Economist Podcasts

This week, Muhammad bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia, was forced to postpone his annual investment summit. His other big bets on the kingdom’s future are also floundering. Sam Bankman-Fried, a crypto-billionaire supporter of effective altruism, calls our correspondent from prison. And things look hazy in Singapore and other Asian countries.
Guests and host:
Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Shera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondent
Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
MBS, Saudi, Davos in the desert, Future Investment Initiative
Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, effective altruism
Indonesia, Singapore, wildfires, El Niño
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.

Donald Trump’s administration is turning against Ukraine. But as European powers confront trouble at home, they are struggling to replace American support. Are US private science institutions entering a golden age? And the climb in art crime.
Guests and host:
Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor
Shera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondent
Vendeline von Bredow, senior Germany correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
Ukraine, Witkoff, Zelenksy
Scientific research, National Science Foundation
Art theft, Louvre, Museum for Applied 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.

What started as student protests ballooned into national lawlessness. The disorder plays into the hands of France’s political extremes; expect more of it. In Zimbabwe white farmers are returning to work land taken by Robert Mugabe a quarter-century ago. And our columnist considers the delicate wording that might indemnify AI firms if the bots happen to wipe out humanity.
Guests and host:
Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief
John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
Andrew Palmer, “Bartleby” columnist
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
France riots, French politics
Zimbabwe, agriculture, white farmers
AI, extinction-level events, legalese, parody
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.

The province of Alberta will vote on secession today. It is unlikely to go ahead, but the separatist vibe is just one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s many headaches. Our correspondent examines China’s efforts toward brain-computer interfaces, finding the country is closing the gap with America. And Britain’s “bug superhighways” link up the shrinking number of lush insect habitats.
Guests and host:
Robert Russo, Canada writer
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Bella King, news editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
Canada, Alberta, separatists, referendum
China, brain-computer interfaces
Britain, insects, conservation
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.

In recent weeks, AI has solved hundreds of previously unanswered maths problems. Our correspondents ask if machines can do the same in other areas of science and what role human researchers may play. Why crisps are getting chunkier and chocolate chewier. And celebrating the life and work of author Annie Dillard.
Watch extended clips from Insider here.
Guests and host:
Alex Hern, AI writer
Alok Jha, science editor
Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
Scientific research, mathpocalypse, AI
Crisps, snacks, texture, crunchtok
Annie Dillard, nature, obituary
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.