Linkeum

Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, cities across the country are enacting restrictions on public sleeping. Will criminalising homelessness help get people off the street?

The president of the Enhanced Games wants to push forward human evolution

The answer is less obvious than you might think

The move threatens significant volatility in the coming weeks, ahead of a crucial G7 summit in Canada next month.

The author of a controversial smash-hit novel is back

The new titans of Wall Street present the world with new risks

Citadel and other giant funds have remade public markets

Leveraged ETFs are exploding. They seem designed to incinerate your money

Private-credit funds are courting borrowers of all sorts. Regulators are sceptical

The new giants of Wall Street are breaking down old boundaries

Investors are learning how hard it is to get money out of private equity and venture capital

Thomas Bennett hails their innovation and dynamism, but warns against hubris

Stories about lovers, fighters, sisters and showgirls

Biden-era data bolster the claim that partisans have more kids after their man wins

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: America’s army ditches stuff and staff, and a tribute to the NASA engineer who saved Apollo 13

His Netflix show claims to uncover the truth about our ancient past. Critics say he peddles dangerous nonsense

There has been a long debate over the cost and usefulness of one cent coins in the US.

Our podcast on markets, the economy and business. This week, how America’s biggest retailer has reinvented itself as a tech company

The NASA engineer who saved the crew of Apollo 13 died on April 21st, aged 95

The New Deal gave rise to the idea, a new book shows

An ambitious new history of the idea that forged the modern world

Six seasons of suffering is more than enough

A remarkable work of journalism, newly translated into English, shows how authoritarianism warps the subconscious

It should brace for a bumpy ride

Its huge investment in the rival BeiDou system may give it an edge

As well as sending remittances, many are returning to their homeland

US Marines are training to defend Taiwan in a new way

The group has helped keep countries from each others’ throats

But they are encouraged by the lifting of sanctions

Lower inflation brings popularity. Popularity brings power, which helps with lowering inflation

The episode underlined Donald Trump’s warped views of South Africa

But the technicalities of easing sanctions will prove tricky

Hell on earth in Dubai-on-the-Med

Elon Musk’s protégés may win by losing

They are devout, well-connected and have a MAGA wind in their sail

America has lost interest, but the rest of the world should not

Our charts show how falling vaccination rates could lead to a surge in cases

At peak times they provide 30% of the state’s electricity

City bosses are the functioning bits of increasingly dysfunctional polities

Employers think so

Troublingly, the public no longer thinks inflation will keep falling

It shows how dockless-electric bikes could transform cities 

How wise

Also this week, the Church of England, adventures in Sudan, Canada, IT projects, clean air

It’s not as outlandish as it sounds

It is time to think beyond regional success, says Yannis Stournaras

Government borrowing hit £20.2bn in April, leading analysts to say the prospect of tax rises later this year is increasing.

The affair has morphed into a discussion about privilege and fairness

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

David Webb was an exemplary shareholder

Aidan Toner-Rodgers was enjoying a meteoric rise at MIT. Then questions started to be asked about his work

Also on the daily podcast: a sharp drop in violence in America and an insightfully sweeping new biography of Mark Twain

A Communist Party hard man has to rescue Asia’s great success story 

It might even try to invigorate ASEAN

Export-led growth may soon run out of steam

The president prompted a similar divide last time round

We interview JPMorgan Chase’s boss, and his lieutenants

America will pay the price most of all

And they are reaching beyond academics with Chinese heritage

And it is now under threat

Can Donald Tusk and Rafal Trzaskowski hold back the hard right? 

If it turns inward, the country and continent will lose out

The state borrows to fund day-to-day spending as well as long-term infrastructure projects.

There are plenty of ideas but not enough action

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

The Enhanced Games will set records and attract controversy

American retailers are slugging it out with their suppliers

Federal agencies are struggling to predict the weather and monitor disease 

Other countries may benefit. Science will suffer

It started as a crackdown on DEI. Now all types of research are being cancelled

Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” is still a hard Brexit. It will need softening

Evaluating the effects of scrapping green subsidies in Washington

Donald Trump’s quest for orbital dominance

Our podcast on science and technology. We take a tour of Britain’s National Physical Laboratory to find out how, after 150 years, metrology is evolving

Tech giants are spending big, but many other companies are growing frustrated

Inflation has risen by more than expected as water, energy and food bills grew - how are ordinary people making their income stretch?

