Us Of Ed

"The democracy is in trouble and this is a huge symptom." Donald Trump is running wild and looking fearless in the face of the 2020 election as Democrats spend more energy on imploding and shredding one another senseless than getting ready for a presidential campaign. Bloomberg's billions have bought his way into a nomination process that looks less like a race, more like a slow slide into oblivion. Also talking William Barr, sanctuary cities, Taliban negotiations, coronavirus and Jeff Bezos.

"When a democracy's afraid of the truth, it can't last." Following an end to impeachment proceedings last week, Donald Trump has taken no time in enacting some revenge on witnesses he feel have wronged him. William Barr won't be on Trump's list though, the Attorney General bending the will of the Department of Justice in the case of Roger Stone to Trump's wishes. Also talking Trump budget cuts and push for space, threat of white nationalism, coronavirus, and Ed makes some big, big calls for Democrats in the 2020 race.

"He just got over the line and I think everybody knows it." Acquitted, exonerated, absolved of all sins, Republicans have voted against removing Donald Trump from office with only one tiny flare of dissent in the form of Mitt Romney, what are we going to talk about now? Iowa was a disappointment for political devotees waiting eagerly on results and doubly so for those in the Biden camp. We discuss what went wrong as well as State of the Union and Brexit fallout for both Britain and the EU.

"We're going to have a real mistrial here where the president isn't really exonerated, they'll just say, we're not going to remove him but no one's going to say he isn't guilty." The latest day of impeachment proceedings revolved around the question of witnesses, in particular if John Bolton's latest book tour would be stopping off in the Senate. Peace in the Middle East could be achieved if Israel gets all that it wants out of a deal with Pakistan, Trump coming to bat right around the time Benjamin Netanyahu needs a win. Also talking coronavirus, budget black holes, Brexit, and just how important are the Iowa caucuses?

"They cut the head off this snake and the snake couldn't rattle." Donald Trump's impeachment moves into the Senate at long, long last but while Trump is literally boasting about withholding evidence from Democrats, Republicans see little to be concerned about. Meanwhile, a huge turnout of pro-gun advocates playing soldier in Virginia and rubbing elbows with neo-Nazis and the extreme right. Also talking climate change and tariffs in Davos, ugly scenes between Democratic frontrunners, and a reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"Mr Giuliani, his self-appointed saviour, could send him right down the drain." Impeachment articles have been delivered to the Senate by the House, so how much longer will this go on and, with fresh proof of Rudy Giuliani's actions in the Ukraine, has the rabbit hole still got some depths to plunge? The entire Russian government bar Vladimir Putin are on their way out this week, what are the implications for Putin's power and the US? Also talking Iran, a Chinese trade deal, Puerto Rico, and a feud emerges between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

"This is not an ordinary war and a few bombs are not going to end it." It’s a new year, a new us, and a new war, Ed and Sean are back for 2020 talking the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and spectre of war with Iran. A war that could quickly turn nuclear, started largely to distract from Trump's impeachment. And Australia's bushfires have stunned the world and provide a dire warning about climate change and extreme weather threats. Also talking Bernie Sanders, good news for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Brexit

"I think 2020 is going to be a year not of crisis, but a reawakening of real democracy." For their last chat of 2019, Ed and Sean discuss the big stories of the year, some that feel like only yesterday and some we may have forgotten. Including the government in shutdown, the Mueller report and its implications now, a neverending trade standoff with China, Syria, climate change, and impeachment. And with so much division and unrest in the likes of Israel, Hong Kong and South America, and events like the Christchurch and El Paso shootings or Iran attacks, what will 2020 bring in terms of stability?

"This is damaging Trump but it may not kill him, and when you aim at the king you better shoot at the head." Trump struggling to find a break this week, with impeachment hearings at home declaring him guilty of abusing his office and putting himself above the national interest. Abroad, some NATO bullies caught making fun of him behind his back also means he's had to take his ball and go home. Also talking French tariffs, a shooting in New Orleans, the UK London Bridge stabbing, and Kamala Harris out of the presidential race.

"People know the president is guilty, they simply don't care." Impeachment, when will it end? Although hearings are over for the Thanksgiving break it seems Democrats need a vote before voters are completely done with it all. Trump graduating from interfering with normal crimes to war crimes in the case of Eddie Gallagher and other military members. Also talking White House cybersecurity, Israel, Hong Kong, Sarah Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, and what are we thankful for on Thanksgiving 2019?

