US of Ed

"There's an opening that we can flip the Senate, that Democrats can take back the Senate."

All eyes have been on the race to the White House, with media and polls focused on who will be America's next president. But to really decide the future of the nation, the race to control the Senate could be much more important. Ed and Sean are joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad to talk about some of the biggest issues of the 2020 campaign and how they'll be affected by the makeup of the Senate; Healthcare, Jobs, and Voting Rights.

"It was a shameful exhibition, but more damaging is the damage it did to the United States around the world."

Unravelling the mess that was the first presidential debate, where the most lucid statements Donald Trump had to make were calling for white supremacists to stand by and for voter intimidation. Trump's taxes, or lack thereof, also finally released, not by the president as long promised but by the New York Times, and with impeccable timing. Also talking Amy Coney Barrett, Brad Parscale, Alexei Navalny and black voters targeted for 'deterrence'.

"Her steady hand on issues of social justice, civil justice, her pioneering ways."

From humble beginnings through fighting for feminism to taking a seat on the highest court of the land, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an icon and inspiration to people, not just in the United States but around the world. Ed and Sean are joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad to discuss the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this special edition of US of Ed, as well as touching on the battle to see her replaced and key issues the court will be facing in her absence.

"The nuclear option is the only one remaining."

Sadly, this week saw the passing of Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. While a full accounting of her legacy is yet to be felt, literally within an hour of the announcement of her passing Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was quick to say the Senate would expedite Trump's replacement for Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, sparking cries of Republican hypocrisy and an ugly battle for votes. Trump has his only legal troubles though with a fresh investigation into his taxes in Manhattan. We're also looking at 200,000 COVID deaths in the US, protests, Breonna Taylor, Iran sanctions, and Joe Biden's latest endorsements.

"People know violence breeds violence and for the president to be on the side, one way or the other, is causing his polls to go down."

Trump continues to escalate tensions around protest movements in the US, calling for 'retribution', but is the focus on law and order distracting at all from his failures on other issues? Meanwhile, a historic peace deal signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain presided over by Trump, could it repair his reputation as a deal maker and even net him a Nobel Peace Prize? Also talking the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, trade, misinformation on COVID, West Coast fires, and latest from the election race.

"He knew how bad it was, he knew how deadly it was, and then he has no game plan."

Suckers and losers, some choice words from Trump regarding America's much-venerated war dead, and Trump on tape admitting he underplayed the threat of COVID-19 from the start. For any other president, these would be historical scandals but given everyone has pretty much made up their mind on Trump, will they have any impact on the race? Also talking Louis DeJoy, a COVID vaccine, California, Australian journos out of China, Brexit news, and latest on the election race.

"They're trying to scare the American electorate into a victory."

Violent scenes from Portland and Kenosha looking more and more like a second Civil War, and with the actions of Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse lionised in the conservative media and by Donald Trump himself it doesn't seem likely to stop any time soon. Meanwhile, a federal court has again blocked the release of Trump's tax returns until after the November election. Also talking Breonna Taylor, Hurricane Laura, Shinzo Abe and 9/11 remembrances coming up next week.

"I think this was a homage to Trump, little policy, little substance."

Republicans held their convention this week to officially renominate Donald Trump for the White House, so what were they selling and who's buying? Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter protests have been reignited following the police shooting of Jacob Brown with violence erupting as far-right militia involve themselves in proceedings and the NBA cancels games as a sign of protest. Also talking Iran sanctions, poisoning of Alexei Navalny and just what is going on with Kim Jong-un?

"Racial and economic justice, healthcare, honesty in bureaucracy, restoring international relationships. Making America honest again."

The Democratic Convention was a showstopper this week, as Joe Biden officially accepted the mantle of his party's presidential candidate and Kamala Harris made history as his running mate. First though, we know that any result where Biden/Harris wins is likely to be challenged by Donald Trump as illegitimate, "proof" the election was rigged, but with all the interference and undermining coming from Trump and Republicans we have to ask, at what point would a Trump victory instead be seen as illegitimate? Also talking the latest on USPS, Russian interference, and the Israel / UAE peace deal.

"People in the suburbs... they don't care what colour she is, they know she's real."

Kamala Harris has been at long last confirmed as Joe Biden's running mate, so what factors are going to work for and against her in November? And what can we expect from next week's Democratic convention? Republicans also have dirty tricks up their sleeves, hacking away at the United States Postal Service and using Kanye West to run interference. Also talking COVID latest, the Great American Outdoors Act, Lebanon, TikTok, and the spectre of Trump's face on Mount Rushmore.