The State of It: USA

Jaksot

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  Trump's three gifts to the Democrats 16.09.2026 29min

  Why is Donald Trump so relaxed about AI regulation? After the Anthropic boss Dario Amodei called for AI regulation to save the human race, Trump said that his own IQ was the only guardrail needed to prevent an AI Apocalypse. Not everyone has been reassured by that. And President Trump's breezy attitude to AI may end up costing the Republicans votes.How are rising gas prices impacting the 2026 US midterms? All the warning signs on the US economy are flashing red, especially after Houthis in Yemen took over key Red Sea shipping routes. Are there any levers left to pull? The problem is all the options are bad.Why did a Russian oligarch pay for Donald Trump Jr's wedding?Umar Kremlev, who's a friend of President Putin, paid for wedding celebration for Donald Trump Jr. We look at how the White House is reacting, why Senate Democrats like Jon Ossoff are seizing on the story, and the dismay that Republicans are expressing behind closed doors.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: All In, ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  It's a cult! Trump goes to Dallas 11.09.2026 19min

  Katy Balls reports from the Republican midterm convention in Dallas where President Trump made a pledge that every adult will get a $5,000 dividend if the Republicans win the House and the Senate. That adds up to about $1.2 trillion.Golden balloons were dropped and the crowd joined the president in repeating a vow to vote for "the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can't even breathe". JD Vance's speech was received well and the audience chanted "48", suggesting they'd like the vice-president to become the 48th president of the United States. Is he pulling ahead of Marco Rubio as the bookies' favourite to be the Republican candidate for 2028? Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trumpapalooza: the risky Republican midterm strategy 09.09.2026 31min

  We're in Dallas for the Republican National Convention. It's been nicknamed Trumpapalooza. But some Republicans are uneasy about putting the president front and centre of their midterms campaign when his approval ratings are so low. Is it a wise move?The UK has imposed sanctions on Israel and accused Binyamin Netanyahu's government of supporting ethnic cleansing. How much of an issue is this for the US administration?And 25 years on from 9/11, we reflect on how America was changed by the attacks on the Twin Towers.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump, Iran and why he’s glad Harry left America - Washington Insider 03.09.2026 11min

  President Trump’s Iran war was supposed to be over in weeks. Instead, tensions are escalating again, with Iran threatening cyberattacks on US infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz still at the centre of the crisis. Does Trump really want to rename the Strait of Hormuz Trump Strait?Katy Balls joins Carole Walker to assess whether Trump is losing control of the conflict — and why he’s saying he’s glad Prince Harry and Meghan have left America.Produced in partnership with Times RadioKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and Sunday TimesCarole Walker, presenter, Times RadioProducer: Angus MitchellPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Read this! Watch this! Culture to understand America 26.08.2026

  What can culture tell us about the US that news can’t? Gerry and Katy pick books, films, TV and songs that have shaped the way they see America. Is Modern Family an underappreciated bit of social realism? Why does Katy think a 2004 Disney movie strikes at an essential component of American patriotism? And what film is the most viewed on Air Force One?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Modern FamilyMusic credit: Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, Bob Dylan from the album Blood on the Tracks (1975), ColumbiaThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Killer rabbits, violent protest and an awful lot of golf: American summer 19.08.2026 20min

  Who was attacked by a rabbit on his summer holiday?How many days a year does Donald Trump play golf?And why was George W Bush so keen on cutting brush?In this summer special episode, Katy and Gerry explore the political and cultural significance of the American summer.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The socialists take a beating and the tyranny of "woke 1" 12.08.2026 25min

  Francesca Hong suffered a shock defeat in the Wisconsin primary, losing out to the Democrats’ more centrist candidate David Crowley despite holding a 10-15 point lead in the polls. Is this a sign that the Democratic establishment is finally pushing back against the party’s socialist insurgency? And, as AOC distances herself from the “woke 1” politics of yesteryear, is she quietly positioning herself for a 2028 leadership bid?And why did Donald Trump hide from an Iranian assassination threat in a catering truck? Spare a thought for poor Marco Rubio, who was effectively used as a decoy.And the backlash against America’s sprawling data-centre boom is becoming a genuinely bipartisan issue. From Democratic socialists to Republican governors, politicians are waking up to growing public anger over the energy demands and sheer scale of AI infrastructure. Is this the beginning of a wider revolt against Big Tech?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How did Trump mitigate an Iranian assassination attempt? – Washington Insider 11.08.2026 8min

