Our summer special: a despot, a magic trick and a star
Aug 5, 2022
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Nick Pelham shares insights from his research on Mohammed bin Salman, highlighting the Saudi leader's reformative yet authoritarian reign. Ashley Mears delves into the captivating world of digital magicians, revealing why their viral content resonates with audiences. Anne Rowe reflects on humanity's dual feelings toward the sun, capturing its life-giving power and potential dangers. This engaging discussion intertwines politics, creativity, and our relationship with nature.
In a bumper episode, we highlight a summer’s-worth of deeply reported stories from 1843, our sister magazine: we profile Muhammad bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, who is both a liberalising reformer and a fearsome consolidator of power. We ask why magicians are behind so many viral videos. And we explore humanity’s long-running ambivalence toward the sun. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer