The Economist.
Donald Trump will mark his 80th birthday with a gladiatorial spectacle next month.
The president, a longtime fan of combat sports,
is hosting an ultimate fighting championship fight night on the south lawn of the White House.
4,000 spectators will crowd around the octagon to watch bare-chested cage fighters
slug it out at an event also intended to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
What does the president's patronage of the sport reveal about America as it approaches this milestone?
I'm John Trudeau, and this is Checks and Balance from The Economist.
Each week, we take one big theme shaping American politics and explore it in depth.
Today, UFC and American masculinity.
Few presidents have performed manliness quite like Donald Trump.
Whether he's swaggering into a cage-fighting match or shrugging off an assassination attempt,
the Republicans have long been thought of as the party of men.
The president's appeal to young men in particular appears now to be fading.
So what does it take to win their votes?
Joining me this week to talk about fighting masculinity and politics are James Bennett and Charlotte Howard,
who are both in New York.
James and Charlotte, how are you doing?
I'm well, John.
Thank you.