{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/d556eb54-6160-4c85-95f4-47d9f5216c49/67ab2f33b468a1d76f9a50d4?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Eye to the chancellor: interviewing Friedrich Merz","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d93d6587424a/1739271231794-ab9da177-8540-4aaa-b19a-d6abc179e39b.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>The winner of Germany’s upcoming election will also play a crucial role in Europe. The Economist’s editor-in-chief <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/02/10/germanys-business-model-is-gone-warns-friedrich-merz?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\">speaks to Friedrich Merz</a>, the front-runner for chancellor, on the scale of the problems–and his rather cautious solutions. Taiwan faces <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/02/06/china-is-infiltrating-taiwans-armed-forces?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\">Chinese infiltration</a> of its armed forces (14:00). And are <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/01/23/backpacks-are-surprisingly-in-vogue?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\">backpacks</a> really becoming cool (23:10)?&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}