Share
Checks and Balance from The Economist
Checks and Balance: Intelligence test
•
Countries with a collective population of four billion will vote for leaders next year. There are fears that recent advances in generative artificial intelligence will make voters more vulnerable to deception than ever. But disinformation has long been a problem, well before the age of deepfakes and large-language models. How worried do we really need to be about AI’s potential to undermine democracy?
Chihhao Yu of the Taiwan Information Environment Research Centre explains the threat posed by Chinese misinformation campaigns. We go back to when sensationalist journalism drove America towards war. And Senator Josh Hawley explains why he wants AI to be regulated.
John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.
Runtime: 44 min
You can now find every episode of Checks and Balance in one place and sign up to our weekly newsletter. For full access to print, digital and audio editions, as well as exclusive live events, subscribe to The Economist at economist.com/uspod.
To help us to continue to improve our podcasts, we’re inviting listeners to participate in some research, particularly those who haven’t filled in one of our surveys before. We’re looking for people to keep in touch with us via WhatsApp over eight weeks. You can sign up here.
More episodes
View all episodes
280. Crisis management: how cities are cracking down on homelessness
50:57||Ep. 280A year after the Supreme Court permitted cities to ban public camping, local authorities are cracking down on street homelessness. At least 163 municipalities have enacted camping restrictions since the ruling. California, the epicenter of the problem in America, has seen its Democratic leaders rapidly shift their tone as the crisis worsens. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan tells us how he’s trying to fix it. John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Adam O’Neal.Runtime: 50.57Transcripts 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.279. Political schism: assessing the politics of Pope Leo XIV
49:50||Ep. 279American Catholics across the ideological spectrum are excited by the selection of an American pope. He’s made overtures to traditionally conservative Catholics by speaking Latin and he’s thrilled liberals with his earlier social media posts criticising Donald Trump's immigration policy. His beliefs may not fit squarely with one political party, but his supporters think his rule will transcend partisan politics. John Prideaux hosts with Adam O’Neal and Idrees Kahloon.Runtime: 49.50Transcripts 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.
Nuclear clock: Could Donald Trump cut a deal with Iran?
49:36|Another round of talks between with the United States and Iran could take place this weekend. President Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 agreement that reduced sanctions for guarantees Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons. Now, he wants back in, despite the damage it could do the US-Israel relationship. And within Iran, the conditions are better than ever to seal a deal. John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.Runtime: 49.36Transcripts 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.
277. Jurisdiction for some: Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship
45:28||Ep. 277The Supreme Court will later this month hear challenges to Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for certain groups of people. He signed the order on his first day in office; thus far, every court has ruled against him. Will the court, now or in the future, allow Trump to define who gets to be an American?Charlotte Howard hosts with Adam O’Neal and Idrees Kahloon.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.
Trailer: Boss Class Season 2
02:03|Good bosses are rare. They don’t have to be. The skills of management can be learned.The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, is here to help. The second season of Boss Class features leaders at some of the world’s best performing companies, from Levi’s to Novo Nordisk to Google. New episodes are out weekly starting May 12th. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf 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.
276. Power play: assessing Donald Trump’s first 100 days
46:37||Ep. 276Donald Trump has consolidated more power in his first 100 days than any president has in decades. He’s brushed up against court orders, ignored Congress, and ruled by executive order. It’s a revolutionary remaking of the government, but will it last? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.Runtime: 46.37Transcripts 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.
Capital expense: the political cost of Donald Trump’s tariffs
47:39|Donald Trump’s about face on tariffs may show his weakening appetite for political risk. His approval rating is falling faster than it did in his first term. There are signs his tariffs and broader handling of the economy could force more of his supporters to defect. Is the president still susceptible to political approval? Or does the second term president feel emboldened to rule as he chooses, without political checks on his power? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by Economist data journalist Daniella Raz and U.S. Economics Editor Simon Rabinovitch. 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.
Fee speech: Trump v the Ivies
48:52|Donald Trump wants to control America’s elite universities. He’s withheld federal research grants and his Department of Homeland Security has selected certain foreign students for deportation for participating in campus protests. How chilling will the assault on universities be? And what levers does the federal government have to exert control over them? John Prideaux hosts with Adam O’Neal and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Mike Bird and Prof. Nicholas Christakis of Yale University.
Tariff tiff: How Trump’s policies change other countries’ politics
48:46|This week, Donald Trump slapped tariffs on almost all of America’s trading partners. It was the latest in a series of moves that upended business as usual for American foreign policy. Liberal leaders seem to be benefiting politically from the chaos. Leaders on the right are having a tougher time. How much has Trump affected the domestic politics of other countries? And how much more could he do?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Corbin Duncan and Ayse Zarakol of Cambridge University. 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.