4.4 • 4.9K Ratings
🗓️ 13 May 2020
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
After a series of government missteps, people in Britain—and, increasingly, outside it—are lambasting the covid-19 response. That has great reputational costs. In a story suited to a television drama, a Filipino network popular with the people but critical of the president has been forced off the air. And our columnist finds surprising modern resonance in a 1950s Argentinian novel.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/radiooffer
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer. |
0:09.2 | Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world. |
0:14.6 | There's one less TV channel in the Philippines this week. The country's most watched network |
0:23.0 | known for clashing with Firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte was forced off the air and challenges |
0:29.0 | to press freedom couldn't come at a worst time. And we take a look at Zama, an Argentinian novel |
0:35.9 | penned 60 years ago. Our columnist finds themes in it that sadly resonate in Latin America even today. |
0:43.2 | Flimsy rule of law and undercurrent violence and waiting for salvation that never comes. |
0:55.5 | But first... |
0:59.5 | Today, Britain's Office for National Statistics reported an economic output dropped by 5.8% in March, |
1:08.0 | the worst monthly fall since records began. The data confirmed what many had suspected. |
1:13.4 | In Britain, as elsewhere, lockdown has had a devastating impact on the economy. |
1:18.2 | That's one reason the country's leaders are loosening restrictions to get people back to work. |
1:22.8 | We're taking the first careful steps to modify our measures. |
1:27.9 | And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week. |
1:33.5 | We said that you should work from home. |
1:36.0 | As of today, some measures have been eased. Garden centers are open. Unlimited exercise is allowed, |
1:42.1 | and people can meet with one person from outside their household. Along with the loosening, |
1:47.0 | the government unveiled a new slogan. |
1:49.1 | We must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives. |
1:55.8 | There is, however, a slight problem. |
1:58.6 | I don't know what state alert means. Presumably, we all live our lives in normal times, |
2:04.0 | staying alert to danger. But if I say to you my message now is stay alert and you say to me, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Economist, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Economist and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.