Yesterday

Caracas under pressure: democracy in Venezuela

After American troops snatched Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a dawn raid in January, democracy did not seem like a priority. Yet this week, talks between the regime and opposition ended with small, positive steps. Why US consumers’ love of fast food may be slowing. And h ... Show More

21m 25s

Aug 12

Pump and circumstance: is China the new OPEC?

The Iran war triggered the largest supply shock in the history of petroleum, yet prices never rose as high as feared. Our correspondent explains how action taken by China steadied global oil flows. Why Brazil has such strict laws on racist language. And the legendary lager of Lao ... Show More

20m 22s

Aug 11

Spring, then fall: a weakened Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood won power and influence in the Arab Spring of 2011. Now autocrats are resurgent and its leaders are in jail or exile. Elon Musk says Europe is more dangerous than America. Is he right? And the puzzling popularity of padel.Guests and host:Gareth Browne, Midd ... Show More

21m 39s

Dec 2024

Billions of voices heard: a year of elections

In some places, votes resulted in political chaos; in others they showed a promising shift away from identity politics. Our deputy editor looks back on 2024’s pile of polls. Looking ahead, we examine the Chinese cities that will come into their own in 2025 (11:36). And the changi ... Show More

22m 39s

Jan 2024

The Intelligence: 2024 is a big year for democracy

Citizens across more than 70 countries will be heading to the polls over the next twelve months. It’s a record year for voting, but how democratic will the processes be? One of the year’s most significant elections will take place in Mexico, where the incumbent president, Andrés ... Show More

23m 38s

Feb 2025

Colour visions: a German-election lookahead

The possibilities for an inevitable coalition government are a head-spinning colour wheel of party logos. We look at the most likely outcomes, and the smaller parties that may well play kingmakers. A series of scandals in Japan has propelled the country to a belated #MeToo crisis ... Show More

23m 3s

Feb 2023

A chance at renewal: Nigeria’s coming election

<p>Young voters are fired up and the electoral system has been strengthened, but Nigeria’s challenges are considerable. We explore why <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/02/02/nigerias-presidential-race-goes-down-to-the-wire?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_mediu ... Show More

29m 35s

Jun 2025

Poles apart: hard right wins by a sliver

Poland’s presidential election was a fight between two distinct visions of the country’s future. Our correspondent explains how the nationalist victor, a political newcomer, will shape Europe. Why drunken bar brawls are declining in Britain (7:31). And remembering the “Wonga Coup ... Show More

19m 27s

Feb 2024

The Intelligence: If Beijing had a ballot

Some within China might prefer another Donald Trump presidency while others might favour Joe Biden. On balance, though: from there, neither option looks great. We look at the steps toward the first drug in four decades to treat the debilitating disease of endometriosis (9:28). An ... Show More

25m 23s

Dec 2021

Centre of no attention: Chile’s presidential election

<p>As the vote’s second round has neared, the candidates have shifted, <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2021/12/18/chiles-presidential-front-runners-edge-towards-the-centre?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discove ... Show More

23m 20s

May 2025

Bucharest pressed: Ukraine’s election effect

Negotiations in Turkey to bring peace to Ukraine could be a flop. But the repercussions of shifting alliances with Russia will play out in this weekend’s presidential election in Romania where the leading candidates have polarised opinion. Why British towns are shabby and disorde ... Show More

24m 46s

Feb 2024

The Intelligence: At a crossroads (really)

In one of this year’s largest votes, Indonesia will elect a new president in one week’s time; this time the sanctity and future of its democracy are at stake. In Germany prominent people—even Jews—who question Israel’s war in Gaza are being cancelled (10:45). And how many books a ... Show More

22m 51s

Jan 2024

The 2024 Elections That Will Shape the Global Economy

Elections this year will determine the leadership of 40% of the world’s population, spanning the United States, to Taiwan, to Mexico, to Senegal. On today’s Big Take podcast: What democracy’s big test means for the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9m 47s

Billions of voices heard: a year of elec...