China is enacting a rapid project of military modernisation (https://www.economist.com/china/2024/11/04/in-some-areas-of-military-strength-china-has-surpassed-america?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). Though in some areas its forces are already stronger than America, that does not mean China is ready for war. Why luxury shoppers (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/10/10/can-mytheresa-make-luxury-e-commerce-a-success?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) are no longer buying so much online (10:16). And remembering Balthazar Uscha,

A week after Donald Trump won a decisive victory in the presidential election, he is making appointments (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/11/12/how-to-get-hired-by-donald-trump?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 his new White House. What do they tell us about his second term? Many European governments are turning against immigration but they still need agricultural migrants (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/10/31/the-immigrants-europe-quietly-wants-more-of?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) (10:29). And why place

At a time when Russia is making gains in Ukraine and Donald Trump has been re-elected as president, Europe needs strong leadership. Instead, Germany’s ruling coalition (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/11/07/europe-needs-to-wake-up-and-look-after-itself?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) has collapsed. A study that hinted at racism among white doctors (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/27/the-data-hinted-at-racism-among-white-doctors-then-scholars-looked-again?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 America may have

Last time Donald Trump was president he pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement. What is on the agenda at COP29 (https://www.economist.com/topics/climate-change?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), as world leaders meet after a second Trump victory? The future of cloud computing (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/10/28/what-if-microsoft-let-openai-go-free?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) (9:40). And how the culture wars came for remembrance poppies

Our Russia editor, Arkady Ostrovsky, explains why Vladimir Putin will be relieved at Donald Trump’s victory—and why ordinary Russians may also see it as a lifeline.

Why Volodymyr Zelensky may welcome Donald Trump’s victory: https://econ.st/40HTwMf
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Donald Trump will come into office in January 2025 more powerful than he was in January 2017. John Prideaux, our US editor, explains why the 47th president will be able to leave an even bigger mark on the country and on the world than he did in his first time

Welcome to Trump’s world: https://econ.st/3YxChdQ
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Donald Trump will inherit a tangle of conflicts in the Middle East; will he deliver on his promise to “stop the wars”? That will depend on who has his ear (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/11/07/will-donald-trump-stop-the-wars-in-the-middle-east?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 says the way to better rehabilitate people in British prisons is to take some of them out (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/24/decarceration-is-the-key-to-better-prisons?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)

By picking J.D. Vance as his vice-president, Donald Trump crowned an heir apparent to the MAGA movement. But how did the one-time liberal darling and Trump critic become the next president’s right-hand man? We explain

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Hispanic men were among the key groups that helped propel Donald Trump to the White House. Daniel Franklin, our deputy US editor, explains the historical shift.

Hispanic men helped propel Donald Trump back to the White House: https://econ.st/3OiBvNj
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The American presidential election delivered a mercifully quick and decisive outcome (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/11/06/donald-trump-wins-big-and-fast?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 data editor explains why such a tight-seeming race was likely to result in a clear-cut victory. As ADHD prevalence keeps climbing, the science suggests it should be treated not as a disorder but as a spectrum (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/30/adhd-should-not-be-treated-as-a-disorder?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)

The outcome of this election will have ramifications far beyond America’s borders. Anton La Guardia, our diplomatic editor, explains what Trump’s victory could mean for the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and the rise of China.

Welcome to Trump’s world: https://econ.st/3YxChdQ
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In the end America got a swift and decisive call as to the next president: Donald Trump. We invite the hosts of “Checks and Balance”, our subscriber-only podcast on American politics, onto the show to discuss what we know so far—about the presidency (https://www.economist.com/in-brief/2024/11/05/the-us-in-brief-election-coverage?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), Congressional races (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/11/06/the-republicans-gain-control-of-the-senate?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) and ballot initiatives

John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon are on today’s edition of The Intelligence with their take on the election results so far. To listen, head to the Economist Podcasts (https://www.economist.com/podcasts) feed. Checks and Balance will be back on Friday with a full episode.

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America and the world hold their proverbial breath for what has become a dead heat (https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/prediction-model/president/?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 special episode explains how the vote works and how the count will proceed. We ask what to watch for (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/31/what-to-watch-for-on-election-night-and-beyond?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), how countries outside America view the potential outcomes, how the country’s largest swing county

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
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Since replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee Harris has closed the gap on Trump in key swing states and opened up new roads to the presidency. But victory is still far from certain. We explain how both candidates could get to the magic number of 270 electoral-college votes.

