Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

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

Russia's four-year-old military exercises involve, well, it's hard to say how many soldiers

are there.

It's serious muscle flexing in Belarus designed to show how close the two countries have become

and, unsurprisingly, it's got the neighbor's nervous.

And probably no figure in Italian history has left so deep a mark as Dante Alighieri.

On the 700th anniversary of his death, we look at his masterwork, the Divine Comedy,

the lessons that it still holds.

Let's stop though.

Today voters in California have a big choice to make.

Whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom or to leave him in post, California is one of

19 states that permit a vote to remove officials if a petition gets enough signatures.

It's a potent political mechanism and one that it seems clear can be exploited.

With all the progress we've made, to define ourselves not by our differences but the things

that bind us together, to lead the nation in a series of issues.

All of that is at risk if we don't turn out and vote no on this recall tomorrow.

Last night, President Joe Biden made clear it's more than just a state level concern.

California, I mean this is the eyes of the nation are on you.

I'm not joking, you've got to vote no on the recall.

Keep Gavin as governor.

...