The Intelligence from The Economist

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Security banquet: queries over Trump protection Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

After a gunman stormed Donald Trump’s dinner with the press, questions are being revived about the president’s security. Germany’s top general explains the country’s new defence strategy. And listeners respond to our Weekend Intelligence episode on the passport bros who go abroad to find “a good woman”.

An earlier version of our lead story stated that the gunman shot a Secret Service agent. Subsequent reports indicate it is unclear whose shot struck the agent.We have now edited the start of the segment.

Guests and host:

John Prideaux, host of “Checks and Balance” and US editor
Tom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chief
Carla Subirana, reporter
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Donald Trump, assassination attempt, White House dinner, Cole Tomas Allen
Carsten Breuer, Bundeswehr, NATO, Ukraine
Passport bros, tradwife, misogyny

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An explosion still echoing: Chernobyl at 40 Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl.

In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligence” went to Ukraine to consider the aftermath of the Russian invasion and occupation of Chernobyl, and then of the Zaporizhia nuclear-power plant. What we found was an industry that had no expectation that could even happen, and nothing of a plan when it did. Listen here.

Guests and host:

Serhii Plokhy, historian, Harvard University
Olena Pareniuk, radiobiologist, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants
Jim Smith, environmental scientist, University of Portsmouth
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Chernobyl nuclear-power plant, history
nuclear safety, nuclear-energy policy
radiation exposure, radiobiology, radioecology

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Bringing the House down: our American midterms model Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

We examine what our forecast model predicts so far—and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives.

Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Nonesuch Records), Erik Hall (Western Vinyl)

Guests and host:

Dan Rosenheck, data editor
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Ainslie Johnstone, data journalist
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

American elections, Congress, polling, gerrymandering
Steve Reich, contemporary classical music
birth order, statistics

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White hat, black box: AI’s next chapter Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes. And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal.

Guests and host:

Alex Hern, AI writer
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

AI, Anthropic, Mythos
India, women, politics
World Cup, Senegal

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Mac daddy: Apple’s new boss Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor. Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should.

Guests and host:

Tom Lee-Devlin, business editor
Moeka Iida, Japan reporter
Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Apple, technology, CEO, John Ternus
Japan, demographics
Britain, boredom

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Now boarding: America seizes an Iranian ship Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace in the countryside.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence”
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, Strait of Hormuz
Chernobyl, Ukraine war
China, fast food

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Inside Caracas: Venezuela after Maduro Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

When America seized Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in January, it left the rest of his regime intact. Three months on, our correspondent finds optimism and some loosening of repression. Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado fled to America, now she explains her ambitions for the country. And celebrating the life of Nick Pope, who spent decades investigating UFOs.

Guests and host:

Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Venezuela, oil, Maduro, Trump
María Corina Machado, elections
Nick Pope, UFOs, aliens, NASA

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Talks of life: can Israel and Lebanon find peace? Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

After six weeks of Israel’s offensive against Hizbullah, Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister are due to talk today. What can they achieve? Britain’s “triple lock” pensions are unsustainable. And Uzbekistan’s footballers prepare for the World Cup.

Vote for The Economist at the Webby Awards: “The Last Boat” podcast, TikTok channel and language series.

Guests and host:

Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Israel, Lebanon, Hizbullah, Netanyahu
State pension, Britain, triple lock, inflation
World Cup, Uzbekistan

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Food awakening: Iran’s ripple effect Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

The Iran conflict and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz are slowing supply not just of fuel, but food and fertiliser. Geophysics could worsen the approaching hunger crisis: an El Niño weather event is predicted for this year. Anti-conversion laws are resulting in horrific scenes at Christian burial sites in India. And why Britain’s vets are struggling.

Guests and host:

Catherine Brahic, environment editor
Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Carla Subirana, news desk editor
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran conflict, oil, food crisis, fertilisers, El Niño
India, Hindu nationalism, Christian conversions, Modi
Britain, pets, vets

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

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Shipping forecast: will America’s blockade work? Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

After the failure of talks at the weekend, America is now stopping all ships from using Iranian ports and coastal areas. Our correspondent analyses the rationale. Burkina Faso’s government is committing war crimes. And which type of fizzy water tastes best?

Vote for “The Economist” in the Webby Awards: “The Last Boat” podcast and Lane Greene on languages

Guests and host:

Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

America, Iran, blockade, Strait of Hormuz, oil
Burkina Faso, Sahel, jihad, Ibrahim Traoré
Sparkling water, fizzy drinks, alcohol

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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