A return of Boris Johnson would provide something for everyone to enjoy 

Bills, food prices, and service costs are all rising - but there is some good news

UK Inflation has fallen but remains above the Bank of England's 2% target.

They wiped away all progress governments had made to curb deforestation in recent years

Prices have risen faster than expected - raising questions about how many interest rate cuts there will be this year

Also on the daily podcast: the Church of England empties out and sells up, and the straight dope on “juice shots”

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

Some analysts question whether the amount of investment will ultimately be that high.

The world scrambles to save global health policy from Donald Trump

If it does not, a collision with the bond markets awaits

To keep America at bay Claudia Sheinbaum takes on Mexico’s gangsters

CATL’s blockbuster listing will power its expansion

Western livestreamers and Chinese video games have burnished the country’s image 

A contest of mind and body

Our weekly podcast on China. This week: how is China trying to revitalise its rural areas? And how effective are these efforts going to be?

Two books tell a similar tale about OpenAI. It is worrying 

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: spare a thought for overlooked Generation X and Nvidia’s latest cards disappoint gamers

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

He has nothing but kind words for Vladimir Putin

More war beckons, as Donald Trump freezes out Binyamin Netanyahu

Borrowing costs for long-term US government debt jumped past 5% for the first time in 18 months, before retreating.

His party and the press lost altitude along with him

The fear of invasion is undermining the anti-colonial movement

Donald Trump is hurting brands from Coca-Cola to Jack Daniel’s

Our host responds to voice notes from listeners

The process of rejigging the relationship will be a long one

The question is why many spend time making a food that is easily bought

Lessons from actors on how to give a good presentation

Investment in supporting democracy in its neighbourhood and beyond is not charity. It serves strategic interests  

What’s the pumpkin spice latte of denim?

How to captivate a room full of people

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: the battle for weight-loss-drug supremacy and dogs both look and act like their owners

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

Rafal Trzaskowski may now be the underdog

A liberal wins the presidential race

The justices are not keen on Donald Trump’s order—the puzzle is how to block it

Cuts to funding risk hobbling Boston’s science establishment

He should expect billions, not trillions

Forget the whiteboards, hammocks and ping-pong tables

Modifying rules and grouping players by size rather than age can limit the risks

Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, for the first time in history, an American is the leader of the Catholic church. So far, he’s appealed to the entire ideological spectru

Our annual comparison of defence budgets using three benchmarks

Stories from Brazil, Russia—and under the sea

Also on the daily podcast: Britain’s shabby towns and women’s basketball booms

Lebanon has spent years under the militant group’s dominance. Could it be coming to an end? 

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Stress and anxiety among those with debts remains high but help is available, a major survey finds.

The lobby group calls for travel restrictions to be eased and less red tape between the UK and EU.

How do you get warring sides to make peace?

Our podcast on markets, the economy and business. This week, what does the recent trans-Pacific trade spat tell us about the future of economic warfare?

Scientists hope more children will benefit

The UK economy grew by more than expected at the start of 2025. What does this mean for you?

These figures provide an opportune moment for some optimism and a hard sell of the UK to the rest of the world.

The economy grew faster than expected between January and March, before UK and US tax rises were brought in during April.

Ron Chernow has produced an exhaustive biography of a giant of American letters

The bloody history of fatherhood bends towards co-parenting

Already wildly popular, women’s basketball still has room to grow

Gamers are cross with the chip giant

The artificial-intelligence darling’s CFO has an impossible job

Inside the stunning reinvention of the planet’s biggest company

How to distinguish between weapons-grade disinformation and everyday codswallop

It is not doing anything for the low birth rate

Protests and spreadsheets are part of the process

A centuries-old chapel is a testament to Christianity’s deep roots in Africa

The last meaningful check on Morena, the powerful ruling party, will fade away

Binyamin Netanyahu looks increasingly isolated from his closest ally

A fashionable idea has yet to fulfil its promises

As Leo XIV settles in, filial joy gives way to anxiety about the pontiff’s politics

