Aid pro quo: Trump weaponises foreign help

This episode of The Intelligence from The Economist covers three distinct topics: Firstly, it examines how Donald Trump has repurposed international aid, focusing on countries he favors, those he aims to lure away from China, and those that can provide strategic resources for America. Secondly, the podcast discusses Ukraine's strategic drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and their impact on Russia's economy and war capabilities, as well as Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Finally, the episode explores the success of the British pub chain Wetherspoon's amidst the closure of many other pubs, attributing its resilience to economic populism, adaptability, and a balance between trendiness and tradition.