Come on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX

2024-09-06

Two months ago, French politics was thrown into crisis after a snap election left no party with a clear majority. Michel Barnier (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/09/05/turmoil-awaits-michel-barnier-frances-new-prime-minister?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), the new prime minister, has a huge task ahead. Donald Trump’s campaign took time to adjust to the nomination of Kamala Harris. Now he’s on the attack

2024-08-15

Donald Trump is a fan of nuclear weapons. If he were to win the 2024 election he would make nuclear deterrence even more unstable

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US election coverage: https://www.economist.com/us-election-2024

America prepares for a new nuclear arms race: https://econ.st/4csgSYy

A new era of nuclear uncertainty: https://econ.st/4dJX8Rk

What would nuclear war in the 21st century look like?: https://econ.st/3X0XJse

1843: Inside a nuclear-power station on Ukraine’s front line: https://econ.st/4dIfjql

Beware a world without American power: https://econ.st/3WJu31i

2024-08-13

Corporate investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure reaches $1.4trn by some estimates. We ask what might threaten (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/07/28/what-could-kill-the-1trn-artificial-intelligence-boom?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) the expected windfalls that justify the spending. A Japanese mine’s bid to be listed by UNESCO was made harder because it ignores South Korean wartime forced labour (10:49). And why a nicotine pouch

2024-08-05

Unrest across the country has been driven in part by the provably false claims of right-wing provocateurs. We examine the real concerns underlying the violence, and how to end it swiftly (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/08/04/how-to-respond-to-the-riots-on-britains-streets?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). Japanese politics had until recently been anachronistically tame; not so now that the social-media populists have arrived

2024-08-01

00:00 – The world’s most important prisoner
00:12 – Barghouti’s beginnings
01:10 – The Oslo Accords and diplomacy
02:04 – Political rise
03:20 – Imprisonment and Palestinian politics
04:18 – Barghouti’s influence today

Marwan Barghouti is the only Palestinian who could help end the conflict with Israel. But he’s been in prison for over 20 years.

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More from our Middle East & Africa section: https://econ.st/3LO0aI9

The world’s most important prisoner: https://econ.st/4dnizY3

Listen: who is Marwan Barghout?: https://econ.st/4d3rYV2

Is the Palestinian state a fantasy?: https://econ.st/4fr2Ysm

A post-war Gaza: https://econ.st/3LLpNJA

The world court says Israel’s occupation is illegal: https://econ.st/46xJ7DW

2024-07-24

From tunnels to tanks to drones, Gaza’s horrors provide object lessons in urban warfare. We ask what Western forces will be learning (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/07/18/to-see-the-future-of-urban-warfare-look-at-gaza?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) about their own future conflicts. Silicon Valley types may relish (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/07/17/tech-bros-love-jd-vance-many-ceos-are-scared-stiff?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) the prospect of J. D. Vance, a former tech investor, becoming

2024-06-11

Across the rich world millions spend more than a third of their disposable income on rent. We ask why policymakers have such terrible ideas (https://www.economist.com/international/2024/05/29/is-your-rent-ever-going-to-fall?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 easing the pressure. America’s bid to crimp TikTok has raised a flurry of issues (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/05/30/the-side-effects-of-the-tiktok-tussle?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) far graver than social-media scrolling (9:53). And why pop stars are

2024-06-05

Narendra Modi, the strongman of India, will have to compromise now his party has lost its majority (https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/06/04/a-shock-election-result-in-india-humbles-narendra-modi). What does the surprise result mean for the country? As some foreign investors shy away from Africa, the continent’s private sector (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/05/23/africa-inc-is-ready-to-roar) is serving domestic customers to fill that hole (10:02). And how mastering circus stunts (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/05/08/to-stay-fit-future-moon-dwellers-will-need-special-workouts) could help future moon-dwellers exercise (16:42).

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