Burning questions: a more fire-prone world

Burning questions: a more fire-prone world

Wildfires in France and Spain are only growing worse by the day. We examine what can be done as a future of more fires, and worse ones, becomes more assured. A dig into data on women at work shows several indicators starting to move in the wrong direction [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/07/05/womens-progress-at-work-is-stalling?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 American cities rethinking how to handle their after-dark economies [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/07/14/cities-are-rethinking-what-happens-after-dark?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: * Oliver Morton, planetary affairs editor * Vinjeru Mkandawire, Britain correspondent * Daniella Raz, US corespondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * fires, France, Spain, fire ecology * women in the workplace, equality * America, night-time economy Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

The resignation of India’s education minister was a stunning capitulation [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/25/narendra-modi-caves-to-indias-gen-z?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] by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The Cockroach Janta Party, a fast-growing youth movement, has the upper hand for now. So-called macro trading [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/06/23/why-macro-trading-is-hard?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 hard: even with advance knowledge of events, neither man nor machine seems to make much money. And hunting the mosaics [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/16/a-mystery-street-artist-is-taking-over-cities?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 Invader, an anonymous French street artist. Guests and host: * Kira Huju, Asia correspondent * Joshua Roberts, capital markets correspondent * Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * India, Cockroach Janta Party, protest, Narendra Modi * macro trading, retail investing * Invader, Flashinvader, street art Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Elon game: Musk’s vision of the future

After Elon Musk [https://www.economist.com/insider/the-insider/an-interview-with-elon-musk?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]’s first extended interview since SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO, The Economist editor-in-chief reflects on what he told her: that AIs will be in charge in ten years, his dark view of Europe and the inevitably of civil war in Britain. At what age is a child responsible [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/07/09/who-is-capable-of-evil?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] for their crimes? And remembering Mona Khalil [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/07/09/mona-khalil-defied-danger-to-protect-her-family?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], Lebanese protector of turtles.  Watch extended clips from Elon Musk on “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: * Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist * Maighna Nanu, editor of foreign newsletters  * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Elon Musk, AI, killer robots, far right, The Insider * child criminals, criminal responsibility, gangs * Mona Khalil, Lebanon, turtles, conservation Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

For bucks’ sake: the rise of self-made billionaires

Many people, including politicians, love to hate the super-rich, and assume they have gamed the system. Yet our correspondent reports that a growing share of today’s wealthiest earned their money providing goods and services we all want. A new crackdown on scam compounds [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/16/a-real-but-selective-crackdown-on-cambodias-scam-industry?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 Cambodia. And lessons from the ultimate political animal, Downing Street’s Larry the Cat [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/16/lessons-from-a-cat-about-to-outlast-yet-another-prime-minister?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 “The Insider [https://www.economist.com/insider/the-insider/an-interview-with-elon-musk?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]” interview with Elon Musk from 6pm BST, 1pm EST.  Listen to our 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]”.  Guests and host: * Callum Williams, senior economics writer * Sue-Lin Wong, Asia correspondent * Chris Impey, co-editor of “The Intelligence” * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Billionaires, Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, Taylor Swift * Scams, scam compounds, Cambodia * Larry the Cat, Andy Burnham, Downing Street Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kyiv brawl: Ukraine’s top general fired

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the commander-in-chief [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/07/20/ukraines-top-general-could-be-on-the-way-out?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 the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrsky. That follows days of protests at his sacking of the defence minister. Our correspondent analyses the fallout. America’s murder rate is falling, so why are cops killing [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/06/21/american-police-killings-are-rising-even-as-murder-rates-fall?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] more people? And a shift in the Japanese taboo [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/14/haunted-houses-are-in-demand-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] on living in homes where people have died. Guests and host: * Shashank Joshi, defence editor * Daniel Knowles, US Midwest correspondent * Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Fedorov, Syrsky, Zelensky, Ukraine * Police killings, gun crime, murder * Japan, haunted houses, jiko bukken Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.