From media-studies dropout to international jihadist to Syria’s ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa has an unlikely résumé. He speaks with our editor-in-chief, sharing hopeful-sounding hints (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/02/03/syrias-new-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-gives-his-first-interview?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) of his vision—but precious little detail. Japan’s economy has been hobbled by low inflation for years; is that now in the past (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/01/23/has-japan-truly-escaped-low-inflation?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) (14.05)? And the lucrative media gigs (https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/12/05/how-lucrative-are-mps-second-jobs?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) of Britain’s lawmakers (21.30).
Special thanks to Mamoon Alhidayat, our interpreter in Syria.
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