The Intelligence from The Economist

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 become even closer. Going to space could harm human health (7:57). And why Britain has such miserable mobile-phone service (14:43). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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 his mind? Markets soared when Donald Trump was elected, but the longer-term impact of Trumponomics may be less positive (9:42). And whyairships are back in our skies (18:12).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 is good news? African churches are springing up across the world (10:20). Our critic reviews “Gladiator II”. She is not entertained (17:38). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 ready for war. Why luxury shoppers are no longer buying so much online (10:16). And remembering Balthazar Uscha, Ecuador’s last ice-miner (16:45). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 second term? Many European governments are turning against immigration but they still need agricultural migrants (10:29). And why place names in India are getting longer (18:20).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 coalition has collapsed. A study that hinted at racism among white doctors in America may have been flawed (9:18). And the wondrous revival of King’s Cross in London (17:23).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 Trump victory? The future of cloud computing (9:40). And how the culture wars came for remembrance poppies (17:35).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 correspondent says the way to better rehabilitate people in British prisons is to take some of them out (10:33). And our obituaries editor on the staggeringly productive career of Quincy Jones (19:15). 

Additional audio in this episode includes Quincy Jones, “Soul  Bossa Nova” and “In Cold Blood”; Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”, “Bad” and “Thriller”; Lesley Gore, “It's My Party”; USA For Africa, “We Are The World”; DJ Jazzy Jeff, “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air”; Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me To The Moon”

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

The American presidential election delivered a mercifully quick and decisive outcome. Our data editor explains why such a tight-seeming race was likely to result in a clear-cut victory. As ADHD prevalence keeps climbing, the science suggests it should be treated not as a disorder but as a spectrum (11:33). And the Indian startups cashing in on a rise in religiosity (19:47).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 podcast on American politics, onto the show to discuss what we know so far—about the presidency, Congressional races and ballot initiatives.

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 proceed. We ask what to watch for, how countries outside America view the potential outcomes, how the country’s largest swing county has prepared and whether it is worthwhile staying up all night.

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 vote. The Turkic states of central Asia once depended heavily on Russia; now they are banding together to counterbalance it (10.38). And the costs arising as canal-boat living booms in Britain (17.46).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Our series concludes with an examination of the state with the most electoral-college votes: Pennsylvania. It is practically a must-win for either candidate—and it is on a knife-edge. As more and more people become influencers, fame is becoming more fickle and the entire economics of influencers is shifting (10:43). And how Gen Z is resurrecting goth culture (17:25).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 correspondent explains what the announcement means for Britain. How Hurricane Helene may affect the election in North Carolina, a month after the storm (10:58). And the most disgusting dish you can add a pickle to (16:53). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 are glum about its prospects. How could that affect the election (9:02)? And our podcast on why Chinese migrants are making perilous journeys through the jungle to reach America (16:55).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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 hard to vote in the election from overseas? And what Britain’s citizenship test says about the country (19:52). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 improve customer service (9:54). And why the LIV tour, which shook up the world of golf, may merge with its competitor (17:37).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 relevant as the Commonwealth heads of government got together to discuss how they think Britain owes them financial reparations, and apologies, for enslaving their people over one hundred and fifty years ago.

This is a subject we covered on The Weekend Intelligence in October 2023, in our third episode. In it our reporter Charlie McCann travelled to Guyana with the Gladstone family whose ancestors owned thousands of slaves in the country formerly known as Demerara. In the episode Charlie asks what it means to inherit guilt and how you go about apologising for the past.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 could replace him. How black voters may swing the presidential election in Georgia (9:34). And remembering Turkish activist Fethullah Gulen (17:37).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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 might have a long wait for Elon Musk’s robotaxis (9:31). And the joy of Excel (16:35).  

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Our correspondent interviews Sahra Wagenknecht, the popular leftist whose eponymous political party is now making the political weather in Germany. How Russia is trying to sabotage Moldova’s attempt to move towards Europe (10:40). And why Tiktok is changing how we speak (17:38). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 embedded with Israeli forces. Carbon-trading schemes may finally help reforest the Amazon (9:29). And which country is the most innovative (16:58)?