Keep these two charts handy as the votes come in: https://econ.st/3YOEX8j
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Both campaigns have racked up air miles covering the swing states that will decide America’s knife-edge (https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/prediction-model/president?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) election. We take a measure of things one day before the vote. The Turkic states of central Asia once depended heavily on Russia; now they are banding together (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/09/26/turkey-and-central-asia-are-riding-together-again?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 counterbalance it (10.38).

Who might Xi Jinping be quietly rooting for on November 5th? David Rennie, our geopolitics editor, explains whether China is hoping for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump as the next US president

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Where Harris and Trump stand on China: https://econ.st/3YKFXua

Does China want a second Trump presidency?: https://econ.st/4hrr7jx

If The Economist had a vote, we would cast it for Kamala Harris. She has run an impressive campaign with policies that reflect the need for centrist politics today. But, more importantly, a second Trump term comes with unacceptable risks. John Prideaux, our US editor, explains why she gets our endorsement.

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Why the Economist endorses political candidates: https://econ.st/48xAvhs

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

Rachel Reeves’s first budget as chancellor of the exchequer saw the biggest tax rises (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/30/the-british-budget-combines-large-numbers-and-a-narrow-vision) in decades, as well as promises of high spending and investment. Our correspondent explains what the announcement means for Britain. How Hurricane Helene may affect the election in North Carolina (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/24/will-hurricane-helene-tip-the-vote-in-north-carolina?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), a month after the storm (10:58). And the most disgusting dish you can add a pickle

What do you call your wife’s brother’s wife? Or your daughter’s husband’s parents? Our language columnist explains why this is a particularly English problem.

First they treated diabetes. Then obesity. Now GLP-1 drugs (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/24/its-not-just-obesity-drugs-like-ozempic-will-change-the-world?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) are being tested on a range of other diseases too. Though the US economy (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/17/americas-economy-is-bigger-and-better-than-ever?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) is roaring, many Americans are glum about its prospects. How could that affect the election (9:02)? And our podcast on why Chinese

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
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Russia is advancing in Ukraine, has more troops and more weapons. In Kyiv and beyond, questions are being raised (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/10/22/north-korea-is-sending-thousands-of-soldiers-to-help-vladimir-putin?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) about the future. Why does America make it so hard to vote in the election (https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/trump-harris-polls?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) from overseas? And what Britain’s citizenship test

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump would be very different presidents. But a close look at Harris’s policy promises shows an interesting trend: in many ways they have been “Trumpified”. What does this say about American politics?

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Israel has been expected to attack Iran for weeks. Why was the assault at the weekend (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/10/26/israels-limited-missile-strike-on-iran-may-be-the-start-of-a-wider-assault?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) more limited than some expected? How Artificial Intelligence could improve customer service (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/10/16/can-artificial-intelligence-rescue-customer-service?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) (9:54). And why the LIV tour

The subject of reparations – making amends for wrongs, is a topic which has been building momentum over the past decade. And last week it was especially relevant as the Commonwealth heads of government got together to discuss how they think Britain owes them financial reparations, and apologies, for enslaving their people over one hundred and fifty years ago.

This is a subject we covered on The Weekend Intelligence in October 2023, in our third episode. In it our reporter Charlie McCann travelled to Guyana with the Gladstone family whose ancestors owned thousands of slaves in the country formerly known as Demerara. In the episode Charlie asks what it means to inherit guilt and how you go about apologising for the past.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to

There is a vacuum at the top (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/10/24/yahya-sinwar-made-hamas-his-own-fief?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) of Hamas following the killing of the militant group’s commander in Gaza. Our correspondent tells us about two of the men who could replace him. How black voters may swing the presidential election in Georgia (https://www.economist.com/interactive/united-states/2024/10/17/democrats-struggle-to-limit-the-loss-of-black-voters-in-georgia?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) (9:34).

The two American presidential candidates have been neck and neck. But this week, the Economist’s forecast mode (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/21/why-donald-trump-has-moved-ahead-in-our-election-forecast?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)l noted a shift towards Donald Trump. Why you might have a long wait for Elon Musk’s robotaxis (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/10/13/the-trouble-with-elon-musks-robotaxi-dream?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) (9:31). And the joy of Excel