Hello and welcome to The Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

For decades, Texas has been a reliably Republican state, but its demographics are changing,

and this week there were electoral upsets in other die-hard red states. Could Texas really turn blue?

And in Japan, a majority of female commuters have experienced groping on public transport.

We look into what commuters, the police, and even plucky startups are doing

to persuade everyone at last to keep their hands to themselves.

First up, though, it's nearly two and a half years since Emmanuel Macron became president of France. I will serve you, in the name of your name,

liberty, equality,

equality,

fraternity.

He's had difficult moments at home,

not least the sprawling

Gilles-Jean protests

that began a year ago.

Now, with his domestic poll numbers

stabilizing,

he appears to be

assuming a greater international role.

He sees America and China tussling over trade and technology and wants to ensure that when they

make peace, the European Union doesn't get the short end of the stick.

...