The Intelligence from The Economist

Germany’s chancellor came to office making big promises. A year later they are unfulfilled, his government is squabbling and he has drawn President Donald Trump’s ire. The advertising industry is, inevitably, starting to peddle its wares quietly in AI chatbots. And a historical look at the oratory around war and how it has taken a sharp turn for the worse . Guests and host: Tom Nuttall, chief Germ...

The Trump administration’s “ Project Freedom ” has done and will do little to boost traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We examine an unsustainable standoff. A fashion influencer’s post addressed to President Vladimir Putin has brought Russians’ wider grumbling into the open. And how India’s notorious street noise comes with costs to human health .  Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle...

In Iran, America is using expensive weaponry against cheap local drones. Can upstart tech companies change the economics – and nature — of conflict? As part of our ongoing series on the US at 250 , we examine the impact of the two world wars. And should you ever use an emoji at work? Listen to “ Money Talks ” on defence tech upstarts.  Guests and host: Henry Tricks, US technology editor Annie...

Can peace hold in Lebanon while Hizbullah remains? Our correspondent weighs the balance of power between government forces and the Iran-backed militia. The resale value of Labubus is falling – who cares? And remembering Swedish death-clearer, Margareta Magnusson .  Watch extended clips from “ The Insider ”. And listen to our “ Weekend Intelligence ” episode on “Kidulting: why adults are turni...

Oil prices are at their highest since 2022, as a swift end to the Iran conflict proves elusive. Yet, our commodities editor says, markets do not yet yet recognise how deep the supply shock is. Who will contest next year’s pivotal election in France? And great expectations in Brazil ahead of the World Cup. Watch “ The Insider ”: How high will the oil price go  Guests and host: Matthieu Favas,...

Artificial Intelligence is becoming ubiquitous, but the industry that powers it is struggling to keep up with demand. The host of our award-winning podcast series “ Scam Inc ” says fraudsters in Asia are becoming more sophisticated. And after Allbirds stops selling shoes, what comes next? Guests and host: Shailesh Chitnis, global business writer Sue-Lin Wong, host of Scam Inc  Shera Avi-Yonah...

The “special relationship” between Britain and America is at its weakest since the Suez crisis of 1956. Will a state visit by King Charles III to America salvage the tie? Why Japanese automakers may be running out of road. And fish from New York’s Hudson river are now safe to eat. Guests and host: Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Daniel Franklin, senior editor, Britain Ethan Wu, Asia busines...

After a gunman stormed Donald Trump’s dinner with the press, questions are being revived about the president’s security. Germany’s top general explains the country’s new defence strategy. And listeners respond to our Weekend Intelligence episode on the passport bros who go abroad to find “a good woman”. An earlier version of our lead story stated that the gunman shot a Secret Service agent. Subseq...

We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl. In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligen...

We examine what our forecast model predicts so far —and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives. Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Non...

The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes . And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal.  Guests and host: Alex Hern, A...

Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor . Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should . Guests and host: Tom Lee-Devlin, business editor Moeka Iida, Japan repor...

This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace in the countryside. Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East co...

When America seized Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in January, it left the rest of his regime intact. Three months on, our correspondent finds optimism and some loosening of repression. Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado fled to America, now she explains her ambitions for the country. And celebrating the life of Nick Pope , who spent decades investigating UFOs. Guests and hos...

After six weeks of Israel’s offensive against Hizbullah, Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister are due to talk today. What can they achieve? Britain’s “triple lock” pensions are unsustainable. And Uzbekistan’s footballers prepare for the World Cup. Vote for The Economist at the Webby Awards: “ The Last Boat ” podcast, TikTok channel and language series.  Guests and host: Anshel Pfef...

The Iran conflict and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz are slowing supply not just of fuel, but food and fertiliser. Geophysics could worsen the approaching hunger crisis: an El Niño weather event is predicted for this year. Anti-conversion laws are resulting in horrific scenes at Christian burial sites in India. And why Britain’s vets are struggling. Guests and host: Catherine Brahic, environmen...

After the failure of talks at the weekend, America is now stopping all ships from using Iranian ports and coastal areas. Our correspondent analyses the rationale. Burkina Faso ’s government is committing war crimes. And which type of fizzy water tastes best? Vote for “The Economist” in the Webby Awards: “ The Last Boat ” podcast and Lane Greene on languages Guests and host: Shashank Joshi, defence...

In a momentous election, Viktor Orban has lost power in Hungary after 16 years of increasingly autocratic rule. Our correspondent explains how the country’s opposition led by Peter Magyar ousted a corrupt regime. Why cows in Britain are producing too much milk. And celebrating the giant rat that helped sniff out landmines in Cambodia.   Guests and host: Matt Steinglass, Europe editor Har...

Also on the daily podcast: what the Artemis Moon mission really accomplished and remembering a brave Soviet psychiatrist SHOW-NOTES TEXT  (60ish wds) Binyamin Netanyahu says his strikes against Hizbullah are separate from the Iran-war ceasefire. That assertion is putting cracks in the deal, and in Israel’s relationship with America . We look at the stated and the unstated goals of the Artemis...

President Donald Trump has long threatened to pull America out of the alliance. We examine why the Iran war has made this time look significantly more serious . Westerners are fleeing their countries in record numbers —with economic consequences for their origins and destinations. And our series profiling the countries contesting the World Cup starts with Spain.   Guests and host: Anton...

With little time to spare before a threatened civilisation-ending attack, America agreed a pause in fighting with Iran. We ask how the temporary deal was reached and how likely a permanent one is. China has an ever-expanding, state-led IVF programme : can that actually reverse a deepening demographic crisis? And the right way to think about AI’s entry into literature .  Guests and host: Gregg...

President Donald Trump’s rhetoric has grown yet more bellicose—and sweary. His stated ploy to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants would be ruinous for Iran, and Iran’s planned retaliation ruinous for the region. AI-driven job losses predicted for India’s IT sector are looking more likely to be job gains. And why Gen Z is taking up boomers’ hobbies.   Guests and host: Gregg Carlstrom,...

Viktor Orban , Hungary’s prime minister, is an idol to the global nationalist conservative right. Losing the next election would have far-reaching consequences. Could tourists help boost jaguar populations in South and Central America? And the number of Catholic saints is soaring.  Guests and host: Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Matt Stei...

A giant leadership reshuffle is underway in China, but one job will stay the same: Xi Jinping is almost certain to secure another five-year term at next year’s party congress. Reasons to be optimistic about Europe’s tech future. And the life of controversial winemaker, Michel Rolland . Guests and host: James Miles, global China writer Guy Scriven, global business writer Jon Fasman, senior culture...

NASA has successfully launched its first crewed space mission in over a decade. Our correspondent explains why America wants to build a moonbase. AI models underperform in languages other than English. And meet China’s social-media stars: influencer-officials .  Guests and host: Oliver Morton, senior editor Deena Mousa, science writer Gabriel Crossley, China correspondent Rosie Blau, host of...