The Intelligence from The Economist

Personalised vaccines could offer a breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Our correspondent analyses the latest trial. Canada’s oil market is flourishing, despite the trade war. And, why we will always love Dolly Parton.

Guests and host:

• Natasha Loder, health editor
• Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence”
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered: 

• Cancer, immunotherapy, vaccines, mRNA
• Oil, Canada, trade war, tariffs
• Dolly Parton, country music

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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

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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

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

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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From anti-corruption probes to a disgruntled ex-minister calling for elections to disrupted grain shipments, headaches are mounting for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. China has until now coped with a patchy, pricey system for mental-health treatment. The government is now getting serious about plugging the gaps. And why a debate over “Paw Patrol” is more than just culture-war madness. 

Guests and host:

• Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
• Sarah Wu, China correspondent
• Andrew Miller, special correspondent
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered: 

• Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Fedorov
• China, CCP, mental health
• Paw Patrol, culture wars

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Orexins are peptides involved in the body’s sleep-wake system—and are big pharma’s next big thing. Like multi-purpose GLPs, they may have far more uses than just regulating shuteye. We ask why Japan’s post-war innovation boom petered out, and what must be done to breed more unicorns. And why procrastination seems to be on the rise, and how to beat it.

Guests and host:

• Shailesh Chitnis, global business correspondent
• Ethan Wu, Asia business and finance editor
• Benjamin Sutherland, science writer
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered: 

• orexins, peptides, sleep disorders, pharmaceuticals
• Japan, innovation, startups
• procrastination

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Israeli settlers have been clashing more and more with Palestinians in the West Bank, often with government backing. We examine the forces at play in what could soon be yet another battlefront. India’s proliferating civil codes are creating insuperable legal contradictions for a multi-faith people. And answering some letters addressed to our “agony uncle” columnist. 

Guests and host:

• Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
• Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
• Andrew Palmer, executive editor
• Jason Palmer (no relation), co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered: 

• West Bank, Palestinians, Israeli settlers, Israel election
• India, civil codes, Hindu nationalism
• management, advice

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

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To critics, the Green Party leader is dangerous, even a con man. To fans, he is a national saviour-in-waiting. Our correspondent meets him to see what is behind the hype. So-called SpudCells have just seven bespoke DNA loops, but represent a revolutionary step toward life made from scratch. And the many ways travel agents still beat the bots.

Guests and host:

• Andrew Miller, special correspondent
• Oliver Morton, planetary affairs editor
• Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered: 

• Zack Polanski, Green Party
• SpudCells, synthetic biology
• travel agents, luxury travel

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

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