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Aggression, election-meddling, “psychological destabilisation”: Russia’s leader is sowing chaos like never before. We ask what power the West has left to curtail it. As entitlements such as pensions have unceasingly grown, rich governments have become inefficient, lumbering beasts. One uncomfortable but clean fix is raising taxes (10:26). And Britain’s swish new offerings attempt to dethrone the revered baked bean (18:10).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 widely? Our swing-states series continues with Wisconsin and Michigan: why do they no longer reliably vote Democrat (9:43)? And our obituaries editor on Sammy Basso, a young mind in a body ageing ruthlessly rapidly (18:14).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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? In the first of a series of first-person dispatches, we speak to a student in Gaza (09:50). And after a conservation success story, Europe’s wolves are again villains in the popular imagination (18:19). 

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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. Our correspondent meets asylum-seekers on a Dutch ship, investigating the new hard-right government’s tactics with migrants (09:39). And a survey of where the very scrapiest skyscrapers are going up (17:42). 

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 pitch to investors. All the connections within the fruit fly’s brain have now been mapped out; we ask what that means for the human kind (11:44). And the chatbots that are surprisingly successful at dissuading conspiracy theorists (17:46).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 missions with small price tags. Two years after Brazilians ejected Jair Bolsonaro, their inept and dangerous former president, he still shapes right-wing politics (11:30). And the anxiety-lined past and present of self-help books (19:22). 

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Britain’s Labour Party came to power promising to restore order and stability. Our correspondent explains whether its rocky start exposes a bigger political problem. Why the issue of abortion could swing voters in Nevada (9:44). And remembering the life of Pearl Harbour veteran Yoshioka Masamitsu (18.34). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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 anniversary of the October 7th attacks, we consider the Palestinian experience (10:58). And why nuclear clocks could help unlock the secrets of the universe (16:26).  

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

This summer, an American judge ruled that Google’s search dominance was illegal. Now the Department of Justice has revealed possible solutions. How robots could help mend leaking water pipes (9:46). And the best books on the beautiful game (16:38). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 preparing US forces for a new age (9:45). Private tutoring has long been common in East Asia, now it is spreading throughout the continent. And celebrating Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury (17:12). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 Economist’s Middle East experts discuss whether the fissures may ever be fixed, including dispatches from Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.  

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

*This episode was first published 20/07/24

After a year of war in Gaza, people are beginning to discuss the aftermath. Schools, hospitals, the sanitation system are in ruins. Just clearing the rubble will take years. 

Focusing on the long term, many neglect what needs to happen on day one. Gazans say the territory is becoming lawless. Who will control security, and with what legitimacy? Does anyone have a coherent plan?

In this special episode of The Weekend Intelligence The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes considers the dangerously rosy thinking about Gaza’s future and asks what happens when the dust settles.

Music credit: Epidemic Sound and Blue Dot Sessions

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 black were waiting for them. Mr Kovrig was pushed into a waiting SUV. Handcuffed and blindfolded, he was driven to a detention centre in southern Beijing that would be his home for the next 1,019 days. September 24th 2024 is the third anniversary of Mr Kovrig’s release. And now he is ready to talk publicly about his ordeal.

On the Weekend Intelligence, we bring you the first in a two-part series from Drum Tower, our weekly podcast on China. David Rennie, The Economist’s geopolitics editor, speaks with Mr Kovrig about the night he was seized, and how his detention was part of a far bigger geopolitical game.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 pandemic-sized hiccup in the gym industry only the cheap ones and the really pricey ones are building muscle (11:10). And why chess grandmasters are getting younger and younger (17:45).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

After years of slowing growth, the Chinese government is finally attempting to bolsterconsumer demand, business confidence and the stock market. Our correspondent analyses the surprise shift in policy (10:25). How will immigration policy play with swing voters in Arizona? And Sally Rooney, a modern-day Jane Austen with a dash of S&M (19:35).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 US election. In Britain the pro-European cause is popular, but its advocates are ineffective (10:53). And why the gleam of a Michelin star may tarnish (19:18).  

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 new prime minister loves planes, trains and ramen, but with few allies within his own party, his premiership may attract less devotion (8:57). And the worst invention in modern office life: “the sandwich lunch” (15:24).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Yemen this weekend will have implications far beyond the militant groups that were the apparent targets. Our correspondents analyse what may happen next. Our correspondent reports from a conference for journalists exiled from Belarus—home to “Europe’s last dictator”—to find out how they get news in (11:30). And a new card game is shaking Communist Party offices in China (19:21).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 contenders.

