US of Ed

"The Republican Party, as the Trump Party, probably has one or two years left to live."

Good news on COVID with Americans looking to receive the jab faster than previously though, but the real fight is over the $1.9 Trillion in COVID relief and a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill to come, that will determine if Biden can keep his campaign promises. Meanwhile, a golden calf of sorts made an appearance at this week's CPAC sending clear signals that Republicans intend to fully remain the Party of Trump. Also talking, Syria, Russia, Jamal Khashoggi, and March 4th threats to the capitol once again.

"Ted Cruz is a cruise missile heading to oblivion."

Fallout from the unprecedented cold front to hit the southern states has seen skyrocketing power bills for Texas residents and Ted Cruz forced to return from a family trip to Cancun with his tail between his legs. Meanwhile, the United States has surpassed a milestone that no one ever wanted to see, 500,000 deaths due to COVID, so how goes recovery efforts? Also talking about the minimum wage debate, Merrick Garland, Neera Tanden, ICE, and unpacking the crackdown on white nationalism in the US military.

"For the past four years we've paid attention to politics rather than policy."

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial ended this week in an unsurprising acquittal and some are looking to take justice in other ways, but at what point can we stop paying attention to this fiasco? Let's talk policy instead, with economists warning millions of jobs are unlikely even once the COVID pandemic is over, with attitudes to travel and working from home vastly changed, and that retraining is needed. Also talking Republican obstructionism, Texas power failures, China and Taiwan, and Rush Limbaugh.

"Donald Trump's new lawyers, it looks like he went so deep in the barrel he got frogs, were not able to mount a decent opening set of arguments."

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial underway at time of recording this week, a devastating case brought by Democrats to meagre defence but how much patience do we really have for proceedings? Meanwhile, debate over stimulus cheques, minimum wage and family security payments, should Biden go big or go bipartisan? Also touching on Georgia election interference and Trump's election fund sticky fingers, Iran, Julian Assange, and the Super Bowl.

"Biden, as he said yesterday, I'm not doing any governing yet, I'm just trying to get to the point where I can."

Analysing the latest executive orders to come across the desk of Joe Biden including a new direction on immigration and push for American manufacturing, plus shoving $1.9 trillion of COVID relief across the line without bipartisan debate. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is struggling to mount a legal team or defence when it comes to his second round of impeachment proceedings. Also talking Biden's phone call with Vladimir Putin, ending the filibuster, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ted Cruz trying to be the new Trump, and six more weeks of winter according to Punxsutawney Phil.

"There are a lot of systemic inequalities that exist in the US and I think even starting to chip away will mean tremendous progress."

Ed and Sean are joined again by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad this week in a supersized chat! One week in and the Biden Administration has hit the ground running, we discuss the latest cabinet appointees and what is on the agenda for the first 100 days, including COVID economic relief, unemployment, immigration and racial inequality. Plus what the result in Georgia means for Southern Democrats and the role of Kamala Harris in the new administration.

"Talking about healing... Talking to the soul of America."

Joe Biden has officially been sworn in as President of the United States of America, with Kamala Harris making history as his VP. Already the Biden administration is coming out swinging with a slew of executive orders looking at tackling the COVID crisis and breaking down the legacy of the Trump presidency. But it's not all good news coming back from the break over the new year, as Ed and Sean discuss the Trump insurrection and ongoing consequences of political violence becoming mainstream.

"The battle's not over, but at least we all have the same direction now."

2020 has been one for the history books, and most of us will be happy to see it consigned to history as well. Looking at the highs and lows of the year for the United States, including COVID-19 and the complete mismanagement that has led now to over 300,000 deaths. The ups and downs of the Black Lives Matter movement and need for change, and of course, the presidential campaign along with the utter depths of lows we've seen since the result in November.

"You cannot pardon yourself for the commission of a crime that was intended to interfere with the rules and rights of American citizens."

While much of the world celebrates a COVID vaccine and looks toward recovery, the United States is registering single day highs in terms of COVID deaths. Meanwhile, Trump lawsuits are collapsing due to the weight of evidence in the 2020 election, and Trump, uninterested in governing, is collapsing as well. First though, talking new additions to the Biden cabinet, and we discuss William Barr, Rudy Giuliani, and unpack the Senate race in Georgia.

Next week will be our final episode for 2020, discussing the highs and the (numerous) lows of the last year.

"You'd think they'd want to give people a Christmas present, a little turkey in the stocking or whatever."

Looking at the latest Joe Biden cabinet picks and just how difficult the confirmation process is going to be, depending on the results in Georgia. And coming into Christmas, Mitch McConnell is more interested in playing Scrooge and leaving a mess for Biden than helping Americans through what could be a very lean Christmas. Plus surrender on COVID, Trump's pardon-for-pay, fundraising schemes, and threats against the $780 billion military funding bill.