Politics Weekly America

Susan Glasser, a journalist from the New Yorker, dissects Donald Trump's recent campaign struggles as he faces Kamala Harris. She highlights his difficulties pivoting from previous narratives amid a chaotic political scene. The discussion touches on Trump's controversial rhetoric, including a questionable tale about Willie Brown, and how it impacts his credibility. They also explore the implications of age and fitness in the race, with younger candidates energizing voters, potentially reshaping the political landscape.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, known for his approachable leadership style, joins political commentator Molly Jong-Fast to discuss the implications of Kamala Harris selecting him as her running mate. They dive into the strategic importance of this choice for the Democratic campaign, especially in battleground states. Walz shares his amusing anecdotes about political quirkiness, while they explore the broader dynamics of American politics and the need for joy and community connections in leadership.

Paul Dans, the former leader of Project 2025, recently resigned, hinting at the project's decline. Joan E Greve and Rachel Leingang delve into the implications of this pivotal shift in conservative politics. They discuss how Project 2025’s right-wing agenda faced skepticism, especially from Trump himself. The conversation highlights the disconnect between extremist proposals and public sentiment, along with the influence of the Heritage Foundation on future policies. Will this mark a true end for Project 2025 or just a strategic pause?

Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes discusses Kamala Harris' challenges on Israel & Gaza, analyzing Netanyahu's controversial visit, Harris' stance, and potential Trump aggression. Also, insights on Biden's decision and Democratic strategy for the 2024 election.

Jonathan Freedland and Nikki McCann Ramírez discuss Biden dropping out and endorsing Kamala Harris. They explore if Democrats will rally around Harris and if she can beat Trump. The podcast also analyzes potential candidates to replace Biden and the impact of his decision on American politics.

After the attempted assassination of Donald Trump over the weekend, the Republican national convention gathered in Milwaukee this week to welcome him as the party’s presidential nominee. But not all eyes were on the former president. Standing next to him, above the chanting crowd, was his newly appointed candidate for vice-president, JD Vance. It was a surprising move for the Ohio senator and author of Hillbilly Elegy, who once described himself as a ‘never Trumper’ and his new boss as ‘America’s Hitler’. So what’s behind this transformation, and what’s in it for Trump? To find out, Jonathan Freedland is joined this week by Tara Setmayer, a former Republican congressional communications director

On Saturday night in London, word came through that Donald Trump had been injured during one of his rallies in Pennsylvania. A shooter, who killed another person and seriously injured others, was killed by Secret Service agents. As the US comes to grips with what just happened, Jonathan Freedland and Sidney Blumenthal discuss what this tragedy means for the former president’s image with less than five months until the election

Back in December Donald Trump said the quiet bit out loud when he announced he wanted to be a dictator – if only on day one. Looking around the world in the 21st century, autocracy is getting a new lease of life – authoritarian regimes are working together, and the danger to democracies like the United States is getting closer to home. This week, Jonathan Freedland is joined by the political commentator and author Anne Applebaum to look at what the US should be doing to tackle the growing threat of autocracy

As Americans celebrate Independence Day, Democrats are scrambling after a pretty disastrous week for the party – and arguably US-democracy. On Monday, the US supreme court handed Donald Trump a victory by ruling that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution. Stemming from this, the judge overseeing the former president’s criminal case in New York postponed his sentencing from next week to 18 September. This falls against the backdrop of Joe Biden trying to convince the public and members of his party that he is still fit to run for president. This week, Jonathan Freedland and Paul Begala, a former adviser to Bill Clinton, discuss how the Democrats can regroup

Analysis of the recent presidential debate between Biden and Trump, critiquing Biden's performance and concerns about his candidacy. Debate incident sparks concerns within Democratic Party about Biden's ability to remain as the nominee.