The Intelligence from The Economist

New world of warcraft: how conflict has forever changed

Our outgoing defence editor reflects on how war has changed [https://www.economist.com/interactive/essay/2026/05/28/the-dangerous-delusion-of-modern-warfare?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] during the eight years of his tenure. Wars have become easier to start and harder to finish [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/28/smart-tech-is-making-war-a-dumber-choice?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 little guy has a better chance than ever before. And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Barney Frank [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/05/28/barney-frank-always-took-the-underdogs-side?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 trailblazing Democratic congressman. 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] Guests and host: * Shashank Joshi, defence editor * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * war, technology, Ukraine, Iran * Barney Frank 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.

Deal or ordeal: Trump’s bad options in Cuba

The American administration’s next round of sabre-rattling has been directed at Cuba. But more military adventures there would probably prove disastrous [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/27/attacking-cuba-would-be-a-huge-mistake?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 profile the three starkly different contenders in Colombia’s hyper-polarised presidential election [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/05/24/colombias-pivotal-polarised-election-could-not-be-tighter?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 our series looking at World Cup squads goes to Mexico. Guests and host: * Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean * Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Cuba, American foreign policy * Colombia’s elections * World Cup, Mexico 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.

What price victory? Ukraine on the front foot

Economic support, drone capability, defence under new management: the tide may have turned for Ukraine. But domestic politics and perceptions will define what kind of win [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/05/26/ukraines-latest-challenge-is-how-to-deal-with-hope?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 country might hope for. We examine how Home Depot, the world’s largest DIY chain, is a window [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/20/economics-lessons-from-home-depot?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 America’s ailing housing market. And what is pinching the supply [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/05/07/the-surprising-supply-chain-choke-point-for-cricket-bats?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 England’s famed cricket bats.  Guests and host: * Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent * Vinjeru Mkandawire, news editor * Andrew Rummer, Britain contributor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Ukraine war * America’s housing market, Home Depot * cricket bats, supply chains 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.

No big deal: murky Iran-war negotiations

More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/05/25/what-an-america-iran-deal-might-look-like?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]. China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/05/17/ai-super-apps-are-remaking-chinas-internet?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]—with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/04/22/how-to-stop-colour-blind-grouse-flying-into-ski-lifts]).  Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Don Weinland, China business and finance editor * Matt Kaplan, science correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, diplomacy * China, business, agentic AI * birds, science 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.

Pulp fiction v the classics: summer reading

What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.  This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown Jack Reacher series by Lee Child “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy “Riders” and the other Rutshire chronicles by Jilly Cooper Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman “Middlemarch” by George Eliot “Ulysses” by James Joyce “Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel “The Diamond Age” by Neal Stephenson The Murderbot series by Martha Wells  “The Martian” by Andy Weir “American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfeld Guests and host: * Catherine Nixey, culture and Britain correspondent * Tom Standage, Economist deputy editor * Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor * Alex Hern, AI writer * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Fiction, romance, sci-fi, crime, thrillers, fantasy, romantasy * Jane Austen, Jilly Cooper, Curtis Sittenfeld, Lee Child * Matt Dinniman, Pierce Brown, Neal Stephenson Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe 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.