The Ballpark
The Ballpark
LSE Film and Audio Team
The Ballpark is the LSE US Centre's regular podcast on the politics and policy of the United States. Through features and interviews with academics from the LSE and elsewhere, The Ballpark looks more closely into what's going on behind the headlines.
LSE: The Ballpark | How AI is influencing society with Dr Mona Sloane
Since the emergence of AI as a highly transformative force for modern society, many have faced challenges in updating their policies to address the potentially harmful effects of unrestricted AI development and integration into everyday life.
Sep 1
31 min
LSE: The Ballpark | AI and the gig economy with Dr Lindsey Cameron
From helping assign tasks and determine prices on delivery and rideshare platforms to recommending certain individuals over others on freelance hiring sites, AI is fast becoming a core part of the modern gig economy.
Aug 17
23 min
LSE: The Ballpark | AI harm, accountability, and cybersecurity with Dr Chinmayi Sharma
AI has become easily accessible, easy to use, and for many people, it’s a useful tool. This means that AI is being used by individuals and institutions to help solve a variety of challenges, from everyday decision-making to pressing global issues.
Aug 3
39 min
LSE: The Ballpark | How democratic citizenry can shape America’s role in the world - Master’s students essay competition 2026
In 2026, the Phelan US Centre ran an essay competition for LSE master’s students with the prompt, “What role can democratic citizenry play in shaping America’s role in the world as it enters its 250th year?"
Jul 20
39 min
LSE: The Ballpark | The Global Economy in a Changing World Order
The global economy is undergoing profound transformation. Geopolitical realignments, rising economic nationalism, climate disruption, trade fragmentation, and technological upheaval are reshaping the foundations of international economic relations.
Jul 6
22 min
LSE: The Ballpark | Rethinking the 1990s with Professors G. John Ikenberry and Peter Trubowitz
The 1990s were an important decade. They saw the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, falling trade barriers, an expanding capitalist democratic order and the rise of what came to be called the liberal international order.
Jun 22
42 min
LSE: The Ballpark | EU-China relations in the Trump era with Noah Barkin
The last two decades have seen significant growth in the relationship between China and the EU. Now, China is the EU’s biggest import and third-largest export partner. But this relationship is becoming increasingly one sided.
Jun 8
34 min
LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the unmaking of Europe with Professor Nathalie Tocci
While Trump’s foreign policy record has not been very successful elsewhere as wars continue to rage in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the exception is Europe which Trump seems to want to divide and weaken.
May 26
28 min
LSE: The Ballpark | China under siege: how Beijing sees the United States with Dr Yu Jie
The last decade has seen a period of prolonged competition between the US and China with China continuing to grow economically and pursue technological self-reliance while the US attempts to hinder this growth through measures like export controls.
May 11
26 min
LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the future of US-EU relations with Professor Kathleen McNamara
Donald Trump’s first presidential term meant that many allies, including in the EU and Europe, were forced to consider the possibility that the United States could no longer be a reliable partner in global affairs.
Apr 27
34 min
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