House call: Spain’s snap election

<p>Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is gambling that anger about housing might solidify his mandate in a <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/10/05/pedro-sanchez-gambles-on-a-snap-election-and-populist-policies?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">snap poll</a></u>. Most probably it will instead add to the rightward shift in European politics. America’s beef prices have never been higher, so why is it that the meatpackers have it <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/09/10/beef-has-never-been-pricier-and-meatpackers-are-suffering?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">so tough</a></u>? And the <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/09/21/a-new-battery-could-make-edible-electronics-safer?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">battery technology</a></u> to improve medical diagnostics you can swallow. </p><p><em>Listen to our episode of “Babbage” on edible electronics <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/06/10/eat-your-electronics-boost-your-health" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></u>.</em></p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Michael Reid, Spain correspondent and writer at large</li><li>Bella King, news editor</li><li>David Adam, science writer</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Spanish politics, housing crisis, Pedro Sánchez</li><li>America’s meat industry, meatpackers</li><li>medical diagnostics, edible electronics, battery technology</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p>

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