The Intelligence from The Economist

Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chief who covers South Korea, explains how Yoon Suk Yeol's life sentence has intensified political splits and shaken party dynamics. Alex Domash, an economics correspondent who tracks AI and labour markets, discusses whether white-collar roles are really at risk and which job types are changing. They focus on South Korea’s polarisation and AI’s reshaping of white-collar work.

Callum Williams, senior economics writer who studies taxes and inequality, explains why welfare states have become more progressive. Carla Subirana, news editor covering Colombia, explores why many Colombians work as mercenaries abroad. Lane Greene, language columnist, argues Spanish in the US may be peaking. Short, punchy conversations on redistribution, Colombian fighters overseas, and shifting Spanish usage.

Kira Huju, Asia correspondent covering India’s booming quick-commerce scene. Catherine Brahic, environment editor who probes Arctic geoengineering risks. Oliver Morton, senior editor and climate expert on refreezing proposals. They debate radical cooling methods, technical and governance challenges, and why tinkering with polar climate could be tempting and fraught.

Tom Standage, deputy editor and wine aficionado, introduces blouge, a chillable red-white blend built for warmer vintages. Tom Wainwright, media editor, debates proposed bans on under-16s and design-focused alternatives. Dan Rosenheck, data editor, describes leading the large-scale analysis of Jeffrey Epstein’s email archive and how the team searched and prepared the data.

Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent, recalls literary agent Georges Borchardt’s life and knack for spotting giants. Piotr Zalewski, Turkey correspondent, maps Erdogan’s longevity and likely successors. Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent, breaks down AI-driven market risks and practical hedges investors consider.

Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent with frontline reporting on peace talks and battlefield shifts. Claire McQue, Latin America reporter who joined coca-lab raids in the Amazon. Sonny Loughran, Britain writer who contrasts crime data with social-media panic in London. They discuss prospects for a ceasefire, the realities of coca eradication efforts, and how online narratives reshape urban crime perceptions.

Shira (Shera) Avi-Yonah, a business writer who shares how she once applied by email, and Mark Johnson, a senior editor reporting from Dhaka, discuss Bangladesh’s post-Hasina power shift and the high-stakes election. They cover constitutional reform, economic challenges and regional tensions. Short, topical conversations on political maneuvering and how recruitment is changing in the AI era.

Sacha Nauta, Britain editor who dissects UK politics, discusses Keir Starmer’s scramble to hold power. Stevie Hertz, U.S. policy correspondent, covers the rise of assisted‑dying laws and how New York tightened safeguards. Aryn Braun, West Coast reporter, brings a colorful dispatch on skijoring, the horse‑pulled ski rodeo blending spectacle and sport.

Takaichi Sanae’s gamble to call a general election has paid off. How will the prime minister’s thumping victory change Japan? New legislation in Republican states could imperil academic freedom. And why “Taxi Driver” resonates 50 years after the film’s release.Guests and host:Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chiefRebecca Jackson, Southern correspondentAndrew Miller, author of The Economist’s Back Story column on cultureTopics covered: Japan’s electionUniversity censorship in AmericaFifty years of “Taxi Driver”For more on Japan’s economy, listen to last week’s episode of Money TalksListen 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 to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Trix, U.S. technology editor at The Economist, breaks down Elon Musk’s plan to merge SpaceX and xAI and what it would aim to achieve in orbit. He outlines the technical hurdles like cooling and radiation and the economic and regulatory risks of tying AI to a launch company. They also touch on rivalries and how the deal might shape IPO incentives.