On the world stage Mr Zelensky presents a united front but back home things are a little more patchy. It's crunch time for Ukraine. Winter is coming, some Western partners are tiring, Ukrainians are tiring too. In this special episode of The Weekend Intelligence our Editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes travels to Ukraine to speak to generals, soldiers and civilians to find out what lies ahead.

To listen every week and enjoy all our podcasts you'll need a subscription to Economist Podcasts Plus. Follow the link in the show notes for a free trial

To hear more about Ukraine, join our live event on October 25th. Our editors will discuss the situation on the battlefield, the impact of the American election and the diplomacy in the background. To sign up, go to: economist.com/registertoday

Ukraine’s president is again on American shores, trying to secure support of all kinds. He needs it—diplomatically, militarily and politically. America’s tendencies toward “woke” discourse and policies have permeated its politics, but our analysis finds that “peak woke” is already in the past (8:57). And the latest instalment of the wildly popular football video-game formerly known as simply “FIFA” (17:13).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 pointless war. Our swing-state series starts with a state that only recently became swing-y: North Carolina (10:08). And a look back at a year’s worth of Economist Podcasts+ audio journalism (19:15).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 voices. While other countries try to crimp the flow of cheap Chinese electric cars, Britain is welcoming them—for now (9:55). And why the French have at last come to appreciate “Emily in Paris” (16:12). 

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 time around? China’s attempt to fix its pensions by raising the retirement age will create a different problem with childcare (7:40). And the seemingly bottomless market for pet-pampering (14:21).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Artificial Intelligence has gained ground so fast that OpenAI, the firm powering ChatGPT, is changing Silicon Valley’s investment model and how it innovates. Why the global nuclear order may be in peril (10:24). And an alternative type of electoral forecasting is gaining ground: political astrology (19:02). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 is getting harder – and deadlier (6:32). And celebrating Francisco Lopera, who dedicated his life to researching Alzheimer’s disease (13:36).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 suggest it is now concerned about the labour market? Ukraine wants its allies to provide long-range missiles (9:50). Our correspondent explains what difference these would make to the war.  And how fashion brandsconquered TV (19:44).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 surveillance by using these low-tech devices. What will such an escalated attack mean for the region? Why Americans’ obsession with big cars makes the country’s roads so deadly (9:25). And the thrill of fossil-hunting (16:31).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 help wean people off this popular premium. Texas was once a haven for crypto-mining; now many people are souring on it (11:06). And the terrifying rise of Indonesian horror films (17.05).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

With less than eight weeks to go to the presidential election, tension is running high after a second probable assassination attempton Donald Trump. Has political violence become routine in America? Virtual replicas of racing cars, plane engines, even bodies, may change how we diagnose problems (9:08). And celebrating Sergio Mendes, the king of Bossanova (17:04).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Capsule that can withstand vacuum? Check. Low-pressure spacesuit? Check. Space-friendly Doritos? Check. The first spacewalk by private citizens showcases SpaceX’s prowess, the viability of privately funded exploration—and extraplanetary product placement. Gene editing has revolutionised the treatment for certain conditions, but can the staggering prices be brought down (11:30)? And some big news about Espresso, our daily briefing app (20:20).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 correspondent meets with Vadym Sukharevsky, head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces—the world’s first drone commander (9:05). And what is behind Donald Trump’s outlandish claim of immigrants eating pets in Ohio (16:40).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

