Off to the races: our American-midterms preview

About this episode

<p>Ahead of tomorrow’s legislative elections we consider <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/2026/us-midterms/prediction-model/house?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the chances</a></u> of a “blue wave”, the most <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/10/29/the-americans-changing-politics-for-the-better?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">influential demographics</a></u> this time around and whether to expect election-administration trouble. Young people are deciding that bricks-and-mortar investment is not as dependable as the <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/10/07/why-shares-are-the-new-bricks-and-mortar?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stocks-and-shares kind</a></u>. And 100 years on from his death Harry Houdini still has <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/10/29/what-the-worlds-most-famous-magician-has-to-teach-you?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lessons to teach</a></u> about getting and staying famous.</p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Charlotte Howard, United States editor</li><li>Kennett Werner, Washington correspondent</li><li>Vinjeru Mkandawire, news editor</li><li>Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>America’s midterm elections</li><li>property, securities, investing</li><li>Harry Houdini, fame</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>