Stateside with Kai and Carter

Mary Beard on The Odyssey, Trump's America and how empires fall 20.07.2026 48min

Christopher Nolan’s new adaption of The Odyssey is an absolute monster of a hit, grossing $264m in its opening weekend. But celebrated classicist Mary Beard tells host Carter Sherman that while Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem comes with plenty of action-packed battle scenes, the film is missing the original's "elusive sexiness" – and its approach to women left her disappointed. Carter and Beard also explore why rightwing politicians – and people like Elon Musk – are so obsessed with co-opting the ancient world. They ask: who gets to own the classics?Commentary and criticism about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey from the Guardian:The Odyssey’s reviewChristopher Nolan interviewWill women also love The Odyssey? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who won the World Cup? 17.07.2026 51min

The 2026 World Cup final has not happened yet, but we already know that there were some clear winners (and total losers) during the tournament. And we’re not just talking about what happened on the pitch. Ahead of Sunday’s game, host Carter Sherman speaks with Max Rushden – host of the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast – about Argentina’s win over England in the semi-finals, why Lionel Messi is probably “the greatest footballer ever", and what we should be looking out for as Argentina takes on Spain in the final. Then, Guardian US soccer editors Alexander Abnos and Ella Brockway break down some of the most memorable moments of the tournament – and decide who (or what) won the World Cup vibes contest. Spoiler: it's not Donald Trump.Correction added 19 July 2026: This episode says that Cape Verde player Josimar Jose Evora Dias, known as Vozinha, was recruited via LinkedIn. In fact it was his teammate, Roberto "Pico" Lopes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How ICE became so deadly 15.07.2026 43min

Over the past ten days, ICE officials have killed two immigrants in separate shootings in Texas and Maine. While the Department of Homeland Security has claimed that the officers were acting in self-defense and the interest of public safety, no evidence has emerged to support those accounts, and outrage is mounting over these latest examples of violence from the agency. Kai Wright speaks with Guardian immigration reporter José Olivares about the killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, how their deaths reflect a broader pattern of brutality animating President Trump’s mass deportation agenda, and what accountability for them might look like.‘Fear, intimidation, violence’: calls mount to remove ICE from US streets after agents killed two men‘New terrifying levels’: 10 people fatally shot by immigration officials in Trump’s second term Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The western US is running out of water. What happens next? 13.07.2026 40min

Thanks to pollution, overpopulation and the climate crisis, Earth is facing a terrifying new crisis: an irreversible "water bankruptcy". Now, fights over water have ramped up across the world, including in the US west. Host Carter Sherman speaks with Guardian extreme weather correspondent Gabrielle Canon about the battle over the future of the Colorado River Basin, whose water sustains some 40 million people across seven states – but is now drying up. Gabrielle recently rafted down the basin's last "wild" river, the Yampa. Damming or diverting the Yampa could bring the west some much-needed hydration. It may also devastate the vast natural ecosystem that relies on the river's free-flowing waters. Also: Carter and Kai Wright react to the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.Gabrielle Canon’s story on the Yampa RiverGuardian stories on Lindsey Graham:Analysis on Graham as dealmakerThe scramble to replace GrahamLindsey Graham in his own words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Graham Platner wasn’t the answer to the Democrats’ men problem 10.07.2026 43min

Earlier this week, Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, was accused by a former partner of sexual assault. Platner denies the allegations, but on Wednesday, he suspended his campaign, accusing the “political establishment” of tanking his candidacy. But this is only the most recent scandal to have surfaced around Platner’s campaign — over the past year, the oyster farmer and combat veteran was revealed to have a tattoo that closely resembled a Totenkopf (a widely recognized Nazi symbol), a long paper trail of racist, misogynist and homophobic posts on Reddit, and in June, the New York Times published allegations from three former partners about Platner’s “toxic” behavior in their relationships, including, in several cases, physical intimidation (allegations Platner denied).As Democrats regroup and evaluate their dwindling chances to flip the Senate in November, hosts Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are joined by Guardian political reporters Lauren Gambino and Shrai Popat to ask why voters flocked to Platner, why they were reluctant to abandon him as the scandals came out — and what the whole mess says about who gets the privilege of political redemption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Gratuitously cruel': Chase Strangio on how trans youth became political targets 08.07.2026 38min

Last week, the US supreme court ruled that Idaho and West Virginia can continue enforcing their bans on transgender athletes playing on girls’ and women's teams in schools. It’s the latest development in the political and legal attack on trans people —and especially trans youth— that has surged in recent years. On the heels of that decision, Kai Wright talks with Guardian reporter Sam Levin, who has been covering the debate over trans athletes in California and speaking with students and their families, and Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Project, who is the first out trans person to argue in front of the US supreme court. They walk through the legal and political strategies animating the anti-trans movement, and discuss why this most recent decision could open the door to the erosion of civil liberties for everyone.Trans youth athletes vow to keep playing after US supreme court rulingHow the US supreme court case on trans athletes could unravel LGBTQ+ rightsI'm a 14-year-old trans athlete. No one should face the vicious attacks I have faced Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shadowy movement behind ‘Trump accounts’ 06.07.2026 45min

On the Fourth of July, the Trump administration's new savings accounts for children went live. These ‘Trump accounts’, created as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are ostensibly supposed to help families pay for college and other expenses. But Guardian columnist Moira Donegan says these accounts are really the work of the pronatalist movement, which wants women to have as many babies as possible – and is backed by powerful rightwingers such as JD Vance and Elon Musk. Moira speaks with Carter Sherman about the strange bedfellows who make up the movement, including its ties to the racist conspiracy theory known as the ‘great replacement.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Term limits? Court packing? Elie Mystal on why it’s time to reform SCOTUS 01.07.2026 40min

This term, the US supreme court handed down decisions on issues ranging from voting rights to immigration and birthright citizenship, reshaping life for millions of people. Kai Wright speaks with Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, about how the court got all its power in the first place, and why Mystal thinks court reforms to rein in that power aren’t just constitutional — they’re necessary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

450 years in jail: the leftist activists convicted of terrorism 29.06.2026 36min

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration vowed to prosecute "antifa" activists for domestic terrorism. Now, it's made good on that threat. A group of activists who joined an anti-ICE protest that went dangerously awry have been sentenced to decades in prison, and the case could have enormous consequences for the future of the First Amendment and American protests. Carter Sherman speaks with Guardian reporter Lex McMenamin, one of the few journalists to have interviewed the activists at the heart of the case.Lex McMenmanin’s story ‘This is injustice’: how leftist zines were used to sentence anti-ICE protesters to decades in prisonSam Levine’s reporting on the Prairieland trial and additional background on the case  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift’s girlhood era is ending. Where does she go next? 26.06.2026 31min

Over the past two decades, Taylor Swift has changed the music industry, and how we think about girlhood. From songs like Fifteen about first love and heartbreak to introspective tracks like Mirrorball from Folklore, Swift has chronicled the emotional lives of young women in a way few artists have. Her music says that the experiences of girlhood deserve to be immortalized. But as fans celebrate her upcoming marriage and the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Carter Sherman and the Guardian's deputy music editor, Laura Snapes, ask: is she leaving that stage of her life behind, and if so, what's in store for her next era?20 ways Taylor Swift remade pop culture in her image (2026)Taylor Swift: ‘I was literally about to break’ (2019)Correction note added 26 June 2026: This video incorrectly says Taylor Swift's jet has burned hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel since March. The figure is actually reported to be tens of thousands of gallons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the American project failed? Eddie Glaude Jr on the US at 250 24.06.2026 40min

As the US prepares to celebrate 250 years since its founding, Kai Wright sits down with Eddie Glaude Jr, a Princeton University professor, to talk about the conflicts at the heart of the American project. Glaude argues that Black Americans have played a vital role in establishing the country, but their presence is a constant reminder that the American fantasy – the story of a white republic – doesn’t exist. He and Kai discuss how the Trump administration has normalized white supremacist rhetoric and the myriad ways the president is trying to whitewash history. Glaude’s book America, USA: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries, is out now.• 'We’re witnessing the end of the America that made our lives possible’: author Eddie Glaude on US’s 250th birthdayTrump is desecrating the Lincoln memorial - a civic sacred ground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Iranians are coping with the Iran war 22.06.2026 33min

With negotiations to end the war in Iran now underway, experts widely agree that the Iranian government has the upper hand. But if the regime emerges from the war stronger than before, what does it mean for the people of Iran? Carter Sherman speaks with Shirin Jaafari, a journalist for the World who focuses on the Middle East, about her reporting on Iranians living through war, a devastated economy and a government that executes people who dare to protest. Carter and Kai Wright also speak about the lasting effect of this war in the US – and what Americans have already lost.Oliver Holmes on the global cost of US-Israel war against IranJason Burke’s analysis of the peace agreement between the US and Iran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unproven autism treatment taking off under RFK Jr 17.06.2026 39min

