The Intelligence from The Economist

Duty unbound: the January 6th hearings

Last night, the <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/07/21/the-january-6th-committee-has-hobbled-donald-trump" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">committee</a> investigating the events of January 6th 2021 said that Donald Trump’s failure to stop his supporters’ attack was a “dereliction of duty”. The evidence was strong; whether it will change anything remains unclear. We examine the thinking behind the European Central Bank’s surprise <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/07/21/the-ecbs-latest-attempt-to-hold-the-euro-zone-together?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">half-point rise</a> in interest rates. And the money motivations of Bangladesh’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/07/21/bangladesh-loosens-its-booze-laws?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">loosening booze laws</a>. <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>

Knock-down, Draghi-out fight: Italy in turmoil

<p>For the second time in a week, Prime Minister Mario Draghi has tendered his <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/07/14/mario-draghi-italys-prime-minister-tries-and-fails-to-resign?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">resignation</a> as his motley coalition government splintered further. The upheaval could not come at a worse time for the country. The pandemic’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/07/07/governments-are-ignoring-the-pandemics-disastrous-effect-on-education?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">devastating costs</a> not only to children’s learning but also to their development are becoming clearer. And researchers are getting bacteria to <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/07/13/modified-bacterial-fungicides-may-propel-the-planes-of-the-future?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">make jet fuel</a>.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Variable-fate mortgage: China’s protests

<p>Property developers are going belly-up, home-buyers are not paying mortgages, protests after a banking scandal have been <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2022/07/14/a-violent-response-to-protests-in-chinas-henan-province?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">quashed</a>. We ask about the instability still to come. Ukraine’s new HIMARS rocket launchers are proving <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/07/13/ukraines-new-rockets-are-wreaking-havoc-on-russias-army?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">exceedingly effective</a> against Russian forces. And a look at Britain’s world-leading collection of <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/06/23/inside-britains-national-culture-collections?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">diseases-in-a-dish</a>.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

To a greater degree: widespread heatwaves

Vast stretches of the temperate world are baking or burning, and as climate change marches on widespread heatwaves will <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/03/the-danger-posed-by-heatwaves-deserves-to-be-taken-more-seriously?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">only grow more intense</a> and more common. After a half-century of insurgency, some rebels of Colombia’s disbanded FARC group needed a new calling: they have become <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/07/07/some-ex-farc-guerrillas-have-become-tourist-guides-in-colombia?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">tour guides</a>. And a look at where Ukraine can <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/06/27/where-will-ukraine-store-its-grain?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">store</a> its considerable grain harvest. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Steal girders: Brazil’s fraught coming election

<p>President Jair Bolsonaro, an unabashed fan of Donald Trump, is <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/07/14/might-jair-bolsonaro-try-to-steal-brazils-election?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">telegraphing</a> that he may not accept a loss in the October election—there is too much at stake for him and his family. The West has a delicate chance to stem the tide of Russian weapons that have long been <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/13/the-west-has-a-chance-to-wean-india-off-russian-weaponry?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">pouring into India</a>. And why America is <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/07/07/to-hook-american-diners-an-invasive-species-of-carp-gets-a-new-name?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">rebranding</a> a much-maligned fish.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Jeddah mind trick: Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia

<p>Joe Biden <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/07/12/what-does-the-middle-east-offer-america" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lands in Saudi Arabia</a> this morning, having spent two unremarkable days in Israel and the West Bank. As president, he has been unusually disengaged from the Middle East, and will probably return home with little to show for his peregrinations. We survey the <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/06/23/latin-america-lacks-decent-sex-education-in-its-schools" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">state of sex education</a> in Latin American schools, and explain why dinosaurs <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/07/01/how-the-dinosaurs-took-over" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">outcompeted other species</a>.</p><br><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

A bird out of hand: Elon Musk and Twitter

Elon Musk wants out of his deal to buy <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/07/11/with-or-without-elon-musk-twitter-is-overdue-a-shake-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> for $44bn. Twitter wants the Delaware chancery court to hold him to the deal. But the company faces an uncertain future, whoever owns it. Why the pandemic has been great for sellers of <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/06/30/the-pandemic-is-boosting-sellers-of-traditional-medicine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">traditional herbal medicine</a>. And looking back on a video game that let users create art, music and animation, with the help of a little barking puppy. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Bravery behind bars: Alexei Navalny imprisoned

