Spars and strikes: Who backs Iran war?

About this episode

<p>As America continues to batter Iran, what are the <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/03/the-perils-of-donald-trumps-pivot-from-peace-to-war-president?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">domestic implications</a> of the war for Donald Trump? The <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/04/the-iran-war-has-been-a-stunning-operational-success?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">widening conflict</a> has prompted some European countries to deploy defensive forces. <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/03/03/what-frances-new-nuclear-arms-doctrine-means-for-europe?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">France</a> has also announced a bigger shift in policy: to bolster its nuclear arsenal. And the politics of <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/02/15/why-maga-brands-have-been-a-flop?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">beer and nappies</a>.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Adam Roberts, foreign editor</li><li>Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief</li><li>Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Iran, Donald Trump, senate, Turkey</li><li>France, Macron, nuclear warheads, NATO</li><li>MAGA, marketing </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>