{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/d556eb54-6160-4c85-95f4-47d9f5216c49/6ab3960493749e4c0ba24e60?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"National front-runner: who can beat Le Pen?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d93d6587424a/1790153835094-3469a6b6-6e36-4813-baa3-5c01cc3e5337.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Marine Le Pen, party leader of France’s populist-right National Rally, starts her fourth presidential bid with a commanding lead. The country’s political centre is broad, fragmented—and <u><a href=\"https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/09/14/frances-centre-has-one-question-who-can-beat-marine-le-pen?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\">flagging</a></u>. A buffer zone against so-called infiltrators in India’s West Bengal state is making life <u><a href=\"https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/09/17/to-keep-out-infiltrators-india-is-trapping-its-own-citizens?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\">miserable</a></u> also for Indian citizens. And how Argentina’s supply of horses and cowboys led to world <u><a href=\"https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/19/polos-lessons-for-argentina?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\">dominance</a></u> in polo. </p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief </li><li>Kira Huju, Asia correspondent</li><li>Hamish Clayton, culture writer</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>French politics, Marine Le Pen</li><li>India, West Bengal, Bangladesh, Hindu nationalism</li><li>Argentina, polo</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}