<p>Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition figure, has been transferred to a <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/07/04/alexei-navalnys-jailers-are-tightening-the-screws" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">brutal prison</a>. Other Kremlin opponents have been imprisoned or exiled, as Russia has grown more repressive since invading Ukraine. The world’s population will <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/07/11/which-countries-are-driving-the-worlds-population-growth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hit 8bn</a> this year; we discuss which regions are growing and which are not. And why clear wine bottles are a bad idea.</p><br><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Field work: The race to succeed Boris Johnson

<p>The <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/07/07/how-does-britains-conservative-party-choose-a-new-leader" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">race</a> to succeed Boris Johnson begins today. Numerous Conservative MPs have thrown their proverbial hats into the ring; they are fighting on ground largely staked out by Mr Johnson. American anti-abortion activists believe that <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/07/07/a-push-to-recognise-the-rights-of-the-unborn-is-growing-in-america" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fetuses</a> should have all the rights that people do. And why Egypt’s government has turned against its historic <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/07/07/historic-houseboats-fall-victim-to-egypts-addiction-to-cement" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">houseboats</a>.</p><br><p>To sign up for today’s webinar about Britain’s future after Boris Johnson’s resignation, sign up at <a href="http://economist.com/boris-resigns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/borisresigns</a></p><br><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Gota goes: Sri Lanka’s president resigns

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s president, announced <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/07/09/sri-lankas-president-resigns-in-the-face-of-massive-protests?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">he will step down</a> on Wednesday after protestors occupied Colombo, the country’s capital, over the weekend. Whoever succeeds him will inherit a host of thorny economic problems. Why <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/07/04/how-sturdy-are-europes-tech-unicorns?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">Europe’s big tech firms</a> are well placed to weather a downturn. And remembering <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2022/07/07/peter-brook-saw-acting-as-an-uncompromising-search-for-truth?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">Peter Brook</a>, an extraordinary theatre director who died at the age of 93. To sign up for tomorrow’s webinar about Britain’s future after Boris Johnson’s resignation, sign up at <a href="http://economist.com/boris-resigns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/boris-resigns</a>. <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>

Tragedy in Japan: the killing of Abe Shinzo

<p>Japan’s prime minister from 2006-07 and 2012-20 <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/07/08/the-shooting-of-abe-shinzo-a-former-prime-minister-stuns-japan?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">died</a> after being shot at a campaign event. Our Tokyo bureau chief analyses the implications for the country and its politics. The <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/06/30/a-resurgence-of-regional-rivalries-imperils-eastern-congo?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">resurgence</a> of a particularly well-armed militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatens to reignite deadly regional tensions. And we introduce you to the <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/06/30/which-vegetable-is-the-easiest-for-a-robot-to-pick?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">robots</a> that may soon pick your vegetables.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Send out the clown: Boris agrees to go

<p>Boris Johnson is <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/07/07/clownfall" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">standing down</a> as Britain’s prime minister. We consider his legacy and impact on British politics. Public attitudes on LGBT rights in South-East Asia are <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/16/south-east-asia-is-beginning-to-accept-same-sex-relationships" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">changing fast</a>—and its laws are at last changing, too. And at this week’s Montreal’s Jazz Festival, the pioneering pianist and local hero Oscar Peterson remains the patron saint. <em>Additional music courtesy of Urban Science Brass Band</em></p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Rishi, you were here: Boris Johnson’s woes

<p>Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, Britain’s finance and health ministers respectively, <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/07/06/two-ministers-resign-weakening-boris-johnsons-hold-on-office?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">resigned</a> yesterday; other officials soon followed suit. Once again, questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s political survival are swirling. A ride on London’s sparkling but quiet new railway line hints at the <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/05/19/travel-patterns-have-changed-for-good-transport-systems-should-too?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">complexities</a> of post-pandemic public transport. And how off-the-shelf drones are making a <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/06/29/how-consumer-drones-are-changing-warfare?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">difference</a> in Ukraine’s war. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p><p><br></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>

Pressure gauged: the road to recessions

<p>Hints are turning to hard data: economic slowdowns are coming. We ask about the threat of recessions in different regions and about <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/02/a-recession-in-america-by-2024-looks-likely?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">the effects</a> they may have. The <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2022/06/09/the-hotheads-who-could-start-a-cold-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">reckless behaviour</a> of China’s fighter pilots is just one reflection of the country’s distrust of the West. And a haircut gone wrong leads to a lesson that <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/06/16/the-price-of-a-haircut-in-dakar-challenges-a-tenet-of-economics?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">challenges</a> textbook economics. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p><p><br></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>

