The Economist explains: How a 19th-century law could upend abortion access in America

For The Economist, I wrote about the history and contemporary implications of The Comstock Act. It banned the posting of abortion supplies–and was never fully repealed.

When the Supreme Court ruled last year that America’s constitution does not guarantee the right to abortion, it returned the matter to lawmakers. In the months since activists have pushed for a national prohibition. This Congress, which is divided on the issue, will not soon pass a law limiting access to abortion across the country. So pro-life campaigners have turned to one that is already on the books: the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old anti-vice law. This historical oddity, never fully repealed, could severely curtail access to abortion. Read here

The Economist: Oregon's drug decriminalisation experiment

In February 2021, Oregon became the first state in America to decriminalise the possession (of a small amount) of drugs. A few months ago, I visited Portland and Salem, the capital, to see how the experiment in drug policy is going.

The reporting was used across The Economist’s channels: as an episode of Checks and Balance, as a reported piece in the US section and as leader, offering lessons to be learned.

United States: Oregon’s drug decriminalisation has had a troubled start–The state was the first in America to try it—and its experience holds lessons for others

Leaders: Oregon botches the decriminalisation of drugs–It failed to prepare the ground

Checks and Balance: The body in a barrel

In a special episode of Checks and Balance, The Economist tried its hand at true crime. Reported by my colleague Aryn Braun, it’s a story of climate change, organised crime and how cities evolve. Producing something of this length and complexity was new to me and I think the final product is really compelling

The Economist: Medication for opioid addiction is getting easier to access

For The Economist’s print and online editions, I wrote about how pandemic experiments around opioid addiction medications are becoming permanent - but how much more will still need to be done. Read here

The Intelligence: the midterms

My largest project this year was producing The Intelligence’s midterm series: 10 segments, each reported from a different house district which highlighted a different issue in the election. The weekend before the election, we released a special episode compiling the best of our coverage

Checks and Balance: Donkey years

Both parties have tried to expand rural broadband–and both parties have failed. 40 million Americans remain unable to buy high-speed internet. But money brought in under the Biden administration might finally change that. I headed to Sandwich, New Hampshire (pop 1,300) to test out their new internet and see how voters feel about it

The Economist Explains: Why is the electoral cycle of America’s Congress so short?

For The Economist’s website, I looked at why–and with what implications–Americans head to the polls every. two. years.

“IN DECEMBER 2021, less than a year after his inauguration, President Joe Biden told a meeting of Democratic National Committee officials: “We’re going to win in 2022.”…” Keep reading here

Checks and Balance: Roe your own way

As abortion continued to be one of the main themes of this year’s midterm election, I headed to Michigan with Idrees Kahloon, The Economist’s Washington Bureau Chief, to see how it was changing the dynamic there

Babbage: Will Ethereum's merge transform crypto?

The fans at this crypto mine in Atlanta were so loud they blew out my microphone–and used the same amount of electricity a 30,000 Americans. I was there to look at why Bitcoin uses so much energy and if it could ever be more environmentally friendly.

The Economist Explains: Does the primary system benefit extreme candidates?

As the primaries were rapping up, I looked at whether extreme candidates succeed because of America’s unique candidate selection process or despite it

“AMERICA’S WAY of choosing candidates for general elections is unique. The primary system—in which a vote, usually among party members, decides which politicians are nominated—gives the public unusual power…” Keep reading here

The Intelligence and online: Kansans vote to keep the right to abortion

In August, I headed to the Sunflower State to see abortion’s first electoral test since the fall of Roe vs. Wade. The enthusiasm around the vote was really striking–not just an extreme number of lawn signs but also a general eagerness to speak about the issue

For The Intelligence, I made a curtain-raiser on the day of the election. The piece begins at 10:12

As the surprising tallies came in, I wrote up the results with Steve Mazie, the Economist’s Supreme Court correspondent

“IN A STRIKING development in a deeply conservative part of America, voters in Kansas have rejected a ballot initiative that would have scrapped the right to abortion in their state constitution…” Keep reading here

Money Talks: Britain's growth crisis

In July, in the midst of Britain’s [first] change in leadership this year, I edited an episode of Money Talks, The Economist’s business, economics and finance podcast about the country’s growth crisis. We looked at what was behind decades of sluggish growth and what could be done to change it

Checks and Balance: After Roe

To learn what America might look like if Roe vs. Wade is struck down, I visited St. Louis. In 2010, there were 6,163 abortions in Missouri. By 2020, just 167 took place in the state. But the number of women from Missouri getting abortions in Illinois in 2020? 6,578.

Money Talks: Proxy Wars

For this package in Money Talks, I visited the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting to find out if shareholders would unseat Warren Buffett. Answer: not by a long shot - so why even try?

Money Talks: State of the unions

Covering the vote to unionise the Amazon JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island was exciting for a couple reasons: I got to report on Staten Island for the first time and they won, becoming the first Amazon warehouse in America to unionise. It was fascinating to follow along.

Checks and Balance: Credit where it's due

In July, the American government began making monthly payments to families of $250- $300 per child. To find out how the expanded child tax credit helped families, I visited a food pantry in the Bronx

Checks and Balance: Labour's love lost

It was great fun to work on Checks and Balance, structuring the show, briefing the panel and reporting and writing the introduction, history package and all important quiz. It was fascinating to think about the development of ideas throughout the episode and speak with Betsey Stevenson, one of President Obama’s economics advisors.

The Intelligence: Emmanuel Macron's rivals

This segment on the French presidential race had lots of incredible tape to work with, helping to break up what could feel like a laundry list of candidates. Starts at 07:30

The Intelligence: London's wheezing stockmarket

To bring some sound to this segment on the future of London’s stockmarket, I visited the London Metal Exchange, the last exchange in Europe to still use the open outcry system. Starts at 01:00.

The Economist Asks: What happens after Merkel?

I helped produce this documentary on Germany after Angela Merkel steps down as chancellor. It was great to work on contributing to structuring a long form show and loved using longer foreign language clips