Economist Podcasts

4.3 (3.8K)
News
Updated Daily

Every weekday our global network of correspondents makes sense of the stories beneath the headlines. We bring you surprising trends and tales from around the world, current affairs, business and finance — as well as science and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21h ago

Under strAIn: breaking the British state

Britons are turning to artificial intelligence to file objections to state institutions, and claim their dues. The resulting deluge of complaints and demands may overwhelm bureaucracies. Should Catholic priests have to report child abuse disclosed in confession? And the perfect height gap in a relationship. Guests and host: Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editorRebecca Jackson, US Southern correspondentDoug Dowson, data journalistRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: AI, agentic flooding, bureaucracyCatholic church, confessions, child abuseShort kings, short men, height differential Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3d ago

Outsider chance: ending Sudan’s proxy war

We look at the peace that has settled over Khartoum, the ruined capital. War rages on elsewhere, and a slim chance at a settlement rests largely with the belligerents’ foreign patrons. We ask why President Donald Trump has picked a fight over a new bridge between Canada and America. And remembering Betye Saar, who provided profound second lives for discarded objects. Watch extended clips from Insider here. Guests and host: Tom Gardner, Africa correspondentAnnie Crabill, senior digital editorAnn Wroe, obituaries editorJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: Sudan war, proxy war, geopolitics Canada-America relations, Gordie Howe BridgeBetye Saar, art Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4d ago • Subscribers Only

The Weekend Intelligence: Attention, please!

What do medieval monks, Brazilian leftists and New York academics have in common? They all want to know where our attention has gone. How can we regain our focus? Barclay Bram visits The Strother School of Radical Attention in New York to find out. The founders hope to build a political movement to fight big tech’s domination of our attention. Their methods might not be what you expect. Guests and host: Barclay Bram, presenter and senior producer of ‘The Weekend Intelligence’ D Graham Burnett, historian and co-founder of the Strother School of Radical Attention Alyssa Loh, filmmaker, writer, and faculty member at the Strother School of Radical Attention Peter Schmidt, programme director at the Strother School of Radical Attention Jamie Kreiner, historian of the early Middle Ages at UCLA Tim Wu, professor of law at Columbia University Topics covered: The attention economy The history of attention Big tech Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Music by bluedot Sessions and Epidemic Sound. This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com. Read more about how we are using AI.
4d ago • Subscribers Only

How to prepare American workers for AI

AI could destroy millions of American jobs. Politicians have sometimes struggled to deal with previous eras of workplace upheaval: can America retrain workers before AI leaves them behind? Guests and hosts: John Prideaux, executive editor Charlotte Howard, US editor Alex Domash, economics correspondent Maria Flynn, CEO of Jobs for the Future Topics covered: Industries threatened by AI Past eras of technological change New efforts to retrain workers Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
4d ago

Socialist mobility: a telling Michigan vote

We examine one of America’s primary races, in which a sharply lefty candidate beat the establishment figure. What does that reveal about changes in the Democratic Party? For decades China’s Yangtze River was a polluted, overfished mess. We look at the wins from cleaning it up—and who loses. And a fond look back at postcards as they fade from use. Guests and host: John Prideaux, executive editor and host, “Checks and Balance”Gabriel Crossley, China correspondentCatherine Nixey, Britain correspondentJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: America’s primary season, Democratic Socialists of America, Michigan, Abdul El-SayedChina, Yangtze River, remediationpostcards, second world war, British history Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5d ago • Subscribers Only

A report card for Kevin Warsh

Conspiracy theories were rife when Kevin Warsh was made Fed chair. Was he a hawk in dove's clothing or a dove dressed as a hawk? The tinfoil hats came out because Mr Warsh himself remained tight-lipped. Now, though, he has presided over two rate-setting meetings at the Fed. So what have we learnt about the world’s most important central banker? Guests and hosts: Josh Roberts, The Economist’s capital markets correspondent Archie Hall, The Economist’s acting economics editor Alex Domash, The Economist’s acting US economics editor Topics covered: Kevin Warsh The Federal Reserve Donald Trump Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.
5d ago

Taking the shine off: albedo and global temperatures

Fewer clouds, shrinking ice caps, changing pollutants: all result in less of the sun’s energy being reflected back into space. Which is more bad news for a changing climate. Our correspondent explains why so much more of the world’s cocaine is passing through west Africa. And the data that reveal Americans’ discomfort about wives earning more than their husbands. Guests and host: Oliver Morton, planetary-affairs editorỌrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondentDoug Dowson, data journalistRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: climate change, albedo, global temperaturesAfrica, cocaine, smugglingwage equality, gender pay gap Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6d ago • Subscribers Only