Southern strategy: the coming bid to retake Kherson

The city remains Ukraine’s only provincial capital to be taken by Russian forces—can Ukraine overcome its shortages of manpower and firepower to <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/07/03/ukraine-prepares-a-counter-offensive-to-retake-kherson-province?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">retake the province</a>? Mexico’s official missing-persons list has topped 100,000; our correspondent describes the <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/06/30/at-least-100000-people-are-missing-in-mexico?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">skyrocketing total</a> and piecemeal efforts to slow its rise. And research suggests that people choose their friends at least in part <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/06/24/friends-smell-like-one-another?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">by smell</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Power strip: SCOTUS’s environmental ruling

<p>America’s Supreme Court has essentially <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/30/the-supreme-court-throttles-joe-bidens-climate-agenda?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">shorn</a> the Environmental Protection Agency of its agency in making national policy. We ask what that means for the climate-change fight. Hong Kong is marking 25 years since its handover from Britain to China; the promised “one country, two systems” approach is <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/essay/2022/07/01/how-hong-kong-became-a-police-state?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">all but gone</a> already. And why moustaches are <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/06/30/why-iraqi-moustaches-are-making-a-comeback?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">back</a> in Iraq.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Son rise: the Philippines’ next President Marcos

It is a <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/29/by-electing-another-marcos-filipinos-show-they-have-forgotten-history?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">remarkable turnaround</a> for a notorious family: the late dictator’s son just took the reins. But how will he govern? Scotland’s separatist party is again pushing for an independence referendum. That will <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/06/29/nicola-sturgeon-sets-a-date-for-another-referendum-on-scottish-independence?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">probably fail</a>—and empower the very prime minister that many Scots love to hate. And, why pilots in Ukraine are using an outdated, inaccurate <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/06/20/why-are-pilots-in-ukraine-firing-rockets-so-clumsily?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">missile-delivery technique</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Uprising tide: the coming inflation-driven unrest

<p>In a global period of belt-tightening, popular anger <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2022/06/23/costly-food-and-energy-are-fostering-global-unrest?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">will spill over</a>. Our correspondent visits places where powderkegs seem closest to being lit; our predictive model suggests where might be next. China’s spies have a deserved reputation for hacking and harassing—but fall <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2022/06/01/chinas-spies-are-not-always-as-good-as-advertised?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">surprisingly short</a> on other spooky skills. And why America is suffering a shortfall of lifeguards. </p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

A force awakens: NATO’s new game plan

<p>War in Ukraine has stiffened the alliance’s spine; leaders meeting <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/06/26/nato-holds-its-most-important-summit-in-generations?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">this week</a> will refashion troop-deployment plans reflecting a vastly changed security situation. The property sector makes a staggering contribution to carbon emissions, but our correspondent says it is <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/16/the-property-industry-has-a-huge-carbon-footprint-heres-how-to-reduce-it?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">not cleaning up</a> nearly as fast as other industries are. And reflecting on the life of <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2022/06/22/roman-ratushny-believed-in-a-better-purer-ukraine?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">Roman Ratushny</a>, a steely Ukrainian activist.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Comings to term: America’s abortion-rights rollback

The Supreme Court ruling has <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/24/the-supreme-court-erases-the-constitutional-right-to-abortion?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">convulsed the country</a>; passing the question of abortion rights to the states will divide America yet further. We ask what it means for the court to go so plainly <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2022/05/07/americas-supreme-court-faces-a-crisis-of-legitimacy?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">against public opinion</a>, examine the <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/24/the-supreme-courts-rejection-of-roe-will-hurt-the-poorest-most?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">woeful effects</a> the changing scenario will have on women and speak to one woman whose life was saved by a now-threatened procedure. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Shooting from the hip: The Supreme Court expands gun rights

Yesterday, America’s Supreme Court issued its most important Second Amendment ruling in more than a decade, <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/23/americas-supreme-court-extends-the-right-to-bear-arms-outside-the-home?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">striking down</a> a New York law that tightly regulated concealed carrying of guns. The ruling means cities will probably see a lot more armed people. Our correspondent caught up with <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/06/19/our-son-wants-to-be-a-soldier-an-interview-with-ukraines-first-lady" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ukraine’s First Lady</a>. And new research into the origins of the <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/06/15/the-origin-of-the-black-death" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Black Death</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Pride and prejudice: China’s LGBT crackdown

In much of the world, things are improving for sexual minorities. <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2022/06/09/life-is-getting-harder-for-gay-people-in-china" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The opposite is true</a> in China, where authorities are cracking down on the LGBT community. Bangladesh is suffering its worst flooding in living memory, but with a surprisingly low death toll (so far). And which city topped the EIU’s annual <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/06/22/the-worlds-most-liveable-cities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Liveability Index</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Eastern encroaches: Ukraine’s losses in Donbas

