The Intelligence from The Economist

Afghanistan, five years on: our correspondent visits

Five years after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/13/the-taliban-are-vile-democracies-must-still-engage-with-them?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], the Taliban show little sign of moderation. Our correspondent reports from the country on what life is like for ordinary people. A giant earthquake reveals two very different Colombias [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/12/a-big-earthquake-reveals-two-very-different-colombias?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 celebrating the life of Gurkha climber, Nirmal Purja [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/08/13/nirmal-purja-performed-momentous-feats-in-the-death-zone?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 died in an avalanche. Watch extended clips from Insider 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], plus the full Elon Musk interview.  Guests and host: * Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief * Claire McQue, Latin America writer * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Afghanistan, Taliban, sanctions * Colombia, earthquake, Espriella * Nirmal Purja, mountaineer, Everest, avalanche 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.

Caracas under pressure: democracy in Venezuela

After American troops snatched Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a dawn raid in January, democracy did not seem like a priority. Yet this week, talks [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/12/america-really-might-restore-democracy-to-venezuela?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] between the regime and opposition ended with small, positive steps. Why US consumers’ love of fast food [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/06/americans-are-losing-their-appetite-for-fast-food?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] may be slowing. And how many hours of Wagner opera [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/08/05/why-you-should-sit-through-15-hours-of-opera?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] would you sit through?   Guests and host: * Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent * Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent * Brook Unger, senior digital editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Venezuela, Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, Machado * Fast food, McDonalds, burgers * Wagner, “Ring” cycle, classical music 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.

Pump and circumstance: is China the new OPEC?

The Iran war triggered the largest supply shock in the history of petroleum, yet prices never rose as high as feared. Our correspondent explains how action taken by China [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/08/09/china-is-now-the-worlds-great-oil-power?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] steadied global oil flows. Why Brazil has such strict laws on racist language [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/07/27/brazil-has-the-worlds-strictest-laws-against-racist-speech?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 legendary lager of Laos [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/30/beerlao-probably-the-most-important-lager-in-the-world?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: * Matthieu Favas, commodities editor * Ana Lankes, Brazil bureau chief * Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent  * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * China, Iran, oil supplies, OPEC, crude * Brazil, hate speech, racism * Laos, Beerlao, beer, lager 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.

Spring, then fall: a weakened Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood won power and influence in the Arab Spring of 2011. Now autocrats are resurgent and its leaders are in jail or exile. Elon Musk says [https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/08/09/is-europe-safer-than-america?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] Europe is more dangerous than America. Is he right? And the puzzling popularity of padel [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/08/03/millions-play-padel-will-anyone-watch-it?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: * Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent * James Fransham, data journalist * Hamish Clayton, Britain writer * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Muslim Brotherhood, Islamism, Arab Spring * Elon Musk, Insider, Europe, crime,  * Padel, tennis, racket sports 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.

Under strAIn: breaking the British state

Britons are turning to artificial intelligence [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/06/how-ai-is-breaking-the-british-state?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 file objections to state institutions, and claim their dues. The resulting deluge of complaints and demands may overwhelm bureaucracies. Should Catholic priests have to report child abuse disclosed in confession [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/06/05/should-priests-have-to-report-child-abuse-disclosed-in-confession?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 perfect height gap [https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/06/19/the-deceptive-rise-of-the-short-king?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 a relationship.  Guests and host: * Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor * Rebecca Jackson, US Southern correspondent * Doug Dowson, data journalist * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * AI, agentic flooding, bureaucracy * Catholic church, confessions, child abuse * Short kings, short men, height differential 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.