Economist Podcasts

The United Arab Emirates projects an image of level-headed calm in the Gulf. Its actions abroad, however, betray a far more divisive and ideological agenda. Japan’s recent rice crisis is in part about market reforms—but solving it is mostly about making farmers happier (10:29). And a romp through the linguistics (and culture-war triggers) of personal pronouns (17:08). 

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As the cardinals of the coming conclave prepare, our correspondent considers what will guide them. Which of the church’s challenges will the next pope be elected to address? In Mexico the discovery of a ranch littered with clothing adds disturbing evidence to a torrent of mysterious disappearances (9:24). And the wild goings-on at cinema screenings of “A Minecraft Movie” (15:55).

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He shunned fancy vestments and paid surprise visits to prisons and hospitals: our obituaries editor reflects on the life of a reform-minded pontiff who preferred to be among his flock. High-protein snacks are on an absolute tear, and one explanation is linked to new weight-loss drugs (7:49). And the thorny business of nudging an employee towards resigning (14:31).

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It is a Nobel-winning idea with untold promise in health care, agriculture and more. We examine what must change in order to capture those benefits. Asia’s love affair with gold has long been chalked up to cultural motives; our correspondent finds far more going on (10.45). And for all the draw of New Zealand’s verdant chill, lots of natives want out (17:58). 

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President Xi Jinping’s style of negotiating is staid, distanced, a quiet projection of power. President Donald Trump’s is not. That dynamic is complicating their gargantuan standoff. Spain ends up with more and more remains of migrants who die on their journeys—and its morgues cannot keep up (10:29). And in an age of video games pinball is not only surviving, it’s flipping thriving (18:11).

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For the 23rd time the International Monetary Fund will cough up, this time to the tune of $20bn. But the reforms stipulated by the loan, alongside promising changes already under way, suggest this time might be different. Near America’s border with Mexico, high-speed chases have become more common—and more deadly (9:08). And myriad uncertainties are making Europe a continent of preppers (15:08).

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Falling trust in the greenback is most apparent in bond-market moves. How close is the dollar to losing its status as the world’s go-to currency, and what could take its place? We take a look at Jordan Bardella, the young, polished, ever-rising star of France’s far right (11:56). And Hong Kong’s notoriously gruff cab drivers are told to smile more…or else (18:26).

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President Donald Trump called the weekend strike on Sumy a “mistake”; other leaders called it a war crime. We examine the prospects for peace when Russia is brazenly hitting civilian targets. As scientists flee American institutions, Europe is trying to woo them (10:29). And Britain’s historical consumer-price index as a fascinating window into how shoppers’ tastes have shifted (17:24).

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Donald Trump is now aiming his trade war squarely at China. As the tit-for-tat tariff battle keeps escalating, investors are fleeing to safe assets. What will happen next? Germany’s Friedrich Merz finally signs a deal for a coalition government (10:12). And remembering Betty Webb, who worked at Britain’s wartime codebreaking centre Bletchley Park (19:36). 

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Just 12 hours after Donald Trump launched his searing regime of tariffs, he paused many of them for 90 days. What's next for global trade? An outlandish proposal to build data centres in space (8:14). And why “The Great Gatsby” is just as relevant, 100 years on (15:58).

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As Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs take effect, our correspondent explains how one of America’s most profitable companies may navigate the trade war. Are class divides in Britain softening (9:28)? And Republican influencers define what it is to be a conservative woman (16:08).

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More than 36,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats last year. Our correspondent investigates the increasingly sophisticated business strategies of the criminals who smuggle them. As the planet heats, wildfires in East Asia are becoming fiercer and more frequent (10:36). And why ordinary Americans are falling out of love with their former international allies (18:31).

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Since Donald Trump announced punishing tariffs on “Liberation Day” last week, stock markets have fallen and governments and businesses scrambled to respond. Our correspondent discusses the impact on the global economy. Do personalised diets really improve gut health (9:16)? And gasp at the science of how seals spend so long underwater without breathing (16:13). 

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South Korea has been paralysed since its president declared martial law in December. Even after his impeachment, politicians face a divided polity and battered economy. Why governments should pay attention to the “Henry” – High Earner, Not Rich Yet (9:49). And what tiffs over tofu teach us (15:38).

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After months of bluster, he’s finally done it. At a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, Donald Trump overturned decades of American trade policy with a simple signature. The new wave of trade restrictions, if implemented in full, will raise tariffs to the highest level in more than a century. So how bad could it get?

Hosts: Mike Bird and Ethan Wu. Guests: The Economist’s Simon Rabinovitch; and Douglas Irwin, a professor of ...

Even in the run-up to Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff hikes, few had expected such colossal levies. Our correspondent explains how they will shake America’s economy and global trade. After Sudanese government forces retake Khartoum, will this alter the course of the civil war (10:32)? And Shonda Rhimes is shaping watching habits (18:12).

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Months ago, holding an election in wartorn Ukraine seemed impossible. Now plans are being made. Our correspondent explains the prospects for the campaign – and the chance of a ceasefire, which must precede it. How did “The Economist” cover American tariff hikes in the 1930s (8:29)? And why daylight savings time may not be so brilliant for your health (16:14). 

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Marine Le Pen is one of France’s most popular politicians, who has brought the National Rally party to the heart of the political landscape. Our correspondent explains the implications of a court ruling that stops her running for president in 2027. Why rents keep rising in the rich world (8:29). And remembering Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian spy turned British agent (13:03). 

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Civil war in Myanmar is hampering relief efforts after the devastating earthquake on Friday, as the ruling military regime intensifies attacks on resistance fighters. The impact of Donald Trump’s attempt to silence “Voice of America” and other federally-funded broadcasters (8:45). And, “The Economist” reveals the best places to be a working woman in 2025 in its annual glass-ceiling index (17:37). 

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