Politics Weekly America
The Guardian
Every Friday, Guardian columnist and former Washington correspondent, Jonathan Freedland, invites experts to help analyse the latest in American politics. From politicians to journalists covering the White House and beyond, Jonathan and his guests give listeners behind the scenes access to how the American political machine works. With a global network of over 900 journalists and five dedicated editions covering news in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and beyond, the Guardian offers comprehensive reporting across every continent.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 8, 2023 • 27min
What was behind Joe Biden’s biggest presidential decisions?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Franklin Foer of the Atlantic about his book on Joe Biden's presidency, touching on topics such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, abortion rights and Biden's reliance on advice, morals and regrets.
Sep 1, 2023 • 28min
Will the real Vivek Ramaswamy please stand up?
He’s an entrepreneur, a former libertarian, a lover of rap, and has been labelled ‘Trump 2.0’ by some. He’s also campaigning to be the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. So why is he polling well despite angering many? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Charlie Sykes of The Bulwark about Ramaswamy’s credentials, his campaign style and his chances of winning
Aug 25, 2023 • 25min
The winners and losers of the first GOP debate
Republican presidential candidates debate without Trump, analyzing their performances and questioning the significance of the debate. Ron DeSantis fails to capitalize on Trump's absence. Standout performances from Mike Pence and Nikki Haley, while Vivek Ramaswami's alarming positions are criticized. Debate on federal abortion legislation and Nikki Haley's supporting stance towards Trump. Discussion on Trump's decision to not participate in the debate, its impact, and name-calling of opponents.
Aug 18, 2023 • 27min
Georgia takes on Trump and his allies
This podcast explores the 13 charges against Donald Trump in the Georgia election conspiracy case. It discusses previous indictments against Trump, his potential defense, and Republican loyalty. The upcoming trial in Georgia and its potential impact on public perception are also analyzed. The podcast explores the potential consequences of a criminal conviction on Trump's presidential campaign.
Aug 11, 2023 • 23min
The power of junk food companies in Washington
When and why did so-called food deserts first emerge? How has the fast food industry become so powerful? And despite the growing rate of obesity in the US, why are politicians not stepping in to improve nutrition? This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Dr Eduardo J Gómez of Lehigh University, on how his new book Junk Food Politics taught him about the power of lobbyists
Aug 4, 2023 • 41min
Al Sharpton on 60 years since the civil rights march on Washington
On 26 August, Rev Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and other civil rights activists will commemorate the 1963 march on Washington, which was organised to advocate for civil and economic rights for African Americans. This week, Jonathan Freedland sits down with Sharpton to discuss why he believes Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I have a dream’ speech has been abused by some on the right, why he is still fighting for police reform, and how James Brown was so influential on his life
Jul 28, 2023 • 31min
Why do Republicans hate the Barbie movie?
Moviegoers flocked to cinemas last weekend for the highly anticipated release of two of the year’s biggest movies – Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. But conservatives have slated Barbie for being, among other things, too ‘woke’, anti-men and even … Chinese propaganda. Is the outrage real or is it just another example of politics employing a culture war to rally the base? Jonathan Freedland and Amanda Marcotte try to figure it out
Jul 21, 2023 • 30min
How would a possible third indictment affect Trump’s 2024 run?
On Tuesday, Donald Trump said he had received a letter suggesting he was about to be indicted by special counsel Jack Smith in connection with the criminal investigation into the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021. It would be his third criminal indictment. Jonathan Freedland asks Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, if the pile of indictments could grow too large even for Trump – and his voters. Plus: who is Glenn Youngkin, the governor of Virginia? If Republicans do decide Trump is too badly damaged, might they turn to him?
Jul 14, 2023 • 28min
Will Hunter Biden damage his father’s bid for re-election?
Last month we learned that President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, will plead guilty to two counts of misdemeanour tax crimes and accept a deal with prosecutors related to a separate illegal firearm possession charge. Republicans and rightwing media outlets jumped at the chance to discuss the case, but liberals have been much quieter on the issue. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian US columnist Margaret Sullivan about why many on the left are quick to analyse the legal woes of the former president, but pay much less attention to the current president’s son
Jul 7, 2023 • 32min
How do Democrats fight back against the US supreme court?
As the dust settled on last week’s judgments from the conservative-led bench, progressives voiced their anger at what they see as a lack of determination from the Biden administration to counteract the supreme court and its most extreme decisions. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian US columnist Moira Donegan about what progressives want Joe Biden to do now
