Will the Iran war spread across the Middle East?

2026-02-05

Is the internet helping cults thrive? The Economist’s News editor, Carla Subirana Artús, and co-host of The Intelligence podcast, Rosie Blau, explore how social media has helped cults gain large numbers of new followers.

00:00 – How is the internet changing how cults operate?
01:06 – How many cults actually exist today?
02:06 – What actually is a cult?
04:57 – How dangerous are online cults?
05:31 – What can be done to stop cults?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4agEboW
Social media are helping cults to recruit and control members: https://econ.st/4adXmzH
Subscribe: https://www.economist.com/subscribe
Download the App: https://www.economist.com/get-the-app

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/
X:

2026-01-30

Under Donald Trump, ICE and Border Patrol are trampling constitutional freedoms and behaving like paramilitary organisations. The killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has become a test of how the federal government inflicts violence on America’s streets. Mr Trump appears to be retreating—but what does that mean for his immigration goals and the agencies that some fear could one day become the president’s personal militia? And what does it tell us about the health of America’s democracy?

00:00 – How Donald Trump wields power
00:48 – Are the events in Minneapolis a pivotal moment for America?
03:10 – Is ICE a serious threat to American democracy?
06:51 – Could this mark a shift in Donald Trump’s political strategy?

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4qUCxke

2025-12-13

Is China’s military might strong enough for it to become a superpower? Our editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, deputy editor Edward Carr and our China experts assess the current state of the country’s armed forces.

2025-12-08

Since the ceasefire in Gaza was announced, nothing has been done to rebuild the devastated territory. Our Middle East editor, Josie Delap, looks at how much reconstruction could cost, and who might foot the bill.

2025-10-31

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate, is shaking up New York politics.

Charlotte Howard, our New York bureau chief, and John Prideaux, our US editor, join the latest Insider episode to discuss why Mamdani is so popular.

2025-10-24

Will Sanae Takaichi push Japan further to the right? Noah Sneider, our East Asia bureau chief, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, explore Japan’s first female prime minister’s path to power and what her leadership means for the country’s future.

00:00 – Who is Takaichi Sanae?
01:10 – How did she rise to power?
02:05 – What do we know about her background?
03:40 – What drives her political ideology?
04:20 – Is she a populist?
05:10 – What are her economic plans?
06:00 – Where does she stand on social issues?
06:50 – What does her foreign policy look like?
08:00 – Will she bring stability to Japanese politics?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4oFhII2
China’s disappearing bosses: https://econ.st/47uNWjf
Sign up to our weekly newsletter:

2025-10-18

Cybercrime is on the rise, increasingly afflicting large businesses as criminals use the threat of operational disruption to extort ever-larger ransoms. Our AI writer, Alex Hern joins Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, to discuss how companies and governments should respond to this growing threat.

0:00 – Why are cyberattacks increasing?
2:46 – Who are the hackers targeting?
3:04 – Why was the Jaguar Land Rover attack so costly?
4:11 – What are we learning from these attacks?
4:55 – How should companies respond?
6:24 – What role should governments play?

#TheEconomist #cyberattacks #business

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4on4Zt1
Cybercrime is afflicting big business. How to lessen the pain: https://econ.st/48zH3OM
Sign up to our weekly newsletter:

2025-10-16

Germany’s hard-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is more popular than ever. One in four Germans now support it. Yet despite its rise, the party remains shut out of power.