The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
Join Jason Palmer and Rosie Blau for noise-cancelling news and analysis from The Economist's global network of correspondents. Every weekday this award-winning podcast picks three stories shaping your world—the big shifts in politics, business and culture, plus things you never knew you needed to know. On Saturdays, download The Weekend Intelligence to dive deep into a single story, vividly told. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
13 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 27min
Democracy on ICE? The mood turns in America
Anne Rowe, obituaries editor, remembers Mark Tully’s decades reporting in India. Noah Snyder, East Asia bureau chief, reports on Kim Jong Un showcasing his daughter and regime symbolism around succession. Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief, analyzes rising backlash to the administration’s immigration tactics and congressional pushback. Short, topical scenes covering protests, courts and shifting political signals.
28 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 22min
No middle ground: Iran’s dangerous division
Nick Pelham, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, gives on-the-ground reporting from Iran. He describes the brutal crackdown and how society has hardened into two polarized camps. He maps shifting leadership roles and the risks of escalation into violence. He assesses the uncertain role foreign intervention might play.
50 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 19min
We’ll be right over here: Europe’s populists sour on Trump
Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief, explains why European populists are cooling on Trump and where tensions show up across countries. Kira Huyu, Asia correspondent, explores why Western dating apps failed in India and how local startups tailor matchmaking. Matt Kaplan, science correspondent, shares camera-trap tales of predators and why animals gather at mineral licks.
77 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 23min
General ejection: China’s military purge
Shira Aviona, a business and tech reporter at The Economist, explains Strava’s surge, social features and IPO plans. Sarah Larnuk, deputy editor reporting from Kyiv, recounts life under winter attacks, power and water cuts, and community coping. They also probe a startling shake-up in China’s military leadership and what it means for Beijing’s stability.
Jan 26, 2026 • 26min
Resistance is fatal: another killing in Minneapolis
For the second time this month, federal agents in Minneapolis killed a citizen under disputed circumstances. We take a wider look at the immigration-enforcement effort and what, if anything, might limit it. OpenAI remains a generative-AI darling but it is burning through eye-watering amounts of money; 2026 may be its make-or-break year. And the effort to save Britain’s red squirrels. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
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Jan 24, 2026 • 2min
Trailer: Boss Class Season 3
AI is remaking the workplace and turning many of us into managers. The host experiments with cloning, personas and a range of AI tools. He explores real company use cases from customer service to AI-first businesses. He also digs into the emotional rollercoaster of testing bots and the skills that will matter in an AI-driven world.
18 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 27min
ISIS control: Syria’s prison camp changes hands
Natasha Loda, the Health editor at The Economist, discusses the UK's innovative regulatory approach to customized medicines, highlighting its potential impact on treating rare diseases. Additionally, Gareth Brown provides a gripping report from Al-Hol camp in Syria, detailing the challenges of managing the ISIS detainee population after the camp's control shifted. He delves into the camp's precarious security, economic dynamics, and the ongoing influence of ISIS ideology among residents. Finally, Anne Rowe shares the fascinating story of Cecilia Giménez and the viral 'Monkey Jesus' restoration that dramatically boosted local tourism.
15 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 22min
Grave new world: the Greenland row’s lasting damage
Tom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chief at The Economist, examines the diplomatic fallout from Trump's Greenland comments, questioning the future of America-Europe relations. Tom Wainwright, media editor, discusses the impending TikTok ownership deal and its national-security implications, revealing enduring concerns about data access. Meanwhile, Blaine Green explores a trend of rising melancholy in pop lyrics, suggesting that listeners' preferences are shifting toward darker themes despite changing world events.
13 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 21min
House of Kurds: on the ground in northern Syria
In recent days Syrian government troops have tried to retake territory held by the country’s Kurdish minority. Our correspondent reports from the region. Factions are fighting to control Vietnam’s Communist Party Congress: the winner will change Vietnam’s future. And are millennial fathers more hands-on than their crusty forbears?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 our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
58 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 24min
Power ballot: Japanese PM’s electoral gamble
Noah Snyder, East Asia bureau chief at The Economist, analyzes Japanese PM Takaichi Sanae's snap election strategy and her popularity despite limited policy achievements. Dominic Ziegler discusses the newly ratified Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement aimed at protecting the high seas amidst rising overfishing concerns. Henrietta McFarlane explores how upscale restaurants adapt to the market impacts of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, leading to smaller portion sizes and changing dining experiences. Tune in for insights on politics, ecology, and culinary trends!
