Checks and Balance from The Economist

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On Tuesday night in Philadelphia Donald Trump and Kamala Harris took part in what might be the only debate between them in this campaign. The race is extremely close: will the debate make any difference? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Adam O’Neal. They’re joined by The Economist’s James Bennet, Lane Greene and Owen Winter. This episode draws on audio from CBS and C-Span.  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+.

The outcome of November’s election matters beyond America’s borders. With conflicts raging in Europe and the Middle East and China on the rise, come next January either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will have a stacked foreign policy in-tray. How would their approaches differ?John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Adam O’Neal. They’re joined by former national security adviser H.R. McMaster, and former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcast