Pulp fiction v the classics: summer reading

Trailer: Tocqueville Road Trip

When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America from France in 1831 he saw a new kind of society. Not just a country, but an idea that would change the world. His book “Democracy in America” was a big influence on later generations of writers and thinkers, including The Economist’s US Editor John Prideaux. Now, 250 years after its birth, the vitality of that democracy is under question. In this series, John retraces the route Tocqueville took to find out how much of what inspired Tocqueville about America remains—and how worried we should be about what’s changed. Out now Find the show here [https://econ.st/4esGGXw] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Coming in Andy: Britain's prime minister-in-waiting

Andy Burnham won a by-election he needed in order to challenge [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/06/19/andy-burnham-is-now-britains-prime-minister-in-waiting?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] Sir Keir Starmer, Britain’s prime minister. We look at the path ahead for him. The Iran deal seemingly promises a financial windfall for the country and its regime—one that its battered economy sorely needs [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/06/17/irans-battered-economy-will-take-years-to-recover-from-the-war?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 mythmaking of presidential libraries, as seen in the latest one: Barack Obama’s [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/06/18/barack-obama-has-built-a-monument-to-himself?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]. 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: * Hugo Gye, British political correspondent * Fraser McIlwraith, foreign correspondent * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * British politics, Andy Burnham, Labour party  * Iran war, Iran deal, Iran’s economy * Barack Obama, presidential libraries 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.

First rate: Kevin Warsh’s Fed debut

As expected, the new Federal Reserve chairman kept rates steady. More interesting were what he did and did not say. How will he handle inevitable pressure [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/06/09/the-federal-reserve-must-soon-give-donald-trump-bad-news?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 President Donald Trump? After nearly disappearing altogether, Germany’s left-wing Die Linke party is roaring back [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/06/17/germanys-left-wing-die-linke-party-has-won-over-the-young?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]—particularly among the young. And a selection of our readers’ examples of upward-management tips and tricks. Guests and host: * Archie Hall, US economics editor * Tom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chief * Andrew Palmer, Bartleby columnist * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Federal Reserve, interest rates, monetary policy, Iran war * Germany, Die Linke, left-wing politics * management, managing management 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.

View from the summit: what did the G7 achieve?

Geopolitics has dominated this year’s G7 political meeting in Evian, France. Donald Trump offered scant detail on the Iran peace deal [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/06/15/a-deal-is-only-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-us-iran-war?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] but leaders promised to boost support for Ukraine [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/06/11/ukraines-war-is-now-longer-than-the-first-world-war?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]. Though prostitution in Japan [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/06/04/sex-tourists-fuel-outrage-about-vice-in-japan?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] has a long history, recent scandals have drawn it into the spotlight. And Britain’s Country Life [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/05/31/a-posh-and-peculiar-british-magazine-is-thriving?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] magazine has a winning formula: ignore the news.  Guests and host: * Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief * Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter * Catherine Nixey, Britain correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * G7, Donald Trump, Iran, Ukraine * Prostitution, Japan, sex work * Country Life, publishing, Britain 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.

Local, an aesthetic: the deglobalisation of fun

The World Cup may seem to be proof that the digital commons centralises a global audience. We find that entertainment is in fact fragmenting [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/06/10/the-world-cup-paradox?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 big implications for soft power. Our series examining America’s 250 years of history tackles the AIDS crisis and the war on terror [https://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250#chapter-6?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 mosquitoes may in fact be attracted [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/05/28/mosquitoes-seem-to-be-getting-over-insect-repellent?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 a gold-standard repellent.  Guests and host: * Tom Wainwright, media editor * Annie Crabill, senior digital editor * Matt Kaplan, science correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * global media, World Cup, culture * American history * mosquitoes, 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.