Audio

Morning News Podcast: President Biden’s First Day, Covid Actions & Numbers

President Biden’s top priority is getting the pandemic under control. What do his first executive actions tell us about how he plans to do that? Biden also released a sweeping reform bill to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.

And in 35 states, coronavirus numbers are falling. Researchers believe the U.S. has hit a peak in the pandemic, but some public health officials are skeptical.

Technology Podcast: Einstein’s Photons, Lasers And Cheaper Solar Power

How has Einstein’s work on photons ushered in a golden age of light? Oliver Morton, The Economist’s briefings editor, explores why laser’s applications have been spectacular and how solar power became the cheapest source of electricity in many countries. 

Also, he talks to the scientists scanning the skies with the largest digital camera in the world.

Morning News Podcast: Biden Inauguration And Trump’s Final Pardons

With Joe Biden taking over the establishment steps back In, Trump pardons issues pardons to friends and supporters, and some inauguration trivia.

Morning News Podcast: Trump’s Last Day, Senate Back In Session & Migrants

It is Donald Trump’s last full day as president. The last full day that he can use the power to pardon. Who might Trump choose? The Senate goes back to work today for the first time since the attack on the Capitol. 

It will consider five of Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees, prioritizing those in national security. In Guatemala, security forces fired tear gas at Honduran migrants trying to cross Guatemala’s southern border. Why did they leave home, despite the danger?

Morning News Podcast: Pro-Trump Protests Quiet, Biden’s Executive Actions

Pro-Trump protests quiet amid massive police presence across, U.S, Biden plans ‘roughly a dozen’ day one executive actions, and Georgia student who walked 7 miles to work each day receives new car through woman’s act of kindness.

Analysis: Donald Trump’s Reckoning, Innovation & Gorbachev’s Afterlife

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: Donald Trump’s reckoningthe new era of innovation (9:20), and Mikhail Gorbachev’s afterlife (16:45).

Sunday Morning Podcast: Latest News From Zurich, Hong Kong & London

The weekend’s biggest points of discussion are dissected by Tyler Brûlé, Solène Léger, Florian Egli and Marcus Kraft, with commentary from our editors in London and Hong Kong. Plus: Israel’s ‘Haaretz’ newspaper.

Morning News Podcast: Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Plan, States’ Political Unrest

The incoming Biden-Harris administration has big plans. They want $1.9 trillion in new spending to help Americans. State capitals across the United States are bracing for potential unrest.

The FBI warns of scenes similar to January 6th. Are state and local law enforcement prepared? And nearly seven years after the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, those responsible are now being held accountable. Nine former and current officials have been indicted. 

Science Podcast: Aracibo Observatory Research, Environment & Behavior

Science Senior Correspondent Daniel Clery regales host Sarah Crespi with tales about the most important work to come from 57 years of research at the now-defunct Arecibo Observatory and plans for the future of the site. 

Sarah also talks with Toman Barsbai, an associate professor in the school of economics at the University of Bristol, about the influence of ecology on human behavior—can we figure out how many of our behaviors are related to the different environments where we live? Barsbai and colleagues took on this question by comparing behaviors around finding food, reproduction, and social hierarchy in three groups of animals living in the same places: foraging humans, nonhuman mammals, and birds.