<p>Atef Najib, a former security chief, is the highest-profile member of the Assad regime to go on trial. We ask why the speed, uneven spread and murky legal basis of justice <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/05/12/bashar-al-assads-henchmen-start-to-go-on-trial-in-syria?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">troubles many Syrians</a>. Our series leading up to America’s 250th birthday continues to plumb our archive. Today: <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250#chapter-5?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">the cold war and Vietnam</a>. And why whiskymaking is <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/22/the-curious-rise-of-chinese-whisky?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">booming</a> in China.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent</li><li>Annie Crabill, senior digital editor</li><li>Don Weinland, China business and finance editor</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Syria, judicial system, transitional justice</li><li>America, 250th anniversary, history</li><li>China, business, whisky</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Get a world of insights by </em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribing to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p><br><p>Runtime: 24 min</p><br><p><strong>TWITTER HANDLES OF CONTRIBS</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>@BrowneGareth – Syria</p><p>@annie_crabill – US250</p><p>@donweinland – whisky</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>