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 EconomistA tax or attacks: how the Houthis fund themselves
The procedure is simple—genial, even. Contact Houthi rebels in Yemen and pay up, and your freight can pass into the Red Sea unmolested. We examine how this…
The Intelligence from The EconomistExecutive orders of magnitude: Trump’s day one
Donald Trump is back in office, this time with less pearl-clutching in Washington. We examine his inaugural address and his first executive orders as glimpses…
The Intelligence from The EconomistReunions and rubble: Gaza’s first moments of peace
Quiet skies, returned Israeli hostages, Gazans going back home: there is much to celebrate, for the moment. We examine the path to a more robust and lasting…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBillionaires boldly go: private space-treks
This week Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s space-exploration company, successfully launched a rocket into orbit on its first attempt. That marks a new frontier in the…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPeace by piece: a ceasefire in Gaza is close
After 15 months of fighting, a ceasefire in Gaza may soon be agreed. What does the deal entail – and could it last? Our correspondent has uncovered new…
The Intelligence from The EconomistArrest development: South Korea’s Yoon held
After dramatic scenes in South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been detained on insurrection charges, stemming from his attempt to impose martial law in…
The Intelligence from The EconomistView to a killing: bond yields rise and rise
Though central banks have cut interest rates, uncertainty about the future has sent yields sky-high. Our correspondent explains why expectations diverge from…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA run for cover: LA’s fires and insurance
Among the lessons emerging from California’s devastating fires is the idea that insurers cannot price risk on past data: the climate-change future is already…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMoving the post goals: Musk’s British-politics meddling
Elon Musk has taken an abiding interest in Britain, and a hard line against its prime minister. It reveals a division within British politics that may hold…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAdaptitude: India and climate change
The world’s most populous country is at the front line of climate change. Our deputy editor explores the many ways it is adapting—because it must. Our series…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTowards Russia with love: Austria’s political tilt
A once-fringe far-right party looks close to power—and serves as another sign of a broad and worrying pro-Russia trend in central European politics. Meanwhile…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIt’s no longer Trudeau: Canada’s PM resigns
In the end Justin Trudeau could not resist the internal pressure. We ask why the liberal standard-bearer got pushed out, and what comes next. Ten years after…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAgainst the clock: Gaza peace talks
Israel continued to pound Gaza, even as ceasefire negotiations began in Qatar. The familiar dynamic will soon be interrupted by a new American administration…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAll the president’s money men: the Trumponomics team
There are three types of economics-minded people in Donald Trump’s incoming administration. We ask whether they are likely to collaborate or to compete…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThree presidents and counting: South Korea
The country is on its third president in as many weeks—a deep political crisis only made worse by the most deadly air disaster in South Korean history. A…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDon’t mention the war: Russia’s internal tensions
There is no simplistic split of sentiment about Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. But what most Russians want is a return to normal that now seems impossible…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBillions of voices heard: a year of elections
In some places, votes resulted in political chaos; in others they showed a promising shift away from identity politics. Our deputy editor looks back on 2024’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOf peanuts and principles: Jimmy Carter dies
After a single term and a landslide loss to Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter’s presidency was judged unduly harshly. What matters, though, are the principles he…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPassing mentions: the notable lives lost in 2024
From a legendary baseball slugger to a beloved comic actor, from Scottish politicians to America’s sex therapist to the leader of Russia’s resistance: our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTomes will tell: books that predict the future
Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can…
The Intelligence from The EconomistGood moos: cows could help the climate
Cows produce far more milk in rich countries than in poor ones. Our correspondent explains how beefing up bovine productivity could feed more people and reduce…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe club rules? India’s RSS
Is it a community-minded boys’ club, like the Scouts? A breeding ground for seething Hindu nationalism? A paramilitary puppetmaster of India’s governing elite?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistCountry of the year: The Economist picks
In the past 12 months, there has been no lack of news. Editors at The Economist have picked their way through the rubble to uncover some optimism: which…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBetween Estonia and a hard place: NATO meets
At the icy border between Russia and Estonia, the anxieties of NATO member states are clear, our correspondent reports. Leaders there have been debating…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMass graves: revealing Syria’s horror
Ten days after the fall of Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad, the full brutality of his rule is being uncovered. Our correspondent travels to a site near…
The Intelligence from The EconomistScholz fired: Germany calls snap election
After Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, lost a confidence vote in parliament yesterday, Germany is preparing for a snap election. Urban waste is a growing…
The Intelligence from The EconomistOff-side: Georgians reject new president
This weekend, the ruling Georgian Dream party elected a new president – but only one name was on the ballot. That sparked further street protests, as our…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMinds blown: are we getting dumber?
