John Priddo, The Economist's US editor, discusses the impact of the recent government shutdown and the fallout from newly released Epstein emails, shedding light on political repercussions. Avantika Chilcotti, a global business correspondent, dives into Airbnb's struggles with growth, its strategic shift towards hotels, and plans for expanding into new markets like Brazil and Japan. They even touch on fascinating research about lead exposure in ancient humans, linking it to resilience and language development. Tune in for a mix of politics, business, and surprising science!