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.
Oct 23, 2020•39 min
States of Mind
RTÉ's US politics podcast bringing you all the latest stories and analysis with Jackie Fox and Sean Whelan, as America gears up for the 2024 US Presidential Election.
Episodes
Ep 34: One Person, One Vote?
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.
Oct 22, 2020•42 min
Ep 33: From US President to Dog Catcher
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.
Oct 14, 2020•34 min
Ep 32: Running Mate Pt II
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.
Oct 06, 2020•27 min
Ep 31: Running Mate Pt I
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.
Oct 05, 2020•33 min
Ep 30: That First Debate
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.
Sep 30, 2020•36 min
Ep 29: Showtime
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.
Sep 25, 2020•36 min
Ep 28: Bob Woodward
Legendary journalist Bob Woodward on why he thinks Donald Trump’s leadership is shocking, tragic and embarrassing.
Sep 23, 2020•24 min
Ep 27: You've Got Mail
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.
Sep 17, 2020•36 min
Ep 26: Martin Luther King III
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'.
Sep 11, 2020•27 min
Ep 25: How Swing States Are Swinging
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.
Sep 07, 2020•45 min
Ep 24: The Electoral College with The Mooch
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.
Sep 01, 2020•34 min
Ep 23: The Elephants in the Room
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.
Aug 28, 2020•31 min
Ep 22: Biden’s Big Moment
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.
Aug 22, 2020•35 min
Ep 21: Unconventional Conventions
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.
Aug 17, 2020•36 min
Ep 20: Who is Joe Biden?
Grief, gaffes and gregarious: A look at the life and times of Joe Biden, with the man who inadvertently ruined his first presidential run.
Aug 11, 2020•34 min
Ep 19: Spice Up Your Life
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.
Aug 04, 2020•33 min
Ep 18: The Social Media Battlefield
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.
Jul 28, 2020•35 min
Ep 17: Inside the Trump Campaign
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.
Jul 22, 2020•32 min
Ep 16: Being a Black Trump Supporter
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.
Jul 14, 2020•28 min
Ep 15: Zombies and the Cliffs of Moher
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.
Jul 07, 2020•31 min
Ep 14: The Fall of Politicians and Monuments
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.
Jun 30, 2020•38 min
Ep 13: Hailing Hearses Instead of Taxis
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.
Jun 09, 2020•28 min
Ep 12: Rep James Clyburn
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”.
Jun 04, 2020•35 min
Ep 11: The Women Issue
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.
May 25, 2020•30 min
Ep 10: It’s the Economy, Stupid
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.
May 18, 2020•30 min
Ep 9: The Veep Show
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.
May 11, 2020•38 min
Ep 8: For the Love of Money
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.
May 05, 2020•35 min
Ep 7: Fake News
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.
Apr 27, 2020•36 min
Ep 6: Pandemic at the Polls
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.
Apr 20, 2020•34 min
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