  What's the best way of avoiding an Iranian assassination attempt? Turns out it's hiding out in a catering truck and using Air Force One as a decoy. Katy Balls takes us inside the clandestine operation.Produced in partnership with Times RadioKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and Sunday TimesEd Vaizey, presenter, Times RadioProducers: Amelia MelvinPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Could America go socialist? 05.08.2026 26min

  One of America's largest states is set to nominate left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed. His victory in the Democratic primary is the latest sign that the party is shifting decisively to the left. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Francesca Hong has defeated her opponent despite previously arguing that Thanksgiving should be cancelled. Is America on the verge of embracing democratic socialism after 250 years, or can MAGA prove it is still the true standard-bearer of the American spirit?Plus, just how damaging has the war with Iran become for Donald Trump as US military stockpiles begin to run low? What does it mean for America's ability to project power abroad?And why is Trump threatening a US attorney and an Olympic swimmer over a body of water?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters, CNNThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  MAGA's Iran War Apathy - Washington Insider 04.08.2026 9min

  There is a growing sense of blasé indifference within the MAGA movement over Trump's war with Iran. Could that complacency come back to haunt Republicans at the midterm elections?There's also a growing rift between Donald Trump and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she dropped charges in a high-profile vandalism case, prompting fresh questions about loyalty and power inside the administration.Finally, with democratic socialist candidates on the rise, Katy and Gerry ask whether the Democrats' leftward shift is the key to winning back power—or a gamble that could cost them the midterms.Produced in partnership with Times RadioKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and Sunday TimesEd Vaizey, presenter, Times RadioProducer: Erin CarneyPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Trump changed his mind about Zelensky 29.07.2026 28min

  US foreign policy shifts on Ukraine: President Zelensky and President Trump have met in the White House and US-Ukraine relations are on a much friendlier footing than at any time since Donald Trump returned to office. They agreed that the US will give Ukraine licences to make their own Patriot missile interceptors to protect from Russian attacks, and there's talk that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could make a trip to Ukraine.Maga influencer Laura Loomer went from saying that Ukraine was full of Nazis to being a cheerleader for President Zelensky. That shift in opinion seems to have filtered through to the Oval Office, but how much has Trump's position shifted? And how has the war in Iran changed his view on Russia and Ukraine? The Battle for Fifa: after Martyn Ziegler's Times scoop that Fifa's president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell off parts of Fifa to private investors, even Andy Burnham has weighed in to telegraph his disapproval...is the reaction justified or "complete balderdash"?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What to expect from Trump's meetings with Netanyahu and Zelensky - Washington Insider 28.07.2026 11min

  President Trump is having meetings with both Binyamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. What can we expect?Also, new footage of Lindsey Graham before his death reveals more about his attitude to Iran.And how does Donald Trump do when he's delivering jokes that have been written for him?Produced in partnership with Times RadioKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and Sunday TimesCarolyn Quinn, presenter, Times RadioProducers: Tom Vigar, Amelia MelvinPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bromance but for how long? Trump and Burnham's first call 21.07.2026 12min

  Andy Burnham and Donald Trump have had their first phone call. How did it go? Will President Trump find time to visit Manchester? And how is Ed Miliband's appointment as foreign secretary going down in Washington?Also, why has the US announced 50% tariffs on goods from Canada? And JD Vance and his wife Usha have had another baby, their fourth child. How is the Secret Service coping with Vance's growing family?Bonus episode from Times Radio.Hugo Rifkind, Times Radio presenterKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesProducer: Amelia MelvinPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Who the hell is this Andy guy? Washington sizes up Burnham 21.07.2026 30min

  As Andy Burnham takes over as prime minister, how will he get on with Donald Trump and what will their relationship mean for US-UK relations? President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the people of Aberdeen are dancing in the streets because Burnham will open up North Sea Oil, and will "make the United Kingdom, from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World!" But is Burnham as enthusiastic about drilling as Trump thinks he is? And what other issues could make or break their relationship?After three US servicemen died over the weekend, will the US feel obliged to escalate the war with Iran to avenge their deaths? Is there a danger that they get locked into a cycle of escalation with Iran?Plus, does Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey set the lights flashing on Gerry's woke radar?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Sophie DoldingExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters, The Odyssey trailerThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump in Iran: war as performance art 15.07.2026 30min

