SubscribeThe Economist ProLog inSkip to contentSubscribeThe Economist ProLog inWeekly editionWorld in briefUnited StatesChinaBusinessFinance & economicsEuropeAsiaMiddle EastAmericasArtificial intelligenceCultureCartoons & gamesundefined undefinedSubscribe to The EconomistUnlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newslettersSubscribe to The EconomistUnlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newslettersSubscribeManage accountGift subscriptionsLog outManage accountGift subscriptionsLog out←All episodesChecks and Balance | United StatesOur weekly podcast on America. This week, the end of a fierce gubernatorial primary May 29th 2026|1 min readNext week a ferocious primary battle will come to an end when voters have their first say on who will be California’s next governor. Policy decisions made in America’s largest state can ripple across the rest of the country, for good or ill. What does the battle in California mean—for the future of the state and for national politics?Guests and hosts: Already have an account? Log in Tune in to the world Expert analysis and clear perspectives with Economist Podcasts+ Subscribe now Reuse this contentMore from PodcastsPodcast The IntelligenceNew world of warcraft: how conflict has forever changedOn the daily podcast: a sweeping look at the present and future of war, and remembering a trailblazing Democratic congressman25:39Podcast Money TalksElon Musk’s astronomical SpaceX betOur podcast on markets, the economy and business. This week, what to expect from the world’s biggest public offering42:27Podcast The IntelligenceDeal or ordeal: Trump’s bad options in CubaAlso on the daily podcast: Colombia’s tight, highly polarised election and our World Cup team profiles continue22:38Podcast Editor’s picksStar Wars returns to the big screen A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist05:08Podcast BabbageInfluencers vs evidence-based medicine (part one)Our podcast on science and technology. In the first of two episodes on health misinformation, Deborah Cohen, doctor and author, tells us how the internet is hijacking health care36:32Podcast The IntelligenceWhat price victory? Ukraine on the front footAlso on the daily podcast: Home Depot as America’s housing-market bellwether and the cricket-bat supply-chain bottleneck18:46