The vice-president turned in a confident if imperfect performance, leaving Donald Trump flustered. But will it change anything? A global shortfall of blood plasma is hampering the development of new medicines; we argue for some simple market forces that could plug the gap (11:40). And how Nigerians are slimming their legendarily lavish weddings amid a cost-of-living crisis (18.10).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 ambitious? Mexico’s lame-duck president has one last project in mind: undermining the judiciary (10:44). And as the film “Fight Club” turns 25 our correspondent finds many of its disturbing messages still resonate (17:49).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 valedictory dispatch from our global business columnist asks why the forces of “creative destruction” seem to have faded (10:27). And the youth clubs that stitched together the fabric of young Britons’ lives are disappearing (18:55).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 huge task ahead. Donald Trump’s campaign took time to adjust to the nomination of Kamala Harris. Now he’s on the attack again (9:40). And celebrating the life of stonemason, Simon Verity (17:37).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Though we use more renewable energy than ever before, electricity grids need ways to cope with intermittent wind or solar power. Innovations that make batteries to store that energy bigger, cheaper and more efficient can help. Why tourists are flocking to Asia (9:41). And a listener asks how we should talk to our children about AI (16:59).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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. We examine a far wider cultural revival going on (10:59), in music and fashion and long-forgotten ingredients and methods of Ukrainian cuisine (19:13). “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow” sung by Andriy Khlyvnyuk

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 to pressure and a ceasefire deal remains elusive. Why are women less likely to use AI than men (10:27)? And how to make Mars more habitable (18:10). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 too. Is Germany dividing into East and West again? Motorbike taxis are transforming Africa’s cities (11:10). And how farmers in Spain are delivering truffles to your dinner plate (18:11).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

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 help. Our correspondent travelled to America’s northern border to report on illegal crossings from Canada (8:57). And the life of biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, who studied the science behind love (16:41).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

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 Nvidia’s plans for the future. California’s iconic Highway 1 is under threat (10:46). And why Europeans are spurning nudity (20:41).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

In this episode of The Weekend Intelligence, Africa correspondent Tom Gardner tells the story of 21st century Sudan. A story bookended by war. Darfur, a state which captured the world’s attention in the early 2000s has once again become an epicentre of violence, disease and famine. Over 25 million people are starving. A fifth of the population has been forced to flee their homes. This latest war is one of unprecedented proportions and yet it is an ignored war, deprived of attention by a world which once made a promise never to let such horrors happen again.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

As Pavel Durov sits in a French cell waiting to find out if he will be charged, our correspondent probes the links between Telegram and Russia. What central bankers and monetary policy specialists have been talking about at their annual jamboree at Jackson Hole (9:16). And we answer another listener question: how might Artificial Intelligence help people with disabilities (16:19)?

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the West has deployed massive economic restrictions on Russian trade. So why is Russia’s economy growing? A survivor’s story from the forgotten conflict in Sudan (10:47). And Turkey tries to rid its streets of stray dogs (17:56).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Snack-food companies have long shown their adaptability to changing diets. How could the rise of appetite-suppressing drugs and fears about ultra-processed foods change the food we consume? How hearing aids and other lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of dementia (11:00). And why it’s time to revive the siesta (17:11).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

After an electric week at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Kamala Harris now faces the real test in her bid to be president. Can she convince American voters? In the third part of our series on dating apps, we visit Brazil, China and Pakistan (10:24). And our obituaries editor celebrates the life of Wally Amos, the American king of cookies (19:06).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Predicting political violence is a painstaking job. Now AI is helping analysts look for clues and throwing up fascinating insights into the shifts that may indicate a strike is coming. Why Cuba could be heading towards economic and social collapse (11:01). And our correspondent visits Odessa where Ukrainians are rediscovering the beach (18:54).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Mpox is spreading fast across Africa, yet public information campaigns are scant and vaccines in short supply. Is a new pandemic in the offing? Strategists are pondering a new potential threat from Russia: the possibility that it could detonate a nuclear weapon in space (09:42). And an Economist correspondent answers another of your questions about Artificial Intelligence (18:16). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

While many people fear the risk of a wider war breaking out in the Middle East, a parallel battle is already ongoing – in the digital sphere. Can China challenge a long-standing duopoly in the airline industry (10:16)? And the latest Carrie Bradshaw index tells us where Americans can afford a solo apartment. Just don’t set your heart on New York… (17:22)

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

As Democrats convene in Chicago, polls suggest Kamala Harris is ahead by a whisker in the US presidential race. Can the party sustain the momentum? In hospital, your recovery may depend not just on diagnostic technology or the drugs you take, but whether your doctor is a woman (10:11). And new research into elephant communication suggests the creatures may have something akin to names (16:34).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