Russia is making steady, piecemeal gains in the region; Ukrainian forces are simply <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/06/19/is-the-west-supplying-ukraine-with-enough-weapons?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">outgunned</a>. That disparity defines the war’s progression—for now. More than 20 countries have radio stations run by and for prisoners, giving those inside a voice. And why a cannabis derivative is proving <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/16/elderly-japanese-are-discovering-the-benefits-of-cannabis-products?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">popular</a> among Japan’s elderly. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Estranged bedfellows: Israel’s government collapses

A motley collection of parliamentarians, now without its whisper-thin majority, has <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/06/20/israels-government-collapses-prompting-the-fifth-election-in-four-years?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">crumbled</a>. That will force the country back to the ballot box—and back to familiar political turmoil. Increasing numbers of American cities are enticing people with cash incentives, but do such policies work? And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/06/08/learning-to-drum-can-help-children-with-behavioural-problems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">drumming helps people</a> with emotional and behavioural difficulties.  For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Stuck in the middle with few: Macron’s parliamentary pasting

<p>resident Emmanuel Macron has <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/06/19/emmanuel-macron-loses-his-parliamentary-majority?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">lost his majority</a> in France’s National Assembly as voters flooded both to the far right and far left. A second term filled with confrontation and compromise awaits him. The shadowy world of corporate spying is <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/05/30/corporate-espionage-is-entering-a-new-era?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">broadening</a> to far more than just cola or fried-chicken recipes. And when scare-tactic <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/16/shocking-drivers-with-road-death-statistics-leads-to-more-crashes?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">road-death statistics</a> lead to more deaths, not fewer. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p><p><br></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>

Menace to democracy: The January 6th hearings

In its third public hearing yesterday, the committee investigating the <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/10/congresss-capitol-riot-hearing-confirms-donald-trumps-complicity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">January 6th Capitol insurrection</a> detailed the pressure put on Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election—as well as the continuing threat to American democracy posed by Donald Trump. Can <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/06/14/could-artificial-intelligence-become-sentient" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">artificial intelligence become sentient</a>, and if it did, how would we know? And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/06/09/syria-like-much-of-the-arab-world-inflicts-country-wide-internet-blackouts-during-exams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">internet shutdowns</a> are a costly and ineffective way to stop students from cheating. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Powell to the people: The Fed raises rates

<a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/15/the-fed-and-the-ecb-turn-on-a-dime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">America’s central bank </a>raised rates by .75% yesterday—the biggest increase in almost 30 years. Whether that will help tame rising prices without triggering a recession is unclear. The poor performance of Russian tanks in Ukraine has led some to wonder whether <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/international/2022/06/15/does-the-tank-have-a-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the tank itself</a> is obsolete. And the rousing, darkly humorous defiance of <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/08/ukrainian-musicians-have-a-stark-message-for-the-kremlin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ukrainian war anthems</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Planes have changed: Britain’s controversial asylum policy

<p>The European Court of Human rights foiled Britain’s plans to send <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/06/13/deportations-to-rwanda-wont-stop-refugees-trying-to-reach-britain" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">asylum-seekers to Rwanda</a> yesterday by holding that British courts must first find the policy legal. The Taliban have proven <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/08/the-taliban-government-has-proved-surprisingly-good-at-raising-money" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">surprisingly adept tax collectors</a>, though they will spend much of the funds on defence rather than improving the lives of struggling Afghans. And the world is buying <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/06/02/the-electric-vehicle-revolution-is-not-happening-fast-enough" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">too few electric vehicles</a> to meaningfully reduce carbon emissions.</p><br><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

No magic bullet: a Congressional agreement on guns

<p>Mass shootings in Buffalo, Tulsa and Uvalde appear to have broken a longstanding impasse over federal <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/13/americas-senators-manage-to-reach-a-deal-on-gun-control" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gun laws</a>. A bipartisan group of senators has laid out a legislative framework—but whether that turns into an actual bill remains unclear. Scientists are rethinking what might constitute the building blocks of <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/05/25/how-to-improve-the-search-for-aliens" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">extraterrestrial life</a>. And why people seem to love <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/14/mundane-chores-are-all-the-rage-in-gaming" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">boring video games</a>.</p><br><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Nyet effects: Russia’s resilient economy

Western sanctions are intended to starve Russia’s economy and hinder its ability to wage war in Ukraine. And while the long-term outlook remains grim, so far oil and gas earnings have kept its economy humming. Why Latin America’s commercial capital isn’t even in Latin America: it’s Miami. And why France is building bridges over motorways for wildlife. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>