The Intelligence from The Economist

Oil prices are at their highest since 2022, as a swift end to the Iran conflict proves elusive. Yet, our commodities editor says, markets do not yet yet recognise how deep the supply shock is. Who will contest next year’s pivotal election in France? And great expectations in Brazil ahead of the World Cup.Watch “The Insider”: How high will the oil price go Guests and host:Matthieu Favas, commodities editorSophie Pedder, Paris bureau chiefJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentRosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Oil, Brent crude, OPEC, Iran, UAEFrance, Macron, Marine Le Pen, National RallyWorld Cup, Brazil, Pele Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming ubiquitous, but the industry that powers it is struggling to keep up with demand. The host of our award-winning podcast series “Scam Inc” says fraudsters in Asia are becoming more sophisticated. And after Allbirds stops selling shoes, what comes next?Guests and host:Shailesh Chitnis, global business writerSue-Lin Wong, host of Scam Inc Shera Avi-Yonah, business writerRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence”Topics covered: AI, Anthropic, GPUs, Nvidia, TSMCScam Inc, malware, cybercrime, fraudAllbirds, Casper, Warby Parker, Dollar Shave ClubListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The “special relationship” between Britain and America is at its weakest since the Suez crisis of 1956. Will a state visit by King Charles III to America salvage the tie? Why Japanese automakers may be running out of road. And fish from New York’s Hudson river are now safe to eat.Guests and host:Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Daniel Franklin, senior editor, BritainEthan Wu, Asia business and finance editorStevie Hertz, US policy correspondentTopics covered: King Charles III, state visit, special relationshipJapanese carmakers, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, EVsHudson river, fishingListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

After a gunman stormed Donald Trump’s dinner with the press, questions are being revived about the president’s security. Germany’s top general explains the country’s new defence strategy. And listeners respond to our Weekend Intelligence episode on the passport bros who go abroad to find “a good woman”.An earlier version of our lead story stated that the gunman shot a secret service agent. Subsequent reports indicate it is unclear whose shot struck the agent.We have now edited the start of the segment.Guests and host:John Prideaux, host of “Checks and Balance” and US editorTom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chiefCarla Subirana, reporterRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence”Topics covered: Donald Trump, assassination attempt, White House dinner, Cole Tomas AllenCarsten Breuer, Bundeswehr, NATO, UkrainePassport bros, tradwife, misogyny Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The last two years have been turbulent ones in Georgia. After mass protests against the government began in November 2024, hundreds were detained and reporting torture in custody. The authorities unleashed a first world war chemical weapon against their own people. And then they got to work dismantling democracy.Criminal penalties for foreign-funded organisations, opposition parties banned, universities gutted, journalists imprisoned. Robin Forestier-Walker, a journalist based in Tbilisi, has been charting this rapid descent into authoritarianism from the inside. As friends and colleagues are targeted, he’s wondering whether it’s time to pack up his family and say goodbye.Topics covered:GeorgiaRussiaAuthoritarianismListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.Music by Blue Dot and Epidemic.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts

We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl.In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligence” went to Ukraine to consider the aftermath of the Russian invasion and occupation of Chernobyl, and then of the Zaporizhia nuclear-power plant. What we found was an industry that had no expectation that could even happen, and nothing of a plan when it did. Listen here.Guests and host:Serhii Plokhy, historian, Harvard UniversityOlena Pareniuk, radiobiologist, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power PlantsJim Smith, environmental scientist, University of PortsmouthJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Chernobyl nuclear-power plant, historynuclear safety, nuclear-energy policyradiation exposure, radiobiology, radioecology Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

We examine what our forecast model predicts so far—and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives.Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Nonesuch Records), Erik Hall (Western Vinyl)Guests and host:Dan Rosenheck, data editorJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentAinslie Johnstone, data journalistJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: American elections, Congress, polling, gerrymanderingSteve Reich, contemporary classical musicbirth order, statisticsGet a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes. And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal. Guests and host:Alex Hern, AI writerKira Huju, Asia correspondentJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: AI, Anthropic, MythosIndia, women, politicsWorld Cup, SenegalGet a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor. Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should.Guests and host:Tom Lee-Devlin, business editorMoeka Iida, Japan reporterCatherine Nixey, culture correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Apple, technology, CEO, John TernusJapan, demographicsBritain, boredomGet a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.