Share
Checks and Balance from The Economist
Trailer: Boom!
•
How did two old, unpopular men end up running for the world's most demanding job? It’s the question John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, gets asked the most. And the answer lies in the peculiar politics of the baby boomers.
Since 1992, every American president bar one has been a white man born in the 1940s. That run looks likely to span 36 years - not far off the age of the median American. This cohort was born with aces in their pockets. Their parents defeated Nazism and won the cold war. They hit the jobs market at an unmatched period of wealth creation. They have benefitted from giant leaps in technology, and in racial and gender equality.
And yet, their last act in politics sees the two main parties accusing each other of wrecking American democracy. As the boomers near the end of their political journey, John Prideaux sets out to make sense of their inheritance and their legacy.
Launching July 2024.
To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.
If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
More episodes
View all episodes
Donkey work: the Democratic autopsy
48:34|Democrats are trying to understand how they lost to Donald Trump—again. With two years, at least, shut out of federal power, the post-mortem analysis is in full swing. What now for the Democratic party? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by political strategist Doug Sosnik and Congressman Chris Deluzio. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Transition state: Donald Trump’s nominations
52:03|The election is over, and the president-elect’s administration is starting to take shape. What do Donald Trump’s picks for key roles tell us about his second term?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Adam O’Neal and David Rennie. Runtime: 52 minsTranscripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Trump that: the 2024 election
57:35|In a stunning victory Donald Trump comfortably defeated Kamala Harris. America’s 45th president will become its 47th. How did he do it?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Owen Winter, James Bennet and Adam O’Neal, as well as political scientists Lynn Vavreck and John Sides.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts
Election results: a brief message from John Prideaux
00:29|John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon are on today's edition of The Intelligence with their take on the election results so far. To listen, head to The Intelligence feed. Checks and Balance will be back on Friday with a full episode.
Endorsement time: our pick for president
51:12|Since 1980 The Economist has offered election endorsements in the spirit of helping readers work through what is always a choice between flawed candidates. We explain why if The Economist had a vote in the 2024 election, we would cast it for Kamala Harris.John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes and Lexington columnist James Bennet. Runtime: 51 minTranscripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
North Carolina on my mind: Checks and Balance live
44:45|In a special episode recorded live in the swing state of North Carolina, our hosts assess the state of the race with less than two weeks to go. We also consider what makes young voters tick and mark 250 episodes of the podcast. John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.Thank you to UNC at Chapel Hill for having us. Runtime: 44 minsTranscripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcastsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Gender agenda: men, women and the election
48:16|The 2024 election is a gendered election, and not just because a man is running against a woman. The parties are telling very different stories about gender, and men and women are growing apart in their political preferences. Will gender decide the presidential election?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by Dan Cassino of Fairleigh Dickinson University and The Economist’s Sacha Nauta.We’ll be recording next week’s podcast live at UNC Chapel Hill on Tuesday October 22nd. To join us in the audience sign up here.Runtime: 48 minTranscripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcastsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Policy agreement: the candidates’ planks
50:10|So far, wonkish platform debates have not been the centre of this election. But in what Kamala Harris has said, she’s embraced some of Donald Trump’s early ideas. His positions, meanwhile, have become even more extreme. We take a look at their platforms. How much has Trump changed American policy?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Anton La Guardia, Simon Rabinovitch and Aryn Braun. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcastsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
A key Keystone: the race for Pennsylvania
51:50|Whoever wins Pennsylvania will probably win the presidency: according to The Economist’s forecast model it’s the most likely tipping point state. We’ve travelled to three different areas to assess how the campaign is going, and try to read the electoral tea leaves. Who’s winning in Pennsylvania?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.