What a Road Trip Across America Reveals About the Country Today

Podcast Deep Dish on Global Affairs Podcast
From Sing Sing prison to Mar-a-Lago, The Economist's John Prideaux traveled across the country to find out what America looks like at 250.
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About The Episode

As America marks its 250th anniversary, The Economist's John Prideaux retraces Alexis de Tocqueville's famous journey across the United States to see what has changed over the past two centuries. Starting from the East Coast then across and down the entire country, he joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss what those conversations reveal about the state of American democracy today. 

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About the Experts
John Prideaux
Executive Editor, The Economist
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John Prideaux is the Executive Editor, business to consumer. In this role he is the liaison between editorial and the consumer business. Before that he spent ten years as the US Editor. John has been based in Delhi, London, Sao Paulo and Washington, DC, for The Economist. John has hosted five different Economist podcasts, including Checks and Balance on American politics.
John Prideaux Headshot
Leslie Vinjamuri
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
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Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She is Professor of Practice in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University of London.
Leslie Vinjamuri headshot
Issues US Foreign Policy America at 250
Regions North America
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