Economist Podcasts

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 how many hours of Wagner opera would you sit through?

Guests and host:
Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent
Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent
Brook Unger, senior digital editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Venezuela, Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, Machado
Fast food, McDonalds, burgers
Wagner, “Ring” cycle, classical music

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Laos.

Guests and host:
Matthieu Favas, commodities editor
Ana Lankes, Brazil bureau chief
Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
China, Iran, oil supplies, OPEC, crude
Brazil, hate speech, racism
Laos, Beerlao, beer, lager

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, Middle East correspondent
James Fransham, data journalist
Hamish Clayton, Britain writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Muslim Brotherhood, Islamism, Arab Spring
Elon Musk, Insider, Europe, crime,
Padel, tennis, racket sports

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britons are turning to artificial intelligence to file objections to state institutions, and claim their dues. The resulting deluge of complaints and demands may overwhelm bureaucracies. Should Catholic priests have to report child abuse disclosed in confession? And the perfect height gap in a relationship.

Guests and host:
Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor
Rebecca Jackson, US Southern correspondent
Doug Dowson, data journalist
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
AI, agentic flooding, bureaucracy
Catholic church, confessions, child abuse
Short kings, short men, height differential

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the peace that has settled over Khartoum, the ruined capital. War rages on elsewhere, and a slim chance at a settlement rests largely with the belligerents’ foreign patrons. We ask why President Donald Trump has picked a fight over a new bridge between Canada and America. And remembering Betye Saar, who provided profound second lives for discarded objects.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:
Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent
Annie Crabill, senior digital editor
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Sudan war, proxy war, geopolitics
Canada-America relations, Gordie Howe Bridge
Betye Saar, art

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.