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.

As a block, Europe has its own governance, its own diplomats, and mostly its own currency.

But until recently, not its own border enforcement agency.

We look at front-tex, the border force whose budget, jurisdiction, and arsenal are all growing.

And plenty of workplace rules do nothing more than gum-up processes and annoy people, employees and customers alike.

We make an argument in favor of common sense amid some uncommonly nonsensical policies.

But first, today President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with leaders from Atlanta's Asian American community following eight murders in the city.

Our country, the President and I, and all of us, we grieve for the loss.

Our prayers are extended to the families.

It speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it.

Six of the people killed at two massage parlors on Wednesday evening were women of East Asian descent.

The alleged shooter, who's been charged with murder, is a white man.

The police haven't confirmed a motive for the killings, but the incident has increased discussion about anti-Asian prejudice and attacks.

An issue acknowledged by Atlanta's mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Obviously, whatever the motivation we know that many of the victims, the majority of the victims were Asian.

We also know that this is an issue that's happening across the country.

It is unacceptable. It is hateful. And it has to stop.

Anti-Asian sentiment has a long history in America, but a recent surge in incidents has left communities like Atlanta's on edge.

There's a lot of fear and concern in the community in general, and the Asian American community in Metro Atlanta specifically is taking a lot of extra precautions.

Erica Shin writes for the economist and is based in Atlanta.

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