The Intelligence from The Economist

The country’s leader is in a mad rush [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/05/22/the-man-with-a-plan-for-vietnam?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 transform his country into an upper-middle-income powerhouse before geopolitical forces stall its rise. America’s army is being thinned out; we examine the risks of putting both weapons and generals on the chopping block [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/05/06/pete-hegseth-is-purging-both-weapons-and-generals?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] (10:12). And remembering Ed Smylie [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/05/22/ed-smylie-knew-this-stick-fast-wonder-could-fix-anything?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 saved the crew of Apollo 13 with a delightfully low-tech plan (17:47).  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.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia know their borders may be the next front for Russian aggression. They do not want to deploy mines and razor wire—but they must [https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/22/the-ugly-task-of-putin-proofing-your-border?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 visits the American city of Baltimore to investigate a national drop [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/05/15/violent-crime-is-falling-rapidly-across-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] in violent crime (9:46). And a sweeping new biography [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/05/15/mark-twain-was-a-literary-celebrity-with-a-moral-compass?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 Mark Twain, who created a uniquely American style of fiction (17:19). 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.

A careful study of a range of data sources suggests that Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in far more deaths [https://www.economist.com/interactive/middle-east-and-africa/2025/05/08/how-many-people-have-died-in-gaza?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 published tallies indicate. The Church of England, facing declining numbers of parishioners, is selling up its properties on the cheap [https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/05/08/the-church-of-england-is-dying-out-and-selling-up?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] (14:10). And we ask whether those trendy “juice shots [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/05/09/are-juice-shots-worth-the-price?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]” confer any health benefits (20:29). 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.

A “reset” with the bloc is merely a first step in maintaining relations. We ask what is in this week’s deal [https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/05/19/the-britain-eu-deal-is-welcome-but-just-a-start?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]. Millennials and Gen Z get all the media attention—but spare a thought for Gen X, who have actually had it pretty rough [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/05/08/why-gen-x-is-the-real-loser-generation?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] (9:25). And Nvidia’s graphics cards used to set the bar—but its latest offerings have failed to impress [https://www.economist.com/business/2025/05/15/nvidias-original-customers-are-feeling-unloved-and-grumpy?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] gamers (16:44). 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.

Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor expected to win the first round cleanly only squeaked by [https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/05/18/the-liberal-favourite-stumbles-in-polands-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]. We ask what’s at stake in the NATO-front-line country now the second round looks so uncertain. In the new world of weight-loss drugs Wegovy, from Novo Nordisk, has reigned supreme—perhaps not for much longer [https://www.economist.com/business/2025/05/07/eli-lilly-looks-set-to-steal-novo-nordisks-weight-loss-crown?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] (9:40). And people really do look—but also act [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/05/07/dogs-really-do-look-and-act-just-like-their-owners?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]—like their dogs (16:51). 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.