Inflation, interest rates and jobless numbers are on healthy trends; markets are gaining back ground. As the spectre of global recession fades we ask why fear has persisted. In the second instalment of our series on dating we look at what singles are doing beyond the apps (10:23). And a tribute to Joss Naylor, Britain’s legend of fell running (18:51).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Peace talks in Doha have a chance at progress even in Hamas’s absence. The outcome could determine the scope of Iran’s promised retaliations against Israel. New research suggests Mars may have an ocean’s worth of water deep in its crust (10:30). And Colombia’s bid to sate the global hunger for more sources of vanilla (18:14).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Skilled immigrants bring more than just their expertise to job markets. But governments miss opportunities to attract them—or make them feel entirely unwelcome. In America it seems like the standard tip fraction just keeps going up and up (11:36). Where will it end? And as part of our “schools briefs” primer on AI, we answer your questions, starting with facial recognition (18:28).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Corporate investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure reaches $1.4trn by some estimates. We ask what might threaten the expected windfalls that justify the spending. A Japanese mine’s bid to be listed by UNESCO was made harder because it ignores South Korean wartime forced labour (10:49). And why a nicotine pouch has so many fans on America’s right (18:03).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Part of Russia is under foreign control for the first time since the second world war. We ask about the strategy behind the surprise raid—which may not be the last. The Paris Olympics were, all told, a tremendous success, with some lessons for future games (11:47). And the 3-D holographic displays coming to a car dashboard near you (20:35).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

The rich world is experiencing record migrant flows—and the attendant social upheaval. Finding immigration policies that are not economically ruinous is damnably hard. Our three-part series starts to unpack why people are so fed up with the big dating apps (11:10). And the head-spinning history of how break(danc)ing became an Olympic sport (18:44).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Tourists are getting decidedly less-warm welcomes in popular spots, but blunt anti-tourism policies are self-defeating. We look at how to maintain benefits for both the visitors and the visited. As Russia tries to avoid another military draft, a slick recruitment drive seems to be bringing in new troops (09:22). And fatigue with smartphones is leading to a fashion for dumb ones (15:22).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Tim Walz, a folksy Midwesterner who came late to politics, is on the Democratic ticket. We ask how he got there and whether he was the best tactical pick. A visit to Lebanon reveals a sense of foreboding, as a sharper war between Israel and Hizbullah seems inevitable (11:04). And the executives who just don’t know when to quit (19:53).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Sheikh Hasina, who led the country for 20 of the past 28 years with an increasingly authoritarian grip, was ultimately undone by student protests that would not be quelled. China may be world-leading in autonomous taxis—but our ride in one is not without complications (9:00). And remembering Thomas Neff, who rid the world of a third of its nukes (16:38).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Unrest across the country has been driven in part by the provably false claims of right-wing provocateurs. We examine the real concerns underlying the violence, and how to end it swiftly. Japanese politics had until recently been anachronistically tame; not so now that the social-media populists have arrived (10:18). And the notable parallels between “House of the Dragon” and modern politics (18:00).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

The biggest exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West since the Cold War included opposition leaders, journalists and prisoners of conscience. Our correspondent accompanies America’s defence secretary on a tour of Asia designed to bolster military alliances (12:17). And why King Charles counts his swans every year (21:15). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

As domestic demand in China slows, and the West puts up trade and political barriers, Chinese firms are shifting their focus to poorer parts of the world. After Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure intensify, our correspondent visits a wrecked power plant (9:10). And how the doner kebab became a cultural touchstone (17:00).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

After the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, what are the prospects for ceasefire talks in the region? In Venezuela Nicolas Maduro has declared victory in presidential elections, but the opposition says the vote was rigged and protests have erupted on the streets (9:41). And why cooking may not be as healthy as you think (18:03). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

Runtime: 22 min

The dearth of fixed-line infrastructure that allowed the continent to leapfrog into the mobile-phone age now holds it back. We ask how to ensure the even spread of AI’s dividends. Astinking Seine has delayed the Olympic triathlon, but the river could one day help clean up Paris (7:09). And how “The Blair Witch Project” changed horror films (14:33). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account. 

After an airstrikekilled 12 children in Israel-controlled territory at the weekend, retaliation in Lebanon seems inevitable. The end result could be a war on multiple fronts. British prisons are in crisis, so what should the new Labour government do (10:07)? And for the past 50 years, the Kronos quartet in America has brought together musical traditions to redefine classical music (22:48).

