Leeward: we meet South Korea’s probable president

2025-01-14

Though central banks have cut interest rates, uncertainty about the future has sent yields sky-high (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/01/12/why-global-bond-markets-are-convulsing?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners). Our correspondent explains why expectations diverge from the economic data, and the impact on borrowers. Donald Trump’s desire to control Greenland

2024-12-31

In some places, votes resulted in political chaos; in others they showed a promising shift away from identity politics. Our deputy editor looks back on 2024’s pile of polls. Looking ahead, we examine the Chinese cities (https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2024/11/20/which-are-chinas-cities-of-the-future?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) that will come into their own in 2025 (11:36). And the changing economics

2024-12-26

Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what’s coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey.

This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:

“Rainbow’s End, A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep” by Vernor Vinge
“Ageless” by Andrew Steele
“War” by Bob Woodward
“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jackobson
“1984” by George Orwell
“On Freedom and On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers
“Qualityland” from Marc-Uwe Kling
“Ministry of the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson
“Severance” by

2024-11-05

Are you mulling your sleep-schedule in preparation to watch the US election results tonight? We can help. Our political data scientist breaks down when key battleground states are likely to be called and explains why we might have a result quicker than you might think.

Keep these two charts handy as the votes come in: https://econ.st/3YOEX8j
See the latest polling here: https://econ.st/3NUN9gS
See our prediction model and the live results here: https://econ.st/3YOEX8j
Sign up to our US politics newsletter: https://econ.st/3UtTB2i

2024-11-01

Our series concludes with an examination of the state with the most electoral-college votes: Pennsylvania. It is practically a must-win (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/09/19/pennsylvania-the-crucial-battleground-in-americas-election?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) for either candidate—and it is on a knife-edge. As more and more people become influencers, fame is becoming more fickle and the entire economics of influencers is shifting

2024-10-29

Americans have the lowest confidence of all G7 countries in their national institutions. With a pivotal election looming, this is deeply worrying. Our social affairs editor explains why.

America’s trust in its institutions has collapsed: https://econ.st/3NFgufl
Our presidential forecast: https://econ.st/4eYYlox
Sign up to The US in brief: https://econ.st/3UtTB2i
Sign up to our daily newsletter: https://econ.st/4gyhHCm

2024-08-30

Water scarcity is growing even in parts of the world that used to be drought-free. Since most countries waste (https://www.economist.com/international/2024/08/26/the-poisonous-global-politics-of-water?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) vast quantities of water, charging for it would help. Our correspondent travelled to America’s northern border (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/08/21/behind-the-surge-in-migrants-crossing-at-americas-northern-border?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) to report on illegal crossings from Canada

2024-08-23

After an electric week at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Kamala Harris now faces the real test (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/08/22/kamala-harris-can-beat-donald-trump-but-how-would-she-govern?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) in her bid to be president. Can she convince American voters? In the third part of our series on dating apps, we visit Brazil, China and Pakistan (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/08/08/why-people-have-fallen-out-of-love-with-dating-apps?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) (10:24).