Ahead of tomorrow’s legislative elections we consider the chances of a “blue wave”, the most influential demographics this time around and whether to expect election-administration trouble. Young people are deciding that bricks-and-mortar investment is not as dependable as the stocks-and-shares kind. And 100 years on from his death Harry Houdini still has lessons to teach about getting and staying famous.Guests and host:Charlotte Howard, United States editorKennett Werner, Washington correspondentVinjeru Mkandawire, news editorCaitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered:America’s midterm electionsproperty, securities, investingHarry Houdini, fameListen 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.

We examine the record of the man at the helm of India’s government. As protests pose a fresh threat, where will he take the country next? From New Hampshire to Virginia, our American-midterms series takes you to the races you might be missing. And the life of Winston Churchill’s last personal secretary. Guests and host:Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chiefDaniella Raz, US correspondentAnn Wroe, obituaries editorỌrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Narendra Modi, India, Cockroach-Janta partyAmerica’s midterm elections, abortion, CaliforniaCecily Gemmell, Winston ChurchillListen 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 world’s richest person does not say much nice about philanthropy, and his foundation does not say much about itself. Our correspondent digs deeper. The next stop for our midterm-elections series is Kansas, where a Republican-seeming Democrat has an unlikely shot at the Senate. And an examination of the received wisdom about how many steps to walk in a day.Guests and host:Avantika Chilkoti, global business writerDaniel Knowles, Midwest correspondentSam Wikeley, science correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Elon Musk, Musk Foundation, philanthropyAmerica’s midterm elections, Kansaswellness, walking, received wisdomListen 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.

Binyamin Netanyahu has underperformed but so has his main opponent, Gadi Eisenkot. Who will form a government? We decipher what the messy results mean for Israel. Our American-midterms series heads south to Georgia. And how film critics and audiences have agreed to disagree.Guests and host:Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondentRebecca Jackson, Southern correspondentDoug Dowson, data journalistỌrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered:Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu, Gadi EisenkotAmerica’s midterm elections, Georgia, Jon OssoffFilm critics, cinema, the box officeListen 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.

It would be the first public listing from a frontier-AI firm—and perhaps the largest IPO of all time. We comb through the filing to understand how the company is thinking about itself and its industry. Our American-midterms series continues in the battleground state of Alaska. And scientists consider how to redefine the second. Guests and host:Miles Kruppa, technology correspondentAryn Braun, West Coast correspondent David Adam, science writerJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Anthropic IPO, AIAmerica’s midterm elections, Alaskathe second, metrology, atomic clocks 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.

Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, staged a historic comeback to win a fourth term. We ask how he did it, and what he must do next. Each day this week our correspondents in America are focusing on crucial midterm-election races; today we start in Texas. And tote-bag economics: why so many businesses are getting in on selling merchandise.Guests and host:Ana Lankes, Brazil bureau chiefRebecca Jackson, southern correspondentLizzy Peet, researcherRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Brazil election, Lula, Flávio BolsonaroAmerica’s midterm elections, Texas, Ken Paxton, James Talaricoeconomics of “merch” 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.

Nigeria is suffering a worsening security crisis, compounded by a lean harvest, global aid cuts and rising energy prices. So why is President Bola Tinubu likely to win January’s election? Europe is struggling to develop a rival to Starlink and reduce reliance on American satellites. And our obituaries editor recalls the improbable career of author and conman Jeffrey Archer.Watch extended clips from Insider here. Guests and host:Ore Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondentJonathan Rosenthal, international correspondentAnn Wroe, obituaries editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Nigeria, Bola TinubuStarlink, Ukraine, Musk, OneWeb, EutelsatJeffrey Archer, Kane and Abel, perjuryListen 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.

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 correspondentShera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondentVishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: MBS, Saudi, Davos in the desert, Future Investment InitiativeSam Bankman-Fried, FTX, effective altruismIndonesia, Singapore, wildfires, El NiñoListen 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 editorShera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondentVendeline von Bredow, senior Germany correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Ukraine, Witkoff, ZelenksyScientific research, National Science FoundationArt theft, Louvre, Museum for Applied ArtListen 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 chiefJohn McDermott, chief Africa correspondentAndrew Palmer, “Bartleby” columnistJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: France riots, French politicsZimbabwe, agriculture, white farmersAI, extinction-level events, legalese, parodyListen 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.