The Intelligence from The Economist

Our outgoing defence editor reflects on how war has changed during the eight years of his tenure. Wars have become easier to start and harder to finish, and the little guy has a better chance than ever before. And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Barney Frank, a trailblazing Democratic congressman.

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Guests and host:
Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
war, technology, Ukraine, Iran
Barney Frank

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The American administration’s next round of sabre-rattling has been directed at Cuba. But more military adventures there would probably prove disastrous. We profile the three starkly different contenders in Colombia’s hyper-polarised presidential election. And our series looking at World Cup squads goes to Mexico.

Guests and host:
Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Cuba, American foreign policy
Colombia’s elections
World Cup, Mexico

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Economic support, drone capability, defence under new management: the tide may have turned for Ukraine. But domestic politics and perceptions will define what kind of win the country might hope for. We examine how Home Depot, the world’s largest DIY chain, is a window into America’s ailing housing market. And what is pinching the supply of England’s famed cricket bats.

Guests and host:
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Vinjeru Mkandawire, news editor
Andrew Rummer, Britain contributor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Ukraine war
America’s housing market, Home Depot
cricket bats, supply chains

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More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking. China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI—with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them).

Guests and host:
Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Matt Kaplan, science correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Iran war, diplomacy
China, business, agentic AI
birds, science

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What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.

This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
“Red Rising” by Pierce Brown
Jack Reacher series by Lee Child
“The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy
“Riders” and the other Rutshire chronicles by Jilly Cooper
Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman
“Middlemarch” by George Eliot
“Ulysses” by James Joyce
“Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel
“The Diamond Age” by Neal Stephenson
The Murderbot series by Martha Wells
“The Martian” by Andy Weir
“American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfeld

Guests and host:
Catherine Nixey, culture and Britain correspondent
Tom Standage, Economist deputy editor
Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
Alex Hern, AI writer
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Fiction, romance, sci-fi, crime, thrillers, fantasy, romantasy
Jane Austen, Jilly Cooper, Curtis Sittenfeld, Lee Child
Matt Dinniman, Pierce Brown, Neal Stephenson

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