Is the Iran war weakening America’s armed forces?

2026-02-19

Why do so many of the world’s international mercenaries hail from Colombia? The Economist’s news editor, Carla Subirana Artús, and co-host of The Intelligence podcast, Rosie Blau discuss why Colombia’s soldiers are in such high demand around the world and what the diplomatic consequences are.

00:48 – Why are there so many mercenaries from Colombia?
02:37 – Why do former Colombian soldiers continue this dangerous work?
03:57 – How is the Colombian government responding?
05:02 – Will the global mercenary market continue to grow?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/46LRWLr
Why so many Colombians fight in foreign wars: https://econ.st/3OP61BA
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2026-02-18

Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, isn’t worried about Europe’s military heft. As some European officials panic about Donald Trump’s erratic approach to foreign policy, he calls for cool heads. Mr Stubb explains to The Economist’s geopolitics editor, David Rennie, why Europe can defend itself without America.

#europe #usa #finland

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4aEAUjE
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2026-02-14

Can you hedge against an AI bubble? Joshua Roberts, The Economist’s capital markets correspondent, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss why AI spending is making investors nervous, the lessons learned from the dot com boom and what strategies might help investors manage risk.

00:00 – Why Is investor confidence in AI wobbling?
00:31 – What’s making stock markets jittery about AI?
01:33 – What can investors do to avoid getting stuck?
02:48 – How should investors hedge risk?
04:43 – What’s the safest strategy?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4tFtKV2
How to hedge a bubble, AI edition:https://econ.st/3ZwwzKh
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2026-02-09

Are minimum wages too high? Henry Curr, The Economist’s economics editor, argues that high pay floors can have damaging economic consequences and that governments should pursue more effective policies to reduce poverty.
#theeconomist #politics #economy

2025-12-19

The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, explores the power of arguing in schools.

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2025-11-06

After strong victories in New York City, Virginia and New Jersey, it looks as if the Democrats are back. The Economist explores the right, and wrong, lessons the Democrats can take from their election success.

#uspolitics #mamdani #nyc #virginia #newjersey

2025-11-01

Can Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s truce really last? China and America have been at economic loggerheads for years over international trade. Jeremy Page, our Chief China correspondent, and Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss what the two leaders promised, what they left out, and whether the deal can stand the test of time.

00:00: Why was Donald Trump in South Korea?
00:30: What did China say after Trump called the meeting “amazing”?
01:10: So what exactly did they agree on?
02:49: What remains outstanding — what’s not in the deal?
04:14: How does this deal stack up against Trump’s other Asia tour agreements?
06:28: Will this new deal with China actually hold?

#TheEconomist #Trump #China

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4qIRDJV
Donald Trump and Xi

2025-10-28

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are threatening the longstanding values of the European Union. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and former prime minister of Estonia, speaks to our geopolitics editor, David Rennie, about how the union can navigate an increasingly turbulent and hostile world.

#putin #trump #xijinping

00:00 – Introduction
00:07 – How China views the Russia-Ukraine war
01:20 – Europe’s economic influence over China
03:24 – Could the EU use its anti-coercion instrument?
05:05 – How the EU can navigate a world dominated by strongmen

Watch the full interview: https://econ.st/3X18TMA

Brussels feels like a city preparing for war: https://econ.st/4oLCrKd

How strongmen mastered the art of dividing Europe: