Ballot to Talk About

The latest episode of this international politics podcast focusses on the election of the new leader of the CDU, Armin Laschet, and discusses the legacy of outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The episode also takes a look at the upcoming Portuguese presidential election, and the latest developments in Italy as Giuseppe Conte hangs on to the premiership.  

A week on from Armin Laschet's victory in the CDU leadership election, Sam and Chern look at how he managed to clinch the top job and what this might mean for the politics of the CDU going forward. Attention now turns to who will be the centre-right's candidate for Chancellor in the September election, as Jens Spahn and Markus Söder posture for the nomination. How will this be decided, and who will be the best positioned to inherit Angela Merkel's role? As Merkel's 16-year tenure as Chancellor comes to an end, the episode also looks at her legacy within the CDU and German politics as a whole. What will be her biggest legacy? How will her handling of the migrant crisis be viewed by history? Is she personally responsible for the decline of the SPD?

This slightly extended episode of the all-new international politics podcast focusses on the the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and takes a more broader look at the impact of Trump on the Republican party as his administration comes to an end. The episode also takes a look at the recent Canadian Cabinet reshuffle, and the collapse of the Dutch and Estonian Governments in what has been a very busy week for European politics.

Just a few days after the US House voted 232-197 to impeachment the 45th President for inciting an insurrection against the US Capitol, Sam and Chern look at the fallout from this result and why members voted the way they did. Why did 10 Republicans vote to impeach a Republican president? How will the Senate trial pan out? Is Mitch McConnell really about to vote to convict Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors? As the Republicans look ahead to years back in Opposition, the episode also looks at the impact Trump has had on the party for four years and what they might do next. Will Trump's grip on the party diminish? Is he the frontrunner for the 2024 primary? What has been Trump's legacy on the Republican party? 

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast focusses on the United States and the recently concluded run-off elections for the two Georgia senate seats. Just a few days after Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock beat the two incumbent Republican Senators to take back control of the Senate majority for their party, Sam and Chern look at how they managed it, and what this means for US politics. This episode also features a preview of this weekend's CDU leadership election in which the likely successor to Angela Merkel as German Chancellor will be elected.

The Democrats will now control the majority in the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris's deciding vote, but what will Chuck Schumer and his party be able to achieve? Does this change the legislative priorities of the incoming Biden administration. In the week that Trump was caught on tape lambasting the Republican Georgia state officials, the episode also looks at the impact this may have had on the fortunes of his party. Is Georgia turning into a blue state, or was this a case of good timing for the Democrats?

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast focusses on the United States and the upcoming run-off elections for the two Georgia senate seats. With just 2 days to go until Georgians head to the polls to choose their Senators and determine which party holds the balance of power in the Senate, Sam and Chern look at what is going on in the state and what makes these elections so fascianting to follow. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are looking to save their seats, but challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are looking to translate Biden's statewide win into two statewide wins on the congressional side. Are they the right candidates for the moment? Which party has more to lose on Tuesday? Will Donald Trump's rhetoric about voting irregularties in the state hurt Republican turnout?

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast continues our exploration of the UK's exit from the European Union, and the impact of this on UK politics. In the week in which the UK-EU trading agreement passed through Parliament, Sam and Chern take a look at how the UK got to this point and the impact of the turbulence along the way. This episode also includes a discussion of the recent collapse of the Moldovan Government ahead of Maia Sandu's inauguration and Israel's return to the polls for the fourth time in two years.

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast turns its attention to Brexit in the first part of our exploration of the UK's exit from the European Union, and the impact of this on UK politics. In the week that Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen unveil the UK-EU trading agreement, Sam and Chern take a look at how the UK got to this point and the impact of the turbulence along the way. This episode also includes an update on the formation of Joe Biden's Cabinet, and a discussion of the recent Indonesian Cabinet reshuffle.