Hard cedar: Lebanon seeks Trump’s help

About this episode

<p>Today, Lebanon’s president <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/07/20/lebanons-president-wants-donald-trumps-help-to-rebuild-the-country?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">Joseph Aoun</a> visits the White House to ask for Donald Trump’s help rebuilding the country. Our correspondent reports from his recent trip to Lebanon on the challenges it faces. Threats to <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/07/13/how-high-can-red-bull-fly?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">Red Bull</a>’s magnificent marketing machine. And why the <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/03/10/trophy-wives-are-out-of-fashion?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">age gap</a> between the wealthiest men and their wives is shrinking.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent</li><li>Vendeline von Bredow, senior Germany correspondent</li><li>Doug Dowson, data journalist</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Lebanon, Beirut, Joseph Aoun, Hizbullah</li><li>Red Bull, energy drinks, extreme sports</li><li>Trophy wives, age gap, misogyny</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to <em>The Economist</em></a>.</p><p><br></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>