Taking the shine off: albedo and global temperatures

Taking the shine off: albedo and global temperatures

Fewer clouds, shrinking ice caps, changing pollutants: all result in less of the sun’s energy being reflected back into space. Which is more bad news [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/07/16/its-too-darn-hot-blame-global-dimming?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] for a changing climate. Our correspondent explains why so much more of the world’s cocaine is passing through west Africa [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/28/west-africa-has-become-a-huge-cocaine-trading-hub?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]. And the data that reveal Americans’ discomfort about wives earning more [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/07/13/the-stubborn-scarcity-of-female-breadwinners?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] than their husbands. Guests and host: * Oliver Morton, planetary-affairs editor * Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent * Doug Dowson, data journalist * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * climate change, albedo, global temperatures * Africa, cocaine, smuggling * wage equality, gender pay gap Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

In arms’ way: Gaza-deal sticking points

President Donald Trump’s claim that Hamas had agreed to disarm in Gaza was, at best, premature. We examine the sticking points of a lasting deal. New-business applications are on a tear [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/07/27/america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise?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] in America. We ask why so many people are working for themselves—but not doing much hiring. And the enduring popularity of radio [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/23/why-young-africans-still-listen-to-the-radio?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] in Africa, aided rather than degraded by social media.  Guests and host: * Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent * Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent * William Finlator, contributor to The Economist * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Board of Peace * American business, entrepreneurship * Africa, media, radio Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Taken littorally: Spain’s sudden crisis in Ceuta

The deadly rush of migrants [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/07/31/a-migrant-surge-tests-spains-open-policies?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] into the Spanish exclave has deep roots in a wider North African conflict—and implications for a far wider European fight about immigration. Our India columnist presents an incomplete list of falling objects [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/12/an-incomplete-list-of-falling-objects-in-india?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] as a way to examine public-safety failures. And a data dive that reveals how AI writing is forever shifting [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/30/how-to-spot-ai-writing?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]. Guests and host: * Michael Reid, Spain correspondent and writer at large * Leo Mirani, Ashoka columnist * Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Ceuta, migration, Spain, EU, Schengen * India, public safety * AI writing, waning human primacy Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Omission accomplished: why the Iran-war cycle spins on

From impasse in Iran [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/28/new-strikes-in-iran-show-the-weakness-of-donald-trumps-deal?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] to still-unresolved conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, a trend is clear: President Donald Trump’s scant, early plans for peace do not actually forge a path to it. Our correspondent says that in the driverless-car future, it will often be Chinese AI behind the wheel [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/07/23/can-china-dominate-ai-exports-too?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]. And remembering Wally Funk [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/07/23/wally-funk-was-told-women-couldnt-be-astronauts?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], who never relinquished her ambition to become an astronaut.  Watch extended clips from Insider, plus our full Elon Musk interview, here [https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi]  Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Don Weinland, China business and finance editor * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, Strait of Hormuz, diplomacy * China, AI, driverless cars * Wally Funk, astronauts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Working memory: the surprising decline of dementia

A dive into the data reveals that, despite dire past predictions, the prevalence of dementia is actually waning [https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/07/09/how-dementia-is-being-defeated?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]. We take a look at Pix, a beloved Brazilian digital-payments system, and why it so bothers [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/07/19/brazils-beloved-payments-system-has-drawn-donald-trumps-ire?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] President Donald Trump. And we attend one of the concerts that reveals how the appeal of emo music is holding strong [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/16/emo-culture-was-not-just-a-phase-as-it-turns-out?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] across generations.  Guests and host: * Jonathan Rosenthal, international correspondent * Carla Subirana, news editor * Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * dementia, global health statistics, ageing * Brazil, Pix, payment systems, Donald Trump * emo music, My Chemical Romance Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.