The hidden benefits of red light

Red-light therapy has become a booming wellness trend. The long wavelengths of red and infrared light allow it to penetrate tissue, where it may be beneficial to cells. Beyond anti-ageing masks and infrared saunas, could exposure to red light become a serious tool in medicine? We meet the researchers investigating the potential effects—from improving eyesight to reducing blood sugar spikes and even helping with hard-to-treat neurological conditions. Guests and hosts: - Sarah Lawrynuik, The Economist's audio correspondent - Glen Jeffery of University College London - David Davies and Mohammed Hadis of the University of Birmingham - Alex Hern, The Economist’s AI writer Topics covered: - Red-light therapy - Wellness trends - Cell metabolism Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

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Join Jason Palmer and Rosie Blau for noise-cancelling news and analysis from The Economist's global network of correspondents. Every weekday this award-winning podcast picks three stories shaping your world—the big shifts in politics, business and culture, plus things you never knew you needed to know. On Saturdays, download The Weekend Intelligence to dive deep into a single story, vividly told. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.5 (2451)

Daily News
The World in Brief tells you what’s on the global agenda in the coming day, what to look out for in business, finance and politics and, most importantly, what to make of it. Economist Podcasts+ subscribers and digital subscribers to The Economist should log in at economist.com/audio/podcasts/the-world-in-brief for access to the full World in Brief. Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ here: www.economist.com/podcastsplus-worldinbrief. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.1 (1034)

Daily News
Unlock American politics with The Economist’s John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard and James Bennet. Taking one big theme every week, they dig into the data, the ideas and the history behind it. Politicians, pollsters and political scientists join them to discuss where the great experiment of American democracy is headed. Published every Friday. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.5 (1434)

Politics
Join The Economist’s Mike Bird, Alice Fulwood and Ethan Wu for award-winning reporting and discussion on the stories that move markets. They speak to top bosses, investors and analysts around the world for unmatched insight into global finance, business and economics. Published every Thursday. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.3 (930)

Business News
Babbage is The Economist’s weekly podcast on science and technology—named after Charles Babbage, the grandfather of computing. Explore the science changing the way we live from AI to genetics, particle physics and space travel with Alok Jha. This award-winning podcast features in-depth interviews with top scientists and special episodes investigating wellness trends. Published every Wednesday. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.8 (589)

Science
Alexis de Tocqueville arrived in New York in May 1831. America was still getting started. But this young French aristocrat was the first foreigner to foresee what it would become: not just a country, but an idea—one powerful enough to shape the future of the world. Tocqueville's nine-month road trip took him to the frontier, to the South and, eventually, to the White House. It spawned his masterpiece: “Democracy in America”. Many people still consider this book the single most insightful piece of writing on America. John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, is one of them. Now, 250 years after the birth of the republic, people inside and outside America are starting to question the vitality of its democracy. How much of what so inspired Tocqueville about America remains? In this series John Prideaux sets off to find out. He retraces the route Tocqueville took and talks to Americans around the country from all walks of life—just like he did. To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.8 (36)

Politics

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Alice Fulwood

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Mike Bird

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Patrick Lane

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Tom Lee-Devlin

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Tom Gardner

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Annie Crabill

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Ann Wroe

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D. Graham Burnett

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Alyssa Loh

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Peter Schmidt

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4.3

out of 5

3,801 Ratings

Elon Musk Proves He’s an Arrogant Jerk

Aug 2

SDTerp

Kudos to the Economist for the Musk interview. It allowed him to prove in his own words that he is an arrogant jerk. And though I believe he is a technical genius and has made hugely positive contributions to the world, on matters of politics and social policy he is at best a junior-varsity debater. He continuously says that his positions on such matters are obvious and engages in ad hominem attacks when pressed to provide facts to back up his positions. His proof is essentially, “because I said so.” He’s rather pathetic in that regard.
Cognitive dissonance

Aug 3

Norcalclimber

I listened with great interest the recent episode on animal testing. I was eager to hear of the nuanced and researched journalism that I have to expect as a paying subscriber to the Economist. I absorbed that episode and the story that was over 30 minutes long with growing disappointment. Not a single mention of the vast atrocities that are committed to kill animals for food. One can make an argument that perhaps some animal testing is indeed justified for saving lives. However, animals killed for medical testing or a tiny tiny fraction of the millions of animals slaughtered every single day for food. We do not need to kill animals for food. We can get all our nourishment from plants. Why did you completely ignore this huge elephant in the room reality?!
Interesting Perspectives and Analysis

May 9

Evolution is a fraud

Although the Economist has a decidedly liberal bias, it is helpful to hear their perspective and analysis. They cover many news topics that you never hear about the US and the rest of the world. Many topics and countries that the US media ignore. Interesting perspectives on US and other nations issues and news.
Leaving

Jun 26

iamnNirvana2

Not interested in commercials.

Every weekday our global network of correspondents makes sense of the stories beneath the headlines. We bring you surprising trends and tales from around the world, current affairs, business and finance — as well as science and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.