelligence from The Economist
Don wan: Harris keeps Trump tame
The vice-president turned in a confident if imperfect performance, leaving Donald Trump flustered. But will it change anything? A global shortfall of blood…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMario druthers: Draghi’s plan for Europe
The EU’s unofficial chief technocrat issued a doorstop of a report outlining how the bloc can boost growth and keep up in a changing world. Is it all too…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPlainly reigns but on a plane to Spain: Venezuela’s leader
Nicolás Maduro has stolen an election, again—but this time the rightful winner felt so threatened that he has fled to Spain. We ask what happens next. A…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGrand Barnier: France’s new prime minister
Two months ago, French politics was thrown into crisis after a snap election left no party with a clear majority. Michel Barnier, the new prime minister, has a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCurrent affairs: how batteries will green the grid
Though we use more renewable energy than ever before, electricity grids need ways to cope with intermittent wind or solar power. Innovations that make…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBeyond the bullets: we go to Ukraine
We take a look at the grim conditions in and prospects for the frontlines in the country’s east and north. But not all of the fighting is military in nature…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe sound of fury: pressure builds within Israel
The recovery of six hostages from Gaza has provoked mass demonstrations on the streets of Israel and a general strike. But Israel’s government refuses to bow…
The Intelligence from The EconomistExtremes come true: Germany’s far-right triumph
The hard right has taken Germany into uncharted territory, winning one state election and racking up a large share in another. The far left is on the march…
The Intelligence from The EconomistFor whom the well tolls: Why we must price water
Water scarcity is growing even in parts of the world that used to be drought-free. Since most countries waste vast quantities of water, charging for it would…
The Intelligence from The EconomistNvincible? What could curb Nvidia’s supremacy
The American chip designer has become one of the world’s most valuable companies on the back of the AI revolution. But there are some contradictions in…