Economist Podcasts Deal them back in? What we heard in Iran
59 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Henry Tricks, the Technology editor at The Economist, delves into the evolving AI landscape, discussing the circular nature of investments and competition challenges posed to giants like OpenAI. He emphasizes the potential shift toward AI specialization over monopolistic dominance. Meanwhile, Benselin von Bredow, a Senior Germany correspondent, reveals Denmark's groundbreaking decision to end national letter delivery amid declining letter volumes, while highlighting how postal services are adapting to booming parcel demands in a digital world.
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A Different, Controlled Tehran
- Tehran feels more controlled and somber compared with six years ago, with sparser street life and heavier minding of journalists.
- Iran faces deep economic and environmental pressures that shape its domestic mood and foreign posture.
Layers Of Minders Follow Journalists
- Journalists were accompanied by official minders plus additional layers who shadowed them and stayed in nearby hotel rooms.
- The extra surveillance was intended to show the trip would go smoothly and avoid past detention episodes.
Domestic Crises Drive Policy Choices
- Iran's priorities include drought, blackouts, desertification and inflation more than external conflicts alone.
- These internal crises pressure the government to ease some social enforcement to relieve public strain.