  It's groundhog day in the White House, as Donald Trump reverts back to all out war with Iran, bombing essential targets and threatening escalation if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. Is there any genuine optimism in Washington that the regime could fall—or is this 'hit em hard' attitude a cover for a foreign policy running out of options? If there is no appetite for real military action in US politics, are we left with an Iran War being used as a political statement rather than a coherent military strategy?Also in this episode: the Democratic Socialists of America. Centrist Democrats are making a stand against a group of socialists that include Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, promising 'capitalism not socialism', but are they being pulled leftwards on the economy? Troy Jackson, aka Johnny Cash of the Allagash, is a Democratic Socialist, and is currently favourite to replace the disgraced Graham Platner as the candidate for Maine. Finally, Katy Balls and Gerard Baker look ahead to Trump's prime-time address on Thursday. White House aides are increasingly nervous; Trump is expected to use the broadcast to aggressively attack the integrity of US voting system. Is the President laying the ground to nullify the upcoming midterm elections in November?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Handout photo by US Department of Defense via Getty Images (US sea drones strike a submarine and a ship maintenance facility on July 13, 2026 in an undisclosed area of Iran)Audio: Fox News, AP, CBS, https://www.facebook.com/TroyJacksonmaine, Reuters00:00 - Inside Trump's "Performance War"01:43 - Bombing Iran: The Battle for the Strait of Hormuz03:33 - A War with No Clear Way Out?05:13 - Trump Unleashed & The Legacy of Lindsey Graham06:36 - Military Strategy vs. Political Illusion in the Gulf10:51 - Trump's History Obsession & The Shocking Oil Market Reality15:25 - The Democratic Party's Sudden Lurch to the Left17:07 - Can Centrist Democrats Survive the Socialist Momentum?21:42 - The Fierce Battle Over Israel Aid & Speculation for 202823:57 - Meet Troy Jackson: The "Johnny Cash of the Allagash"25:34 - Trump's "Wild Card" Speech on Election Integrity28:07 - Laying the Groundwork to Nullify the Next Election?29:44 - "See You In Court" — The Legal War AheadThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s dizzying Nato summit: Greenland, Iran and Ukraine 08.07.2026 32min

  Donald Trump has called the Iranians scum, as he calls off ceasefire talks. At the NATO summit in Ankara, his comments on Iran, Ukraine and more have once again put allies on edge. Nigel Farage has just returned from Washington to deepen his ties with Donald Trump – but is he also borrowing Trump's political playbook to distract from increased interests in his undeclared finances ahead of the looming by-election? Gerry unpacks Trump's surprising role in that World Cup red card controversy.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters00:00 - Will Trump Pull Out of NATO? 00:41 - "They’re Scum" — Is the Iran Ceasefire Officially Over? 05:21 - NATO Summit Chaos: Trump Slams "Weak" European Allies 07:51 - The Absurd Battle for Greenland (Are We Planning for War?) 17:45 - Nigel Farage Resigns: Copied Straight From the Trump Playbook 26:30 - Trump’s Bizarre World Cup Intervention (The Secret FIFA Call) 31:46 - Why Trump’s Strongman Tactics Just BackfiredThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What JD Vance told me: UK politics, Donald Trump and cat ladies 04.07.2026 12min

  Vice-President JD Vance has said there is something very broken about British politics and that he hopes Andy Burnham can figure out how to get Britain back on track. He has spoken exclusively to Katy Balls for the Sunday Times.They also discussed:Social media spats: does he regret the childless cat ladies comment?His faith and how it's changed him.And has Donald Trump read his book?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalRead more: https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/jd-vance-interview-katy-balls-gv9z738fc Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters, Fox News00:00 Introduction: Inside the Exclusive JD Vance Interview00:38 Is Britain Broken? JD Vance’s Blunt Take on UK Leadership01:47 The Truth Behind Vance's Fractured Relationship with Europe03:53 An Anglophile at Heart? Decoding Vance’s True Motives05:27 Revisiting the "Childless Cat Ladies" Controversy & Regrets06:39 A Millennial VP: Social Media Fights, Faith and Persona07:47 A Surprise Turn on Ukraine: Why Vance is Shifting Focus09:07 Has Donald Trump Read JD Vance’s New Book?10:30 The Road to 2028: Is JD Vance Too Polarising to Win?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Birthright citizenship reaction: hysterical, borderline insane 01.07.2026 25min

