A Chicken in Every Pot

Professor Andrew Rudalevige once again joins Clodagh and Alex to discuss the latest developments in the ever wild world of US politics. Do we make sense of it all? that's a lot to ask, but we do our best.

Clodagh and Alex again turn to Professor Scott Lucas for insight and understanding. As the US - Iran war continues we try to place immediate events in a broader context

Clodagh and Alex talk with Steve Sarson, Professor of American Civilisation, University Jean Moulin, Lyon. This was a fascinating conversation about how to interpret the Declaration of Independence. Steve argues that the Declaration needs to be contextualised by its time and place, revealed in its opening lines, rather than just being seen as an abstract statement of principles. Only then can its relevance for today be properly understood.

Ok, the title of the pod is ambitious but Clodagh and Alex do their best to work out what recent events mean for the US, NATO and the wider relationships between the US and its allies. Providing the wisdom is Dafydd Townley, a lecturer in the University of Portsmouth's Military Education Team

Clodagh and Alex are joined by Tim Galsworthy to discuss the evolution of Civil War memory within the Republican Party. President Trump likes to remind people that the GOP was the party of Lincoln. How do we make sense of Trump's supporters embracing the confederate flag?

Clodagh and Alex dig deep with Professor Eliga Gould from the University of New Hampshire. We look at the American revolution, thinking about the nature of the conflict and how it set the framework for future development. We do mention cage fights on the White House lawn!

I this episode returning guest Professor Andrew Rudalevige talks with Clodagh and Alex about President Trump and the resilience of constitutional safeguards. There's a lot to discuss!

Clodagh and Alex talk with Professor Gary Gerstle about whether we now live in a post neo-liberal world. If so, what does that actually mean? And, as ever, what is Trump's role in all of this?

Clodagh and Alex talk with Professor John White about an American Pope and the decline of civility in public life

Clodagh and Alex talk to Professor Niels Bjerre-Poulsen from the University of Southern Denmark about why Greenland has become a focus of transatlantic tension and ask what this means for what used to be known as the western "alliance"

Returning guest Georg Loefflmann helps Clodagh and Alex come to some understanding of how Trumpworld is impacting the real world at the moment. It's not pretty!

In this episode Clodagh and Alex talk all things populist and Trump with Professor Lane Crothers. How did populism with a Trumpian flavour emerge? And, how much 'there' is actually there?

Professors John White and Luca Trenta join Clodagh and Alex to discuss the recent one-term presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden. George H W Bush also gets a, mostly honourable, mention. Does being an unwilling one-termer necessarily make a presidency a failure?

Clodagh and Alex discuss the legacy of Bidenomics and ponder what comes next with Professor Steve Pressman. There's probably a good reason why no-one does actually talk about Trumponomics, but we ask what we can expect in terms of tariffs and tax cuts

Clodagh and Alex discuss the election outcome with Paddy Andelic and returning guest Mike Cullinane. Paddy insists it was a close run thing, but that doesn't cheer Mike up much!

It's squeaky bum time in the run up to November 5th. Clodagh and Alex are joined by Dr Josephine Harmon and Dr Richard Johnson to discuss how and why this presidential election seems so close

Clodagh and Alex welcome back Professor Andrew Rudalevige as we try to make sense of this strangest of elections. No cats, no dogs, just good honest fare

Clodagh and Alex talk with Professor John White about what the rise of Trump tells about the modern Republican Party

In this episode Clodagh and Alex talk with Luca Trenta about intelligence agencies and political assassinations. Luca has a new book out looking at the role of assassinations in US foreign policy since 1945

In this episode Clodagh and Alex talk with professor Michael Cullinane about Teddy Roosevelt. Why was he such a critical figure in American political development and what would he make of today's politics?

A conversation with Dr David Fitzgerald about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the US response

Join Clodagh and Alex as they talk all things US election with Professor Phil Davies

In this episode we discuss how domestic political pressures are impacting the US's role in international affairs with Dr Georg Loefflmann. We focus on the conflict in Ukraine

An in-depth discussion with Professor Angelia Wilson about the role of religion in US politics, focusing on the Christian right. How has it evolved and what are the issues that motivate Christian right activists today?

A conversation with Professor John White about what the battle over the House Speaker means

Join us as we discuss the US's role in shaping debate about climate change policy. Some gloom, but some hope too!

Professor Iwan Morgan discusses what FDR and Reagan would make of today's Democratic and Republican parties.

In this episode Clodagh and Alex discuss what the debt ceiling actually is and what the recent deal between President Biden and Congress amounts to with Professor Steve Pressman. We also get on to reflect on what is 'coherent' and what is 'dense'.

We discuss whether the Court does just call "balls and strikes" and look ahead to the key decisions to be announced in June 2023

In this episode we reflect on the origins and resilience of the Good Friday Agreement. There is a focus on the United States' role in the peace process itself and the country's continuing interest in the island but we also discuss the wider developments over the last quarter century.

In this episode we talk to Jeffrey Weinberg, a Washington DC stalwart. He arrived in the city to work at OMB as Richard Nixon's days as president drew to a close and continued to serve for over 45 years. Bringing a wealth of insider insight Jeffrey talks about the changing nature of politics over that time and also reflects on the successes and mistakes of the Biden administration. It's a great conversation.

In this episode Clodagh and Alex talk to Amy Tatum and Caroline Leicht about the role of gender in the current US political environment

Clodagh and Alex talk with Professors Liam Kennedy and Scott Lucas about the way the Biden administration has acted in the international arena. We focus on the reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and relations with China. Digressions include a discussion of the possible revival of 'realism' in academic circles despite its continuing redundancy as a way of properly understanding the world.   

In this episode we reflect on the importance of Raphael Warnock's win in the Georgia run-off as well as reflect on the news of Kyrsten Sinema's declaration of independence. We also discuss Donald trump's continuing influence in the Republican Party. This is a fascinating conversation with Professor John White, one of the most insightful and thoughtful analysts of U.S. party politics.

US pols expert Andy Rudalevige joins Alex Waddan and Clodagh Harrington to talk mid-terms, disgruntled voters and why Joe Biden had a good election night 🇺🇸