Get a daily burst of illumination from The Economist’s worldwide network of correspondents. Our reporters dig past the headlines to get to the stories beneath—and to stories that aren’t making headlines, but should be. A unique perspective on the issues and events shaping your world.
It is a Nobel-winning idea with untold promise in health care, agriculture and more. We examine what must change in order to capture those benefits. Asia’s love affair with gold has long been chalked up to cultural motives; our correspondent finds far more going on (10.45). And for all the draw of New Zealand’s verdant chill, lots of natives want out (17:58). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please...
President Xi Jinping’s style of negotiating is staid, distanced, a quiet projection of power. President Donald Trump’s is not. That dynamic is complicating their gargantuan standoff. Spain ends up with more and more remains of migrants who die on their journeys—and its morgues cannot keep up (10:29). And in an age of video games pinball is not only surviving, it’s flipping thriving (18:11). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access E...
For the 23rd time the International Monetary Fund will cough up, this time to the tune of $20bn. But the reforms stipulated by the loan, alongside promising changes already under way, suggest this time might be different . Near America’s border with Mexico, high-speed chases have become more common—and more deadly (9:08). And myriad uncertainties are making Europe a continent of preppers (15:08). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to ac...
Falling trust in the greenback is most apparent in bond-market moves. How close is the dollar to losing its status as the world’s go-to currency, and what could take its place? We take a look at Jordan Bardella , the young, polished, ever-rising star of France’s far right (11:56). And Hong Kong’s notoriously gruff cab drivers are told to smile more… or else (18:26). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, pleas...
President Donald Trump called the weekend strike on Sumy a “mistake”; other leaders called it a war crime. We examine the prospects for peace when Russia is brazenly hitting civilian targets . As scientists flee American institutions, Europe is trying to woo them (10:29). And Britain’s historical consumer-price index as a fascinating window into how shoppers’ tastes have shifted (17:24). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Econ...
Donald Trump is now aiming his trade war squarely at China. As the tit-for-tat tariff battle keeps escalating, investors are fleeing to safe assets. What will happen next? Germany’s Friedrich Merz finally signs a deal for a coalition government (10:12). And remembering Betty Webb , who worked at Britain’s wartime codebreaking centre Bletchley Park (19:36). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more inf...
Just 12 hours after Donald Trump launched his searing regime of tariffs, he paused many of them for 90 days. What's next for global trade? An outlandish proposal to build data centres in space (8:14). And why “ The Great Gatsby ” is just as relevant, 100 years on (15:58). 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 vi...
As Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs take effect, our correspondent explains how one of America’s most profitable companies may navigate the trade war. Are class divides in Britain softening (9:28)? And Republican influencers define what it is to be a conservative woman (16:08). 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 o...
More than 36,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats last year. Our correspondent investigates the increasingly sophisticated business strategies of the criminals who smuggle them. As the planet heats, wildfires in East Asia are becoming fiercer and more frequent (10:36). And why ordinary Americans are falling out of love with their former international allies (18:31). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist...
Since Donald Trump announced punishing tariffs on “Liberation Day” last week, stock markets have fallen and governments and businesses scrambled to respond. Our correspondent discusses the impact on the global economy . Do personalised diets really improve gut health (9:16)? And gasp at the science of how seals spend so long underwater without breathing (16:13). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For mo...
South Korea has been paralysed since its president declared martial law in December. Even after his impeachment , politicians face a divided polity and battered economy. Why governments should pay attention to the “ Henry ” – High Earner, Not Rich Yet (9:49). And what tiffs over tofu teach us (15:38). 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...
Even in the run-up to Donald Trump’s “ Liberation Day ” tariff hikes, few had expected such colossal levies. Our correspondent explains how they will shake America’s economy and global trade. After Sudanese government forces retake Khartoum , will this alter the course of the civil war (10:32)? And Shonda Rhimes is shaping watching habits (18:12). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about ...
This episode of The Intelligence discusses the possibility of elections in Ukraine amidst the war, the historical context of American tariffs from the 1930s, and the health impacts of daylight savings time. The discussion on Ukraine explores the influence of Trump and Putin, while the segment on tariffs examines the Smoot-Hawley Act. Finally, the episode delves into the science behind DST and its effects on sleep and health.
This episode analyzes Marine Le Pen's ban from running for president in 2027 and its impact on French politics. It explores the reasons behind rising rental costs in developed countries, blaming monetary policy and increased migration. Finally, the show commemorates Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian spy who defected to Britain, delving into his motivations and experiences.
This episode covers the Myanmar junta's exploitation of an earthquake, using airstrikes against resistance fighters and hindering aid. It also discusses Donald Trump's attempt to silence Voice of America and the implications for global news access. Finally, the Economist's Glass Ceiling Index reveals the best and worst countries for working women in 2025, highlighting key factors and trends.
