How Trump could try to steal the midterms | The Economist

2026-04-12

In the latest episode of Inside Tech, the Google DeepMind CEO, Demis Hassabis, talks to our AI writer, Alex Hern, about the spiritual roots of his AI mission, why he pushes back on comparisons to “building God”, and the competitive pressures that make international cooperation harder than ever.

#ai #tech #google #DeepMind

00:00 – Should we worry about AI’s most powerful people?
01:03 – Where science meets faith
03:07 – The risks of getting AI wrong
06:13 – What’s left on Demis’ to-do list?

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4vpf4dC
Sign up to the Insider newsletter: https://econ.st/4nOyzIb

Subscribe to The Economist: https://www.economist.com/subscribe
Download our app: https://www.economist.com/get-the-app

Follow The Economist on Instagram:

2026-04-10

Donald Trump’s supporters thought the risks of his presidency were peripheral. Now, those risks are front and centre.

Charlotte Howard, our New York bureau chief, and Greg Carlstrom, our Middle East correspondent, discuss how the president’s rhetoric is unsettling allies at home and abroad.

2026-04-04

Water infrastructure in the Middle East has been hit at least three times since the Iran war began. For Gulf countries reliant on desalination, further escalation could be catastrophic.

2026-02-24

The American "kill line” has gone viral in China as shorthand for what is supposedly wrong with America—and right with China. But is this an exaggeration? While there is no doubt life can be tough in America, people in China have plenty else to be glum about these days. #china #america

Read more:
Subscribe to The Economist: https://econ.st/3Mia0pz
Download The Economist app: https://econ.st/4qdVVaA

Follow us on X: https://x.com/TheEconomist
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist

2026-01-06

President Trump wants Venezuela’s oil. But getting it out of the ground could take years and at least $100bn in investment, as The Economist’s commodities editor, Matthieu Favas, explains.

2025-12-31

Why are hangovers so hard to cure? Alex Hern, our AI writer and Rosie Blau, co-host of the The Intelligence podcast, discuss what actually causes a hangover and if there’s way to stop them.

00:00 – What actually causes a hangover?
01:03 – Can you stop a hangover?
02:06 – What might help prevent a hangover?
03:22 – Can folk remedies help?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4aodxfM
Why hangovers get worse as you get older: https://econ.st/3YAvNv6
Sign up to our weekly newsletter: https://econ.st/3J0xzBr

#TheEconomist #Hangovers #NewYears

2025-12-25

Are seniors more addicted to screens than teenagers? Tom Wainwright, our media editor and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss the rise of screen use among the elderly and the potential risks and benefits.

01:05 – The risks of excessive screen use
02:22 – Can seniors benefit from using digital devices?
03:21- How are companies responding to older tech users

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4pNMWgW
Never mind your children’s screen time. Worry about your parents: https://econ.st/45egiN2
Sign up to our weekly newsletter: https://econ.st/3J0xzBr

#TheEconomist #Screentime #Technology

2025-11-05

Trillions of dollars are being poured into artificial intelligence. How does this compare to the booms (or bubbles) of the past? Our deputy editor, Tom Standage and our AI writer, Alex Hern ask whether investors’ big bet might make sense.

Chapters:
00:00 – Why is investment not slowing?
01:09 – Is just one company going to win?
02:51 – Will the AI bubble burst?
03:07 – What will be left if the boom goes bust?
06:18 – The role of open source models

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/3LKmxRP

What to expect if the AI stockmarket blows up: https://econ.st/3WIF8Aa

The battle of AI business models: https://econ.st/4nHFceB

Sign up to the Insider newsletter: https://econ.st/4nOyzIb