Politics Weekly America

Ali Breland, a staff writer at The Atlantic, dives into Donald Trump's fraught association with Jeffrey Epstein and the tensions within his MAGA base. They discuss the call from loyalists like Laura Loomer for Trump to release Epstein's files, revealing cracks in their unwavering support. The conversation highlights the complex dynamics of loyalty and disillusionment among Trump’s supporters, as well as the ideological rifts that the Epstein scandal has exposed within the Republican Party.

In this discussion, Margaret Sullivan, a prominent columnist for The Guardian US and former public editor of The New York Times, dissects the unsettling trend of major media companies settling hefty lawsuits with Donald Trump. She explores the implications for journalistic integrity and free press, highlighting the pressures faced by media organizations from powerful figures. The conversation also probes the relationship between corporate interests and press autonomy, raising alarms about the future of democracy in the face of these trends.

Eleanor Mueller, a congressional reporter for Semaphore specializing in economic policy, joins to discuss the implications of Donald Trump's ambitious tax-and-spending proposal. They dive into the political tussles surrounding the bill's passage and the tensions between executive and congressional powers over budget control. Mueller highlights the controversial shifts in immigration funding and regressive cuts to social services that could impact low-income Americans. The conversation also touches on the complex dynamics within the Republican Party and the potential consequences of Medicaid reforms.

How did a political nobody, Zohran Mamdani, beat one of New York’s best-known establishment figures, Andrew Cuomo? Rachel Leingang speaks to Moira Donegan about how Democratic party leaders view the historic New York City mayoral primary result. Does the party need to fundamentally change to meet voters where they are?

What is Donald Trump’s plan for Iran? Is he about to break his campaign pledge for ‘no more wars’? And if he does, could this be the moment he loses some of his most loyal Maga supporters? The Guardian’s Rachel Leingang and Andrew Roth discuss

Judith Levine, an author and journalist for Guardian US, discusses the alarming shift towards authoritarianism under Donald Trump. She highlights the deployment of military forces against protesters and critiques the increasing militarization of domestic law enforcement, especially around immigration policies. Levine addresses the implications of these actions for civil liberties and the balance of power. With looming military parades and rising political tensions, she warns about the risks facing democracy and the pervasive surveillance practices affecting citizens.

Three years ago British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous defender Bruno Pereira vanished while on a reporting trip near Brazil’s remote Javari valley. The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips investigates what happened in the first episode of a new six-part investigative podcast series. Find episode 2 – and all future episodes – by searching for “Missing in the Amazon”

In this discussion, Susan Glasser, a seasoned political writer from The New Yorker, delves into the dramatic fallout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. She highlights the initial support Musk lent to Trump’s campaign and how their friendship soured due to ideological rifts. The conversation also touches on how Musk's actions have impacted Trump's political landscape, including legislative implications and personal ambitions. Additionally, they explore the shifting dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations and reflect on the broader ramifications for democracy.

Last week Robert F Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s health chief and a longtime vaccine sceptic, presented a report on children’s health by the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) commission. The study singled out the negative impact of vaccines, ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, lack of exercise and “over-medicalisation”. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Jessica Glenza about the long-term implications of the Maha movement’s influence on US policy

As scepticism grows over Joe Biden’s mental and physical health during his presidency, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Bakari Sellers, a political commentator and former Democratic state lawmaker, about what the party needs to do to regain trust after the fallout from the 2024 election