{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/d556eb54-6160-4c85-95f4-47d9f5216c49/65f419c1a062680017077733?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The Intelligence: Russia’s sham election","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d93d6587424a/1710495782034-36d8fc3099325ad5960567f10e3aa91c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Voting begins today in an <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/03/12/russians-go-to-the-polls-in-a-sham-election-for-their-president?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">election</a> that has already been won – all the opposition politicians are dead, in prison or in exile. Vladimir Putin wants to give the illusion of legitimacy. Will the rumblings of a protest deprive him of that goal? There is evidence that <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/02/15/evidence-mounts-that-ukrainian-forces-are-in-sudan?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sudan</a> is becoming the latest theatre of the Ukraine war (09:25). And, a tribute to the father of <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/obituary/2024/03/14/toriyama-akira-was-probably-japans-greatest-manga-master?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Dragon Ball Z</a> (15:49).</p><p><br></p><p><em>Navalny audio clip courtesy of The National Desk.&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Get a world of insights for </em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Sign up for a </em><a href=\"http://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-intelligence\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>free trial</em></a><em> of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48TlDbL-4vU\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}