Yesterday

Local, an aesthetic: the deglobalisation of fun

The World Cup may seem to be proof that the digital commons centralises a global audience. We find that entertainment is in fact fragmenting, with big implications for soft power. Our series examining America’s 250 years of history tackles the AIDS crisis and the war on terror. A ... Show More

22m 58s

Jun 15

On the home strait? A path to peace in Iran

Despite exchanges of missiles and drones between Israel and Lebanon, the start of a deal was struck overnight. What exactly has been agreed, and will it hold? We examine the idea that part-nationalisation could be a way to share the coming onslaught of AI wealth. And our series o ... Show More

23m 28s

Jun 13

Tocqueville Road Trip: 2. Against all obstacles

Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track?Guests and HostsJo ... Show More

44m 23s

Jun 2024

Rocketing science: China’s newest superpower

After decades as a scientific also-ran, China is becoming a superpower particularly in the physical sciences. We examine the risks and opportunities that poses for the West. Our correspondent looks into why denizens of the Mediterranean live so long (10.32). And this year’s confl ... Show More

23m 41s

Feb 2024

The Intelligence: Troubled waters

Squabbles over the seas and their tributary waterways are becoming more tense as rivalries deepen and the climate changes. How should the West prepare? An opinion poll with a twist suggests that Xi Jinping is not as popular as he thinks he is (11:29). And, a tribute to the queen ... Show More

24m 52s

Nov 2023

The Intelligence: Land of the rising sums

Look past short-term stumbles: there are plenty of reasons to think Japan may spin out of its decades-long deflationary spiral. But how to avoid another false dawn? A visit to a mine in Zimbabwe reveals how valuable lithium is becoming to the continent—and China’s role in securin ... Show More

29m 9s

Mar 2024

The Intelligence: The power of positive tinkering

The Bank of Japan has ended its grand experiment in unconventional monetary policy—how did it work, and what happens now that it has concluded? Ahead of Florida’s presidential primary our correspondent pays a visit, examining the state’s hard swing to the right (10:17). And the n ... Show More

25m 45s

Nov 2023

The Intelligence: on the ground in Gaza

There is little left, in terms of people or infrastructure, in the north of the strip. Our correspondent, embedded with the Israel Defence Forces, considers the humanitarian crisis growing in the south. Our film on American school shootings discovers the growing phenomenon of hoa ... Show More

27m 56s

Nov 2023

The Intelligence: how strong is the Chinese military?

Miscalculating the prowess of the People’s Liberation Army is dangerous. Overestimating it could cause unnecessary confrontation, but underestimating it is risky for Taiwan. We bring you some balance. Can descendants of slave traders be absolved of the sins of their ancestors (09 ... Show More

24m 28s

Sep 2023

When politics dictates policy: China’s faltering economy

<p> During past economic downturns, officials have been both swift and bold. This time not so much—because their hands are tied by <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2023/09/28/politics-hamper-chinas-efforts-to-stimulate-the-economy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.p ... Show More

25m 11s

Feb 2024

The Intelligence: Ukraine’s war, two years on

In this roundtable discussion our editors examine how the past year has progressed, discuss how things may go over the next year and consider a few fundamentally positive truths about the whole conflict. Meanwhile our senior producer travels through Ukraine, getting a measure of ... Show More

33m 51s

Sep 2023

No end in sight: how Ukraine is being shaped by a long war

<p>Reporting from the ground, our Eastern Europe editor explores how the country is bracing for a <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/09/21/to-endure-a-long-war-ukraine-is-remaking-its-army-economy-and-society?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source= ... Show More

26m 13s

Rocketing science: China’s newest superp...