1. Game of chance

You’ve come a long way, Bibi: Israel’s crucial election

Binyamin Netanyahu’s government will, unusually, serve out its full term. What comes after October’s election will decide what kind of Israel will emerge [https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/07/16/israels-future-hangs-in-the-balance?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]. Our correspondent asks whether the World Cup will be remembered more for the dramas on the pitch or off it. And a tribute to A23a [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/07/02/a23a-had-more-adventures-than-most?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], the world’s largest iceberg, after it melts away at last. Guests and host: * Josie Delap, Middle East editor * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Israeli election, Binyamin Netanyahu * World Cup * icebergs, climate 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]. And 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.

In it to bin it: Nigel Farage v Count Binface

We take a peek into a quirk of British politics as the country’s populist-right polling leader goes up against a man who wears a bin on his head [https://www.economist.com/the-world-in-brief/2026/07/11/b240d63f-2768-43dd-89b6-2bdceb6df745?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]. It is more serious [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/09/nigel-farages-stunts-made-him-a-successful-politician-they-wont-make-him-pm?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] than it sounds. Africans tired of shoddy internet services are turning to Starlink—for a price [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/02/africans-are-turning-to-starlink?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 our culture editor reviews an anachronism-laden take [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/15/a-very-silly-adaptation-of-the-odyssey?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 a classic epic. Guests and host: * Hugo Gye, British political correspondent * Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent * Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Nigel Farage, Count Binface, British politics, farce * Africa’s internet infrastructure, Starlink * “The Odyssey”, Christopher Nolan 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.

Strait and narrowing: the Iran deal crumbles

The sketch of a deal to end the war is all but dead; oil is up as strikes rain down. We look at the options available to America—all of them bad [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/14/donald-trump-has-no-good-options-for-reopening-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]. India’s government websites are almost universally impossible to use [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/06/28/why-cant-indias-government-build-a-decent-website?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 look at the structural reasons behind the bad IT. And the growth of summer camps for adults [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/06/18/adults-are-going-back-to-summer-camp?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].  Listen to our “The Weekend Intelligence” episode on kidulting [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/03/14/kidulting]. Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Leo Mirani, Ashoka columnist * Rachel Mayman, senior audience editor  * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, Strait of Hormuz * India’s government, IT * summer camps, kidulting 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 case of the missing totem: Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar’s jailed leader has not been seen since 2022. We ask if she is in fact alive [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/07/13/is-aung-san-suu-kyi-dead?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 what might happen if the military junta acceded to demands for her release. We examine Turkey’s plan [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/06/29/turkeys-economic-plan-to-win-from-the-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] to turn the war in Iran to its advantage. And delving into the research on just how much sleep is enough—and too much [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/06/26/is-too-much-sleep-as-bad-as-too-little?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: * Aaron Connelly, Asia diplomatic editor * Cerian Richmond-Jones, international economics correspondent * Sam Wikeley, science correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar * Turkey, economics, Iran war * sleep, science 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.

A hawk who flew on political winds: Lindsey Graham

The longtime South Carolina senator died suddenly at the weekend. His political arc mirrored that of his Republican party in the Trump era. We ask what his death leaves behind [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/07/12/lindsey-graham-represented-the-arc-of-his-party?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]. Frontier AI models opaquely embody a worldview and set of values; we poke the big ones, asking what they believe [https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/06/25/ai-models-values-are-very-different-from-most-peoples?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 why Old Master paintings are again so popular [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/07/why-old-master-paintings-are-back-in-vogue?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: * Adam Roberts, foreign editor * Sondre Solstad, senior data journalist * Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Lindsey Graham, Republican party, American foreign policy * AI frontier models, values * art market, Old Masters 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.