The Intelligence from The Economist

Amid record-tickling yields, the bond markets are now trying to make sense of what Scott Bessent, America’s Treasury secretary, has announced—a move that might put him on a collision course with the Federal Reserve. We ask why it is so easy for hackers to infiltrate America’s water infrastructure. And understanding a political lineage through the new British prime minister’s accent.

Guests and host:
Joshua Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Shashank Joshi, Washington bureau chief
Lane Greene, language correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
bond markets, Treasury, yields, Scott Bessent
America, cyber-attacks, water, critical infrastructure
British politics, Andy Burnham, accents, class angst

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After much hullabaloo America announced its “Operation Economic Outcast”, a new tranche of sanctions. It is thin gruel, and might in fact invite military reprisals from Iran. Call centres form a large part of the economy of the Philippines; surprisingly, AI is not stopping the industry’s rise. And a data-led look at which cities offer the best (relative) paycheques.

Guests and host:
Fraser McIlwraith, foreign correspondent
Joshua Spencer, Asia news editor
Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Iran war, sanctions
AI, offshoring, the Philippines
world cities, pay, economic migration

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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Promising trade talks imploded after a literal 11th-hour change from the American side. We examine the new trade barriers being erected, and the complex calculation for Prime Minister Mark Carney. In Japan Gen X workers are even still bearing the costs of an economic bubble-burst from the 1990s. And how fates of civilisations have turned on sieges throughout history.

Guests and host:

Hal Hodson, Americas editor
Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter
Richard Cockett, senior digital editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Canada, the United States, tariffs, Mark Carney, trade war
Japan, Gen X, labour market
sieges, world history

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Correction (August 26th): We originally published a version of this podcast stated that Japan's bubble era spanned the 1970s and 1980s. It was only the 1980s. Apologies for the error.

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The rise of generative AI has put new urgency into ancient questions. What is consciousness, and can machines ever have it? We dive into the data that reveal a surge in sexually transmitted infections in Europe. And our obituaries editor considers the life of Mary de Rachewiltz, translator and tireless defender of her father, Ezra Pound.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.
Guests and host:
Alok Jha, science & technology editor
Stephen Hurford, newsdesk writer
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
AI, consciousness
sexual health, STIs, STDs, Europe
Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound

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Yuval Noah Harari is a big-ideas guy. Known for penning tomes that tackle broad sweeps of history, the historian-cum-philosopher has now turned his attention to AI. He joins Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, for The Insider, our video show for premium subscribers. They discuss why Mr Harari believes AIs will come to control civilisation—and what it might mean to be human in that world.

Watch the full show—and sign up to the Insider newsletter.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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