The Intelligence from The Economist

Income inequality abounds and today’s rich are staggeringly rich, implying that tax regimes are giving the wealthy more and more of a pass. Our dig into the numbers suggests the opposite. We ask why so many of the world’s international mercenaries hail from Colombia. And despite the signs, Spanish may be reaching its peak in America.

Guests and hosts:
Callum Williams, senior economics writer
Carla Subirana, news editor
Lane Greene, senior digital editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Taxation, welfare state, inequality
Colombia, international mercenaries
Spanish

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Many scientists are considering the notion of actively cooling the region that is warming fastest. We examine the merits and the risks—both environmental and geopolitical—of messing with the polar climate. We ask why the kind of gig economy that has struggled in many markets is booming in India. And an unsettling peek into the first social network for AI agents.

Guests and hosts:
Oliver Morton, senior editor
Catherine Brahic, environment editor
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Alex Hern, AI writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
The Arctic, climate change, geoengineering
India, gig economy
Agentic AI, social networking, Moltbook

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Our data journalists trawled through the vast email archive of Jeffrey Epstein, a dead sex offender. It is a revealing look at how and with whom he communicated. As interest grows in banning young people’s use of social media, we argue there are better ways to mitigate harms. And a blindfolded introduction to “blouge”, a new, more climate-resilient wine variety.

Guests and host:
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Dan Rosenheck, data editor
Tom Wainwright, media editor
Tom Standage, deputy editor of The Economist

Topics covered:
The Epstein files
Social-media bans
“Blouge” wine

Get a world of insights by subscribing 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.

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Tech firms are spending so much on artificial intelligence that investors are getting nervous. Our correspondent explains whether it is possible to protect your portfolio from a crash. Turkey’s ruler has become increasingly autocratic–and increasingly old. Who might succeed him? And celebrating the life of literary agent Georges Borchardt.

Guests and host:
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Piotr Zalewski, Turkey correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent

Topics covered:
Hedging against an AI bubble
Turkey after Erdogan
Obituary of literary agent Georges Borchardt

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As Russia’s war in Ukraine nears four years, there has been no let up in the fighting on the battlefield. Yet there is some optimism that negotiations could yield a ceasefire. Our correspondent joins a Colombian drug raid to destroy a cocaine laboratory in the Amazon. And is crime in London really soaring?

Guests and host:
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Claire McQue, Latin America writer
Sonny Loughran, Britain writer

Topics covered:
Ukraine peace prospects
Colombia’s war on drugs
Crime in London

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.

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