Bombs and bombshells: Zelensky under pressure

About this episode

<p>From anti-corruption probes to a disgruntled ex-minister calling for elections to disrupted grain shipments, <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/08/18/russian-attacks-are-doing-severe-harm-to-ukraines-economy?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">headaches are mounting</a> for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. China has until now coped with a patchy, pricey system for mental-health treatment. The government is now <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2026/08/13/in-china-treatment-for-mental-health-problems-is-a-luxury?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">getting serious</a> about plugging the gaps. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/08/07/the-dark-underbelly-of-paw-patrol?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a debate</a> over “Paw Patrol” is more than just culture-war madness. </p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent</li><li>Sarah Wu, China correspondent</li><li>Andrew Miller, special correspondent</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Fedorov</li><li>China, CCP, mental health</li><li>Paw Patrol, culture wars</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>