Checks and Balance from The Economist

Checks and Balance unlocks American politics by taking a big theme each week and digging into the data, the ideas, and the history shaping the country.

Join John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon and Jon Fasman as they talk to politicians, pollsters, academics and people across the country about the great experiment of American democracy. Published every Friday.

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 Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts.

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Episodes

Trailer: Boss Class Season 2

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-plus If you’re already a subscriber to The Econom...

May 02, 2025•2 min

Trailer: Scam Inc

A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful. The Economist ’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped? To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ ....

Jan 24, 2025•4 min

Election results: a brief message from John Prideaux

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.

Nov 06, 2024•29 sec

A key Keystone: the race for Pennsylvania

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 scien...

Oct 04, 2024•52 min

Woke croaks: “peak woke” has passed

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 Univer...

Sep 27, 2024•51 min

Election rejection: fears of a contested result

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 “...

Sep 20, 2024•49 min

Open to debate: Harris and Trump clash

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/podcasts Listen to what matters most, from global...

Sep 13, 2024•53 min

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. ...

Jul 02, 2024•4 min

Trailer: The Modi Raj

Narendra Modi is one of the most popular politicians on the planet. India’s prime minister is eyeing a third term atop the world’s biggest democracy. A tea-seller’s son, Mr Modi began life an outsider and the man behind the political phenomenon remains hard to fathom. India has become an economic powerhouse during his ten years in charge. But he’s also the frontman for a chauvinistic Hindu nationalist dogma. Can Mr Modi continue to balance both parts of his agenda and finish the job of turning I...

Jun 01, 2024•5 min

Choose this podcast: abortion and the election

In 2022 the Supreme Court gave control of abortion back to “the people and their elected representatives.” This November will be the greatest test yet of what that means. Democrats are running hard on the issue and as many as 16 states will vote directly on abortion. A grassroots movement has sprung up to defend reproductive rights. Will this fight decide the election? And what will the results mean for women’s ability to have an abortion? Charlotte Howard hosts with Sacha Nauta and Idrees Kahlo...

May 31, 2024•53 min

Checks and Balance: Aid, and a bet

For months, a big foreign-aid deal looked like it was going nowhere in the House of Representatives. Now $95bn of support is heading out the door. How did the bill get through? What does it mean for Ukraine and for American leadership in the world ? Charlotte Howard hosts with James Bennet and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist ’s Adam O’Neal and Anton La Guardia. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcast...

Apr 26, 2024•48 min

Checks and Balance: Capitol gains

While America’s focus has been on the presidential election, the race for Congress is even more volatile. With razor-thin majorities in the House and the Senate, both chambers might flip in November. What does that mean for governing? And how will the outcomes of these elections shape the next presidency? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist ’s Aryn Braun and Jessica Taylor from The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter . Listen to what ma...

Apr 05, 2024•49 min

Checks and Balance: Growth states

It’s not long since America was widely thought to be on the brink of recession. Instead the economy expanded by 3% in 2023, and continues to defy expectations . But why aren’t voters happier with Joe Biden’s economy? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist ’s Simon Rabinovitch and Neale Mahoney, professor of economics at Stanford University. Thank you to the William J. Clinton Library and the UVA Miller Center for some of the audio used in th...

Mar 15, 2024•48 min

Checks and Balance: Strike accord

America has launched strikes against Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East , in response to an attack on a base in Jordan where three US troops died. How close are America and Iran to war ? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by General Frank McKenzie, former commander of US Central Command, and The Economist ’s Anton La Guardia. Get a world of insights for 50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’...

Feb 10, 2024•52 min

Checks and Balance: Biden or bust

Joe Biden’s chances against Donald Trump in November do not look good. He is unpopular and his age puts many Americans off. How did it come to this ? And what can the Democrats do about it? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by Congressman Dean Phillips, who is primarying Mr Biden, and The Economist ’s Edward Carr. 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...

Jan 05, 2024•47 min

Checks and Balance: Year all about it

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 ...

Nov 17, 2023•50 min

Checks and Balance: Well enough alone?

On foreign policy, trade and immigration, the Republican Party wants America to push the world away. This is a departure, but also a return to what the party used to believe . How did the Republican Party go from isolationism to internationalism and then back again? And what does that mean for America’s foreign policy ? John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, and The Economist ’s Edward Carr. Sign up for...

Oct 27, 2023•51 min

Checks and Balance: Trailer

US editor John Prideaux and his colleagues from across the US and around the world go beyond the headlines and the horserace to delve deeper into the race for the White House—and why it matters so much.

Jan 17, 2020•2 min

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