Sects and balances: a violent flare-up in Syria

2025-02-05

The details President Donald Trump laid out for American ownership and redevelopment (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/02/05/donald-trumps-eye-popping-plan-to-make-gaza-american?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 Gaza Strip took everyone by surprise—not least Israel’s prime minister. As improbable as it all is, though, it may play into Binyamin Netanyahu’s hands. As a second-world-war-era dispute reignites

2025-02-03

Donald Trump takes office with a mandate to address illegal immigration. The question is not just whether his plan of mass deportations is possible – but whether America can even afford it #uspolitics #usnews #deportation #trump

2025-01-31

Europe’s far right is on the rise, and with Elon Musk voicing his support, concerns are growing. How worried should we be? Berlin bureau chief, Tom Nuttall, explains

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Austria could soon have a first far-right leader since 1945: https://econ.trib.al/4D9wE9T
How the AfD got its swagger back: https://econ.trib.al/ygoar59
The hard-right Vox party is winning over Spain’s youth: https://econ.trib.al/KmhqNJ2

2024-11-26

Donald Trump (https://www.economist.com/topics/united-states?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) had been facing a swathe of lawsuits this year. Now he has won a second term in office, the cases against him are falling away. Why wellness trends may be contributing to iodine deficiency (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/11/06/as-wellness-trends-take-off-iodine-deficiency-makes-a-quiet-comeback?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) (8:02). And the secrets of elevator etiquette

2024-11-21

What will the world’s richest man do in the White House? Our correspondent analyses the political and ideological role Elon Musk (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/11/17/how-to-make-elon-musks-budget-slashing-dreams-come-true?

2024-11-14

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,

2024-09-26

For now, Israel’s moves (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/09/25/hizbullah-seems-to-have-miscalculated-in-its-fight-with-israel?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) seem to be posturing, a means to intimidate Hizbullah into backing down. But there remains a prospect of a ground invasion—and another pointless war. Our swing-state series starts with a state that only recently became swing-y: North Carolina

2024-09-23

Artificial Intelligence has gained ground so fast that OpenAI, the firm powering ChatGPT, is changing Silicon Valley’s investment model (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/09/19/the-breakthrough-ai-needs?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 how it innovates. Why the global nuclear order (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/08/15/reluctantly-america-will-have-to-build-more-nuclear-weapons?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) may be in peril (10:24). And an alternative type of electoral forecasting is gaining ground: political