Parents of children with autism are turning to a controversial stem cell treatment backed by the US Health Secretary. A growing number of clinics in the US are charging parents tens of thousands of dollars for stem cell therapy, which is being given to children as young as 18 months old. The Guardian’s chief reporter Ed Pilkington tells Kai Wright about his months-long investigation into the providers of these treatments, and their connections to the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. He also spoke with figures in the science community who fear the FDA may be loosening its rigorous restrictions on stem cell treatment for autism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when Trump drives you out of the United States? 15.06.2026 47min

A far-right, white supremacist ideology known as “remigration” aims to make life so punishing for immigrants that they leave the US. It’s also the policy of the Trump administration. There’s an "office of remigration" in the state department and the Department of Homeland Security has posted on X in support of it, saying: “The stakes have never been higher and the goal has never been more clear: Remigration now.” Carter Sherman speaks with journalist and author Paola Ramos about the immigrants who have made the difficult decision to leave the US, and how their departure could spell the death of the American Dream.Paola Ramos’s Rolling Stone article, The Great Reverse Migration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk is a trillionaire now. Is that bad for the economy? 12.06.2026 36min

Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire thanks to his company SpaceX, which now has the biggest IPO of all time. Public trading in the company has put it's valuation at over $2tn. The eye-watering sums of money pouring into AI are also boosting other tech titans, including OpenAI and Anthropic. Both companies are expected to go public this year with nearly trillion-dollar valuations. The Guardian’s US tech editor Blake Montgomery tells Kai Wright that with these IPOs, all our financial futures are forever tied to AI’s success, and more worryingly, its possible failure Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Trump is changing the World Cup 10.06.2026 39min

When the US, Mexico and Canada submitted their winning World Cup bid, they predicted that Donald Trump would not be president in 2026. That prediction didn't exactly pan out – and now, as the tournament begins, Guardian soccer correspondent Jeff Rueter explains how Trump's America is rewriting the rules of the World Cup. Jeff also previews fun teams to watch, while Kai and Carter reveal who they’re rooting for. (Hint: it's not the US.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How fighting Amazon made Chris Smalls a celebrity: 'My life changed' 08.06.2026 39min

In 2022, Amazon workers at a fulfillment center in Staten Island made history by voting to form a union. Their leader was fired Amazon worker Chris Smalls, who became something of a celebrity within the labor movement. Smalls left the union amid internal tensions, and has gone on to become a freelance activist since. He speaks with Kai Wright about being arrested while protesting the Jeff Bezos-funded Met Gala, and why courting attention is an effective form of activism. Smalls’ new book When the Revolution Comes is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knicks v Spurs: the NBA finals a billionaire can’t ruin 05.06.2026 37min

After winning Game 1 of the NBA finals, the New York Knicks are one step closer to winning a championship that has eluded them for 53 years. New Yorkers are feeling elated, but the Knicks are going to have to get through 7ft4in Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, who just might be the next face of the league. Kai Wright speaks with the Guardian’s Andrew Lawrence about who exactly these teams are, and why despite all the money flowing through the sport, this is a series for the people.Read Andrew Lawrence on Knicks billionaire donor James Dolan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Reich on how Trump's slush fund loss is an opportunity for Democrats 03.06.2026 33min

This week the bipartisan furor over Donald Trump’s $1.8bn slush fund escalated to the point that the administration balked, saying they are no longer moving forward with it. But Robert Reich, a Guardian columnist and former US secretary of labor, says the fund, and specifically, the additional detail of the settlement giving Trump and his family immunity from future IRS audits, are the essence of corruption – and if Democrats can successfully connect that corruption to the affordability crisis, they might just have a winning message on their hands.Robert Reich: 'The language of the American presidency doesn’t apply to Trump'Read Reich’s newsletter on how Democrats could tie the affordability crisis to Trump administration corruption Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The comedian taking on AI datacenters 01.06.2026 35min

Last summer, Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens started getting messages from people in his state about plans for a major datacenter in their community. When Berens dug in, he was shocked to discover the impact the datacenter would have on local residents. So he responded with comedy. The video he posted online about the datacenter went viral, and Berens has been on the frontlines of the fight against datacenters ever since. Carter Sherman speaks to Berens about how he is using his comedy as a tool for activism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.