Checks and Balance from The Economist

America has an ambitious climate agenda. But it’s also the world’s biggest producer of fossil fuels. How do those things go together? And as COP 28 continues, how much does the rest of the world need America to be engaged in climate diplomacy anyway? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Oliver Morton and Vijay Vaitheeswaran. Sonia Aggarwal, who advised Joe Biden on climate policy and is now CEO of Energy Innovation, also contributes.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll 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.

An article from The Economist read aloud. We report from Montana, where a fight over the Endangered Species Act is testing the frontiers between science and politics.

America’s role in the world is changing, from the rise of isolationism to a protectionist industrial policy. What does this all add up to? And how will the 2024 election define America’s global standing? On stage in Philadelphia, the “Checks and Balance” team discusses all of this, and takes questions from a live audience of listeners. John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll 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.

This week we are celebrating our 200th episode. Each of our hosts has selected a year from the 20th century that they find particularly significant. We’ll take a trip back in time to explore those years—finding how each has affected, and has parallels with, today’s America.John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.“‘Till We Meet Again” performed by Henry Burr and Albert Campbell, written by Richard A Whiting and Raymond B Egan, published by Jerome H Remnick & Co.“Rebecca” produced by Selznick International Pictures. “Killing Me Softly” performed by Roberta Flack, written by Charles Fox, published by Atlantic.   

An article from The Economist read aloud. America’s demographic changes are not having the anticipated political effects. Two new books offer answers as to why.

If the election were held tomorrow, Donald Trump would probably be the favourite to win.  How should we be thinking about the race with a year to go? And how can the world outside of America prepare itself for the possibility of a second Trump term?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by Vanderbilt University’s John Sides and The Economist’s Ed Carr. Checks and Balance will be recording a live show in Philadelphia later this month.  Find out more and get your ticket here.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll 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.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has shaken norms about free speech in America. It is typically the left that tries to police what can and cannot be said, and where. But now many of those same activists are finding their speech in support of Palestinians limited. Could this recalibration set speech free again? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They are joined by author Nathan Thrall, Gregg Lukianoff of FIRE, a pro-speech non-profit, and the National Constitution Centre’s Jeffrey Rosen.  "Checks and Balance" is coming to Philadelphia on November 28th. You can find out more and get free tickets here. This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of 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.Podcast transcripts are available upon request at podcasts@economist.com. We are committed to improving accessibility even further and are exploring new ways to expand our podcast transcript offering.

An article from The Economist read aloud. HIV rates have been declining in America for decades, but why are other sexually transmitted infections reaching record highs?

A wave of tax-cutting is sweeping over American states. Buoyed by flush budgets, some 25 states have cut individual income taxes over the past three years. Is this a sensible move, or are states setting themselves up for a fiscal fall? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Simon Rabinovitch, who’s been speaking to Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds. This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen sign up for a free trial of 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.Podcast transcripts are available upon request at podcasts@economist.com. We are committed to improving accessibility even further and are exploring new ways to expand our podcast transcript offering.