Kicking and screaming: protests at World Cup

About this episode

<p>Millions of people will tune in when the <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/06/07/the-world-cup-will-test-mexicos-control-over-its-territory?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">World Cup starts</a> today. But demonstrators in Mexico, which hosts the first match, are using the international spectacle to draw attention to their causes. Commercial enterprises are on the cusp of making money in space: who will <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/28/how-to-tax-businesses-in-orbit-and-beyond?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">tax the heavens</a>? And <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/05/24/narendra-modi-gives-indias-elite-a-taste-of-the-bad-old-days?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">Narendra Modi</a> is unsettling India’s middle class.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Hal Hodson, Americas editor</li><li>Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent</li><li>Leo Mirani, Ashoka columnist</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>World Cup, Mexico, protests</li><li>Space, taxation, global commons</li><li>India, Modi </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>