The Intelligence from The Economist

Beirut watch: can Lebanon subdue Hizbullah?

Can peace hold in Lebanon [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/04/30/hizbullahs-air-of-invincibility-is-gone?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] while Hizbullah remains? Our correspondent weighs the balance of power between government forces and the Iran-backed militia. The resale value of Labubus [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/04/24/the-staggering-strangeness-of-the-labubu-bubble?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 falling – who cares? And remembering Swedish death-clearer, Margareta Magnusson [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/04/30/margareta-magnusson-believed-in-leaving-the-world-tidy?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 “The Insider [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]”. And listen to our “Weekend Intelligence [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/03/14/kidulting]” episode on “Kidulting: why adults are turning to toys”. Guests and host: * Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent * Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Lebanon, Hizbullah, Israel, ceasefire * Labubus, PopMart, Funko, financial bubbles * Margareta Magnusson, death-clearing, decluttering  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.

Drill pickle: oil prices still misjudge shock

Oil prices [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/04/30/oil-markets-are-still-in-la-la-land?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] are at their highest since 2022, as a swift end to the Iran conflict proves elusive. Yet, our commodities editor says, markets do not yet yet recognise how deep the supply shock is. Who will contest next year’s pivotal election [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/04/16/a-scramble-ahead-of-frances-presidential-election?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 France? And great expectations in Brazil ahead of the World Cup. Watch “The Insider [https://www.economist.com/insider?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]”: How high will the oil price go  Guests and host: * Matthieu Favas, commodities editor * Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Oil, Brent crude, OPEC, Iran, UAE * France, Macron, Marine Le Pen, National Rally * World Cup, Brazil, Pele  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.

Power ranges: AI faces supply crunch

Artificial Intelligence is becoming ubiquitous, but the industry that powers it is struggling [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/27/ai-is-confronting-a-supply-chain-crunch?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 keep up with demand. The host of our award-winning podcast series “Scam Inc [https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/scam-inc?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]” says fraudsters in Asia [https://www.economist.com/interactive/asia/2026/04/10/scam-inc-has-a-new-weapon?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] are becoming more sophisticated. And after Allbirds [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/21/from-allbirds-to-glossier-millennial-brands-have-lost-their-mojo?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] stops selling shoes, what comes next? Guests and host: * Shailesh Chitnis, global business writer * Sue-Lin Wong, host of Scam Inc  * Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * AI, Anthropic, GPUs, Nvidia, TSMC * Scam Inc, malware, cybercrime, fraud * Allbirds, Casper, Warby Parker, Dollar Shave Club 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 regal has landed: can Charles boost US bond?

The “special relationship” between Britain and America is at its weakest since the Suez crisis of 1956. Will a state visit by King Charles III [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/04/23/britain-rethinks-its-special-relationship-with-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] to America salvage the tie? Why Japanese automakers [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/09/japans-mighty-carmakers-are-in-serious-trouble?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 running out of road. And fish [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/04/16/the-hudson-is-now-so-clean-that-everyone-can-eat-from-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] from New York’s Hudson river are now safe to eat. Guests and host: * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” * Daniel Franklin, senior editor, Britain * Ethan Wu, Asia business and finance editor * Stevie Hertz, US policy correspondent Topics covered:  * King Charles III, state visit, special relationship * Japanese carmakers, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, EVs * Hudson river, fishing 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.

Security banquet: queries over Trump protection

After a gunman [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/04/26/a-gunman-storms-donald-trumps-dinner-with-the-press?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] stormed Donald Trump’s dinner with the press, questions are being revived about the president’s security. Germany’s top general [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/04/22/can-the-germans-fight?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] explains the country’s new defence strategy. And listeners respond to our Weekend Intelligence episode on the passport bros [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/04/18/meet-the-passport-bros?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 go abroad to find “a good woman”. An earlier version of our lead story stated that the gunman shot a Secret Service agent. Subsequent reports indicate it is unclear whose shot struck the agent.We have now edited the start of the segment. Guests and host: * John Prideaux, host of “Checks and Balance” and US editor * Tom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chief * Carla Subirana, reporter * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Donald Trump, assassination attempt, White House dinner, Cole Tomas Allen * Carsten Breuer, Bundeswehr, NATO, Ukraine * Passport bros, tradwife, misogyny  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.