"Almost every footy coach I worked with said, the way you practice determines whether you win the game."An opportunity this week for Joe Biden to improve his political fortunes with the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. But with Biden pledging to replace Breyer with a black and female judge the president is being accused of playing identity politics, and some Republicans are aiming to oppose his selection no matter who he picks. Meanwhile, winter storms rocking the East Coast have exposed the fault lines in America's crumbling infrastructure. Also talking about Russia and Ukraine, Honduras' new president, Tom Brady, and Donald Trump's treasonous latest admission.

US of Ed

Cracks Showing

"This is [Putin's] swan song, he said he was going to get back the USSR. In some ways he's done that."As Russia masses troops on the Ukraine border, the US government has placed 8,500 troops on high alert for possible deployment in Eastern Europe to support a NATO response and "other contingencies". Are we looking down the barrel of World War Three? Meanwhile, a war of words between President Biden and a FOX News reporter on inflation, but what is actually being done to help everyday Americans? Plus, we talk student debt, Louis DeJoy, William Barr before the January 6th committee, and our own Glorious Leader Scott Morrison for Australia Day.

Putin the Band Back Together

“I don’t know how Biden comes back from this, he’s supposed to be the supreme negotiator.”Ed and Sean are back for 2022, and catching up on the goings on in the US over Christmas and the start of January. And although we had high hopes for Biden's signature Build Back Better Bill toward the end of 2021, both the bill and Democrats seem to be in shambles with plans to now try passing the bill in selective chunks. Plus we look at COVID cases, Fentanyl deaths, Russia, Boris Johnson, Ghislaine Maxwell and the latest on the January 6th investigation.

Biden Enters 2022 with Little to Show

With a global pandemic, America's withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of war, and an attempted overthrow of the US government by an outgoing president, 2021 was most certainly a year for the history books. Ed and Sean take a look at the highlights and lowlights of the year, including the January 6th Coup, responses to COVID-19, Afghanistan, infrastructure, promises made on climate action, trials which underscored America's political and racial divides, as well as the road ahead for Joe Biden and America.

2021, One for the History Books

"This should be the rallying cry for Democrats, don't stack the court, stack the legislatures."Abortion rights in the United States are facing what's being called their most significant threat in decades, with the case of a Mississippi fifteen week ban to be heard in mid-2022. What's the political impact likely to look like and what measures will the government likely undertake if Roe v. Wade is overturned? Also the Winter Olympics are already heating up over a US diplomatic boycott being picked up also by allies the UK, Canada and Australia. Also, raising the debt ceiling, vaccine mandates, Russia, Mark Meadows, and exoneration for the accused killers of Malcolm X.

Happy New Year?

"No one knows how severe it could get but it doesn't sound like it's deadly if you are vaccinated."Omicron, an ominous sounding new variant of COVID is starting to spring up around the globe but what do we really know about its potential? And how will it reflect back on Joe Biden's handling of the pandemic? Plus former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has agreed to produce documents and testify for the House investigation into January 6th, could others follow suit? Also talking Ghislaine Maxwell, the Oxford High School shooting, Steve Bannon, and midterms.

New Normal

"This is a plague bigger than COVID, more vicious and more random."The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse has brought in fresh fears of further political violence, but could another couple of high profile cases reassure Americans of the role of the justice system? And contrary to claims made by some big businesses, Americans do want to work but they won't do it for peanuts, with unemployment claims falling to their lowest levels since 1969. Also talking private prisons, China and Taiwan, and bridging the political divide over Thanksgiving dinner.

Looking for Justice in All the Wrong Places

"You cannot let this beast continue to be fed."COP26 and an international virtual summit between the US and China have come away with a lot of sweet sounding promises, but will the world see real action? And can the United States really work with China with its current abuses of human rights? Although the United States has plenty of problems at home as well, with Steve Bannon, Kyle Rittenhouse, and persisting belief in election fraud fuelling discontent and a thirst for more political violence.

The Far-Right's Hungry Beast

Ed Blakely has served in different capacities under a succession of presidential administrations, has guided government policy on urban planning and is a widely cited academic. My name is Sean Britten, and each week, Ed and I have a chat about what’s the latest news out of the United States, talking everything politics, planning and policy from sea to shining sea.

hubhopper

US of Ed

hubhopper