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.

At the fringes of America's politics lurk insidious conspiracy theories such as one called QAnon.

Believers are vocal, dedicated, and to date, overwhelmingly white,

but an increasing number of Hispanic Americans are falling under the theory's spell.

And, in India, the droplet-shaped flowers of the Mawa tree have a history that goes back further

even than Hinduism, as adornments or in medicines or oils.

Our intrepid correspondent finds that the flowers also make for a fine moonshine.

But first...

This week, America's special envoy for North Korea, Sun Kim, is in Seoul.

The newly appointed Mr. Kim said this week that he's willing to meet with North Korean officials anywhere,

any time.

His meetings with South Korean officials form part of what the Biden administration has said

are careful and calibrated efforts to deal with the North.

Most importantly, I think our two countries agree on the shared commitment

to pursue, complete the inquisition of the Korean Peninsula

through diplomacy and dialogue. Officials from Pyongyang should have good reason to come to the

table. At a meeting of senior party members last week, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un spoke of food shortages,

saying that the people's food situation is now getting tense.

It's a rare glimpse into just how troubled the country is.

So it's always very difficult to tell exactly how bad things are in North Korea

because of the lack of information coming out of the country. But from what we know, it looks

very bad. Lina Shipper is the economist's sole bureau chief.

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