Spoils of war: money flows into defence tech

About this episode

<p>In Iran, America is using expensive weaponry against cheap local drones. Can upstart <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2026/04/20/anduril-palantir-and-spacex-are-changing-how-america-wages-war?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">tech companies</a> change the economics – and nature — of conflict? As part of our ongoing series on the <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250#chapter-3?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">US at 250</a>, we examine the impact of the two world wars. And should you ever use an <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/26/welcome-to-emoji-school?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">emoji</a> at work?</p><p>Listen to “<a href="https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/04/23/the-upstarts-shaking-up-the-defence-industry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Money Talks</a>” on defence tech upstarts. </p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Henry Tricks, US technology editor</li><li>Annie Crabill, a senior digital editor</li><li>Andrew Palmer, host of “Boss Class” podcast</li><li>Rosie Blau, host of “The intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Pentagon, Palantir, SpaceX, Anduril</li><li>America 250, Woodrow Wilson, FDR</li><li>Emojis, aubergines</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>