Tocqueville Road Trip from The Economist

This Economist-produced series follows US editor John Prideaux as he retraces Alexis de Tocqueville's 1831 journey across America, from New York to Michigan to Washington, D.C. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, each episode juxtaposes Tocqueville's 19th-century observations in "Democracy in America" with present-day conversations with everyday Americans—from Manhattan philanthropists to incarcerated students at Sing Sing—to assess the health of American democracy 250 years after independence. The tone is reflective, journalistic, and intellectually curious, combining travelogue storytelling with sharp political analysis. Ideal for listeners interested in American politics, history, and democratic theory, the show appeals to an audience that enjoys long-form narrative journalism, historical parallels, and nuanced explorations of national identity in the era of Donald Trump. It's a thoughtful blend of history, current affairs, and human interest storytelling that distinguishes itself through its literary framing device and on-the-ground reporting style characteristic of The Economist.