What do you call your wife’s brother’s wife?

2024-10-31

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

2024-10-29

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

2024-10-25

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).

2024-09-05

Though we use more renewable energy than ever before, electricity grids need ways to cope with intermittent wind or solar power. Innovations that make batteries to store that energy bigger, cheaper (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/09/01/clean-energys-next-trillion-dollar-business?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 more efficient can help. Why tourists are flocking to Asia (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/08/15/the-global-tourism-boom-is-shifting-to-asia?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) (9:41). And a listener asks

2024-09-03

The recovery of six hostages from Gaza has provoked mass demonstrations on the streets of Israel and a general strike. But Israel’s government (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/08/29/have-israels-far-right-religious-nationalists-peaked?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) refuses to bow to pressure and a ceasefire deal remains elusive. Why are women less likely (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/08/21/why-dont-women-use-artificial-intelligence?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 use AI than men

2024-08-15

Peace talks in Doha have a chance at progress even in Hamas’s absence. The outcome could determine the scope of Iran’s promised retaliations (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/08/07/israeli-aircraft-buzz-beirut-as-the-drums-of-war-bang-loud?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) against Israel. New research suggests Mars may have an ocean’s worth of water deep in its crust (https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/08/13/the-significance-of-liquid-water-on-mars?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) (10:30). And