The Intelligence from The Economist

We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl.

In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligence” went to Ukraine to consider the aftermath of the Russian invasion and occupation of Chernobyl, and then of the Zaporizhia nuclear-power plant. What we found was an industry that had no expectation that could even happen, and nothing of a plan when it did. Listen here.

Guests and host:
Serhii Plokhy, historian, Harvard University
Olena Pareniuk, radiobiologist, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants
Jim Smith, environmental scientist, University of Portsmouth
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Chernobyl nuclear-power plant, history
nuclear safety, nuclear-energy policy
radiation exposure, radiobiology, radioecology

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We examine what our forecast model predicts so far—and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives.

Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Nonesuch Records), Erik Hall (Western Vinyl)

Guests and host:
Dan Rosenheck, data editor
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Ainslie Johnstone, data journalist
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
American elections, Congress, polling, gerrymandering
Steve Reich, contemporary classical music
birth order, statistics

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The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes. And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal.

Guests and host:
Alex Hern, AI writer
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
AI, Anthropic, Mythos
India, women, politics
World Cup, Senegal

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Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor. Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should.

Guests and host:
Tom Lee-Devlin, business editor
Moeka Iida, Japan reporter
Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Apple, technology, CEO, John Ternus
Japan, demographics
Britain, boredom

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This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace in the countryside.

Guests and host:
Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence”
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Iran war, Strait of Hormuz
Chernobyl, Ukraine war
China, fast food

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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