Refine and dandy: Iran’s war bounty

About this episode

<p>An Economist investigation reveals that <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/03/29/how-iran-is-making-a-mint-from-donald-trumps-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">Iran is profiting</a> from the war as it evades sanctions and oil prices surge. India’s government has promised to crush the country’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/03/26/the-end-of-the-worlds-longest-running-maoist-insurgency?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">Maoist insurgency</a>. Our correspondent visits a former rebel stronghold. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/19/why-understudies-are-seeing-their-wages-rise?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">understudies</a>, a theatre’s insurance policy, are underestimated. </p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Rachana Shanbhogue, business affairs editor</li><li>Kira Huju, Asia correspondent</li><li>Hamish Clayton, culture writer</li><li>Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Oil, Iran, Kharg Island, sanctions</li><li>India, Modi, Maoists</li><li>Culture, theatre, understudies</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>