Today

National front-runner: who can beat Le Pen?

Marine Le Pen, party leader of France’s populist-right National Rally, starts her fourth presidential bid with a commanding lead. The country’s political centre is broad, fragmented—and flagging. A buffer zone against so-called infiltrators in India’s West Bengal state is making ... Show More

19m 48s

Yesterday

The mob rule: criminality consumes South Africa

An illicit shadow economy, rampant extortion and the capture of the criminal justice system: mafia members and tactics are eating away at the state. Oura seems to have captured the market for smart rings; we ask whether it can keep its lead finger-tight. And our correspondent fin ... Show More

20m 48s

Sep 21

Centre punch: Germany’s state-election shocker

Two more state-election results reveal surging support for both the far-right AfD and the populist-left Die Linke parties. Chancellor Friedrich Merz himself described the outcome as a disaster; what will it mean for him? Our correspondent looks into why there is so much enthusias ... Show More

21m 6s

Sep 2025

Under different thumbs: a scant TikTok deal

President Donald Trump’s executive order ostensibly puts a years-long debate to bed. But questions persist about who will own—and influence—TikTok’s American operations. We examine the evidence on how climate change will aid the spread of dengue fever, a brutal and potentially de ... Show More

23m 10s

Apr 2024

TikTok countdown, Trump’s foreign courters, Boeing and plastic divide

The US Senate approves a bill to ban TikTok unless it’s sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance. Countries around the world prepare for a possible second Donald Trump presidency. Boeing faces tough questions from investors as it announces results. And negotiators try to coalesce arou ... Show More

12m 38s

Aug 2020

Trump's TikTok Trepidation Troubles Teens

President Trump said Monday that TikTok will close Sept. 15 unless it's bought by an American company. Microsoft is in discussions with TikTok parent company ByteDance over a possible purchase. It is the latest example of U.S. tensions with China manifesting as fights over techno ... Show More

14m 2s

Feb 2025

TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Reeling | 2

TikTok scrambles to respond to President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring ByteDance sell the app to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. But the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 offers the company a brief reprieve. TikTok works to make a deal with the new administratio ... Show More

33m 55s

Sep 2020

Was the TikTok face-off 'security theater'?

After weeks of uncertainty following President Donald Trump's executive order on TikTok, the Chinese-owned video app that has stolen the hearts — if not the data — of millions of teens has found an American partner: Oracle. But will it make Americans' data any safer? POLITICO Mag ... Show More

20m 10s

Mar 2024

Trump-Biden Rematch; TikTok Bill Latest

On today's podcast: 1) Trump Wins Republican Nomination, Setting Up Rematch With Biden 2) Griffin Says Fed Must Go Slow to Avoid ‘Devastating Course’ 3) TikTok Focuses on Senate as House Favors a Divestment Vote See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17m 14s

Jan 2025

Putty people: can Trump get his picks?

<p>As some of Donald Trump’s most <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/29/kash-patel-is-a-crackpot?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 ... Show More

23m 20s

Sep 2025

Tick Tock, TikTok

After more than five years of backing and forthing, secret meetings and loud screeds, it appears the fate of TikTok in the US has finally been decided. Maybe. There are still a lot of unknowns, but we're pretty sure we know the bones of the deal — and we know which of President T ... Show More

1h 36m

Sep 2025

Inside the TikTok deal: the politics of the algorithm

TikTok’s feed is famous for knowing users better than they know themselves. Now, a US deal could put that power in the hands of Trump allies and tech giants. What might change for the 170 million Americans on the app – and what does this fight reveal about control of speech and d ... Show More

23m 30s

Under different thumbs: a scant TikTok d...