James Bennet
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- The Economist16 min
Who will be California’s next governor? | The Economist
Charlotte Howard, James Bennet, Aryn Braun, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton
A contentious California gubernatorial runoff looms as a referendum on the state's affordability crisis, featuring progressive challenger Tom Steyer's aggressive advertising campaign against incumbent Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton's tax-cut proposal backed by Donald Trump. Critics argue that decades of co-opted ballot measures and structural fiscal deficits under Governor Gavin Newsom have driven out-migration and created recurring budget holes, fueling a narrative of state dysfunction that Republicans hope to exploit for a rare statewide victory. The election outcome will ultimately determine whether voters prioritize the status quo or support significant policy shifts intended to reverse California's economic decline and reverse its demographic power loss in Congress.
- The Economist10 min
What can Donald Trump get from Xi Jinping? | The Economist
Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Jeremy Page, John Prideaux, James Bennet
Donald Trump's administration faces a complex landscape in US-China relations where both nations share AI safety concerns regarding nuclear weapons and cyber fraud despite deep trust deficits and divergent strategic priorities. Simultaneously, geopolitical tensions over Taiwan persist as President Xi Jinping demands extreme caution regarding arms sales following record-breaking approvals, while direct negotiations between the two leaders challenge previous diplomatic assurances. Economic negotiations may pivot toward establishing a Trade Board to resolve export overcapacity, with Beijing likely to authorize purchases of American soybeans and beef only in exchange for tangible reductions in US trade restrictions.
- The Economist53 min
Open to debate: Harris and Trump clash
Harris, Trump, John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Adam O'Neal, James Bennet, Lane Greene, Owen Winter, John Priddow
The September 2024 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump drew over 67 million viewers and established a critical juncture in a historically tight election. Analysis indicates that Harris successfully employed a prosecutorial strategy to expose Trump's policy vagueness and age-related concerns, earning a post-debate victory according to 63% of surveyed viewers. Consequently, major forecasting models have adjusted the race to a near toss-up with Harris's probability rising to 49% amidst her campaign's significant financial advantage and the strategic deployment of debate moments against her opponent.