Join Jason Palmer and Rosie Blau for noise-cancelling news and analysis from The Economist's global network of correspondents. Every weekday this award-winning podcast picks three stories shaping your world—the big shifts in politics, business and culture, plus things you never knew you needed to know. On Saturdays, download The Weekend Intelligence to dive deep into a single story, vividly told.
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Host Andrew Palmer embarks on Season 3 of Boss Class, diving into generative AI at work. He creates a digital clone, then consults experts like Tom Blomfield on AI's job automation potential and Ludwig Siegler on its "jagged frontier" of capabilities. Ethan Moloch offers insights on co-intelligence and organizational reinvention. Andrew's personal experiment culminates in a surprising blind test, forcing him to confront AI's evolving role and identify key lessons for the future of work.
On the streets of Minneapolis, in polls and in the halls of Congress, disapproval of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is mounting. Democrats won a near-term battle on funding—for now—but a wider war awaits. Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, appears to be positioning his daughter ever more visibly as his successor. And remembering Mark Tully , a veteran BBC correspondent in India. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access ...
As the smoke of a murderous crackdown clears, Iranians have hardened into two camps. Moderates and reformists are out; a sense of looming civil war is in. As America nears its 250th birthday, we launch our series examining the highlights and low points of its history. And why the wild playground popularity of the song “ Sigma Boy ” is so worrisome. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs p...
Many of the continent’s populist-right leaders once saw President Donald Trump as an example-setting fellow traveller. But his actions and policies on Venezuela, Greenland and Canada have them pulling back . Dating apps from the West failed to make inroads in India; now the country has its own crop of them. And scientific spying in the jungle reveals where predators hunt. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+,...
The two men under investigation are in the army’s highest echelon, and are some of President Xi Jinping’s closest counsel. We examine the probable motives for a surprising purge . In Ukraine’s freezing capital thousands upon thousands of people suffer unpredictable cuts to electricity, heat, even water; we ask them how they cope. And why Strava is leading the fitness-app footrace . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist ...
For the second time this month, federal agents in Minneapolis killed a citizen under disputed circumstances . We take a wider look at the immigration-enforcement effort and what, if anything, might limit it. OpenAI remains a generative-AI darling but it is burning through eye-watering amounts of money; 2026 may be its make-or-break year . And the effort to save Britain’s red squirrels . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Econo...
AI is changing how we work. It's turning us all into managers. Be a good one. The Economist ’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, takes on the bots in the third season of Boss Class. From cloning to coding, agents to entry-level jobs, he tackles the threat head on and figures out how to turn anxiety into opportunity. Along the way he meets bulls and bears and the people who can help you to master management in the age of AI. Full Season 3 out 29th January 2026. To listen to the full series, su...
Our Middle East correspondent reports from the largest holding camp for ISIS fighters in northern Syria , which government troops have just retaken from Kurdish control. What will happen to the inmates? Custom-made drugs are a medical milestone. And our obituaries editor remembers Cecilia Giménez , whose “Monkey Jesus” transformed the fortunes of a Spanish church. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more i...
After an astonishing week, Donald Trump has said America will not take Greenland by force, nor put tariffs on those who oppose his acquisition plan. Our correspondent asks if America-Europe relations can ever be repaired. A deal to transfer TikTok to American ownership is due today––why is no one watching? And pop songs get gloomier. 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 ...
In recent days Syrian government troops have tried to retake territory held by the country’s Kurdish minority. Our correspondent reports from the region. Factions are fighting to control Vietnam’s Communist Party Congress : the winner will change Vietnam’s future. And are millennial fathers more hands-on than their crusty forbears? 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 Ec...
Japan’s prime minister Takaichi Sanae has called an election three months into her term. Can she capitalise on her popularity, or will her less-popular party be punished at the ballot box? Will a new treaty curb the destruction of the oceans ? And how fancy restaurants are responding to the age of Ozempic . 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...
Donald Trump has promised to impose a 10% tariff on eight countries, all NATO members, that oppose his plan to acquire Greenland . As the argument over the territory’s future continues, our correspondent analyses the fragile state of international relations. American megachurches are becoming more like businesses. And the rise of vodcasts : why audio is becoming video. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For m...
Reza Pahlavi, son of the shah deposed in the 1979 revolution, tells us he sees himself as the people’s choice to lead. We ask how that might work. Our correspondent reckons that, in a full accounting of buying versus renting a home, the smart choice has become clear . And our obituaries editor on Aldrich Ames , a prolific CIA double agent for Russia. To see much more of our interview with Reza Pahlavi, and deep analysis with our editors and correspondents on how he might fit into Iran’s future, ...
As Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, meets with President Donald Trump, we talk through our exclusive polling on what the country wants for its future. Childhood in the age of AI promises to be bespoke and personalised—and perhaps also lonely and atomised . And on America’s National Bagel Day, our correspondent explores the foodstuff’s murky history . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, p...
