Chapo, Mayo, Mencho: another Mexican kingpin falls

About this episode

<p>The targeting of “El Mencho”, the leader of one of the country’s two biggest gangs, has resulted in a predictable <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/02/23/the-killing-of-mexicos-most-powerful-narco-will-please-donald-trump?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">spate of violence</a>—more of which is virtually assured. We take a rare look inside Russia to see how four years of war has <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/02/19/how-four-years-of-war-have-changed-russia?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">changed the country</a>. And some surprising advice on how to get your <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/12/26/what-is-the-best-way-to-train-for-a-marathon?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">best marathon time</a>.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Sarah Birke, Mexico City bureau chief</li><li>Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia editor</li><li>Tim Cross, senior science writer</li><li>Ainslie Johnstone, data journalist</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Mexico, cartels, gang violence</li><li>Russia, economy, Ukraine war</li><li>Running, training, marathons</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Get a world of insights by </em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribing to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><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>