The Intelligence from The Economist

Over troubled waters: Trump’s bridge-and-plant plot

President Donald Trump’s rhetoric has grown yet more bellicose—and sweary. His stated ploy to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants would be ruinous for Iran, and Iran’s planned retaliation ruinous for the region. AI-driven job losses predicted for India’s IT sector are looking more likely to be job gains. And why Gen Z is taking up boomers’ hobbies.   Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Gavin Jackson, South Asia business and economics correspondent * Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, America * India, IT work, AI * Gen Z, hobbies 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.

Hungary for change? A challenger to Orban

Viktor Orban [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/04/01/lessons-for-the-world-from-tiny-hungary?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], Hungary’s prime minister, is an idol to the global nationalist conservative right. Losing the next election would have far-reaching consequences. Could tourists help boost jaguar [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/02/15/the-battle-to-save-south-americas-skull-crushing-big-cat?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] populations in South and Central America? And the number of Catholic saints [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/04/01/the-number-of-catholic-saints-is-climbing-heavenwards?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 soaring.  Guests and host: * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” * Matt Steinglass, Europe editor * Ana Lankes, Brazil correspondent * Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent Topics covered:  * Hungary, Viktor Orban, Peter Magyar, Fidesz * Jaguars, climate change * Saints, Catholic  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.

Xi says: who will succeed him?

A giant leadership reshuffle [https://www.economist.com/china/2026/03/29/chinas-leadership-is-about-to-be-shaken-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] is underway in China, but one job will stay the same: Xi Jinping is almost certain to secure another five-year term at next year’s party congress. Reasons to be optimistic about Europe’s tech [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/01/at-last-reasons-to-be-cheerful-about-european-tech?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] future. And the life of controversial winemaker, Michel Rolland [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/04/01/michel-rolland-was-the-worlds-first-flying-winemaker?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: * James Miles, global China writer * Guy Scriven, global business writer * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Xi Jinping, China, Party Congress * Tech, quantum computing * Michel Rolland, wine, obituary 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.

Over the moon: Artemis II launches

NASA has successfully launched its first crewed space mission [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/03/25/nasas-moon-base-plans-mark-a-rethinking-of-its-future?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 over a decade. Our correspondent explains why America wants to build a moonbase. AI models underperform in languages [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/03/18/top-ai-models-underperform-in-languages-other-than-english?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] other than English. And meet China’s social-media stars: influencer-officials [https://www.economist.com/china/2026/03/12/some-of-chinas-officials-are-becoming-social-media-stars?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, senior editor * Deena Mousa, science writer * Gabriel Crossley, China correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Artemis II, moon, NASA * AI, LLMs, language * China, Chinese Communist Party, influencers, social media  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.

Drone wolf: Ukraine’s missile mastermind

Ukraine’s resistance to Russia relies on the clever use of drones [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/03/22/ukraines-top-drone-commander-wants-to-bleed-russias-army-dry?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]. Much of that strategy is down to a single person, a former grain trader with a great idea. Our correspondent meets him. Since the Brexit vote a decade ago, Britain [https://www.economist.com/insider/inside-economics/can-rachel-reeves-shield-britain-from-the-energy-shock?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 become more like Europe. And why American universities are abandoning the notorious swimming test [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/04/a-once-proud-tradition-is-becoming-awkward-for-elite-universities?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 Carroll, Ukraine correspondent * Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor * Doug Dowson, data journalist * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Ukraine, drones, Russia, Putin * Britain, Europe, European Union, single market * American universities, race, discrimination, swimming 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.