Partisan judges endorsed specious claims until a federal court stepped in

Donald Trump’s quest for a surgeon general meets man’s search for meaning

Governments are doing less, but the need for aid has not diminished

Baltimore’s success may illustrate why

The newly enthroned pope has criticised the MAGA bigwigs whom the Italian leader supports

Especially the Poles

Watch what happens in Warsaw

Scrape the road, don’t dig it up

A silver lining to Donald Trump’s tariffs

Violence inflicted on the weekend has fallen by half over the past decade

In Great Yarmouth, cash alone couldn’t fend off populism 

Also this week, Ivory Coast, China and Taiwan, positive reporting, alcohol

Elected judges will be bad for governance and good for gangs

The survivor of the “Miracle in the Andes” died on March 29, aged 71

The West is retreating from the battle of the narrative

It’s becoming dangerous to anger minority groups and politicians

Muddled laws give them wide discretion

J.D. Vance was right

An industry that dreamed of being above politics has become synonymous with self-dealing

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

And it comes at a time where America is slapping tariffs on the world

Also on the daily podcast: North Korea’s crypto-heist and remembering Andes crash survivor Alvaro Mangino

Forget technocracy. The top rate is set by gut instinct

Retail investing suffers from partisanship

Progress in trade talks has so far been slow

Thank the Trump family’s investments, friendly regulators and lavish election spending

Vladimir Putin seems to have developed cold feet

It wants people to move to cities. And the countryside

When hyper-nationalism goes feral

India’s most troubled region remains in crisis

America and its allies are now scrambling for details

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

Why the country’s shares are going gangbusters

Amid a flurry of moves, the president is turning America into the world’s broker, not its underwriter 

Barriers between America and China are still far too high. So is uncertainty

British politics hinges on one man’s survival

They can hold more fuel, carry more weaponry and boast more computing power

It is supporting experiments to thicken sea ice and make clouds more reflective

Uruguay’s former president died on May 13th aged 89

Our podcast on science and technology. The neurologist on how to navigate an era of pervasive screens

Our charts show how falling vaccination rates could lead to a surge in cases

But Ahmed al-Sharaa badly needs to reassure minorities at home

But the country must also modernise monetary policy, rewire banking and reconnect with global markets, argues Abdulkader Husrieh

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: fraught Philippine elections and meet the V-Tubers

What a bovine beauty pageant says about the future of the world’s beef supply

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

The US currently has no high-speed rail services, but two are under construction, and more planned.

Their unwieldy bill may get even worse

The world’s largest market is becoming two

The mystery of an America First president fascinated by foreigners’ disputes

Price targets and tariffs will hurt drugmakers and do little for patients

But its negotiating triumph comes with two stings in the tail

For tips on good management, listen to the latest season of “Boss Class”

A selection of letters in response to Paul Dans

Businesses are moving ahead with shipments, as the deal to reduce tariffs raises hopes over the economic outlook.

Thanks to the trade war, a supply chain that was once an asset has become a liability

After Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, the liberal opposition enjoys a clear lead

Our weekly podcast on China. This week, why the search for Taiwanese identity is far from simple

A timely tribute to a martyred critic of the Kremlin

America’s intervention irked India’s leadership and many of its people

One version of thought control is being replaced with another that is worse, argues Richard Hanania

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: Trump visits Saudi and “Boss Class”, season 2

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

The number of workers on payrolls fell in the first three months of the year, official figures show.

It is not an end to the trade war, but it is a significant truce, writes the BBC's economics editor.

It was unpopular, but it worked

Republicans want to save billions through Medicaid work requirements. Millions could lose coverage

Despite a show of comradely solidarity in Moscow, the two are not equal partners

Hawks are out and pragmatists are in, at least for now

More people are going on holiday alone

Russia is less visible, the Gulf more so, and America and China are rethinking their traditional roles

For the next 90 days, at least

Forget the breakthrough moments. Embrace the grind

The world’s most popular website is getting an overhaul

Forget the whiteboards, hammocks and ping-pong tables

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Also on the daily podcast: are Ukraine peace-talks on and music gets louder

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

As the president goes to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE he wants them to buy more from the States.

