The Intelligence from The Economist

Latest Episodes:

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

The resignation of India’s education minister was a stunning capitulation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The Cockroach Janta Party, a fast-growing youth movement, has the upper hand for now. So-called macro trading is hard: even with advance knowledge of events, neither man nor machine seems to make much money. And hunting the mosaics of Invader, an anonymous French street artist.

Guests and host:

Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Joshua Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

India, Cockroach Janta Party, protest, Narendra Modi
macro trading, retail investing
Invader, Flashinvader, street art

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The Elon game: Musk’s vision of the future Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

After Elon Musk’s first extended interview since SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO, The Economist editor-in-chief reflects on what he told her: that AIs will be in charge in ten years, his dark view of Europe and the inevitably of civil war in Britain. At what age is a child responsible for their crimes? And remembering Mona Khalil, Lebanese protector of turtles.

Watch extended clips from Elon Musk on “Insider” here

Guests and host:

Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist
Maighna Nanu, editor of foreign newsletters
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Elon Musk, AI, killer robots, far right, The Insider
child criminals, criminal responsibility, gangs
Mona Khalil, Lebanon, turtles, conservation

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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An interview with Elon Musk Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Elon Musk may be the most powerful man in the world. For his first extended interview since SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO, he sits down with Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, for The Insider, our video show for premium subscribers. They discuss the timeline for AI overtaking human intelligence, the rapid progress of China, the reasons for his interest in Europe and why he thinks he “got a little too involved” in politics.

Watch the full show—and sign up to the Insider newsletter.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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For bucks’ sake: the rise of self-made billionaires Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Many people, including politicians, love to hate the super-rich, and assume they have gamed the system. Yet our correspondent reports that a growing share of today’s wealthiest earned their money providing goods and services we all want. A new crackdown on scam compounds in Cambodia. And lessons from the ultimate political animal, Downing Street’s Larry the Cat.

Watch “The Insider” interview with Elon Musk from 6pm BST, 1pm EST.

Listen to our podcast series “Scam Inc”.

Guests and host:

Callum Williams, senior economics writer
Sue-Lin Wong, Asia correspondent
Chris Impey, co-editor of “The Intelligence”
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Billionaires, Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, Taylor Swift
Scams, scam compounds, Cambodia
Larry the Cat, Andy Burnham, Downing Street

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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Kyiv brawl: Ukraine’s top general fired Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrsky. That follows days of protests at his sacking of the defence minister. Our correspondent analyses the fallout. America’s murder rate is falling, so why are cops killing more people? And a shift in the Japanese taboo on living in homes where people have died.

Guests and host:

Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Daniel Knowles, US Midwest correspondent
Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Fedorov, Syrsky, Zelensky, Ukraine
Police killings, gun crime, murder
Japan, haunted houses, jiko bukken

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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Hard cedar: Lebanon seeks Trump’s help Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Today, Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun visits the White House to ask for Donald Trump’s help rebuilding the country. Our correspondent reports from his recent trip to Lebanon on the challenges it faces. Threats to Red Bull’s magnificent marketing machine. And why the age gap between the wealthiest men and their wives is shrinking.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Vendeline von Bredow, senior Germany correspondent
Doug Dowson, data journalist
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Lebanon, Beirut, Joseph Aoun, Hizbullah
Red Bull, energy drinks, extreme sports
Trophy wives, age gap, misogyny

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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A firm Andy: what are new British PM’s plans? Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Andy Burnham faces tough challenges as Britain’s new prime minister, both within his party and the country at large. Our correspondent analyses his prospects. After years of strife, how can Syria be rebuilt? And food markets have changed New York.

Guests and host:

Hugo Gye, Britain political correspondent
Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent
Annie Crabill, senior digital editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer, prime minister
Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, Assad
New York, street markets, farmers’ markets

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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You’ve come a long way, Bibi: Israel’s crucial election Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Binyamin Netanyahu’s government will, unusually, serve out its full term. What comes after October’s election will decide what kind of Israel will emerge. Our correspondent asks whether the World Cup will be remembered more for the dramas on the pitch or off it. And a tribute to A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, after it melts away at last.

Guests and host:

Josie Delap, Middle East editor
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Israeli election, Binyamin Netanyahu
World Cup
icebergs, climate

Watch extended clips from Insider here. And listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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In it to bin it: Nigel Farage v Count Binface Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

We take a peek into a quirk of British politics as the country’s populist-right polling leader goes up against a man who wears a bin on his head. It is more serious than it sounds. Africans tired of shoddy internet services are turning to Starlink—for a price. And our culture editor reviews an anachronism-laden take on a classic epic.

Guests and host:

Hugo Gye, British political correspondent
Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent
Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Nigel Farage, Count Binface, British politics, farce
Africa’s internet infrastructure, Starlink
“The Odyssey”, Christopher Nolan

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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Strait and narrowing: the Iran deal crumbles Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

The sketch of a deal to end the war is all but dead; oil is up as strikes rain down. We look at the options available to America—all of them bad. India’s government websites are almost universally impossible to use; we look at the structural reasons behind the bad IT. And the growth of summer camps for adults.

Listen to our “The Weekend Intelligence” episode on kidulting.

Guests and host: