The Intelligence from The Economist

Stars and strikes: was America’s ship-bomb illegal?

America’s attacks on possible drug boats in the Caribbean is already controversial. Now critics are questioning the legality of one particular strike [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/12/03/lawmakers-are-demanding-answers-about-pete-hegseths-boat-bombing-campaign?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 September. What does this mean for the US secretary of war, Pete Hegseth? Why American firms are raising funding to explore gene-editing babies [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/11/19/tech-billionaires-want-to-make-gene-edited-babies?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 women in Japan face a long fight to play the national sport: sumo [https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/11/13/japanese-women-are-wrestling-with-sumos-boundaries?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 “Babbage [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/02/26/the-controversial-scientist-he-jiankui-hasnt-given-up-on-gene-edited-babies?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]” earlier this year we interviewed Chinese scientist He Jiankui, whose use of gene-editing technology on babies landed him a three-year prison sentence. 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.

The great wheel: China’s Robotaxi revolution

Once derided as a copycat nation, China is now leading the world in innovation [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/11/27/what-china-will-dominate-next?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], from driverless cars to pharmaceuticals. Our correspondent explains what others can learn from it. Britain looks abroad for policy ideas, but which country [https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/11/27/which-country-is-most-similar-to-britain?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] is most like it? And why the capybara [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/11/25/what-has-webbed-feet-a-big-snout-and-is-adored-on-the-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] is a creature of comfort for our troubled age.    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.

Deal them back in? What we heard in Iran

Our correspondents get a feel for today’s Tehran: no morality police but still much fear of speaking out. And the foreign minister indicates a desire to return to nuclear dealmaking [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/11/27/irans-reformists-extend-a-hand?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 has bought into whom in AI makes the whole industry look pretty circular; we ask what that means for competition [https://www.economist.com/business/2025/11/19/cracks-are-appearing-in-openais-dominant-facade?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 first European country to scrap [https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/27/denmark-gets-ready-to-cancel-christmas-cards?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] letter delivery. 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 Weekend Intelligence: Mise en masse

Chef Gary Thomas has a lot on his plate. That’s because he’s in the business of feeding thousands of people a day on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Not just any ship – the Star of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.  The Weekend Intelligence’s senior producer Barclay Bram braved a trip to the Bahamas to try to figure out the secret behind one of the most impressive food operations in the world.  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=48TlDbL-4vU] explaining how to link your account. Music by Blue dot and Epidemic This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com. Read more about how we are using AI. [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/How-we-handle-AI-generated-content] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Fire, then fury: Hong Kong’s deadly blaze

The dead are still being found; the displaced huddle in public spaces. Who or what will be blamed, and what policies will change after the tragedy [https://www.economist.com/china/2025/11/27/a-terrible-inferno-kills-dozens-in-hong-kong?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 visit Georgia, where protests have now lasted a year [https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/09/georgia-is-dousing-the-last-embers-of-democracy?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], probing the differences between popular uprisings that succeed and those that fail. And remembering He Yanxin [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/11/27/he-yanxin-was-the-steward-of-a-women-only-language?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], last natural inheritor of China’s ancient women-only language.  Additional audio courtesy of Zhao Ke'er from the documentary "Heart of Gold [https://www.xinpianchang.com/a10926335?ws_referrer_origin=ws_referrer_delete]". 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.