The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
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. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts
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Episodes
Mentioned books
20 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 23min
Elon shot: will Musk’s mega-merger work?
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.
Feb 5, 2026 • 25min
Nukes of hazard: US-Russia arms treaty expires
The New START nuclear deal was signed in 2010 to restrict the number of strategic warheads and missiles America and Russia could amass. Will there be a new deal – and what will happen if not? How social media has helped fuel recruitment to cults. And our baldness correspondent bristles at some hairy questions.Listen back to "The Bomb", our Babbage series on America's quest to modernise its nuclear arsenal. 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 to link your account.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 20min
Peter and the wolves: Mandelson falls but Epstein scandal spreads
Duncan Robinson, Britain political editor, outlines Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein and the political fallout. Simon Wright, industry editor, breaks down Ryanair’s ruthless cost-cutting and growth strategy. Bella King, news desk journalist, explores widespread same-sex behaviour in animals and the environmental and social patterns researchers find.
16 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 20min
Tug of Warsh: will the new chair politicise the Fed?
Archie Hall, US economics editor who decodes Fed appointments and policy. Erin Connolly, Asia diplomatic editor reporting on Thailand’s youth politics and monarchy. Emma Irving, Hong Kong news editor who tracks local transport and tourism. They discuss Kevin Warsh’s nomination and what it means for Fed independence and rate policy. They cover Thailand’s election dynamics and the monarchy’s influence. They highlight Hong Kong’s tram network’s role in tourism.
25 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 21min
Survival Modi: Indian PM’s fortunes revive
Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief who analyzes Indian politics, explains Narendra Modi’s revival and shifting strategy. Tim Cross, senior science writer who covers talent research, discusses why late broadening often beats early specialization. Moeka Iida, Tokyo reporter who tracks panda diplomacy, connects panda departures to cooling Japan–China ties.
37 snips
Jan 31, 2026 • 36min
Boss Class 1. Fat layer of humans
Tom Blomfield, entrepreneur and co-founder of Monzo and Y Combinator partner. He argues AI will slim down routine knowledge work into a thin supervisory layer. He discusses rapid gains in software and operations, why AI can still disappoint, and how teams should experiment and redesign work around new capabilities.
23 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 27min
Democracy on ICE? The mood turns in America
Anne Rowe, obituaries editor, remembers Mark Tully’s decades reporting in India. Noah Snyder, East Asia bureau chief, reports on Kim Jong Un showcasing his daughter and regime symbolism around succession. Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief, analyzes rising backlash to the administration’s immigration tactics and congressional pushback. Short, topical scenes covering protests, courts and shifting political signals.
28 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 22min
No middle ground: Iran’s dangerous division
Nick Pelham, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, gives on-the-ground reporting from Iran. He describes the brutal crackdown and how society has hardened into two polarized camps. He maps shifting leadership roles and the risks of escalation into violence. He assesses the uncertain role foreign intervention might play.
64 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 19min
We’ll be right over here: Europe’s populists sour on Trump
Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief, explains why European populists are cooling on Trump and where tensions show up across countries. Kira Huyu, Asia correspondent, explores why Western dating apps failed in India and how local startups tailor matchmaking. Matt Kaplan, science correspondent, shares camera-trap tales of predators and why animals gather at mineral licks.
92 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 23min
General ejection: China’s military purge
Shira Aviona, a business and tech reporter at The Economist, explains Strava’s surge, social features and IPO plans. Sarah Larnuk, deputy editor reporting from Kyiv, recounts life under winter attacks, power and water cuts, and community coping. They also probe a startling shake-up in China’s military leadership and what it means for Beijing’s stability.
