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Chapo, Mayo, Mencho: another Mexican kingpin falls Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

The targeting of “El Mencho”, the leader of one of the country’s two biggest gangs, has resulted in a predictable spate of violence—more of which is virtually assured. We take a rare look inside Russia to see how four years of war has changed the country. And some surprising advice on how to get your best marathon time.

Guests and host:

Sarah Birke, Mexico City bureau chief
Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia editor
Tim Cross, senior science writer
Ainslie Johnstone, data journalist
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Mexico, cartels, gang violence
Russia, economy, Ukraine war
Running, training, marathons

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A world-changing war: four years in Ukraine Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

On the fourth anniversary of a war that many predicted would last mere days, much has changed—even beyond the unthinkable misery in Ukraine itself. Alliances have weakened, Europe is rearming like never before and the very nature of modern war has been redefined. Our correspondents take stock and consider what kind of peace is even possible.

Guests and host:

Edward Carr, deputy editor
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

war in Ukraine, Russia, defence, diplomacy

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When the levy brakes: Trump’s tariffs struck down Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

The smackdown by America’s Supreme Court was resounding: the bulk of Donald Trump’s tariffs were instituted illegally. He will try to rebuild his tariff wall, brick by brick—creating a new crop of winners and losers. Australia’s surging One Nation party threatens a conservative coalition that was already looking slightly shaky. And why Agatha Christie’s prolific output is so enduringly popular.

Guests and host:

Rachana Shanbhogue, business-affairs editor
Aaron Connelly, Asia diplomatic editor
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

America’s Supreme Court, Donald Trump, tariffs
Australian politics, Pauline Hanson
Agatha Christie

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The arrest is history: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

The detainment of King Charles’s brother is almost without precedent in Britain’s long royal history. He denies wrongdoing, but damage to “The Firm” is already assured. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have fallen into a very public spat that may have grave implications far beyond the region. And our obituaries editor reflects on the life of Jesse Jackson.

Guests and host:

Sonny Loughran, Britain writer
Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Ann Wroe, Obituaries editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s royal family, Jeffrey Epstein
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, diplomacy
Jesse Jackson

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The splitting image: Yoon verdict will deepen divisions Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s ex-president, has been handed a life sentence for insurrection. That is by no means the end of the story of division in the country. Nervous AI-watchers fret about which workers might be replaced; our analysis suggests white-collar workers can breathe easy. And the memoir of Gisèle Pelicot, a rape survivor turned global symbol of strength.

Guests and hosts:

Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chief
Alex Domash, economics correspondent
Alexandra Suich Bass, Culture editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol
AI, white-collar jobs
Gisèle Pelicot, memoir

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The Robin Hood state: taxes are getting more progressive Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Income inequality abounds and today’s rich are staggeringly rich, implying that tax regimes are giving the wealthy more and more of a pass. Our dig into the numbers suggests the opposite. We ask why so many of the world’s international mercenaries hail from Colombia. And despite the signs, Spanish may be reaching its peak in America.

Guests and hosts:

Callum Williams, senior economics writer
Carla Subirana, news editor
Lane Greene, senior digital editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Taxation, welfare state, inequality
Colombia, international mercenaries
Spanish

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Ice, ice, maybe: should the Arctic be refrozen? Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Many scientists are considering the notion of actively cooling the region that is warming fastest. We examine the merits and the risks—both environmental and geopolitical—of messing with the polar climate. We ask why the kind of gig economy that has struggled in many markets is booming in India. And an unsettling peek into the first social network for AI agents.

Guests and hosts:

Oliver Morton, senior editor
Catherine Brahic, environment editor
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Alex Hern, AI writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

The Arctic, climate change, geoengineering
India, gig economy
Agentic AI, social networking, Moltbook

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Check in the mail: our analysis of Epstein’s correspondence Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Our data journalists trawled through the vast email archive of Jeffrey Epstein, a dead sex offender. It is a revealing look at how and with whom he communicated. As interest grows in banning young people’s use of social media, we argue there are better ways to mitigate harms. And a blindfolded introduction to “blouge”, a new, more climate-resilient wine variety.

Guests and host:

Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Dan Rosenheck, data editor
Tom Wainwright, media editor
Tom Standage, deputy editor of The Economist

Topics covered:

The Epstein files
Social-media bans
“Blouge” wine

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Stock options: how to hedge an AI bubble Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Tech firms are spending so much on artificial intelligence that investors are getting nervous. Our correspondent explains whether it is possible to protect your portfolio from a crash. Turkey’s ruler has become increasingly autocratic–and increasingly old. Who might succeed him? And celebrating the life of literary agent Georges Borchardt.

Guests and host:

Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Piotr Zalewski, Turkey correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent

Topics covered:

Hedging against an AI bubble
Turkey after Erdogan
Obituary of literary agent Georges Borchardt

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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Check in Kyiv: prospects for peace? Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

As Russia’s war in Ukraine nears four years, there has been no let up in the fighting on the battlefield. Yet there is some optimism that negotiations could yield a ceasefire. Our correspondent joins a Colombian drug raid to destroy a cocaine laboratory in the Amazon. And is crime in London really soaring?

Guests and host:

Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Claire McQue, Latin America writer
Sonny Loughran, Britain writer

Topics covered:

Ukraine peace prospects
Colombia’s war on drugs
Crime in London

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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