The Intelligence from The Economist

The British government tightened immigration in response to public demand. Yet that policy damaged both the country and the Labour party. Our correspondent embeds on a US nuclear submarine to find out how China and Russia are vying for dominance in the Pacific. And what anti-ageing products actually work?  Guests and host: Joel Budd, Britain social affairs editor Anton La Guardia, diplomatic...

Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years has been marked by pomp and shows of friendship. But what does the Chinese leader really want from the trip? Our correspondent visits Goma in Congo to see what life is like under Rwanda-backed rebel group M23. And why curry may soon be off the menu in Japan.  Guests and host: Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent John McDermott, chief Af...

The fragile ceasefire between America and Iran is threatened by an exchange of ballistic missiles overnight between Iran and Israel. Our correspondent examines the consequences. China’s BYD cars are losing ground to other electric vehicles. And why hit TV shows inspire “ companion podcasts ”.   Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent Don Weinland, China business edito...

After decades of overpopulation worries, the country now has the opposite concern. We examine India’s unusual demographic turn , and why it is a wider warning to the world. Vegan substitutes have broadly improved in recent years—so why is there no good vegan cheese ? And remembering Sonny Rollins , an absolute colossus of the saxophone.  Watch extended clips from Insider here . Guests and hos...

Nigel Farage, leader of the populist-right Reform UK party, wants Britons to be enraged by a killing in the street. We ask why his tone has changed from “colour-blind” to race-baiting. NATO must now take seriously the idea that America is pulling back; we ask how it is adjusting . And why skipping title sequences is forgoing some of television’s magic . Guests and host: Hugo Gye, British political...

Now that America has stepped back, Europe is at last stepping up. We examine the bloc’s tactics (if not yet a strategy) and how steady its support is likely to be. With the coming public listings of SpaceX and Anthropic, we ask whether stockmarkets can handle a string of “ giga-IPOs ”. And our World Cup series looks at Iran’s side. Guests and host: Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent Joshua R...

The AI world’s go-to chipmaker is blazing a trail toward your personal computer. We ask what moving out of the cloud indicates about the future of computing. The three candidates for mayor of Los Angeles could not be more different, and they are running neck and neck. And updating generic filler text for the business-jargon era. Guests and host: Shailesh Chitnis, global business writer Aryn Braun,...

Aid is ramping up to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and vaccine work is progressing. But what the Ebola response most lacks is trust of the community. European governments and businesses are wary of their dependence on America’s tech giants; we examine a spate of home-grown efforts . And sticky toffee pudding, a staid British classic, gets a sweet social-media boost .  Guests and host: Joh...

Our outgoing defence editor reflects on how war has changed during the eight years of his tenure. Wars have become easier to start and harder to finish , and the little guy has a better chance than ever before. And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Barney Frank , a trailblazing Democratic congressman. Watch extended clips from Insider here Guests and host: Shashank Joshi, defence editor Ann Wr...

The American administration’s next round of sabre-rattling has been directed at Cuba. But more military adventures there would probably prove disastrous . We profile the three starkly different contenders in Colombia’s hyper-polarised presidential election . And our series looking at World Cup squads goes to Mexico. Guests and host: Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Car...

Economic support, drone capability, defence under new management: the tide may have turned for Ukraine. But domestic politics and perceptions will define what kind of win the country might hope for. We examine how Home Depot, the world’s largest DIY chain, is a window into America’s ailing housing market. And what is pinching the supply of England’s famed cricket bats.  Guests and host: Olive...

More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking . China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI —with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them ).  Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspond...

What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.  This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen “Red Rising” by...

Elon Musk has launched the largest stockmarket listing in history. The accompanying space mission remains grounded. Our correspondent weighs SpaceX’s extraordinary ambitions. The Republican party trades on its masculine image, but some young men are turning away. And, after a blind tasting 50 years ago unleashed a new wave of wine drinking , the market is drying out. Watch extended clips from Insi...

Within the space of a week Chinese president Xi Jinping has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the Premier League got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish adrenaline-fuelled activities. Guests and host: Jeremy Page, chief Chin...

Is Binyamin Netanyahu ’s time up as Israel’s prime minister? As a vote in parliament triggers the election campaign, our correspondent – and Netanyahu’s biographer – analyses what comes next. We join a US-backed counter-terrorism training exercise in Africa and question whether such missions will outlast Trump. And how Cape Verde came to take part in its first World Cup . Guests and host: Anshel P...

The latest Ebola emergency is different from previous ones: there is no vaccine, and the kind of community-level work that stops the spread has been thinned by aid cuts. Britain is likely to get a new prime minister soon; we profile Andy Burnham , the Labour party’s polling favourite. And celebrity book clubs abound—but useful criticism in them does not .  Guests and host: John McDermott, chi...

Atef Najib, a former security chief, is the highest-profile member of the Assad regime to go on trial. We ask why the speed, uneven spread and murky legal basis of justice troubles many Syrians . Our series leading up to America’s 250th birthday continues to plumb our archive. Today: the cold war and Vietnam . And why whiskymaking is booming in China. Guests and host: Gareth Browne, Middle East co...

Tommy Robinson is an influencer who has shaped views on Britain, particularly among his American supporters and funders. A rally this weekend will show how his worldview is reaching the mainstream. A merger in the oligopoly of liftmakers will reshape an industry known for its ups and downs. And remembering Raghu Rai , whose photographs captured the intensity of India’s people. Watch extended clips...

Perhaps the AI “boomers” are right about a sweeping labour-market revolution. But a careful look at history shows just how unprecedented their bullish scenarios would be. Africa’s bounty of minerals has drawn tremendous recent interest; will the continent see the benefits this time around? And our World Cup profile series continues with a look at Japan’s squad. Guests and host: Callum Williams, se...

The meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will set the tone for three more this year. We examine what and what not to expect. Pepsi has been losing ground to Coca Cola recently; to catch up, it may have to become more like its rival . And this year’s Venice Biennale is uncomfortably besieged by geopolitics.  Guests and host: Simon Rabinovitch, Beijing b...

Artificial intelligence could help terrorists develop new dangerous pathogens . Our correspondent asks how humanity can protect itself from machine-assisted biological weapons. Stock markets are soaring, despite the oil shock. What does this tell us about investor confidence in traditionally safe assets ? And the doughs and don’ts of German bread .   Guests and host: Arthur Holland Miche...

After catastrophic local-election results, Britain’s prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. One airline has folded and others may follow: jet-fuel prices are crimping carriers the world over, but the pain is not spread evenly. And could San Andrés , a popular Colombian tourist island, ever declare independence?  Guests and host: Owen Winter, Britain political corr...

The Kremlin planned to provide Iran with unjammable drones, plus training in how to use them, according to leaked documents seen exclusively by The Economist. Meanwhile there are nearly 20,000 merchant seamen stranded in the Gulf . And a tribute to Craig Venter , dark horse of the Human Genome Project. Watch extended clips from Economist Insider here . Guests and host: Shashank Joshi, defence edit...

An egregious attack in a Jewish neighbourhood in London is just the latest example of a troubling trend . We investigate the claim that antisemitism is becoming normalised in Britain. While many of the world’s luxury brands are struggling, American ones seem to be flourishing . And our series of profiles of teams contesting the World Cup continues with Argentina. Guests and host: Shera Avi-Yonah,...