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Checks and Balance from The Economist

Checks and Balance: You asked, we answer

Normally we take one big theme shaping American politics and explore it in depth. This week is a little different: we’re going to answer your questions. We tackle whether America will ever have a female president, the politics of health-care reform and how the show gets made. Plus, a bumper quiz. 


John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon and Jon Fasman.  


We would also love to ask you some questions. Please fill out our listener survey at economist.com/uspodsurvey. 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.

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  • 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.
  • Woke croaks: “peak woke” has passed

    50:31|
    Over the past decade a form of wokeness arose on the illiberal left, characterised by extreme pessimism about America and its capacity to make progress. Analysis by The Economist of how influential these ideas are today finds that wokeness peaked in 2021-22 and has since receded. Why is America becoming less “woke”? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Ainslie Johnstone and Sacha Nauta, and Professor Musa al-Gharbi of Stony Brook 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.
  • Election rejection: fears of a contested result

    48:46|
    Republicans are already preparing to contest the result if Kamala Harris wins the presidency. American elections demand patience and trust, but with Donald Trump on the ballot those are in short supply. How ugly could this election get? And what will happen if the result is contested?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by former Georgia lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan and Congressman Jamie Raskin. This episode uses audio from The Laska Archive titled “Kentucky representative Thurston Ballard Morton on investigation election fraud 08 0011”.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.