Strait and narrowing: the Houthis’ striking advance

<p>After years of stalemate, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis are <a href="economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/09/1…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">taking territory</a>, including on a Red Sea strait. We ask what has changed, and how the shift fits into the wider regional conflict. As America’s midterm elections approach, we examine the <a href="economist.com/interactive/united-states/2026/0…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fragmentation</a> of the coalition that put Donald Trump back in office. And we ask how much <a href="economist.com/culture/2026/09/08/how-much-does…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nepotism matters</a> in Hollywood today.</p><br><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus"; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p>

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