Next 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:

• Charlotte Howard, executive editor
• James Bennet, Lexington columnist
• Aryn Braun, West Coast correspondent
• Steve Hilton, candidate for governor of California

Topics covered:

• Election issues in California
• The Democratic primary
• Republican views of the state

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Maine is different. It’s the only state in America that Kamala Harris won in 2024 which has a Republican senator. It should be one of the easiest seats for Democrats to flip in the midterms: will it be?

Guests and hosts:

• John Prideaux, US editor and host of “Checks and Balance”
• Charlotte Howard, executive editor
• James Bennet, Lexington columnist
• Dan Rosenheck, data editor
• Graham Platner, presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate in Maine

Topics covered:

• The Senate race in Maine
• Graham Platner’s campaign
• Susan Collins’ Senate career

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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Donald Trump will mark his 80th birthday with a gladiatorial spectacle next month. The president, a longtime fan of combat sports, is hosting an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight night on the south lawn of the White House. What does the president’s patronage of the sport reveal about America?

Guests and hosts:

• John Prideaux, US editor and host of “Checks and Balance”
• Charlotte Howard, executive editor
• James Bennet, Lexington columnist
• Natalie Adams, professor at the University of Alabama
• Dan Cassino, professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Topics covered:

• UFC
• The history of masculinity
• How men vote

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.