Joe Biden likes to boast that he is the most pro-union president in American history. His fondness for unions, though, has been tested by a wave of strikes. In office, President Biden has regularly voiced support for workers, and handed unions more power. But white working-class Americans, once his party’s reliable base, now mostly vote Republican. Can Democrats win back working-class voters?

The Economist’s Simon Rabinovitch assesses Joe Biden’s union credentials. The Economist’s James Bennet ponders one of the great “what-ifs” of American political history. And political scientist Ruy Teixeira considers how Democrats could solve their working class problem.

John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon.

Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ now and get 50% off your subscription with our limited time offer. You will not be charged until Economist Podcasts+ launches.

If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.

For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Checks and Balance: Strike while it's hot

Economist Podcasts