The Intelligence from The Economist

When the levy brakes: Trump’s tariffs struck down

The smackdown by America’s Supreme Court was resounding [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/02/20/donald-trump-answers-a-supreme-court-rebuke-with-new-tariff-threats?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 bulk of Donald Trump’s tariffs were instituted illegally. He will try to rebuild his tariff wall, brick by brick—creating a new crop of winners and losers. Australia’s surging One Nation [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/02/19/could-one-nation-soon-become-australias-most-popular-party?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] party threatens a conservative coalition that was already looking slightly shaky. And why Agatha Christie’s prolific output is so enduringly popular [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/01/12/the-secret-to-agatha-christies-success?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: * Rachana Shanbhogue, business-affairs editor * Aaron Connelly, Asia diplomatic editor * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * America’s Supreme Court, Donald Trump, tariffs * Australian politics, Pauline Hanson * Agatha Christie Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The arrest is history: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The detainment [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/02/19/what-andrew-mountbatten-windsors-arrest-means-for-the-monarchy?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] of King Charles’s brother is almost without precedent in Britain’s long royal history. He denies wrongdoing, but damage to “The Firm” is already assured. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have fallen into a very public spat [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/02/17/why-the-gulfs-most-powerful-countries-are-at-odds?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] that may have grave implications far beyond the region. And our obituaries editor reflects on the life of Jesse Jackson [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/02/18/jesse-jackson-made-a-black-president-possible?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: * Sonny Loughran, Britain writer * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Ann Wroe, Obituaries editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s royal family, Jeffrey Epstein * Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, diplomacy * Jesse Jackson Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The splitting image: Yoon verdict will deepen divisions

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s ex-president, has been handed a life sentence for insurrection. That is by no means the end of the story of division in the country [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/02/18/south-korea-is-still-haunted-by-its-disgraced-ex-president?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]. Nervous AI-watchers fret about which workers might be replaced; our analysis suggests white-collar workers can breathe easy [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/01/26/why-ai-wont-wipe-out-white-collar-jobs?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 memoir of Gisèle Pelicot [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/17/gisele-pelicots-horrifying-rape-case-changed-the-law-and-minds?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], a rape survivor turned global symbol of strength. Guests and hosts: * Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chief * Alex Domash, economics correspondent * Alexandra Suich Bass, Culture editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol * AI, white-collar jobs * Gisèle Pelicot, memoir Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Robin Hood state: taxes are getting more progressive

Income inequality abounds and today’s rich are staggeringly rich, implying that tax regimes are giving the wealthy more and more of a pass. Our dig into the numbers suggests the opposite [https://www.economist.com/international/2026/02/16/the-robin-hood-state-is-coming-for-the-rich?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 ask why so many of the world’s international mercenaries hail from Colombia [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/02/04/why-so-many-colombians-fight-in-foreign-wars?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 despite the signs, Spanish may be reaching its peak [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/02/06/america-may-be-reaching-peak-spanish?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. Guests and hosts: * Callum Williams, senior economics writer * Carla Subirana, news editor * Lane Greene, senior digital editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Taxation, welfare state, inequality * Colombia, international mercenaries * Spanish Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ice, ice, maybe: should the Arctic be refrozen?

Many scientists are considering the notion of actively cooling the region that is warming fastest. We examine the merits and the risks—both environmental and geopolitical—of messing with the polar climate [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/01/29/should-the-arctic-be-refrozen?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 ask why the kind of gig economy that has struggled in many markets is booming in India [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/02/05/a-booming-gig-economy-is-formalising-indias-labour-force?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 an unsettling peek into the first social network [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/02/02/a-social-network-for-ai-agents-is-full-of-introspection-and-threats?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 AI agents. Guests and hosts: * Oliver Morton, senior editor * Catherine Brahic, environment editor * Kira Huju, Asia correspondent * Alex Hern, AI writer * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * The Arctic, climate change, geoengineering * India, gig economy * Agentic AI, social networking, Moltbook Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.