On his visit to Beijing Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, has much to balance: his peacemaking ways, a more hawkish travel partner and the commercial interests of his delegation of business leaders. What will result? We ask what is being done to avoid a looming famine in North Korea. And why baseball is getting speedier and more action-packed this season. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.econom...
Apr 04, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are similarities between the two economies set to be the fastest-growing this year—but their paths to greater prosperity will not look like those that came before. One of Australia’s most important river systems is in trouble, and a logjam of millions of dead fish is just one sign . And what to do with the abandoned luxury yachts of Russia’s super-rich. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.c...
Apr 03, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time in history, a former American president faces arrest . Mr. Trump denies the charges, but what could this mean for the 2024 presidential election? Burgeoning “ second cities ” in Africa are changing the face of urbanization on the continent. And a look at the vital yet underappreciated stars of broadcast sport: the commentators . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/int...
Mar 31, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Links with China and allegations of surveillance have highlighted the threat that the social-media app may pose to national security. There is bipartisan support for some regulation—but could there be an outright ban ? Britain’s courts are falling into disrepair , delaying justice for thousands. And the eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com...
Mar 30, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The two regional rivals have negotiated a deal, ending a seven-year lapse in diplomatic ties. Elsewhere, though, Iran remains aggressive. We ask what to make of its apparent inconsistency . Geothermal is a viable renewable source . What would it take for America to tap in? And, the multibillion-dollar Chinese industry being hit by a theory of covid-19’s origins For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist...
Mar 29, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast After ten months of haggling, the military alliance is gaining a new member : Finland. We ask why a historically neutral country has switched tack, and what this means for Russia. How can multinationals navigate an increasingly fragmented world? And how TikTok has spurred a newfound love for romantic novels in Britain. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intellige...
Mar 28, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Protests against proposed judicial reforms have intensified. Could Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu succumb to the pressure at last? Pregnant Russians are flocking to countries with birthright citizenship; we ask why so many are aiming for Argentina . And a chat with our new co-host, Ore Ogunbiyi. Get a free 30-day digital subscription to The Economist by going to economist.com/podcastoffer ....
Mar 27, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast America invaded Iraq 20 years ago this week. Today Baghdad is bustling, violence across the country is less frequent, but these gains have come at a horrific cost. India is getting a huge, essential infrastructure upgrade . And we say goodbye to one of our hosts. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Runtime: 22 min...
Mar 24, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Central banks face a painful tradeoff: raise rates too quickly and risk banking-sector instability. Raise them too slowly and risk continued high inflation. Our correspondent travelled to Kyiv to meet a woman who has rescued hundreds of wild animals. And reflecting on the legacy of a woman who changed British attitudes toward sex. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 23, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emmanuel Macron narrowly survived two no-confidence votes, sparked by his pushing a pension-reform package through the legislature without bringing it up for a vote. But his troubles are far from over. Covid and the war in Ukraine exacerbated Russia’s long-standing demographic woes . And we analyse the artistry of the world’s greatest mime , born 100 years ago today. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 22, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Silicon Valley Bank. Signature Bank. Credit Suisse. The world’s banks look wobbly, leading to fears of broader economic pain. Our economics editor explains how regulators should stabilise the sector. Russia is running out of tanks ; replenishing its supply will not be easy. And America has a new favourite dog breed . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 21, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast The visit of Xi Jinping, China’s president, to Moscow may seem like the solidifying of a simple, anti-Western alliance. But China is walking a delicate line to look after its own interests. A growing minority of young people simply do not want to drive; that will have consequences far beyond roadways. And research on colonising the Moon goes underground . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 20, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast The economics are clear-cut: the benefits of preserving the lungs of the world vastly outweigh those of felling trees. We travel to the Amazon and find that the problem is largely down to lawlessness in the world’s rainforests. And reflecting on the life of Oe Kenzaburo , a Japanese writer shaped by family crisis who gave voice to the voiceless. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 17, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Proposed legislation that would hobble the judiciary has led to relentless demonstrations—and exposed a rift in Israeli society that has become dangerous to Binyamin Netanyahu and the country as a whole. Artificial intelligence is boosting online search, and bolstering publishers’ arguments that search engines owe them a piece of the pie. And the reasons behind Britain’s tomato rationing . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/in...
Mar 16, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast From today’s national budget to hardline immigration legislation to international defence pacts , Britain’s prime minister is working hard to extract his Tory party from a deep electoral hole. The Kremlin is trying to extend its reach into Russia’s cultural spaces —but its incomplete success is telling. And a listen to the work of Brad Mehldau, perhaps today’s most eminent jazz pianist. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intel...
