Politics Weekly America

Wednesday was debate night for almost all the Republican candidates for the White House, but once again, the man who chose not to turn up was stealing the headlines for yet another legal issue that went against him. Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley and the others had ample opportunity to bring up the fact that a judge in New York ruled that Donald Trump had committed fraud for years while building a real estate empire. But they didn’t focus on that or any of the other court cases set to interrupt his campaign next year. So what did they all have to say? Did they manage to steal any of the limelight? This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Bill Kristol, the former chief of staff to the vice-president Dan Quayle and top conservative commentator, to get his take on the Republican field

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and US President Biden discuss unity against Russia. The podcast explores the impact of Biden losing in 2024, Biden's support for Ukraine and the complicated relationship between the two leaders. It also delves into the Republican Party's stance on foreign policy, the potential consequences for Ukraine under different politicians, and a scandal involving Republican Congresswoman Lauren Bobitt.

Despite an apparent lack of evidence that Joe Biden profited from the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, announced on Tuesday that he was launching a formal impeachment inquiry into the president. Many suspect he was pushed to make the move to appease some far-right members of the Republican party, who have threatened to tank his deal to avert a government shutdown by the end of the month if he does not meet their list of demands. So, will Joe Biden be impeached? Is this just an act of political revenge for Donald Trump? Could it end up backfiring on McCarthy? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Marianna Sotomayor of the Washington Post about what happens next

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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