In this episode I talk to Dr Richard Johnson, lecturer in U.S. history at QMUL and author of "The end of the 2nd reconstruction: Obama, Trump, and the Crisis of Civil Rights".

We discuss the divisions in U.S. politics, the role of courts in U.S. democracy, the electoral college and whether parallels can be drawn between the polarisation that exists in the U.S. and U.K.

Find us on Apple, Google and Spotify Podcasts | Twitter @PoliticUnlocked

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Chris Wilson: @CWilsonPsych

Richard Johnson: @richardmarcj

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Timestamps:

01:30: What does it say about US politics that the election was so close?

02:45: What are the origins of the electoral college? Is it a democratic/fair system?

05:30: How has modern technology negated the need for the electoral college?

09:00: The role of the court in U.S. democracy.

11:05: Will the new supreme court makeup play a role in this election outcome?

14:00: Backsliding of voting rights and democracy in the U.S.

18:50: The racial divide in U.S. politics.

21:35: The education divide in U.S. politics.

23:30: Will the future demographic makeup of the U.S. automatically lead to majority for Democrats?

28:00: Are there any signs of a diverse, progressive popular movement in the U.S.?

31:10: The Urban/Rural divide in U.S. politics.

33:40: Can we draw any parallels between U.S. and U.K. politics?