No surprises here: The Economist reckons tariffs are a terrible trade tool. But what is most clearly harming American businesses and scaring off investors is persistent uncertainty about them. Our correspondent sees the effects of one non-military donor to Ukraine: help not to fight but to preserve something worth fighting for (10:57). And why “ Adolescence ” tops Netflix’s viewing numbers the world over (19:54). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more informatio...
For Europe’s hard-right politicians, Donald Trump’s second White House bid looked like validation and opportunity. Now that he is in it, the tensions and trade-offs are becoming clear . The Houthis’ grip over Yemen and the Red Sea is only strengthening , even as other Iranian proxies are waning (10:03). And a look at the boom in Christian entertainment (15:51). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vis...
The Conservative Party, led by a Trump-tinged populist, once had the polls locked up. That is changing radically now that Donald Trump is seen as a threat to the nation. Amid America’s foreign-policy misfires, China might choose to smooth diplomatic feathers and make friends; instead it, too, is muscle-flexing (8:14). And an unsettling new book typifies a rise in dystopian fiction (13:45). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Ec...
Put aside for the moment the outrageous security breach of a journalist being brought in on classified military planning: a leaked group chat reveals much about the Trump administration’s transactional, anti-European ethos. The story of a Nigerian senator shows how vile politics can be for the country’s women (10:23). And why not to be too bothered by colleagues stealing your ideas (16:26). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access E...
The ceasefire in Gaza is in tatters ; the campaign against Hizbullah is flaring up again. Yet the most telling battles are those happening inside Israel. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, is coolly dealing with the fitful aggression of her northern neighbour (10:25). And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Richard Fortey , a fossil obsessive who spent a career telling the world about trilobites (16:50). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information a...
America’s international intelligence-sharing relationships have been decades in the making and rely not on a treaty but trust. Could Donald Trump damage the powerful spy alliance? Why we may soon be buying cutting-edge medicines developed in China (11:00). And introducing a new regular feature, “ What to watch this weekend ” (17:39). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to a...
Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested just days before he was likely to be elected leader of Turkey’s opposition. Where does this leave Turkish democracy? What Panama’s concessions teach us about how to deal with Donald Trump (9:49). And how zoos help hospitals treat venomous snakebites (19:16). 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 o...
Donald Trump hoped Vladimir Putin would agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead he made marginal concessions , then launched a missile attack. Our correspondent assesses the implications. Tesla’s falling sales are not just down to Elon Musk’s politics (9:42). And a flowering of literary erotica (15:40). 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 vi...
After Israel launched dozens of missiles into Gaza overnight, what does this mean for the prospect of a lasting ceasefire ? As two stranded astronauts are rescued from the International Space Station, our correspondent explains how private investment has changed space exploration (9:10). And a cutesy animation wins plaudits from the Chinese Communist Party (18:09). Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more ...
Donald Trump’s team has called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “the most incompetent and arrogant agency” in the federal government. Our correspondent talks to staff who fear that jobs and crucial public-health projects are under threat. Is silver the new gold (10:56)? And why live albums are staging a comeback (15:50). 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...
The International Criminal Court has arrested Rodrigo Duterte, a former president of the Philippines. The case highlights both the strengths and the weaknesses of international justice. We examine the spate of bombings plaguing Sweden—carried out by young people who are in it for the money (8:18). And remembering Athol Fugard , a playwright who spoke truth to power in South Africa’s apartheid era (17:04). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about ...
The Trump administration’s dedication to tariffs now seems more fervent than the first time around. Markets are noticing . We ask what might temper the trade war. Europe’s once-fringe hard-right parties are now leading polls , even if not yet leading governments; we look at where things are headed (11:07). And tackling the mythology behind people’s very first and very last words (16:47). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Econ...
The ceasefire proposal hatched by American negotiators and agreed by Ukraine is now a matter for Russia to consider. We ask how the not-yet-a-breakthrough will land in both countries. Our correspondents ask one of NATO’s very-top brass about Europe’s defence stance and how it should shift (10:44). And the shockingly life-shortening effects of loneliness (18:55). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vi...
Horrifying attacks on Alawites, the sect of deposed leader Bashar al-Assad, throw into question the power—or the will—of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the country’s leader, to maintain peace . For the first time in decades it now makes more sense to pay off a mortgage early (10:36). And high-end satellite data, once the preserve only of spies, could soon be available to all (16:19). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, p...
The governing Liberal party is enjoying a stunning turnaround in the polls, and now it has a new leader. We ask how Mark Carney will tussle with Donald Trump’s tariffs and taunts. China has a vibrant new wintertime economic sector: skiing and snowy tourism (10:45). And a tribute to Rose Girone , knitter extraordinaire and the oldest known Holocaust survivor (17:22). Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, pleas...
