US of Ed

"The US might well be accused of a crime against humanity."

Far from a shining city upon a hill, the United States has been seen this week as home to acts of needless cruelty thanks to the Trump administration's asylum seeker policies. President Trump has denied responsibility and furthermore pulled the US out of the UN Human Rights Council in a troubling move for human rights abuses around the globe. Also talking trade war with China, Paul Manafort's prison blues and the latest in the Mueller investigation.

"Something can start from there, where there was nothing before." 

Donald Trump has brought his special brand of negotiation to the summit with Kim Jong-un and come away with a win despite a concession on US / South Korea war games. What worked, and what would Barack Obama or other predecessors have done differently? His diplomacy was less stellar at the G7 summit in Canada and immediately after, mindlessly attacking allies and pulling for Russia. Also talking Ohio's voter purge, the GOP's split on immigration, and a case study for moderate Republicans in Mark Sanford.

"It looks like the good guys won this one, and will have a good chance in the regular election." 

This week's primaries were the biggest bunch of elections we'll see until November, so what should we take away from the results? Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is headed to prison on witness tampering charges relating back to the Mueller investigation. What might he go to save his own skin. Also talking North Korea, tough tariffs on American allies, and Donald Trump's bizarre and petty snub to Superbowl winners the Philadelphia Eagles.

"This is an example of the two faces of America right now."

A punch-drunk GOP, weary from internal division and Trump scandals, faces off against a chipper but at times just as divided, and plausibly overconfident Democratic party as the 2018 congressional races begin. Ed talks potential pitfalls for both parties as well as 1,475 missing migrant kids and Trump's refusals to take responsibility. Also, North Korea, Puerto Rico, and the latest bizarre developments between the White House and the Russia investigation.

"The North Koreans need a deal, and if they don't get a deal with the United States they'll get a deal with China that would blow the United States out of the water, so this is a very difficult game to play."

The space on Trump's mantel reserved for a Nobel Peace Prize may remain bare for some time yet, with the administration pulling out of talks with North Korea following aggressive rhetoric from the hermit nation. China may be able to help with the US/China trade war in ceasefire, but what will be their ultimate price? Also talking Iran, Michael Cohen's pay-for-play with the Trump presidency, the Santa Fe shooting, and will Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti take down Trump before Robert Mueller?

"It's really a senseless act that's harmed a lot of people, and done no political good for the United States or the world." 

Bloodshed in Gaza over the new US embassy in Jerusalem, but nothing but congratulations and some eyebrow-raising claims of Israeli restraint from Trump and his administration. Meanwhile, North Korea backs off from talks and a Chinese trade delegation arrives in Washington but offers little room for negotiation. Also talking Gina Haspel, more women than ever getting involved in US politics, and charges likely for Michael Cohen.

"If you're going to say I'm against things that Obama did, what are you doing? The only thing [Trump has] done is the tax bill, all the government agencies are in shambles, it looks like most of the candidates are in shambles, so what has he done?"

In spite of the pleading of allies and no evidence that Iran hadn't held up their end, US President Donald Trump has scrapped the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. It's a move that undercuts American bargaining power especially in the upcoming North Korea denuclearisation talks, so why do it? The spectre of nukes in the Middle East hasn't been enough to totally distract from new revelations in the Stormy Daniels saga, however, with confirmed reports Trump lawyer Michael Cohen took $500,000 from a Russian billionaire with ties to Putin. And against advice, the Trump administration is moving to expel 300,000 legal migrants from US soil in a such a way that could increase unrest and illegal immigration.

"The Russians were looking for somebody to deal with, they started messing around with these guys. There's no collusion there because they were so stupid the Russians couldn't deal with them."

Good news out of the Korean Peninsula, although how far can anyone trust Kim Jong-un? South Korean President Moon Jae-in thinks Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his part in the result but back at home the news is nowhere near as positive for the American president. Trump is short on options for the Iran deal, rambling and raving on Fox and Friends, and beset by Robert Mueller's investigation. Is the cover-up worse than the crime on Russian collusion? And could it see the President's eldest son trading Armani for a bright orange jumpsuit?

"The relationship is stable, Australia and the United States have a lot to gain together, the ambassador is symbolic but not that important."

Donald Trump hosted his first state visitor French President Emmanuel Macron this week and things were chummy except on the topic of the Iran Deal, and it could have far-reaching implications including for North Korea. Australia has been left feeling rejected after the man tipped to become US ambassador is headed for South Korea instead, so what does it mean for the two countries relations? Ed joins us from Chicago to talk these topics as well as the Waffle House shooting in Nashville, South China Sea, evangelicals plans for the 2018 midterms and the latest insult for the EPA.

"I want to think positively about this, that Pompeo actually is paving the way for something that will look like an agreement, that the Chinese would support." 

Having backed a loser in Assad, Russia wants out but how to leave gracefully? Talking military strikes in Syria and Mike Pompeo in North Korea, as well as the passing of Barbara Bush, First Lady to one president and mother of another. Also, Charlie Dent, the latest in the fallout from the Michael Cohen raid, and are Democrats too focused on the possibility of impeaching Trump?