US of Ed

"He sold himself out, he sold out the court, he sold out black people, and he sold out America."
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been roundly criticised this week for taking millions of dollars worth of gifts in the form of luxury vacations from a top Republican donor, with Democrats calling for him to step down from the country's highest court. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers at a state and federal level continue to take aim at abortion rights and, of all things, child labour laws. Also discussing Donald Trump's legal woes, the Louisville shooting, the Colorado River, and Joe Biden's confirmation that he will be running again in 2024.

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"A democracy has to prove itself at least every twenty years or it will sink into a dictatorship. This is a proving period."

Donald Trump has been indicted on 34 counts connecting to hush money payments made during the course of his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first ever former president to face criminal charges. We discuss the fallout including Trump's threats toward the judge and prosecutor of the case, Republican response, the reaction from voters, and the other criminal investigations Trump is currently facing. Plus the latest on Ukraine, Saudis cut off the oil tap, the push for a brutalising budget, and Biden turning down the invitation to King Charles' crowning.

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"We think we can brutalise people into obeying your dictum, rather than helping them understand how they can be whole people without being chastised and persecuted."

Another week, another school shooting, and this time politicians don't appear to even be pretending they might get something done about it. But there is one thing that's at least caught the right-wing's attention and that is the identity of the perpetrator, twenty-eight-year-old transgender man Aiden Hale. Meanwhile, mass protests have rocked Israel as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries to shake up the country's judicial system in his personal favour. Also looking at the Obama legacy, SVB fallout, Mike Pence's Jan 6th testimony, and the deaths of 38 people in a US-Mexico border migrant detention facility.

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"How much of the house has to fall down before it's not livable?"

A lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing, over the potential of a Trump arrest this week, and it appears even Trump loyalists are getting sick of the former president's grifting and self-interest. Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping has met with Vladimir Putin in Russia to reassure him their two countries are "driving changes not seen for 100 years". We're also talking about continuing fallout from the SVB collapse, origins of COVID-19, and major school strikes in Los Angeles.

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"I just don't believe this was just poor bank planning or a mischievous board of directors."

The American banking system under threat this week as Silicon Valley Bank imploded in the largest banking collapse since the 2008 Financial Crisis, has Biden righted the ship? And tensions rise between Russia and the US after Russia aircraft down an American surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea. We're also talking about the AUKUS submarine deal, background checks for gun buyers, California flooding, and Trump as the 2024 Republican frontrunner.

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"[Republicans] are making small targets when there are big issues."

Takeaways from CPAC as the 2024 Republican field begins to state their cases in front of commentators and voters. And it appears Joe Biden will be in the running again against whoever the Republicans deliver, so what kind of week is he having in regards to student loans and illegal immigration? Also looking at the Nord Stream pipeline bombing, a lawsuit targeting Texas over its anti-abortion laws, and the International High Seas Treaty.

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"Is FOX willing to pay four billion dollars for telling lies?"

Rupert Murdoch has taken to the witness stand this week in the defamation case brought against FOX News by Dominion Voting Systems and confessed certain elements at FOX pushed the stolen election narrative against all evidence to the contrary. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court weighs up Biden's student loan forgiveness plans for better or worse. Also looking at laws targeting drag performers and sexual minorities, East Palestine's continuing fallout, and the war in Ukraine.

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"This is purely political theatre, but this is theatre I don't want Putin to lose because if he loses he will use nuclear weapons."

President Joe Biden has called on allies to continue their support of Ukraine's efforts to repel their Russia invaders this week, but with the situation at a standoff where can either side go at this point? But first, we look at the fallout of the Ohio train derailment with Norfolk Southern ordered to clean up the toxic effects. We also talk a major case before the Supreme Court that could change the face of the internet, indictments in Georgia, and latest on George Santos

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"They want to make a show but they don't want to face the music."

Apocalyptic scenes in East Palestine, Ohio, as a derailed train spills toxic chemicals, leaving residents worried about long-term health impacts and looking for someone to blame. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders looks to drag big pharmaceutical companies in front of Congress to grill them on affordability. Also looking this week at more Chinese spy balloons, the Michigan State shooting, cutting the defense budget, and new ethics rules for Supreme Court Justices and their families.

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"This is really one where, who blinks first?"

Biden's State of the Union address this week praised his administration's accomplishment on jobs while calling for more to be done on manufacturing, tax reform, and repairing the political divide, although the response was anything but unifying. Meanwhile, an alleged spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina brings fresh tensions in the relationship between the US and China. We're also talking about medical crises facing everyday Americans, massive investment plans for Central America, and the Turkey-Syria earthquake.

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