Alexandra Suic-Bass, a Senior correspondent for politics, technology, and society at The Economist, teams up with John Priddo, the US editor of The Economist and presenter of Checks and Balance. They dive into the chaotic start of Congress, where Republicans failed to elect a Speaker—an unprecedented event in a century. The discussion shifts to the alarming rise in catalytic converter thefts across America, particularly in California, and the complex issues surrounding legislative responses to this crime. They also explore the detrimental effects of China's vast fishing fleet on West African fisheries.