Additional music copyright Nonesuch Records, Black AngelsI. Departure&II. Absenceby George Crumb,Blood Oathby Philip Glass,Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collectorby Terry Riley,Purple Hazeby Jimi Hendrix,Tilliboyoby Foday Musa Suso,Nihavent Sirto,Flugufrelsarinnby Sigur Rós,Branching Patternsby Inti Figgis-Vizueta,Mishima/Closingby Philip Glass

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

As the Olympics begin, more people than ever will be watching via streaming services. We examine the changing viewing habits transforming sport’s role in the broadcast business. The sentencing of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist, reveals the empty, performative nature of justice in Russia today (11:10). And the internet has dubbed Kamala Harris “brat”—and that is a kind of compliment (18:34).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Anyone hoping to glean hints of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s plans for the Gaza war and its aftermath will have been disappointed: it was a political speech aimed at Israelis. Nigerians spend more than anyone on food, as a fraction of income. We look at the factors making the squeeze even tighter (11:44). And Starbucks franchises as community-level drivers of innovation (18:28). 

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

From tunnels to tanks to drones, Gaza’s horrors provide object lessons in urban warfare. We ask what Western forces will be learning about their own future conflicts. Silicon Valley types may relish the prospect of J. D. Vance, a former tech investor, becoming America’s vice-president—but it should in fact worry them (10:15). And the superstitious forces affecting Hong Kong’s property sector (18:57).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

A day is a long time in American politics: Kamala Harris has reportedly already secured the votes to become Democrats’ presidential nominee, a pile of campaign cash and the Trump campaign’s attention. For insight into how China treats its startup scene, we count the dwindling number of newly born unicorns (10:03). And why Britain’s twee beach huts are so eye-wateringly expensive (15:40).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Joe Biden has at last succumbed to the pressure to step aside and has endorsed his vice-president, Kamala Harris. We ask how things should progress from this extraordinary moment. India could be better run if power were devolved from the national government. The solution? Create lots of new states (10:03). And remembering Dr Ruth, who taught America to talk about sex (17:34).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

The scars of the covid pandemic are still raw, but now a virus spreading among farm animals could leap to humans. Could bird flu become the next pandemic? White women are sometimes absolved of blame in the crime of slavery in America (9:50). Research suggests they may have been culpable too. And meet the creator of Dateline, the Economist’s history quiz (17:25).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

J.D. Vance was largely unknown in American politics until Donald Trump picked him as his running-mate for vice-president. Last night he gave his first speech to the Republican National Convention. Why is trade so sluggish within Latin America (11:34)? And forget management books: literature offers the best lessons in leadership (20:14). 

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

If you don’t have enough food in the first 1,000 days of your life, your brain may never reach its full potential. Our correspondent discusses what better nutrition would mean for the world. Undersea cables are the arteries of our telecommunications system, but that also makes them vulnerable (9:13). And a new powder may help make periods less of a bloody nuisance (17:42).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

After decades of torpor, is Japan recovering its dynamism? Our correspondent turns to an ancient bento box merchant to test Japan’s economic future. A new study shows how few therapies tested on animals end up being applied to humans (10:02). And if you don’t know a pickle fork from a fish fork, it could be time to take an etiquette class (16:28).

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

After the shocking attempt to kill former President Donald Trump, how will America respond? Though leaders have called for calm, the risk is that an already hate-filled campaign could take a darker turn (11:06). Our correspondents consider the consequences for the two candidates, the presidential race and America at large

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Artificial intelligence is already making a difference in the theatre of war, and more involvement will certainly come. That raises a host of thorny ethical issues. In some cases, scientists just clocked, extinct beasts’ DNA can be extraordinarily well preserved—revealing once-inaccessible biological secrets (10:43). And remembering Pål Enger, who never quite knew why he felt compelled to steal “The Scream” (19:25).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.

Democrats’ worried murmurs have become public statements. Polls give Donald Trump a widening lead. Why won’t President Biden make way for a younger successor? Off Colombia’s coast a shipwreck bursting with treasures is about to be plundered, but who owns that loot is hotly contested (10:12). And why Finnish schools are trying to lure in more foreign students (17:43).

Get a world of insights bysubscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ourFAQs pageor watchour videoexplaining how to link your account.