The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
Get a daily burst of illumination from The Economist’s worldwide network of correspondents. Our reporters dig past the headlines to get to the stories beneath—and to stories that aren’t making headlines, but should be. A unique perspective on the issues and events shaping your world.Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ at http://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-intelligence.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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Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Jul 31, 2023 • 24min
Putsched out: Niger’s coup d’état
Kinley Salmon, Africa correspondent for The Economist, dives into Niger's recent coup, detailing the military's takeover and its implications for international relations, particularly with the West and Russia. He discusses the precarious socio-political environment and public reactions post-coup. Additionally, the conversation shifts to London's air quality challenges and the contentious Ultra-Low Emission Zone rollout. Finally, they explore groundbreaking research from Crawford Lake, highlighting humanity's significant geological footprint and the debate over the Anthropocene epoch.
Jul 28, 2023 • 26min
Trading criminality for autocracy: El Salvador
In this insightful discussion, Sarah Burke, Economist Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, shares her expertise on El Salvador's evolving landscape. She highlights how President Nayib Bukele's aggressive crime-fighting strategies have made streets safer but jeopardized democratic stability. The podcast explores the stark social divides in communities, the emotional toll of mass detentions on families, and the worrying precedent Bukele sets for neighboring leaders. It's a complex portrait of hope intertwined with fear in a changing nation.
5 snips
Jul 27, 2023 • 24min
With a grain assault: a deal abandoned
Edward Carr, Deputy Editor of The Economist, dissects the geopolitical fallout of Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, highlighting dire food security concerns for Africa. David Rennie, Beijing bureau chief, unravels the mysterious disappearance and controversial dismissal of China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, amid shifting political dynamics. Meanwhile, Catherine Nixey critiques the decline of harsh literary criticism, arguing that this newfound civility diminishes the quality and honesty crucial for enriching readers' experiences.
Jul 26, 2023 • 27min
Forewarned before armed: how to predict war
Rosie Blore, International China correspondent, predicts military conflicts by analyzing subtle market signals, particularly regarding Taiwan. Sophie Petter, Paris bureau chief, discusses France's shifting stance on NATO and EU policies and their impact on European security, sparked by the Ukraine crisis. Meanwhile, Paul Markilley, Innovation editor, reveals how scrapyards are evolving into efficient recycling hubs, focusing on electric vehicles and innovative dismantling processes. The conversation blends geopolitical foresight with modernization in automotive recycling.
Jul 25, 2023 • 21min
Squash court: Israel’s controversial law reform
Anshul Pfeffer, a knowledgeable correspondent for The Economist, takes us through Israel's controversial Supreme Court law reform and its alarming implications for democracy. He discusses the ongoing protests and dissent sparked by the change in judicial powers. The conversation also highlights Vietnam's surprising educational success, showcasing effective teaching strategies that lead to stellar student performance. Additionally, the debate over the compatibility of cryptocurrency with Islamic law is explored, revealing diverse opinions among scholars.
Jul 24, 2023 • 24min
Small-Vox symptoms: Spain’s elections
Lane Green, Madrid bureau chief for The Economist, shares insights on Spain's recent elections. He discusses how the Socialist Party defied expectations and the challenges of coalition-building amidst rising far-right sentiments. David Hambling, a defense and technology writer, delves into Russia's naval camouflage strategies, revealing innovative techniques to evade AI-powered detection. They also humorously critique the trend of bizarre ice cream flavors, highlighting the uneven balance between creativity and culinary common sense.
4 snips
Jul 21, 2023 • 25min
Palace intrigue: the Kremlin after the mutiny
Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia and Eastern Europe editor for The Economist, discusses the recent fallout from the Wagner group's mutiny against Putin. He highlights how this rebellion signifies a weakened Kremlin and explores the fractures in military loyalty. The implications for the Ukraine conflict are critical, with internal strife potentially impacting battlefield dynamics. The conversation also shifts to climate challenges in India, linking weather disasters to urban planning failures, before briefly touching on the cultural phenomena of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
6 snips
Jul 20, 2023 • 22min
Runaway soldier: American detained in North Korea
Andrew Knox, a Korea correspondent for The Economist, delves into the intriguing case of Private Travis King, raising questions about his motives for defecting to North Korea and the complexities of diplomacy required for his release. Alice Forward, co-host of Money Talks, switches gears to explore the often-debated role of gold as an inflation hedge, revealing how its effectiveness can fluctuate in today's economic climate. The conversation even touches on the geological processes that shape mountain formation—an unexpected twist in a discussion blending geopolitics and economics.
8 snips
Jul 19, 2023 • 22min
Model growth: Tesla’s ambitious plans
Simon Wright, The Economist's industry editor, shares insights into Tesla's impressive growth and ambitious goals amid increasing competition in the EV market. He discusses the challenges Tesla faces in maintaining its edge, especially in China. Sondra Solstad, a senior data journalist, provides a fascinating look at innovative methods for estimating Russian casualties in Ukraine, revealing troubling statistics and the impact on military recruitment. The podcast also touches on the dangers of professional cycling, highlighting the risks faced by competitors in events like the Tour de France.
Jul 18, 2023 • 25min
Charming the prince: Biden seeks a deal with Saudi Arabia
Greg Karstrom, a Middle East correspondent and diplomacy expert, and Su Lin Wong, a Southeast Asia specialist, delve into the challenges faced by President Biden in securing a diplomatic deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. They explore Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's demands and the implications for U.S. foreign relations. Additionally, they discuss Cambodia's political landscape under Hun Sen, the complexities of succession planning, and the innovative plans for sustainable urban development in Stockholm, showcasing how historical context shapes modern governance.