Many adults perform worse in tests of literacy and numeracy than the average ten year old. And results have worsened in the past decade. Are our brains…
The Intelligence from The EconomistIntel in slide: a chipmaker on the ropes
Layoffs, suspended dividends, a share price in free fall, a chief executive hustled out the door: Intel is in a bad way. But America needs a chipmaking…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBye, cell: inside a notorious Syrian prison
As Syrians awoke to a new era, thousands rushed to fling open the dark, filthy prisons where Bashar al-Assad locked up dissenters. Our correspondent followed…
The Intelligence from The EconomistBringing up Bibi: Netanyahu testifies
For five years the prospect of a criminal prosecution has loomed over Binyamin Netanyahu. Today he becomes the first Israeli prime minister to testify as a…
The Intelligence from The EconomistPeace from pieces: Syria after Assad
President Bashar al-Assad has been run out, his regime in tatters. As Syrians awaken to a new era, how can they put their broken country back together…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAshes to Masses: Notre Dame’s stunning return
Many thought a five-year timeline was too ambitious. But even as France’s politics falls apart, it has managed to put the cathedral back together with aplomb…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMichel shock: France’s government falls
An alliance of the far right and the left has sacked Prime Minister Michel Barnier; out goes his budget and the government. Can President Emmanuel Macron find…
The Intelligence from The EconomistDark side of the Yoon: South Korea’s chaos
The country’s increasingly unpopular president, Yoon Suk Yeol, backed down six hours after his shocking move of imposing martial law. South Korea’s democracy…
The Intelligence from The EconomistTalk to EU later: Georgia’s fiery protests
The country has been turning increasingly away from Europe and towards Russia—but a halt to EU-accession talks has sparked enormous demonstrations. Researchers…
The Intelligence from The EconomistShock and thaw: Syria’s frozen war resumes
The country’s civil war never ended—it became a fragile stalemate that fell out of the news. A surprise rebel advance reveals how the war’s international…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMilei’s way: Argentina’s president, a year on
In an interview with Javier Milei, our correspondent probes how far the “anarcho-capitalist” president plans to push his promise to slash spending and reform…
The Intelligence from The EconomistA losing battle: Sudan’s elusive peace deal
As civil war rages in the country, millions of people have been displaced and famine is widespread. Why won’t the warring parties join talks to end it?…
The Intelligence from The EconomistMoment of truce: a ceasefire in the Middle East
This morning, a deal halting fighting between Israel and Lebanon for 60 days came into effect. Our correspondent considers if that can hold, and what it means…
The Intelligence from The EconomistLegally bombed: Trump cases dropped
Donald Trump had been facing a swathe of lawsuits this year. Now he has won a second term in office, the cases against him are falling away. Why wellness…
The Intelligence from The EconomistScandal in the wind: Adani’s indictment could hurt Modi
Gautam Adani is one of India’s richest men, whose fortunes are closely aligned to those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What will the political ramifications…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAssisted dying: why Britain should back a change
Should people have the right to choose how they die? Though many Britons support the principle, a vote on assisted dying in the House of Commons may fail…
The Intelligence from The EconomistAll for one: Donald Trump and his key Musketeer
What will the world’s richest man do in the White House? Our correspondent analyses the political and ideological role Elon Musk could play in Donald Trump’s…
The Intelligence from The EconomistUp and atom: can Trump stop Iranian nukes?
Donald Trump tore up America’s nuclear deal with Iran in his first term. What will he do when he becomes president again? The pushy tactics China’s government…
The Intelligence from The EconomistRio brand: why Brazil is courting China
Trade ties between the two countries have been increasing for over a decade. The election of Donald Trump for a second term means the relationship could now…
The Intelligence from The EconomistThe long game: how will US missiles help Ukraine?
America feared that letting Ukraine use US weapons to attack far-off targets in Russia would escalate the conflict. Why has President Joe Biden finally changed…
The Intelligence from The EconomistKyiv calm and carry on: Trump’s win may benefit Ukraine
Donald Trump admires Vladimir Putin’s strongman style and has failed to condemn his invasion of Ukraine. So why do some people in Kyiv think Trump’s election…
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…