"Epstein, if the story ever comes out, it's going to be worse than we ever thought." Ed back in the studio this week, discussing Sondland's testimony as the EU ambassador turns on Trump. And Jeffrey Epstein, still dead but back in the spotlight this week after Prince Andrew's disastrous interview trying to clear his name and two guards charged with falsifying reports. Also kids behind bars, meth, Israel's lack of a government, and violent unrest in Bolivia, Chile, and Hong Kong.

"This may come out to be the big story in all of this. It's coming out more and more that the Russians are pulling the strings." Impeachment goes public but with transcripts of previous testimony readily available and round-the-clock coverage, is there anything we don't already know? Dreamers under threat as conservatives on the Supreme Court appear to be eye siding with Trump against the DACA program. Also talking Roger Stone and WikiLeaks, Remington's failed appeal, trade, and climate change fires and floods.

"Makes no difference who the whistleblower is, the truth is the truth." 11,000 scientists worldwide have come together to warn of our current climate emergency, the same week Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, making it the only country in the world to do so. Of course, Trump has problems enough at home with impeachment getting worse, whistleblowers to illegally obstruct, FEMA funding to deny and state elections to lose. Also talking shooting deaths in Mexico, the Asia-Pacific trade deal, and the latest from the Democratic race.

"He let the military do their job for a change, now he can take credit for it, that is not a change but thumbs up." The takedown of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi a success at a time when the Trump administration really needs a win, and credit where credit is due. Impeachment rolls on regardless, with John Bolton set to testify and some truly disturbing attacks made on Ukrainian-born Lt Col Alexander Vindman. Also talking Kurds in Syria, California fires, Lebanon, UK election, and the passing of John Conyers.

"They're protecting themselves, and they don't care about the democracy at this point." Ceasefire in Syria continues, and Trump is leaving troops behind to guard the precious, precious oil, but to whose benefit? All guns blazing on impeachment though, as US envoy to Ukraine William Taylor asserts quid pro quo was most definitely in action exchanging military aid for dirt on Biden, Trump calling the impeachment inquiry a lynching and Republicans staging a sit-in protest to delay proceedings. Also, the Canadian election, Israel, Brexit, and key issues for Democrats moving into 2020.

"Trump is really sorry he did this because not only is he losing allies in Europe, some of his staunchest figures in the United States are backing away." Outcry at home and abroad over proceedings in Syria are losing Trump supporters when he needs them most, and as subpoenas and investigations continue, who is going to be the first shoved under the bus? ProPublica has also given a tantalising taste of what's yet to be revealed in Trump's tax returns, and could mean charges for Trump once, if, he leaves the White House. Also discussing Saudi Arabia, Ohio Opiod Trial, and the Atatiana Jefferson shooting. For an in-depth look at issues of police shootings and other things plaguing black Americans, check out the US of Ed: Black America special.

"This'll lead to not just the massacre of the Kurds, but the massacre of a lot of Syrians and ISIS on the move again." Since impeachment proceedings, Trump has doubled down on corruption claims surrounding Joe Biden and calls for (still illegal) foreign investigations, as well as throwing out accusations of treason and forbidding cooperation, how low can things go? This week also sees the administration face condemnation for abandoning Kurdish fighters in Syria, another chapter in a long series of betrayals. Also talking Open Skies Treaty, the rich getting richer, China throwing its weight around, and Joe Biden's 2020 hopes.

"Going through this process is excruciating." On September 24th, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump for allegedly betraying his oath of office and the country's national security. It's a move that some Democrats and anti-Trumpers have been crying out to see for some time, but what will proceedings involve and what happens if Trump is actually impeached? Ed and Sean talk the process, how long, the likely fallout, and compare the cases of previous presidents, Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Richard Nixon.

"With the Mueller investigation, with Cohen, with everything else, the final shoe has dropped." After a chat with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky was perceived as lightly treasonous, Donald Trump finds himself in the hottest of the hot water that has defined his political career with Nancy Pelosi announcing impeachment proceedings, but Teflon Trump is a long way from sunk. Looking at impeachment, how the Ukraine situation could also hurt Joe Biden, Mr Morrison Goes to Washington, UN Climate Summit, Boris Johnson, and Elizabeth Warren's 2020 chances.

"These are Trump allies, not US allies, Saudi Arabia is not an ally of the United States but an ally of Mr Trump." Saudi Arabia has lost half its country's oil reserves in an unexpected attack and Trump is pointing the finger at Iran, are American boots on Iranian soil now inevitable? In the courts, conservatives going to bat for Brett Kavanaugh over fresh sexual assault allegations and former Trump aides told to ignore subpoenas by the White House. Also the GM workers strike, Israeli election, Beto O'Rourke's forced buyback proposal and Feelin' the Bern on the road to 2020.