The Intelligence

More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking . China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI —with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them ).  Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent Don Weinland, China business and finance editor Matt Kaplan, science correspondent Rosie Blau, c

20m 43s

What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.  This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown Jack Reacher series by Lee Child “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy “Riders” and

29m 17s

Elon Musk has launched the largest stockmarket listing in history. The accompanying space mission remains grounded. Our correspondent weighs SpaceX’s extraordinary ambitions. The Republican party trades on its masculine image, but some young men are turning away. And, after a blind tasting 50 years ago unleashed a new wave of wine drinking , the market is drying out. Watch extended clips from Insider here Guests and host: Tim Cross, senior science writer Robert Guest, Economist deputy editor Ale

24m 54s

Within the space of a week Chinese president Xi Jinping has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the Premier League got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish adrenaline-fuelled activities. Guests and host: Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent Sonny Loughran, Britain writer Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent Rosie Blau, co-

20m 36s

Is Binyamin Netanyahu ’s time up as Israel’s prime minister? As a vote in parliament triggers the election campaign, our correspondent – and Netanyahu’s biographer – analyses what comes next. We join a US-backed counter-terrorism training exercise in Africa and question whether such missions will outlast Trump. And how Cape Verde came to take part in its first World Cup . Guests and host: Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent Jon Fasman, senior culture correspond

20m 29s

The latest Ebola emergency is different from previous ones: there is no vaccine, and the kind of community-level work that stops the spread has been thinned by aid cuts. Britain is likely to get a new prime minister soon; we profile Andy Burnham , the Labour party’s polling favourite. And celebrity book clubs abound—but useful criticism in them does not .  Guests and host: John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent Joel Budd, social affairs editor Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent Jaso

21m 46s

Atef Najib, a former security chief, is the highest-profile member of the Assad regime to go on trial. We ask why the speed, uneven spread and murky legal basis of justice troubles many Syrians . Our series leading up to America’s 250th birthday continues to plumb our archive. Today: the cold war and Vietnam . And why whiskymaking is booming in China. Guests and host: Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent Annie Crabill, senior digital editor Don Weinland, China business and finance editor Jas

24m 50s

Tommy Robinson is an influencer who has shaped views on Britain, particularly among his American supporters and funders. A rally this weekend will show how his worldview is reaching the mainstream. A merger in the oligopoly of liftmakers will reshape an industry known for its ups and downs. And remembering Raghu Rai , whose photographs captured the intensity of India’s people. Watch extended clips from Insider here . Guests and host: Georgia Banjo, Britain correspondent Simon Wright, industry ed

24m 7s

Perhaps the AI “boomers” are right about a sweeping labour-market revolution. But a careful look at history shows just how unprecedented their bullish scenarios would be. Africa’s bounty of minerals has drawn tremendous recent interest; will the continent see the benefits this time around? And our World Cup profile series continues with a look at Japan’s squad. Guests and host: Callum Williams, senior economics writer John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent Jon Fasman, senior culture correspo

21m 33s

The meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will set the tone for three more this year. We examine what and what not to expect. Pepsi has been losing ground to Coca Cola recently; to catch up, it may have to become more like its rival . And this year’s Venice Biennale is uncomfortably besieged by geopolitics.  Guests and host: Simon Rabinovitch, Beijing bureau chief Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor Rosie Blau,

21m 40s

Artificial intelligence could help terrorists develop new dangerous pathogens . Our correspondent asks how humanity can protect itself from machine-assisted biological weapons. Stock markets are soaring, despite the oil shock. What does this tell us about investor confidence in traditionally safe assets ? And the doughs and don’ts of German bread .   Guests and host: Arthur Holland Michel, emerging tech writer Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent Lily Meckel, audience fellow Ros

20m 39s

After catastrophic local-election results, Britain’s prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. One airline has folded and others may follow: jet-fuel prices are crimping carriers the world over, but the pain is not spread evenly. And could San Andrés , a popular Colombian tourist island, ever declare independence?  Guests and host: Owen Winter, Britain political correspondent Simon Wright, industries editor Claire McQue, Americas writer Rosie Blau co-host of “The I

20m 10s

The Kremlin planned to provide Iran with unjammable drones, plus training in how to use them, according to leaked documents seen exclusively by The Economist. Meanwhile there are nearly 20,000 merchant seamen stranded in the Gulf . And a tribute to Craig Venter , dark horse of the Human Genome Project. Watch extended clips from Economist Insider here . Guests and host: Shashank Joshi, defence editor Joshua Spencer, Asia news editor Geoffrey Carr, senior editor, science and technology Rosie Blau,

27m 10s

An egregious attack in a Jewish neighbourhood in London is just the latest example of a troubling trend . We investigate the claim that antisemitism is becoming normalised in Britain. While many of the world’s luxury brands are struggling, American ones seem to be flourishing . And our series of profiles of teams contesting the World Cup continues with Argentina. Guests and host: Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent R

19m 59s

Germany’s chancellor came to office making big promises. A year later they are unfulfilled, his government is squabbling and he has drawn President Donald Trump’s ire. The advertising industry is, inevitably, starting to peddle its wares quietly in AI chatbots. And a historical look at the oratory around war and how it has taken a sharp turn for the worse . Guests and host: Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent Tom Wainwright, media editor Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent Rosie Blau, co

21m 41s

The Trump administration’s “ Project Freedom ” has done and will do little to boost traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We examine an unsustainable standoff. A fashion influencer’s post addressed to President Vladimir Putin has brought Russians’ wider grumbling into the open. And how India’s notorious street noise comes with costs to human health .  Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia editor Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent Rosie Blau

21m 46s

In Iran, America is using expensive weaponry against cheap local drones. Can upstart tech companies change the economics – and nature — of conflict? As part of our ongoing series on the US at 250 , we examine the impact of the two world wars. And should you ever use an emoji at work? Listen to “ Money Talks ” on defence tech upstarts.  Guests and host: Henry Tricks, US technology editor Annie Crabill, a senior digital editor Andrew Palmer, host of “Boss Class” podcast Rosie Blau, host of “T

21m 57s

Can peace hold in Lebanon while Hizbullah remains? Our correspondent weighs the balance of power between government forces and the Iran-backed militia. The resale value of Labubus is falling – who cares? And remembering Swedish death-clearer, Margareta Magnusson .  Watch extended clips from “ The Insider ”. And listen to our “ Weekend Intelligence ” episode on “Kidulting: why adults are turning to toys”. Guests and host: Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent Josh Roberts, capital markets

23m 20s

Oil prices are at their highest since 2022, as a swift end to the Iran conflict proves elusive. Yet, our commodities editor says, markets do not yet yet recognise how deep the supply shock is. Who will contest next year’s pivotal election in France? And great expectations in Brazil ahead of the World Cup. Watch “ The Insider ”: How high will the oil price go  Guests and host: Matthieu Favas, commodities editor Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent Rosie

19m 53s

Artificial Intelligence is becoming ubiquitous, but the industry that powers it is struggling to keep up with demand. The host of our award-winning podcast series “ Scam Inc ” says fraudsters in Asia are becoming more sophisticated. And after Allbirds stops selling shoes, what comes next? Guests and host: Shailesh Chitnis, global business writer Sue-Lin Wong, host of Scam Inc  Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intellige

22m 44s

The “special relationship” between Britain and America is at its weakest since the Suez crisis of 1956. Will a state visit by King Charles III to America salvage the tie? Why Japanese automakers may be running out of road. And fish from New York’s Hudson river are now safe to eat. Guests and host: Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Daniel Franklin, senior editor, Britain Ethan Wu, Asia business and finance editor Stevie Hertz, US policy correspondent Topics covered:  King Charles III, s

22m 17s

After a gunman stormed Donald Trump’s dinner with the press, questions are being revived about the president’s security. Germany’s top general explains the country’s new defence strategy. And listeners respond to our Weekend Intelligence episode on the passport bros who go abroad to find “a good woman”. An earlier version of our lead story stated that the gunman shot a Secret Service agent. Subsequent reports indicate it is unclear whose shot struck the agent.We have now edited the start of the

24m 32s

We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl. In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligence” went to Ukraine to consider the aftermath of the Russian invasion and occupation of Chernobyl, a

31m 37s

We examine what our forecast model predicts so far —and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives. Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Nonesuch Records), Erik Hall (Western Vinyl) Guests and host: Dan Rosenheck, data editor Jon Fasman, se

26m 3s

The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes . And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal.  Guests and host: Alex Hern, AI writer Kira Huju, Asia correspondent Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent Jason Palmer, co-hos

22m 49s

Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor . Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should . Guests and host: Tom Lee-Devlin, business editor Moeka Iida, Japan reporter Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Jason Palmer, c

18m 28s

This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace in the countryside. Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent Sarah  Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence” Don Weinland, China business

25m 58s

When America seized Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in January, it left the rest of his regime intact. Three months on, our correspondent finds optimism and some loosening of repression. Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado fled to America, now she explains her ambitions for the country. And celebrating the life of Nick Pope , who spent decades investigating UFOs. Guests and host: Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent Ann Wroe, obituaries editor Rosie Blau, host of “The I

25m 51s

After six weeks of Israel’s offensive against Hizbullah, Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister are due to talk today. What can they achieve? Britain’s “triple lock” pensions are unsustainable. And Uzbekistan’s footballers prepare for the World Cup. Vote for The Economist at the Webby Awards: “ The Last Boat ” podcast, TikTok channel and language series.  Guests and host: Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent Jon Fasman, senior culture cor

20m 21s

The Iran conflict and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz are slowing supply not just of fuel, but food and fertiliser. Geophysics could worsen the approaching hunger crisis: an El Niño weather event is predicted for this year. Anti-conversion laws are resulting in horrific scenes at Christian burial sites in India. And why Britain’s vets are struggling. Guests and host: Catherine Brahic, environment editor Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer Kira Huju, Asia correspondent Carla Subirana, new

22m 52s