The Intelligence from The Economist

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>

Revolting: The January 6th committee’s public hearings

The <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/07/the-january-6th-committee-is-about-to-reveal-its-findings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">committee</a> investigating the Capitol attacks of January 6th 2021 held the first of several public hearings last night, having gathered evidence for the past year. The hearings may not break Donald Trump’s hold on the Republicans, but they are creating a vital record of an attempted coup. As wolf populations grow, humans are learning to live with them. And why the corporate world has taken an interest in <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/06/08/bosses-want-to-feed-psychedelics-to-their-staff" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">psychedelic drugs</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>

Second time’s the charm? Somalia’s new president

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is Somalia’s first-ever reelected president. In an <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/06/02/somalias-new-president-vows-to-beat-back-jihadists-then-talk-to-them?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">interview</a> with our correspondent, he lays out his second-term ambitions for beating back jihadist insurgents and repairing relations with his neighbours. Why adapting to <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2022/06/01/climate-change-is-harder-on-less-educated-people?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">climate change</a> is harder for people with less education. And why the <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/06/02/top-gun-flies-high-sparking-hopes-of-a-theatrical-recovery?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">film industry</a> has high hopes for this summer’s blockbusters. 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>

The wrath of Khan: Pakistan’s turbulent spring

Pakistan’s government faces an unpleasant choice between doing what’s popular and what is economically necessary, as <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/06/02/imran-khan-is-jeopardising-pakistans-attempts-to-fix-its-economy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Imran Khan</a>, the former prime minister, exploits widespread discontent for his own ends. Russia’s invasion is threatening <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/05/25/ukraines-agricultural-research-is-threatened-by-the-war" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ukraine’s unique seed bank</a>. And why so many <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/02/some-languages-pay-closer-attention-to-family-ties-than-others" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">languages</a> have such a rich variety of words to describe family members and relationships. 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>

After the party, the hangover: Boris survives, barely

Boris Johnson, Britain’s prime minister, narrowly survived a <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/06/06/boris-johnson-narrowly-wins-a-vote-of-confidence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">no-confidence vote</a> last night. As he limps on, the informal contest to succeed him will intensify, as will questions about the Conservative Party’s direction. San Francisco’s progressive district attorney faces a <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/05/why-san-franciscos-clash-with-its-district-attorney-matters" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">recall election</a> today, in a vote with broader implications for the future of criminal-justice reform in America. And why Ukraine’s army relies on <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/05/11/why-ukraines-army-still-uses-a-100-year-old-machinegun" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">century-old machineguns</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>

A farewell to arms control? Ukraine and nuclear weapons

<p>For almost 80 years, the world has refrained from using or, for the most part, even seriously pondering the use of nuclear weapons. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2022/06/02/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-has-eroded-the-nuclear-taboo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">eroded</a> that taboo. Avian flu is spreading around the world, threatening birds’ health and contributing to rising egg and poultry prices. And Sun Ra’s huge, weird and wonderful <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/05/30/journey-through-time-and-space-with-the-sun-ra-arkestra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Arkestra</a> is back on the road. </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>

Hide, park: Russian money in London

<p>Britain’s capital is packed with foreign capital, in particular the Russian kind. We ask what it is about London that <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/05/05/londongrad-is-falling-down?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">attracts</a>—and protects—the oligarchs. We check in again with Lusya Shtein of the anti-Putin punk-rock group Pussy Riot about her <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/06/01/with-her-playstation-and-her-pet-rat-how-one-member-of-pussy-riot-fled-russia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">daring escape</a> from Russia. And amid celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year tenure, we reflect on <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/05/26/britain-celebrates-a-jubilee-again?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">royal jubilees</a> through history.</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>

Press clipping: Ethiopia’s media crackdown

<p>The government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expelled our correspondent. Abiy’s proxies at home and abroad are helping a propaganda push that is <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/05/19/ethiopias-civil-war-has-been-bad-news-for-press-freedom?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">silencing criticism</a>. California’s legal-marijuana market is enormous, but its growers are floundering under taxes and regulations; the industry is getting <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/05/14/in-california-the-worlds-largest-legal-weed-market-is-going-up-in-smoke?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">stubbed out</a>. And a look at how companies that have withdrawn from Russia <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/05/09/how-companies-exiting-russia-are-faring?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">are faring</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>

The diet is cast: a coming food catastrophe

War and blockades in Ukraine are the largest but far from the only problems squeezing the global food system—and with prices already way up, a <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/05/19/the-coming-food-catastrophe?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">catastrophe of hunger</a> looms. The prospect of whole-genome screening for newborns opens up many opportunities to avoid or treat disease, and many <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/full-genome-screening-for-newborns-is-now-on-the-cards/21809246?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">ethical debates</a>. And more than just sordid history at Bangkok’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/05/27/a-museum-tells-the-history-of-one-of-bangkoks-notorious-districts?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">red-light-district museum</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>

Bear traps: Russia’s push in eastern Ukraine

<p>Russian forces are having some successes in eastern Ukraine; our defence editor discusses the situation on the ground and what may <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/05/26/ukraine-needs-support-not-timorous-advice?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">tip the balance</a> in the grinding war. We examine a <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/05/22/the-title-42-furore-highlights-americas-broken-immigration-system?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">contentious American law</a> that reveals the country’s broken immigration system. And why independent Chinese bookshops are becoming so <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2022/03/26/how-narcissistic-youth-might-help-struggling-chinese-booksellers?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">social-media-friendly</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>

Base motives? China in the Pacific

The country has just one foreign military base, but there are fears it wants to dot the Pacific region <a href="https://espresso.economist.com/8f51d048845867380207217d2b5c3156?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">with more</a>—and that is, so far, proving tricky. With ties between Western and Russian scientists severed, decades of research in the Arctic, particularly on climate change, are <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/russian-and-western-scientists-no-longer-collaborate-in-the-arctic/21809236?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">at risk</a>. And a new series further unpicks the <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/01/the-short-lived-punk-movement-generated-decades-of-mythmaking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mythology of punk</a> music. 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>

Take the first left? Colombia’s election

<p>POLLS SUGGEST // Polls suggest the country <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/05/26/a-divided-colombia-is-poised-to-elect-its-first-leftist-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">might get</a> its first-ever leftist leader. Whatever the outcome, a fresh outbreak of violent protest may await. Africa’s increasingly crippling <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/05/07/why-fuel-shortages-are-spreading-across-africa?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">fuel shortages</a> can be blamed on more than just higher prices. And reflecting on the life of Lawrence MacEwen, laird of a tiny Scottish island whose austere simplicity he <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2022/05/26/lawrence-macewen-made-a-tiny-island-prosper?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">fought</a> to preserve. </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>

Let’s get the parties charted: the Partygate report

A long-awaited inquiry into lockdown gatherings on Boris Johnson’s watch <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/05/25/sue-gray-produces-a-strikingly-patchy-account-of-the-downing-street-parties?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">reveals</a> lurid details of brash bashes. Yet the prime minister will be able, once again, to brush off the controversy. We ask why Switzerland is such a <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/05/23/the-recipe-for-the-outperformance-of-swiss-businesses?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">powerhouse</a> in business and finance despite its modest resources. And how Russia’s war propaganda is <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/05/14/russia-is-swaying-twitter-users-outside-the-west-to-its-side?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">winning over</a> plenty of Twitter users. 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>

Active shooters, inactive politics: America’s latest school massacre

After 19 children and two adults were <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/05/25/the-spate-of-gun-violence-shows-american-exceptionalism-at-its-worst?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">gunned down</a> in Texas, we ask why gun laws are actually loosening in many states and why even moderate gun controls do not get passed. The <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/05/24/where-is-monkeypox-spreading-fastest?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">rapid spread</a> of monkeypox has rattled a covid-weary world; how much <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/05/20/monkeypox-is-popping-up-in-more-countries-how-worrying-is-this?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">cause for concern</a> is there? And why teams of professional writers are <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/05/10/video-game-writing-is-improving-by-leaps-and-bounds?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">getting involved</a> in games development. 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>