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Latest Episodes:

Equal before the law? Transitional justice in Syria May 18, 2026

Show notes

Atef Najib, a former security chief, is the highest-profile member of the Assad regime to go on trial. We ask why the speed, uneven spread and murky legal basis of justice troubles many Syrians. Our series leading up to America’s 250th birthday continues to plumb our archive. Today: the cold war and Vietnam. And why whiskymaking is booming in China.

Guests and host:

Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent
Annie Crabill, senior digital editor
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Syria, judicial system, transitional justice
America, 250th anniversary, history
China, business, whisky

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Runtime: 24 min

TWITTER HANDLES OF CONTRIBS

@BrowneGareth – Syria

@annie_crabill – US250

@donweinland – whisky

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Top dog-whistler: Tommy Robinson and Britain’s far right May 15, 2026

Show notes

Tommy Robinson is an influencer who has shaped views on Britain, particularly among his American supporters and funders. A rally this weekend will show how his worldview is reaching the mainstream. A merger in the oligopoly of liftmakers will reshape an industry known for its ups and downs. And remembering Raghu Rai, whose photographs captured the intensity of India’s people.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

Georgia Banjo, Britain correspondent
Simon Wright, industry editor
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Tommy Robinson, Britain’s far right, America’s far right
Lifts, mergers, business
Raghui Rai, India, photojournalism

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Fired alarm: AI hype versus labour-market history May 14, 2026

Show notes

Perhaps the AI “boomers” are right about a sweeping labour-market revolution. But a careful look at history shows just how unprecedented their bullish scenarios would be. Africa’s bounty of minerals has drawn tremendous recent interest; will the continent see the benefits this time around? And our World Cup profile series continues with a look at Japan’s squad.

Guests and host:

Callum Williams, senior economics writer
John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

AI, labour market, economics, history
Africa, critical minerals, investment, development
World Cup, Japan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duo’s lingo: what to watch for in Trump-Xi summit May 13, 2026

Show notes

The meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will set the tone for three more this year. We examine what and what not to expect. Pepsi has been losing ground to Coca Cola recently; to catch up, it may have to become more like its rival. And this year’s Venice Biennale is uncomfortably besieged by geopolitics.

Guests and host:

Simon Rabinovitch, Beijing bureau chief
Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent
Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Trump/Xi summit, geopolitics
Coca Cola, Pepsi, business
Venice Biennale, culture

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Apocalypse soon? AI could hasten bioweapons May 12, 2026

Show notes

Artificial intelligence could help terrorists develop new dangerous pathogens. Our correspondent asks how humanity can protect itself from machine-assisted biological weapons. Stock markets are soaring, despite the oil shock. What does this tell us about investor confidence in traditionally safe assets? And the doughs and don’ts of German bread.

Guests and host:

Arthur Holland Michel, emerging tech writer
Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Lily Meckel, audience fellow
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Bioweapons, AI, virus
Stockmarkets, oil shock, dollar, government bonds
German bread, Bernd das Brot

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.

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Keir hunters: will Britain’s PM go? May 11, 2026

Show notes

After catastrophic local-election results, Britain’s prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. One airline has folded and others may follow: jet-fuel prices are crimping carriers the world over, but the pain is not spread evenly. And could San Andrés, a popular Colombian tourist island, ever declare independence?

Guests and host:

Owen Winter, Britain political correspondent
Simon Wright, industries editor
Claire McQue, Americas writer
Rosie Blau co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Britain elections, Keir Starmer, Reform UK, Labour
Airlines, jet fuel, oil price, Strait of Hormuz
San Andrés, Colombia, Caribbean

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.

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Drone team: Russia’s plan to arm Iran May 08, 2026

Show notes

The Kremlin planned to provide Iran with unjammable drones, plus training in how to use them, according to leaked documents seen exclusively by The Economist. Meanwhile there are nearly 20,000 merchant seamen stranded in the Gulf. And a tribute to Craig Venter, dark horse of the Human Genome Project.

Watch extended clips from Economist Insider here.

Guests and host:

Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Joshua Spencer, Asia news editor
Geoffrey Carr, senior editor, science and technology
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, Russia, drones
Commercial shipping
Craig Venter

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A hatred normalised: antisemitism in Britain May 07, 2026

Show notes

An egregious attack in a Jewish neighbourhood in London is just the latest example of a troubling trend. We investigate the claim that antisemitism is becoming normalised in Britain. While many of the world’s luxury brands are struggling, American ones seem to be flourishing. And our series of profiles of teams contesting the World Cup continues with Argentina.

Guests and host:

Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer
Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

antisemitism, Britain
American brands, luxury goods
World Cup, Argentina

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer: Checks and Balance May 06, 2026

Show notes

Unlock American politics with The Economist’s John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard and James Bennet. Taking one big theme every week, they dig into the data, the ideas and the history behind it. Politicians, pollsters and political scientists join them to discuss where the great experiment of American democracy is headed. Published every Friday.

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On the off chancellor: Friedrich Merz, one year in May 06, 2026

Show notes

Germany’s chancellor came to office making big promises. A year later they are unfulfilled, his government is squabbling and he has drawn President Donald Trump’s ire. The advertising industry is, inevitably, starting to peddle its wares quietly in AI chatbots. And a historical look at the oratory around war and how it has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Guests and host:

Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent
Tom Wainwright, media editor
Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Germany, Friedrich Merz, Donald Trump
AI, chatbots, advertising
rhetoric of war

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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