Elon Musk has launched the largest stockmarket listing in history. The accompanying space mission remains grounded. Our correspondent weighs SpaceX’s extraordinary ambitions. The Republican party trades on its masculine image, but some young men are turning away. And, after a blind tasting 50 years ago unleashed a new wave of wine drinking, the market is drying out.

Guests and host:

• Tim Cross, senior science writer
• Robert Guest, Economist deputy editor
• Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

• SpaceX, Starlink, XAI, Elon Musk
• Donald Trump, Republicans, masculinity
• Wine, Judgement of Paris

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Within the space of a week Chinese president Xi Jinping has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the Premier League got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Guests and host:

• Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent
• Sonny Loughran, Britain writer
• Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump
• Premier League, football, soccer
• Adrenaline holidays, darecations

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Is Binyamin Netanyahu’s time up as Israel’s prime minister? As a vote in parliament triggers the election campaign, our correspondent – and Netanyahu’s biographer – analyses what comes next. We join a US-backed counter-terrorism training exercise in Africa and question whether such missions will outlast Trump. And how Cape Verde came to take part in its first World Cup.

Guests and host:

• Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
• Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel, Knesset, Gaza, Hizbullah, Iran
• Ivory Coast, jihadism, anti-terrorism, overseas aid
• World Cup, FIFA, Cape Verde

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The latest Ebola emergency is different from previous ones: there is no vaccine, and the kind of community-level work that stops the spread has been thinned by aid cuts. Britain is likely to get a new prime minister soon; we profile Andy Burnham, the Labour party’s polling favourite. And celebrity book clubs abound—but useful criticism in them does not.

Guests and host:

• John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
• Joel Budd, social affairs editor
• Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Ebola outbreak, West Africa
• Andy Burnham, British politics
• celebrities, book clubs, book industry

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Atef Najib, a former security chief, is the highest-profile member of the Assad regime to go on trial. We ask why the speed, uneven spread and murky legal basis of justice troubles many Syrians. Our series leading up to America’s 250th birthday continues to plumb our archive. Today: the cold war and Vietnam. And why whiskymaking is booming in China.

Guests and host:

• Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent
• Annie Crabill, senior digital editor
• Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Syria, judicial system, transitional justice
• America, 250th anniversary, history
• China, business, whisky

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Runtime: 24 min

TWITTER HANDLES OF CONTRIBS

@BrowneGareth – Syria

@annie_crabill – US250

@donweinland – whisky

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Tommy Robinson is an influencer who has shaped views on Britain, particularly among his American supporters and funders. A rally this weekend will show how his worldview is reaching the mainstream. A merger in the oligopoly of liftmakers will reshape an industry known for its ups and downs. And remembering Raghu Rai, whose photographs captured the intensity of India’s people.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

• Georgia Banjo, Britain correspondent
• Simon Wright, industry editor
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Tommy Robinson, Britain’s far right, America’s far right
• Lifts, mergers, business
• Raghui Rai, India, photojournalism

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Perhaps the AI “boomers” are right about a sweeping labour-market revolution. But a careful look at history shows just how unprecedented their bullish scenarios would be. Africa’s bounty of minerals has drawn tremendous recent interest; will the continent see the benefits this time around? And our World Cup profile series continues with a look at Japan’s squad.

Guests and host:

• Callum Williams, senior economics writer
• John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• AI, labour market, economics, history
• Africa, critical minerals, investment, development
• World Cup, Japan

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The meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will set the tone for three more this year. We examine what and what not to expect. Pepsi has been losing ground to Coca Cola recently; to catch up, it may have to become more like its rival. And this year’s Venice Biennale is uncomfortably besieged by geopolitics.

Guests and host:

• Simon Rabinovitch, Beijing bureau chief
• Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent
• Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Trump/Xi summit, geopolitics
• Coca Cola, Pepsi, business
• Venice Biennale, culture

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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