Ep 35: The Final Debate
Former speechwriter for Barack Obama, David Litt and Greg Swenson from Republicans Overseas discuss the second and final presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee where no mute button was needed.
Former speechwriter for Barack Obama, David Litt and Greg Swenson from Republicans Overseas discuss the second and final presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee where no mute button was needed.
Why is it so hard to vote in America? Legal analyst and law professor, Kimberly Wehle and Rachel Homer from Protect Democracy discuss voting barriers across America and concerns over voter suppression.
US Presidential election drama aside, the Congressional elections will determine who has the upper hand in Washington. Mark Rom from Georgetown University discusses who and what we should look out for. And back to the drama - the fallout from Donald Trump’s Covid diagnosis.
Kamala Harris is a woman with many firsts to her name. The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, she is known for her tough and combative nature. Her uncle Gopalan Balachandran on how those characteristics were always there and Suhasini Haidar from The Hindu discusses what a Biden/Harris administration could mean for India-US relations.
Who is Mike Pence? What does he stand for? A look at the life and times of Vice President Mike Pence as the running mate debate edges closer. His Clare relative gives an insight into his love for Ireland but it’s his devotion to God that will always come out on top.
A look at the ‘hot mess’ that was the first presidential debate with Katherine Zappone, who is part of Team Biden and Jennifer Carnahan, Chair for the Republican Party of Minnesota.
With the US presidential debates about to get underway, Eli Attie, who was part of Al Gore’s debate team in 2000, gives a behind the scenes insight and discusses how it influenced his writing and producing for the West Wing.
Legendary journalist Bob Woodward on why he thinks Donald Trump’s leadership is shocking, tragic and embarrassing.
With postal voting more popular in 2020 due to the pandemic, Brian and Jackie discuss the controversies surrounding it and the postal service with CEO of FairVote, Rob Richie. Also one American living in Ireland on why she’s worried about her vote.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s oldest son, Martin Luther King III speaks about his father's legacy, Donald Trump's America and how voting in November should be a 'very easy choice'.
What are battleground states and why are they so important? Business owner in Pennsylvania, Sean Fedorko talks about his state’s unexpected swing in 2016 and black Democrat Vernon Jones, who spoke at this year’s RNC, on backing Donald Trump.
A look at the world of the Electoral College while former White House communications director, Anthony Scaramucci talks about Donald Trump calling him a ‘loser’ and why the president is going to be ‘annihilated’ in November.
The Republican National Convention had the five fs: faith, family, feelings, fear and future. Tim Wigginton, North Carolina GOP Press Secretary joins to talk about the long road to this convention and what it was like to be on the ground.
Congressman Brendan Boyle looks back at the virtual Democratic National Convention’s unusual speeches, Joe’s big moment and how he’s welcoming anti-Trump Republicans with open arms.
Howard Dean, ex Chair of the Democratic National Committee, on healthy infighting and the party's virtual convention. Former Washington Correspondent, Robert Shortt also lays bare what conventions are really all about.
Grief, gaffes and gregarious: A look at the life and times of Joe Biden, with the man who inadvertently ruined his first presidential run.
Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary speaks about the dangers of underestimating Joe Biden, the future of the GOP, Trump's re-election bid and not missing that podium.
Pete Buttigieg’s Campaign Manager, Mike Schmuhl on the unprecedented campaign, social media wars in 2020, disinformation and the power of Trump’s Twitter. While Brian speaks to people to see if they have learned anything from the chaotic 2016 election.
Communications Director for the Trump campaign, Tim Murtaugh on shake-ups, not trusting the polls, daily battles, holding out for campaign rallies and his Irish roots.
Immanuel Jarvis, North Carolina GOP Chair, on what it’s like to be a black Donald Trump supporter while Brian goes on the road in Pennsylvania as the Pence and Biden campaigns hit the swing state.
The Lincoln Project’s John Weaver discusses the group's battle against Donald Trump as he and other Republicans take a ‘flamethrower’ to their life’s work. Sawyer Hackett, adviser to Julián Castro on the woes and foes of campaigning in Election 2020.
From the streets to the ballot paper: Progressive pollster, Cornell Belcher outlines a turning point for minorities in politics while Prof Derryn Moten and Dr Hasan Jeffries discuss colonial symbols and why they were never welcome in the first place.
From the frontline: Physician Assistant Jim Nealon and Funeral Director Clive Anderson reflect on how Covid-19 ripped through New York this spring, remember the people they lost and discuss the moments that will stay will them forever.
One of the leading African-American politicians in the United States, Rep James Clyburn discusses racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the steps the country needs to take for it “to survive for the next generation”.
Women from both sides of the political divide discuss Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s record with women and explore what it means to be a woman involved in politics in 2020.
Trump and Obama economic advisors give a first-hand insight into the success and failures of the current administration and offer their two cents on the Covid-19 era. Also, one Irish woman on trying to get a business back on track in Virgina.
Only a heartbeat away from the presidency, the Vice President has resulted in some of the most memorable moments in US history. But how does the office work? America’s leading expert on VPs, Prof Joel Goldstein puts the role under the microscope.
If money can’t buy votes, what can it buy? Sarah Bryner, Centre for Responsive Politics and ex-Federal Election Commission chair, Bradley Smith discuss the ways and means of campaign fundraising and finding ways to lure donations during a pandemic.
Fake news poses a real threat to Election 2020 as CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan explains. While head of the American Press Institute, Tom Rosenstiel outlines how people have been losing trust in the media for a long time and where it all goes from here.
Untangling the complicated US voting web with Rob Richie from FairVote as he turns to Ireland for electoral reform inspiration. Chair of Texas Young Republicans, Hayden Padgett on why absentee ballot voting isn’t a partisan problem.