Mar 15, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast After internecine drama, the opposition-party alliance has picked their man . The bookish, mild-mannered Kemal Kilicdaroglu may be the best possible president, but also the worst possible candidate when Turkey’s democracy is flagging. We examine why a new UN high-seas treaty, decades in the making, is so significant . And Thailand’s “Boys’ Love” gay TV dramas are an ever-growing cultural export . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist...
Mar 14, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast An old-fashioned bank run has caused American regulators to intervene in a big way to save the bank’s depositors. We ask what went wrong, and what risks the fix will pose. Today America, Australia and Britain will cement a military alliance designed to confront an increasingly assertive China. And an Ethiopian prince buried among English kings reignites questions about cultural restitution. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/i...
Mar 13, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The world’s biggest military donor to Ukraine, relative to GDP, is Estonia. Kaja Kallas, its prime minister, just won a resounding victory in an election that was effectively a referendum on continued support for Ukraine. Why some South Koreans are unhappy at a deal to compensate citizens forced to work for Japanese companies. And looking back at the often painful life of the King of Sting . Additional audio taken from ReThinking with Adam Grant published by TED Audio Collective...
Mar 10, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The risk of a Sino-American war over Taiwan appears to be growing. Our diplomatic editor assesses the frightening prospects and possible damage. Mexicans protest the weakening of the country’s independent elections agency. And why Connecticut has been exonerating those accused of witchcraft nearly four centuries ago. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 09, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Economists and politicians around the world are consumed with one question: is the world headed for a recession, or a relatively soft landing? We’ll tell you what clues the American property market offers. Why China’s football team can’t seem to find its feet. And why rap lyrics are increasingly treated as confessions of guilt in American courts. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 08, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ukraine is using a torrent of Western arms and training to prepare for a spring offensive. We learn why being on a corporate board of directors—or recruiting for one—is more difficult than ever . And we ask why one particular composition of Vivaldi’s has become ubiquitous. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 07, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A policy of ambiguity is swiftly shifting; the country is falling into a Sino-Russian orbit at just the time it needs the most help from Western allies. How learning to debate can improve the lives of those inside and released from New York City’s biggest prison. And meeting a street artist who decorates the wreckage of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 06, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast A slump in tech is driving investors to rediscover old ways . Out are the cash-splashing long bets; in are smaller, profitable, strategic firms. Nigeria’s election was pitched as the most transparent ever. It was not . We ask what is likely to happen now. And chilli crisp , a Chinese condiment with a deep history, is a study in how foods become fads. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 03, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Shifts in the garment industry, which powered development in the country, represent one risk; meagre currency reserves are another. Yet nothing so imperils Bangladesh’s economic miracle as graft and patronage at the highest levels. How does North Korea afford its flashy weapons programme? Crypto scams of eye-watering scope . And the newsmaking history of BBC Monitoring’s radio translators. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/in...
Mar 02, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Belt and Road initiative to encircle much of the world with Chinese-funded, Chinese-built infrastructure is growing leaner and more penny-wise . But its ambitions are undimmed. Energy-market turmoil has given a boost to the green transition—a boost that has come with hard truths about the shift’s costs. And a television show about Jesus Christ becomes an unlikely hit . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Mar 01, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since Brexit’s earliest days, the trade status of Northern Ireland and its border with the Republic of Ireland have been a perilous sticking point. We examine a deal that might— and should —resolve matters at last. Our correspondent looks at all the plush office space being converted into family homes . And an obituary for the ruined city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Feb 28, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Excitement still surrounds the spoiler candidate Peter Obi , whose down-to-earth ways appeal to a large constituency of fed-up youths. We look at the early returns. A year ago Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, announced a tremendous shift in defence policy and funding; we ask how far the warship has turned since then. And remembering Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite composer . For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Feb 27, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a year of a conflict that was predicted to last just days, we examine the battle lines—seeing an opportunity for Ukraine that may not come around again. We look at the strains on Russian civil society by speaking with self-exiled citizens. And one Ukrainian woman who returned to Kharkiv tells us how the war has changed her. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Feb 24, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Markets seem to think the worst is over; central bankers are not so sure . We ask why determining the trajectory of inflation is so difficult. Millions of refugees have poured out of Ukraine since the war began; their uncertain futures make setting up home tricky—for them and their host countries’ governments. And how technology is transforming the sport of ice fishing. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Feb 23, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Joe Biden’s riposte to the bellicose speech of his counterpart Vladimir Putin was a study in contrast. We examine their views on Ukraine and ask how a lasting peace could be secured. We speak with an exiled Chinese blogger trying to get the truth about that conflict into his homeland. And why the young are leaving Japan to seek greater fortunes abroad. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist , subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer...
Feb 22, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
