Politics Weekly America

The Guardian

Every Friday, Guardian columnist and former Washington correspondent, Jonathan Freedland, invites experts to help analyse the latest in American politics. From politicians to journalists covering the White House and beyond, Jonathan and his guests give listeners behind the scenes access to how the American political machine works. With a global network of over 900 journalists and five dedicated editions covering news in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and beyond, the Guardian offers comprehensive reporting across every continent.

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271 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes271

Newest first

Friday · 27 min
AOC 2028: could she be the first female US president?
Can progressive Democrats mobilise an anti-Trump coalition and win? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Bhaskar Sunkara, president of the Nation magazine and founding editor of Jacobin
July 24 · 24 min
Why did Trump just gift Saudi Arabia a nuclear win?
What is behind the landmark nuclear deal, and how is it likely to be received at home and across the Gulf? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Robert Jimison, who covers Congress for the New York Times
July 17 · 25 min
Are American politicians getting too old?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Alexis Coe, a presidential historian and columnist for the New York Times Book Review, about whether the US is becoming a gerontocracy
July 10 · 26 min
Trump restarts war with Iran and plays nice(ish) with Nato
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Susan Glasser of the New Yorker about how leaders around the world are meant to deal with a leader choosing to relive a diplomatic Groundhog Day
July 3 · 32 min
Trump hijacks America at 250 celebrations
As the anniversary approaches, Jonathan Freedland talks to the Atlantic’s Yoni Appelbaum about why so many Americans are feeling less patriotic these days
June 26 · 24 min
Trump forced to drain the reflecting pool swamp
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Arwa Mahdawi about why Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool renovation project, which has cost the taxpayer millions, is proving to be such an embarrassing failure for a man obsessed with image
June 19 · 22 min
Tired of Iran, Trump refocuses on Ukraine
Jenna Amatulli speaks to the Guardian’s Andrew Roth about the chances a US-Iran peace deal will succeed, and why Trump is turning his attention back to Ukraine
June 11 · 22 min
Is Trump about to ruin the World Cup?
Jenna Amatulli speaks to Karim Zidan about whether the US president’s influence on football, UFC and basketball is a help or a hindrance
June 5 · 25 min
A Brit, a billionaire, and Spencer Pratt: California’s primary upsets
Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian’s Sam Levin about the big takeaways from the single busiest primary day of the year so far
May 29 · 21 min
Trump: the boy who cried ‘peace’ in the Middle East
This week, as the US-Iran deal remains in a precarious state, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group about why Trump keeps changing his mind on what to do to end the war
May 25 · 42 min
Stateside with Kai and Carter – Why the fight over abortion pills is only just beginning
In this episode of the Guardian’s new podcast out of New York, Stateside with Kai and Carter, Carter Sherman explains why the fight to protect mail-order abortion medication is far from over, as a nationwide, near-total abortion ban could be on the horizon
May 22 · 26 min
Trump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals
This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to the legal analyst Kristy Greenberg about why critics are calling the Department of Justice’s so-called anti-weaponisation fund ‘corruption on steroids’
May 18 · 35 min
Introducing Stateside with Kai and Carter: Stacey Abrams on why gutting US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’
The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when it ruled in Louisiana v Callais last month. Kai Wright talks with voting rights advocate and former Georgia state legislator Stacey Abrams about the way forward
May 15 · 27 min
Will Trump lose the Senate in the midterms?
This week, Jonathan Freedland is joined by Jonathan Martin of Politico to discuss why Democrats think they can flip the Senate blue in November and what it would mean for the president
May 8 · 27 min
Does Trump basically own the US supreme court now?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Leah Litman about the decisions made this legislative session, cases to come and if the court is now a political institution
May 1 · 25 min
Why do people believe the Trump assassination attempts are fake?
This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Rachel Leingang about why conspiracy theories about the White House correspondents’ dinner attack immediately spread online
April 24 · 28 min
The Trump purge: is the FBI’s Kash Patel next?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to MS NOW White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López about senior US officials who have been pushed out, and who might be next
April 17 · 28 min
Is blasphemy the last straw for Trump’s Maga base?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to Rolling Stone’s Nikki McCann Ramírez about whether Donald Trump’s latest scandal comparing himself to Jesus is a step too far for Maga
April 10 · 27 min
Could Trump be forced out of office?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian’s David Smith about the various ways Congress could remove Trump from the White House, after there were calls from the left and the right to invoke the 25th amendment of the US constitution
April 2 · 29 min
How Trump, Musk and Doge shattered the US government
Jonathan Freedland speaks to author Sasha Abramsky about his new book, American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the US Government, and about what lasting legacy of Doge will be