US of Ed

"If you don't reopen, you may be facing economic death."

Over 100,000 deaths and yet the United States is reopening despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19, could we be looking at even worse numbers in a second wave of cases? Brazil and Russia also hit hard and their leaders look vulnerable, and just how will China be investigated and punished? Also talking Trump's attacks on facts, Hong Kong, Palestine, and the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd.

"He's tried to pin this tail on every donkey... and each time it has failed."

Obamagate limps on into this week but we're no clearer on understanding what's behind it and even as a distraction it seems like a loser. Then again, even as we approach 100,000 US deaths from COVID we're still talking about it, so maybe it's working after all? Also, as the United States retreats from the world, China rises to fill the gaps - what does it mean for WHO and for Australia? Also talking Steve Linick and John Ratcliffe, hydroxychloroquine, unemployment, and mail-in voting.

"Last minute, last deal... Making it worse is his promise."

With the economy down, failed promises and Trump facing criticism over lives lost due to his disastrous COVID-19 response, get ready for more and more diversions starting with Obamagate. Meanwhile the Supreme Court set to decide on releasing Trump's financial dealings and tearing down the ACA in the middle of a global health crisis. Also talking relations with China, Russia's incredibly clumsy whistleblower problem, and the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.

"This'll be a fig leaf over a very exposed body, it won't work."

States are looking at reopening despite high numbers of COVID cases being reported, could we be looking at a lethal second wave? Someone who is most definitely alive and not at all dead is glorious leader Kim Jong-un, but just what is going on in North Korea? We're also talking economic stimulus, food security during COVID, nine lives for Benjamin Netanyahu, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Joe Biden assault allegations and running mate.

"Non-leadership at its best."

American now accounts for a third of the world's COVID cases and the death toll as a result of failure to deal with the crisis is over 60,000, but Trump's latest miracle cure is still capable of eliciting a stunned reaction. Falling back on immigration issues, stimulus cheques, and looking increasingly pathetic, what might a desperate Trump do to stay in power in 2020? Also talking big business stimulus boons, Jair Bolsonaro, and Ohio.

"He knows these people won't desert him if he acts like he supports them... actually, it's working."

Trump stirring up some uniquely American protesters this week with cries for liberty against state governments, despite those states not reaching minimum requirements the Trump administration itself has set. Oil prices have taken another massive dive despite the Easter deal and could keep plummeting, but is it an indication of a better, cleaner future post-COVID? Also talking immigration, Canada's worst ever mass shooting, North Korea's leadership problems, and why is Biden letting Bernie keep his delegates?

"[Trump] can't find enough scapegoats, he never looks at himself."

Increasingly unstable over the COVID-19 crisis, Donald Trump is looking for anyone to blame but himself and his latest move is removing American government funding from the World Health Organisation. After a brutal election result for Republicans in Wisconsin and big name endorsements for Joe Biden this week, we play some Fantasy League with a potential Cabinet for the Dem nominee. Also talking suing China over coronavirus, tornadoes in the South, and an OPEC deal reached over Easter.

"I don't anticipate the Democrats doing much of anything about this except throwing it back in our faces as another reason this man's got to go."

He ran a great race, some would say much better than the eventual victor, but the Bern has been extinguished leaving the field open for Joe Biden to take on Trump in November. Trump, meanwhile, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is cleaning house of officials he perceives as disloyal and using hours-long press conferences to deny unfavourable stories oxygen in the media. We talk more on the road ahead for Biden, coronavirus, Boris Johnson, and voter suppression in Wisconsin in this week's bumper podcast.

"This is a very feeble effort against a very big storm."

With 100,000 deaths projected as a minimum and historic economic downturn, it may be a very different looking America that comes out the other end of the Covid-19 crisis. Individual states have been filling in the gaps of a paralysed federal government in responding to the pandemic, how are they taking matters into their own hands? Also, senators and insider trading, Joe Biden assault allegation, and the passing of Reverend Joseph Lowery.

"Americans need to come together, not be split apart."

Save lives or save the economy? Despite a two trillion dollar stimulus package being passed Trump and cronies don't seem satisfied and want America back to work, whatever the cost. Obamacare turned ten this week, how well equipped was it to handle the current crisis and what might be improved once it's all over? Also talking UK in lockdown, Tokyo Olympics, and moving forward despite everything in the Democratic nominee race.