*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

Nowadays we're used to the idea that antagonism exists between the West and China, but we don't often pause to consider that this antagonism long predates China's rising economic and military power. Our guest today, Professor Jeffrey Crean from Tyler Junior College in Texas, is someone who has considered this - and he's written a great book, The Fear of Chinese Power, which examines over 150 years of Western fears of China.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Martijn van Ette

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

In this special 100th episode of America Explained, Andy zooms out to look at what happened in the four years since the podcast launched to bring us back to this moment - one in which Donald Trump could once again become president of the United States.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

In this episode, Andy is joined by Martijn to talk about the hold-up in getting aid for Ukraine through the House of Representatives. How is it that Speaker Mike Johnson can single-handedly hold up this aid? And will Ukraine eventually get it?

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Martijn van Ette

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

In this special episode, Andy is interviewed by Phil Dobbie and Roger Herring of The Why Curve podcast about how Europe should prepare for a second Trump presidency. We talked about trade, alliances and democracy, as well as how Trump's re-election might lead to an undignified scramble to get on his good side.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

The border is the big news in America right now. The Biden administration has embraced a hard-right approach to border security - but Republicans in Congress won't pass it because they want the president to look bad. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking the law into his own hands - using arguments that date back to the civil war.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

Donald Trump has won early primary contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. But the results have highlighted some warning signs for his campaign. Plus, Ron DeSantis is gone. Why was anyone enthusiastic about him in the first place? Andy discusses.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter ***

Since our last episode it was the Fourth of July, the holiday that many politicians and commentators like to mark by talking nonsense about the Founding Fathers. In this episode Andy explores all of the ways in which popular debate often gets the Founders wrong, and explains how the founding generation was riven by all kinds of disagreements and doubts about the America they were creating.

Check out America: A History, a new podcast from the University of East Anglia.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Merry Christmas!

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

In the early days of the conflict in Gaza, the Biden administration called its approach to Israel "hugging them close". But now more and more disagreements are emerging between between the two countries, and hugs don't seem to be working anymore. What does this mean for the rest of the conflict and the broader future of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle?

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** *** Receive 15% off the America Explained newsletter *** ***

Nowadays we're used to the idea that America will stick by Israel almost no matter what. But American policymakers didn't always view Israel as an ally or a strategic asset for the United States. On the anniversary of the partition of Palestine by the United Nations - an event which set the stage for the modern Middle East - Andy discusses America's attitude towards the creation of the state of Israel in the 1940s.

Credits

Host - Andy Gawthorpe