More inflation numbers, more jabs by President Donald Trump at Jay Powell, the Federal Reserve chairman. We ask what the Fed is doing, should be doing and is being pressured to do . Six years after the official Brexit divorce, we count the costs and ask what making-up is now possible. And how self-help books reveal the anxieties of their times. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page ...
From Argentinian beef to German cars, a freshly inked deal between the EU and a bloc of South American countries should ease trade barriers—and is a sign of global trade’s topsy-turvy time. Foreigner-bashing is politically fashionable in Japan, but focuses on the wrong problems . And a look at Parkrun , a free weekly event that has unwittingly made many Britons healthier. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+,...
Each country fears an attack from the other: Iran may wish to distract from internal conflict, Israel to exploit it. In an interview with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu we explore perspectives on the war-gaming . As the first cohort of graduates weaned on generative AI enters the workforce, we examine a changing career ladder . And why European pension systems badly need reform . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist...
Demonstrations are growing once again—but this time the message is notably different, and the regime has little means available to calm tensions. Where will it end? Our World Ahead series lays out what to expect this year in China’s dealings with Taiwan, Japan and beyond. And a tribute to Nino Loureiro , a pioneering fusion physicist slain by a former classmate. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vi...
It had real dramatic elements: a (slow) chase scene, faked locations, a literal false flag, a daring helicopter descent. But what is the broader picture of America’s bid to disrupt the Venezuelan-oil network? And how will the expanding oil saga affect an already weakened regime in Cuba ? Also, we ask whether Hispanic football fans might avoid the World Cup in America. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, ple...
We return to the Los Angeles suburbs that were consumed by wildfires a year ago. The varying rebuilding efforts reveal divides in wealth, but also strains in California’s insurance industry. Never mind the AI job apocalypse, if it comes: the technology will create plenty of new roles , too. And why “ peak wine ” may be a good thing for sippers of the fine kind. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vis...
The countries have a decades-long relationship—debt freely given in one direction and plenty of oil sold in the other. Yet America’s intervention has served as a reality check on China’s power in Venezuela and elsewhere. Our World Ahead series examines the risks to the American dollar as global reserve currency. And pricey handbags ain’t built like they used to be. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please...
The episode first details the US special forces operation to seize President Nicolás Maduro, analyzing its military success versus its muddled political aims and the Trump administration's strategy for Venezuela. It then shifts to the video-game business, exploring the industry's current downturn, potential recovery through new hardware and AI, and its expanding cultural influence into Hollywood and real-world experiences.
This episode delves into the profound impact of China's property market collapse on its once-booming art market, detailing the sharp decline in sales and the underlying factors. It also investigates the highly debated topic of British emigration, carefully examining statistics to challenge the popular "brain drain" narrative. Finally, the segment offers a poignant obituary for the American penny, reflecting on its dwindling value, economic significance, and practical uses before its discontinuation.
The Economist's "World Ahead" editor assesses the accuracy of their 2025 predictions, detailing what they got right regarding global uncertainty and China, and what they missed like a financial crunch. He then projects key themes for 2026, including the contentious US 250th anniversary, Europe's challenges, China's rising soft power, and tech advancements in humanoid robots, geothermal energy, and advanced GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The episode also celebrates two decades of Economist podcasts, tracing their journey from rudimentary recordings in a basement to today's sophisticated productions.
Today’s show is a tribute to those whose lives we remembered this year. From Pope Francis , the most open-minded pontiff for decades, and controversial vice-president Dick Cheney , to champ of the chimpanzees Jane Goodall , bubblegum pop star Brian Wilson and Alice Tan Ridley , a New York subway busker who became a superstar. 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 Economis...
Announcing the return of The Economist’s annual ranking for best performing economy . Are you ready for the big reveal? Dalit cuisine is barely visible, in India or beyond. And why London’s river boats are making a comeback. Get a world of insights by subscribing 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Five years after seizing power in a coup, the military junta in Myanmar is holding an election. Yet all credible opposition has been banned. And war has inspired so many films over the past century. Our correspondents battle it out to pick the best one. 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 ...
So many books are published each year; few stand the test of time. Today we devote our whole show to asking which works have shaped the way we behave and how we think. Picks include “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth and “Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkien. Full list of books mentioned in the show: The Bible The Koran “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins “On the Origin of Species” by Charles D...
Join our editors and correspondents in a gripping test of recall and reflexes. There are questions on business and politics of course—but also news noises to identify, one saucy limerick and quotes from “The Real Housewives” franchise that frankly no one expected. Which team will take the trophy? Get a world of insights by subscribing 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 ac...
Recessions are, in their way, bad news. But so, paradoxically, is a lasting dearth of them. We explain the dangers that lie beneath the current run of continuous growth. Our correspondent looks into the hidden economics of online reviews , and whether to trust them. And a turkey-industry exposé that you’ll just gobble up. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video expl...
