Left, right and centre: Germany’s election
2025-02-24
Instead of needing three parties to cobble together a majority, the country’s two traditional main ones have the numbers (https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/02/23/friedrich-merz-wins-germanys-election-but-forming-a-coalition-will-be-hard?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). What to expect once the talks are done? Donald Trump claims America has supported Ukraine far more than Europe has; we comb through the data
Munich insecurity conference: a re-ordering begins
2025-02-17
Backing away from European security guarantees and seeking mineral rights in Ukraine as recompense for military aid: at the Munich Security Conference the Trump administration made its convention-trashing, transactional nature clear (https://www.economist.com/international/2025/02/16/donald-trumps-assault-on-europe?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). What Europe will or even can do is not so obvious. And a tribute to Donald Shoup
With this ring: Trump and Putin omit Ukraine
2025-02-13
During a 90-minute telephone conversation, the American and Russian presidents started negotiating (https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/02/12/donald-trump-starts-immediate-talks-with-vladimir-putin-on-ukraine?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 future for Ukraine. What will this mean for Europe? Our correspondent interviews a leader (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/02/06/a-leader-of-congos-rebels-vows-to-fight-on?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 the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23 in Goma, Congo (9:44). And
It could happen to you: introducing “Scam Inc”
2025-02-07
Our new podcast series (https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/scam-inc?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 a shocking look at transnational organised crime (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/02/06/the-vast-sophisticated-and-fast-growing-global-enterprise-that-is-scam-inc?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): nearly as big as the illegal-drug trade and far more sophisticated than you might think. Beware. After a week that started with bold tariff moves by the Trump administration, what can be gleaned
Rebel with a new cause: meeting Syria’s president
2025-02-04
From media-studies dropout to international jihadist to Syria’s ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa has an unlikely résumé. He speaks with our editor-in-chief, sharing hopeful-sounding hints (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/02/03/syrias-new-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-gives-his-first-interview?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 his vision—but precious little detail. Japan’s economy has been hobbled by low inflation for years; is that now in the past
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