Podcasts · The Intelligence from The Economist
Disorder of magnitude: France’s riots
· 21 min
Episode Disorder of magnitude: France’s riots
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 chief • John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent • Andrew Palmer, “Bartleby” columnist • Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
• France riots, French politics • Zimbabwe, agriculture, white farmers • AI, extinction-level events, legalese, parody
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Links in the notes 5
- https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/10/18/expect-violent-protests-to-erupt-in-france-again?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/10/04/white-zimbabweans-return-to-farming?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://www.economist.com/business/2026/09/22/bartleby-newsletter-the-tandcs-of-the-ai-apocalypse?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus
- https://acast.com/privacy
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