Disorder of magnitude: France’s riots

About this episode

<p>What started as student protests ballooned into national lawlessness. The disorder plays into the hands of France’s political extremes; <u><a href="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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expect more of it</a></u>. In Zimbabwe white farmers are <u><a href="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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">returning to work land</a></u> taken by Robert Mugabe a quarter-century ago. And our columnist considers the <u><a href="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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">delicate wording</a></u> that might indemnify AI firms if the bots happen to wipe out humanity. </p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief</li><li>John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent</li><li>Andrew Palmer, “Bartleby” columnist</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>France riots, French politics</li><li>Zimbabwe, agriculture, white farmers</li><li>AI, extinction-level events, legalese, parody</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</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>