# Under strAIn: breaking the British state

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/economist-podcasts-921330/under-strain-breaking-the-british-state
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/economist-podcasts-921330/under-strain-breaking-the-british-state.md
Podcast: [Economist Podcasts](https://stenobird.com/podcast/economist-podcasts-921330)
Published: 2026-08-10T09:09:54+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/theintelligencepodcast/episodes/under-strain-breaking-the-british-state
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/d556eb54-6160-4c85-95f4-47d9f5216c49/a/theeconomistallaudio/e/6a799563523b3dfcd83c7271/media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=dTgr4bYgqCNyPBfReM-FSgHl5dm6ckNMz34aCdV6Doo
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/economist-podcasts-921330/episodes/under-strain-breaking-the-british-state
Duration seconds: 1491

## Resource

Britons are turning to artificial intelligence to file objections to state institutions, and claim their dues. The resulting deluge of complaints and demands may overwhelm bureaucracies. Should Catholic priests have to report child abuse disclosed in confession ? And the perfect height gap in a relationship.  Guests and host: Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor Rebecca Jackson, US Southern correspondent Doug Dowson, data journalist Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  AI, agentic flooding, bureaucracy Catholic church, confessions, child abuse Short kings, short men, height differential Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— subscribe to The Economist . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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