Many shale producers cannot turn a profit at current prices

Vladimir Putin has successfully divided Europe and America—again 

Paddington, Fast & Furious 6 and Guardians of the Galaxy are just a few blockbusters shot in London.

Tensions will simmer even as they step back from full-blown war

Their gambit is as much a test for Donald Trump as the Kremlin

Why Taipei might be running out of time to define itself

Hollywood blockbusters such and World War Z and Spider-Man, were made closer to home than you think.

New weapons, new tactics, new risks

Step inside the world of work with The Economist’s very own white-collar oracle

Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, we look at Donald Trump’s push to sign a new nuclear pact with Iran, its ramifications with Israel and the Middle East, and what the pre

Fresh fruit is probably a cheaper alternative

Escape from prison with Clint Eastwood or plumb the ocean’s depths with Sir David Attenborough

The two nations have announced a deal to reduce tariffs - here's what you need to know.

Li Ka-shing’s ports on the Panama canal have drawn fire from Donald Trump

Also on the daily podcast: the trouble with choking AI-chip flows and a tribute to Martin Graham, bricklayer and opera-house founder

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Two human-rights barristers on how to address systemic abuse by authoritarian states

Having breast cancer in your 20s or 30s brings a unique set of considerations – and agonies 

By choosing Robert Prevost the cardinals seek unity in a fractured church

Sir Keir Starmer will at least be pleased to have been first

Our podcast on markets, the economy and business. This week, the economist Kenneth Rogoff on the decline of the greenback

The busker-turned-star died on March 25th, aged 72

Philippe Sands traces the connections between Augusto Pinochet and Walter Rauff in his new book

Agatha Christie teaches a new writing course—with help from AI

Tariffs will not help, and taxpayers have no good reason to

Around half of the world’s population speaks a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. Most know little about it

And how to do them better

The unorthodox firm is profiting from the AI and Trumpian revolutions

But they still depend on America and its allies in a few vital areas

Another victory for a rising sports power

Police in the territory are harassing the families of those who have fled

Cynicism at home is becoming a problem

But voters want credible opposition in parliament, too

It needs to get its mojo back

The island is a kill zone for green iguanas

Can it do the same abroad?

New polling suggests locals are warming to China

A drone attack on the coast heralds a new phase in the country’s civil war

A new American deal strengthens their grip over Yemen

Fixing that will be fiendishly difficult

Trump and the Saudis get along famously in person but poorly on policy

New research suggests the death toll may be higher than current reports

He is just making them harder to fix

What to listen for in oral arguments over birthright citizenship

Replacements, in Greensboro, is an encyclopaedia of tableware

The Golden Owl is a parable for a changing continent

Can a political culture of compromise survive the turbulence?

However distasteful this might seem to them

The country celebrates the last big anniversary with the generation that beat Hitler

The jobs in renewables can’t come fast enough to replace those related to oil and gas

Even if you don’t go to church, this matters

It offers bells, smells—and certainty

Three choices: fiscal implosion, deep austerity or a hasty U-turn

The Economist tracks mobile signals to plot the Kremlin’s build-up

Also this week, birthright citizenship, Donald Trump’s economics, liberation theology, company lunches

America should press Binyamin Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire, then press Hamas to disarm

Squabbles over language are heating up

A special episode of the daily podcast considers the anniversary from several very different perspectives

The rise and fall of the “disparate impact” doctrine

Our daily political update, featuring the stories that matter

Don’t cry for millennials or Gen Z. Save your pity for those in their 50s

The government’s push to reduce dependence on oil is creating other distortions

Muhammad bin Salman is going from troublemaker to peacemaker

Russia is building up its forces, causing fear in its neighbours

Many Europeans are complacent about the threat Russia poses—and misunderstand how to deter its president

South Korean digital comics are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Hollywood wants a share of the profits

The foreign-exchange market has been reinvigorated by recent events

Will oil prices fall much further?

Not just its exporters

Why economists are turning to a 50-year-old book on the Depression

Time to get realistic

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist

Will this year’s event buck the trend?