Why does political violence seem to be getting worse in America? | The Economist

2026-04-25

What does The Economist’s midterm tracker predict about the result of America’s congressional elections in November? The Economist’s data editor Dan Rosenheck joins Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, to explain how the model has been built, including how polling errors, redistricting and candidate choices shape its forecast, and what could still change.

00:00 – Why are Democrats favoured in the midterms?
00:19 – What data powers the election model?
00:48 – How does the model handle polling errors and uncertainty
01:58 – Why the Democrats are favoured to flip the house
03:44 – Why the Senate is still a toss-up
05:29 – What could change the forecast before election day?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/42oDUg6
Virginia’s redistricting may be the nail in

2026-04-24

Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with America is under strain. From Trump’s digs at Starmer to a widening rift in values, the transatlantic bond is fraying. On the latest Insider show, our editors discuss why this rupture may be different.

#Trump #Starmer #America #Britain

00:00 – The history of the "special relationship"
02:11 – What’s so special about it
03:09 – Past ruptures in the relationship
04:41 – Is this time different?

Watch the full show: https://econ.st/4w22u4i
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2026-03-09

For eight decades the US dollar has been the linchpin of global trade and finance, but today confidence in it is faltering. Are there any alternatives?

Video supported by @mishcondereya

#dollar #euro #economy #economics #finance

00:00 – Could the dollar lose its dominance?
00:52 – Donald’s Trump impact on the dollar
01:25 – Why it’s hard to stop using dollars
02:16 – What could be an alternative?
04:01 – A basket of currencies

Read more: https://econ.st/4tMBtAI
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How a dollar crisis would unfold:

2026-01-22

Is corporate America too scared to criticise Donald Trump? The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, puts that question to the boss of one of the world’s biggest banks. When asked whether there is a climate of fear in America, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, says “I think that’s clear".

2026-01-16

The exiled son of Iran’s former shah says citizens are getting “butchered” by the regime and explains how he would plan to lead the country during a transition period.

In an interview with The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Reza Pahlavi said his role would be to act as a neutral arbiter, oversee free elections and then transfer power to an elected parliament.

Watch our latest Insider show on Iran here: econ.st/49YL67h

What the collapse of Iran would mean: econ.st/49EBmh5
America’s options in Iran: econ.st/49TaDib
Bereft of legitimacy, the reeling regime in Iran massacres its own people: econ.st/4sFufxX

Sign up to our weekly newsletter: https://econ.st/3J0xzBr

2026-01-13

Has Trump’s Venezuela raid helped China plan military strikes? Jeremy Page and Sarah Wu, co-hosts of the Drum Tower podcast, discuss whether the US assault and extraction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro could offer lessons for a possible future attack on Taiwan.

00:00 – What lessons will Beijing draw from the US strike?
01:05 – How is China’s military preparing for decapitation strikes?
02:28 – Is the PLA talking more about decapitation operations?
04:25 – How capable is China of carrying out a decapitation strike?
05:20 – How concerned is China about its military technology?
06:30 – How might the raid affect China’s future actions?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4qPXBrp
China and Taiwan both see lessons in America’s raid on Venezuela: https://econ.st/4pD75p4
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2025-11-27

Is Britain’s budget a failure? Tom Carter, our Britain economics correspondent, and Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss why this is a missed opportunity for the Labour Party and why the government’s new policies are anti-growth.

#theeconomist #budget2025 #labour

2025-11-25

Is raising the minimum wage a good thing? Callum Williams, our Senior economics writer, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss whether raising wage floors or the welfare state is better at reducing poverty.

00:00 – Why are people talking about the minimum wage right now?
00:20– Isn’t raising the minimum wage a good thing?
01:54 – What does the research on minimum wage suggest?
02:57 – Is raising the minimum wage the best way to fight poverty?
04:35 – So the idea that “work pays” actually isn’t good for overcoming inequality?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/3KjDbYl
Why governments should stop raising the minimum wage: https://econ.st/4ocF4Ux
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#TheEconomist #budget2025 #RachelReeves