The Intelligence from The Economist

Latest Episodes:

NATO’s dialogues: America’s (next) threat to go Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

President Donald Trump has long threatened to pull America out of the alliance. We examine why the Iran war has made this time look significantly more serious. Westerners are fleeing their countries in record numbers—with economic consequences for their origins and destinations. And our series profiling the countries contesting the World Cup starts with Spain.

Guests and host:

Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor
Callum Williams, senior economics writer
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

NATO, war in Iran, Donald Trump, Mark Rutte
expats, emigration, economics
World Cup, Spain

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Overnight cessation: a two-week pause in Iran Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

With little time to spare before a threatened civilisation-ending attack, America agreed a pause in fighting with Iran. We ask how the temporary deal was reached and how likely a permanent one is. China has an ever-expanding, state-led IVF programme: can that actually reverse a deepening demographic crisis? And the right way to think about AI’s entry into literature.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Carla Subirana, news editor
Andrew Miller, special correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, Donald Trump, ceasefire
China, demographics, IVF
AI, literature

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Over troubled waters: Trump’s bridge-and-plant plot Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

President Donald Trump’s rhetoric has grown yet more bellicose—and sweary. His stated ploy to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants would be ruinous for Iran, and Iran’s planned retaliation ruinous for the region. AI-driven job losses predicted for India’s IT sector are looking more likely to be job gains. And why Gen Z is taking up boomers’ hobbies.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Gavin Jackson, South Asia business and economics correspondent
Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, America
India, IT work, AI
Gen Z, hobbies

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Hungary for change? A challenger to Orban Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, is an idol to the global nationalist conservative right. Losing the next election would have far-reaching consequences. Could tourists help boost jaguar populations in South and Central America? And the number of Catholic saints is soaring.

Guests and host:

Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”
Matt Steinglass, Europe editor
Ana Lankes, Brazil correspondent
Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent

Topics covered:

Hungary, Viktor Orban, Peter Magyar, Fidesz
Jaguars, climate change
Saints, Catholic

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Xi says: who will succeed him? Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

A giant leadership reshuffle is underway in China, but one job will stay the same: Xi Jinping is almost certain to secure another five-year term at next year’s party congress. Reasons to be optimistic about Europe’s tech future. And the life of controversial winemaker, Michel Rolland.

Guests and host:

James Miles, global China writer
Guy Scriven, global business writer
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Xi Jinping, China, Party Congress
Tech, quantum computing
Michel Rolland, wine, obituary

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Over the moon: Artemis II launches Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

NASA has successfully launched its first crewed space mission in over a decade. Our correspondent explains why America wants to build a moonbase. AI models underperform in languages other than English. And meet China’s social-media stars: influencer-officials.

Guests and host:

Oliver Morton, senior editor
Deena Mousa, science writer
Gabriel Crossley, China correspondent
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Artemis II, moon, NASA
AI, LLMs, language
China, Chinese Communist Party, influencers, social media

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Drone wolf: Ukraine’s missile mastermind Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Ukraine’s resistance to Russia relies on the clever use of drones. Much of that strategy is down to a single person, a former grain trader with a great idea. Our correspondent meets him. Since the Brexit vote a decade ago, Britain has become more like Europe. And why American universities are abandoning the notorious swimming test.

Guests and host:

Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor
Doug Dowson, data journalist
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Ukraine, drones, Russia, Putin
Britain, Europe, European Union, single market
American universities, race, discrimination, swimming

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Refine and dandy: Iran’s war bounty Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

An Economist investigation reveals that Iran is profiting from the war as it evades sanctions and oil prices surge. India’s government has promised to crush the country’s Maoist insurgency. Our correspondent visits a former rebel stronghold. And why understudies, a theatre’s insurance policy, are underestimated.

Guests and host:

Rachana Shanbhogue, business affairs editor
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Hamish Clayton, culture writer
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Oil, Iran, Kharg Island, sanctions
India, Modi, Maoists
Culture, theatre, understudies

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The bog of war: week five begins Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

The Iran conflict is escalating with little prospect of an end in sight. Our correspondent explains why a US ground invasion is likely. In an ongoing history series, we look at how America’s attitude to migrants changed as it got richer. And “Project Hail Mary” is a sci-fi film drawing wide audiences.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Annie Crabill, a news editor in New York
Alexandra Suich Bass, Culture editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran, Houthis, geopolitics, oil
America, migration, colonialism
“Project Hail Mary”, sci-fi

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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Hasta la victoria, quizás: Cuba’s broken economy Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Even before America crimped Cuba’s oil, the country was teetering. We ask what is to blame for the Cuban people’s plight, and whether anything better is in prospect. The craze of injecting peptides is not only scientifically unsupported—it is potentially dangerous. Chuck Norris once got mad at dinosaurs. Just once. Our obituaries editor recounts his unlikely rise to international manly stardom.

Guests and host: