Beirut watch: can Lebanon subdue Hizbullah?

About this episode

<p>Can peace hold in <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/04/30/hizbullahs-air-of-invincibility-is-gone?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lebanon</a> while Hizbullah remains? Our correspondent weighs the balance of power between government forces and the Iran-backed militia. The resale value of <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/04/24/the-staggering-strangeness-of-the-labubu-bubble?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Labubus</a> is falling – who cares? And remembering Swedish death-clearer, <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/04/30/margareta-magnusson-believed-in-leaving-the-world-tidy?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Margareta Magnusson</a>. </p><br><p>Watch extended clips from “<a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Insider</a>”. And listen to our “<a href="https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/03/14/kidulting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Weekend Intelligence</a>” episode on “Kidulting: why adults are turning to toys”.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent</li><li>Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent</li><li>Ann Wroe, obituaries editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Lebanon, Hizbullah, Israel, ceasefire</li><li>Labubus, PopMart, Funko, financial bubbles</li><li>Margareta Magnusson, death-clearing, decluttering </li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a></p><br><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account. </em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>