Spoils of war: money flows into defence tech

Naval piercing: strait shooting in Iran war

The Trump administration’s “Project Freedom [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/05/04/can-donald-trump-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz?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 done and will do little to boost traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We examine an unsustainable standoff. A fashion influencer’s post addressed to President Vladimir Putin has brought Russians’ wider grumbling [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/04/26/the-fashion-influencer-speaking-truth-to-putin?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 the open. And how India’s notorious street noise comes with costs to human health [https://www.economist.com/interactive/asia/2026/04/23/honking-is-harming-indias-health-and-its-economy?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: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia editor * Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, Strait of Hormuz * Russia, Vladimir Putin, influencers * India, noise pollution, health 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.

Spoils of war: money flows into defence tech

In Iran, America is using expensive weaponry against cheap local drones. Can upstart tech companies [https://www.economist.com/international/2026/04/20/anduril-palantir-and-spacex-are-changing-how-america-wages-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] change the economics – and nature — of conflict? As part of our ongoing series on the US at 250 [https://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250#chapter-3?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 examine the impact of the two world wars. And should you ever use an emoji [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/26/welcome-to-emoji-school?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] at work? Listen to “Money Talks [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/04/23/the-upstarts-shaking-up-the-defence-industry]” on defence tech upstarts.  Guests and host: * Henry Tricks, US technology editor * Annie Crabill, a senior digital editor * Andrew Palmer, host of “Boss Class” podcast * Rosie Blau, host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Pentagon, Palantir, SpaceX, Anduril * America 250, Woodrow Wilson, FDR * Emojis, aubergines 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.

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.