  Donald Trump has been thwarted by the Supreme Court over his plan to end birthright citizenship, prompting passionate reactions on both left and right. One Maga influencer has called for a ban on pregnant women travelling to the US and for the sterilisation of foreign visitors. Is the Trump v Barbara Supreme Court ruling evidence that the reports of the death of American democracy have been exaggerated?As America celebrates its 250th birthday at a time of bitter divisions in US politics, are there reasons to be cheerful about, well, the state of it?And another left-wing, anti-Israel candidate wins a Democratic primary. Melat Kiros, who has won her primary in Colorado, has said that calls for the elimination of the Israeli state should not be conflated with antisemitism. What does her win tell us about the direction of travel for the left in America, and about the future of relations between Israel and the US?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly Guinness00:00 - Introduction: The State of It USA00:43 - Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Ban05:07 - King Charles, the Magna Carta, and Executive Power06:14 - The Maga Meltdown and the "USSR" Comparison11:09 - The Dangerous Precedent of Executive Overreach13:32 - America at 250: Celebrating a Deeply Divided Nation18:03 - The American State Fair and Polarised Realities21:05 - The Rise of Anti-Israel Sentiment on the Left and RightPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters, 9NewsThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump, Hitler, Mao, Stalin: the list the president loved 24.06.2026 28min

  Find out why President Trump was thrilled to be on a list with Hitler, Mao and Stalin. It's one of many astonishing details in a new book, Regime Change, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. We pick some highlights from the book, and Katy has been speaking to authors.As Andy Burnham prepares to take over as British prime minister, how would a more left-wing government go down in Washington and in Wall Street? Katy has interviewed the US ambassador to London, who did not speak enthusiastically about Ed Miliband. And Gerry has been speaking to senior officials and financiers who were pretty scathing about Britain's prospects.And in New York, candidates supported by the mayor, Zohran Mamdani, have swept the board in Democratic primaries. We look at the power of the far-left and anti-Israel vote and discuss what that means for the future of the Democratic Party.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images00:00 - The "Most Powerful Man in History" Note00:48 - Regime Change: The Explosive New Trump Book02:03 - Situation Room Leaks: Jeffrey Epstein & JD Vance03:18 - The Golf Caddy's Note06:14 - Trump 1.0 vs Trump 2.0: Is He Losing Control?09:30 - The Secret Internal Fallout of the Iran War14:15 - Keir Starmer Quits: Is the UK a Laughing Stock in America?16:03 - Trump’s Ambassador Clashes with the New UK Government20:49 - Socialists Win Big: The Shocking New York Primary Results25:39 - The Great Corporate Exodus: Why Billionaires are Swapping California for TexasThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s Iran Deal: A Calamity for the US — and JD Vance 18.06.2026 26min

  President Trump has made a deal with Iran. On Friday, Vice President JD Vance will attend the official signing in Geneva of a 14-point US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding that covers the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear ambitions, the lifting of sanctions, a $300bn reconstruction fund for Iran and a ceasefire.The deal has gone down badly in the US, and with good reason. Gerry argues that it's a calamity for America and a betrayal of the Iranian people.Could it also be the undoing of JD Vance? It looks like he's been set up as the fall guy in case this all goes wrong. That could scupper his presidential ambitions.And where does it leave Israel? Donald Trump was Israel's ally but with this deal, has he abandoned them?00:00 - Why The Iran Deal is a Calamity00:37 - Breaking Down the 14-Point Peace Agreement01:54 - The $300bn Reparations" Fund Explained03:04 - "An Almighty Raspberry": The Republican Backlash04:05 - Inside the G7 Victory Lap vs. American Reality06:26 - A Disastrous Blow to America’s Global Prestige07:17 - Broken Promises & Betrayal of the Iranian Protesters09:18 - Reza Pahlavi Interview: A Missed Window of Opportunity11:04 - A Seismic Rift in the US-Israel Relationship14:26 - J.D. Vance: Master Architect or Ultimate Fall Guy?16:41 - The Core Maga Position on "Forever Wars"17:48 - Economic Silver Linings: Oil Prices, Inflation & Interest Rates22:33 - How Trump’s Rivals Will Use This in the 2028 Primary26:12 - Navigating the 60-Day Negotiation WindowKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalVideo editor: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images.Audio: Times Radio, Reuters.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.