Spring a leaker: Assange goes free

2024-06-18

The post-war generation reaped the benefits of peace and prosperity. Yet rather than spend that bounty, retired boomers are hoarding their riches (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/05/26/baby-boomers-are-loaded-why-are-they-so-stingy)–and upending economists’ expectations. The science of menstruation is baffling, partly because most animals don’t do it. Now clever innovations (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/05/29/progress-on-the-science-of-menstruation-at-last) may help improve women’s health (9:13). And how old-fashioned wind-power is blowing new life (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/05/21/a-new-age-of-sail-begins) into the shipping industry–and cutting its emissions (16:13).

Listen to what matters most, from global

2024-06-13

America’s upbeat assessment of a ceasefire deal masks deep divides (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/06/12/hamas-and-israel-are-still-far-apart-over-a-ceasefire-deal?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) that may not, in fact, be bridgeable. There are nevertheless reasons for optimism. Our data team digs into the accusation that the New York Times’s bestseller list is biased (https://www.economist.com/culture/2024/06/11/is-the-new-york-times-bestseller-list-politically-biased?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

2024-06-12

We have dusted off and tuned up our forecast model (https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/prediction-model/president?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) for America’s presidential race. So far it gives Donald Trump a marginally higher chance of a second term. There is at last progress on not one but two vaccines to beat malaria (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/05/30/new-fronts-are-opening-in-the-war-against-malaria?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) (9:02). And a look at the “tradwives

2024-06-10

Hard-right parties did well in Europe’s parliamentary elections—so well in France that President Emmanuel Macron called (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/06/09/as-the-french-hard-right-triumphs-in-eu-elections-macron-calls-snap-vote?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 risky snap election. Elsewhere, though, the political centre held. We examine the policies that are getting America’s many chronically truant students

2024-05-31

The former president was found guilty (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/05/30/the-disgrace-of-a-former-american-president?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) on all 34 charges of falsifying business records. But his convictions leave lots of room for appeals, and for supporters to cry foul. South Africa’s ruling party is set to lose its majority in its worst electoral performance since Nelson Mandela’s victory. What might a coalition look like (09:28)? And, we say goodbye to Ore (17:08).

Until June 5th, get a world of insights for 50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ (https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus).

For more information about how

2024-05-30

Ahead of a general election (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/05/22/rishi-sunaks-election-call-makes-no-sense-but-is-good-news?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) in July, we reflect on 14 years of Conservative rule. It’s not a great record, but will the prime minister be able to spin it on the campaign trail? Latin America is still being torn apart by some of the world’s worst gang violence

2024-01-25

It’s really hard to kill cockroaches. Stamping on them, chopping off their head and even flushing them down the toilet won’t work. Much like cryptocurrency—an industry which, despite some recent setbacks, seems able to bounce back when you least expect it.

00:00 Why crypto is like cockroaches
00:25 Crypto is soaring
00:48 Why is crypto so hard to kill?

Sign up to our weekly finance newsletter to keep up to date: https://econ.st/3P3zTG8

Listen to our Money Talks podcast: https://econ.st/3Sa2gEY

Read more of our finance stories: https://econ.st/48PSZsP

More on our cockroach theory of crypto: https://econ.st/3OeZqxb

Decoding Sam Bankman-Fried: https://econ.st/3HwCzcP

More on the fall of crypto bosses: https://econ.st/3HyebHG

2024-01-17

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, talks to The Economist’s Editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, about how he navigates the risks raised by artificial intelligence.
Click here to view the full interview: https://econ.st/3RUSgzm