Editor’s Picks: February 21st 2022

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, why—<a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/02/19/whether-he-invades-ukraine-or-backs-down-putin-has-harmed-russia?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">war or not</a>—Vladimir Putin has miscalculated; how <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/justin-trudeaus-crackdown-on-protests-could-make-things-worse/21807707?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Justin Trudeau’s crackdown on protests in Canada could make things worse</a> (9:25) and, in “The Power of the Dog”, <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/02/19/in-the-power-of-the-dog-the-western-rides-again?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Western rides again</a> (15:00)</p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe to <em>The Economist</em> for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/podcastoffer</a> </p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>