"[Republicans] cannot go into elections in two years and have Democrats take praise for all the infrastructure work, for all the new jobs."Republicans testing resolve on infrastructure this week, before moving on with Biden's big plans. Meanwhile, COVID is already testing the facilities at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, leading to the question as to whether the games can safely continue. Also talking billionaires in space, Taliban on the march, hacking, and COVID cases among the unvaccinated.

US of Ed

Pigs in Space

"It sounds like this bipartisanship is hanging by a very slim thread, so nobody wants to say anything."Joe Biden and Democrats have gotten together this week on a massive $3.5 trillion budget blueprint to push forward with the Biden agenda on education, healthcare, climate change and more, but will it be enough? Chaotic scenes in Haiti and Cuba paint a tumultuous picture of the region's future, and look to make an impact on US immigration. Also chatting about anti-competitive practices in big business, Texas voting rights, the UK's abandonment of COVID restrictions, and Olympics.

Biden's Bumper Budget Boost

"The way you solve a problem in the United States is to kill it, here you might go fishing."Joe Biden has promised Americans have emerged from their darkest days in a Fourth of July address largely concerned with the COVID-19 pandemic, but for some dark days continue with at least 233 gun-related deaths over the holiday weekend. Meanwhile, Israel's new many-headed hydra of a coalition government appears to have failed its first big test with a split on family unification. Plus Afghanistan, ransomware attacks, Brazil, and the spectre of more indictments in the Trump Organization case.

Died on the Fourth of July

"This infrastructure bill, as I've said before, is a jobs bill, pure and simple."Joe Biden has announced in glowing terms this week a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure with Republicans, but given the reduced price tag and threats of a veto if he doesn't get his way on a separate reconciliation bill for other measures is the deal all it's cracked up to be? Meanwhile, Critical Race Theory has entered the mainstream as a new front in the culture wars. Also talking the Jan 6th committee, Afghanistan withdrawal, heat wave, charges for the Trump organisation, and Donald Rumsfeld.

Biden Bipartisanship

"This is unheard of in the march toward democracy. The notion is, the right to vote is extended, not retracted."Republicans have blocked the Democrats' first attempt at a bipartisan voting rights bill, with zero dissent on party lines from within the GOP. Meanwhile, Biden has signally a potential breakthrough on infrastructure talks but compromise with Republicans could see him losing support from the left. Also talking American Rescue Plan, missing the target on COVID vaccinations, Texas power, and the race to be New York’s next mayor.

Compromise

"America's back, and people are loving it."Rubbing elbows with other world leaders, Joe Biden's trip to the G7 Summit appears a diplomatic success but we look to see if there are any real answers on climate change and China, as well as what's come out of a quiet summit with Vladimir Putin. On the home front, however, fresh revelations about Donald Trump's use of the Justice Department to spy on political enemies reminds us of the long road ahead to stabilising American democracy, if such a thing can be done. Also talking student debt, Lina Khan, Israel, India, and Juneteenth.

America's Back... at the G7

"Notions of power run deep in some people, and being powerful is more important than anything including justice."Voting rights faces stiff opposition and talks with Republicans over infrastructure have unsurprisingly fallen apart, forcing Dems to go it alone, but Joe Biden faces dissent from his own party in the shape of Joe Manchin. What's the Manchin angle? Tech innovation finds bipartisan support though as the US looks to take on China. Also discussing Biden's first trip abroad, Kamala Harris and Mexico, taxing the 1%, Israel, and Anthony Fauci.

The Manchinian Candidate

"This is the chance for the United States to reestablish economically, socially... and of course Biden is hoping political corrections and improvements will follow on from this."Biden's big spending budget looking to vastly expand America's social safety net and fix up crumbling infrastructure, being called “the most substantial expansion of the federal government’s spending powers since World War II". We look at the latest additions, plus where to next on the January 6th Commission. Plus Arctic drilling, voting rights in Texas, China, Israel, and the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre.

Big Spender Biden

"What he's doing is facing reality, there's good debt and bad debt."Biden's first budget is due to be announced at the end of this week, we look at what's anticipated and whether it stacks up to promises made on the campaign trail. And a year on from the killing of George Floyd the policing reforms in his name are yet to become reality, what needs to happen? Also, Biden to meet with Putin in Geneva, COVID conspiracies gaining cred, and Belarus participating in 'state-sponsored hijacking'.

First Biden Budget

"They are trying to disown it. The more they do that, the more they own it."The bill for a commission looking into the events of the Capitol Invasion on January 6th, 2021 has passed through Congress this morning against strong Republican opposition but with much of the narrative already settled, will anything actually be learned assuming it also gets through the Senate? Plus Roe v. Wade facing a potential new challenge in the Supreme Court, as the conservative majority considers Mississippi's harsh new abortion bill. Also talking infrastructure, Gaza, and the GOP trifecta of Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz.

Pointing Fingers on Jan 6th

"We've come to recognise bad jobs don't lead to good jobs."Businesses across the States are short on staff and being forced to stay shut, and Republicans blame unemployment benefits which some states are now cutting. We take a deeper look at the lack of wage growth and decent employment opportunities, and how they've led to this outcome. Plus Israel and Palestine bordering on outright war as the right wing Israeli government distracts from its own issues - can American continue to support their longtime ally? Also looking at gas shortages, the NRA, the Arizona recount and Liz Cheney fallout.

Help Wanted

"We've got to get out in front of this using our technology, our people."A new goal on American vaccinations and setting their sights on waiving patents for COVID vaccines, the latest on the rollout from the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the Republican party acting like a spurned lover when it comes to big business and stuck in their ways, looking to oust Liz Cheney for not bending the knee to Donald Trump. Also talking an increase to the refugee cap, Florida, Israel, and China's big moves on electric car production.

Going With the Herd

"Everything was there that he's promised, not just with another promise but with a course of action."American jobs, climate change, global leadership and gun control all on the agenda for Joe Biden's speech covering his first one hundred days in office and his administration's upcoming agenda. Ed and Sean unpack what was said, and how it relates back to real policies announced over the course of the week. Plus the Armenian Genocide acknowledgement, Russia, COVID cases in India, and Rudy Giuliani's Manhattan raided in the Ukraine investigation.

Biden's First 100 Days

"[George Floyd] will be remembered for a very long time, not for the life he led but for the life he gave."Celebrations and a massive outpouring of relief this week as former police officer Derek Chauvin found guilty of both murder and manslaughter for the killing of George Floyd. Hopes that this will lead to real change for law enforcement and justice in the United States, but how? Meanwhile, Joe Biden is looking to pledge the United States to cut emissions by 50% by 2030, we look at plans to transition affected workers to new industries. Also talking 200 million COVID jabs, Russia, Israel and Syria exchanging missiles, and fallout from the royal funeral.

Justice

"Biden wins more approval by doing it even if Afghanistan goes to hell in a hand basket."After almost two decades and over 2,300 dead US troops, President Joe Biden has given the order to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan. What are the new threats the US will be dealing with and how will leaving the job half-finished affect US influence abroad? And while CEOs complain about the Biden corporate tax hikes, the love affair between big business and the GOP is also going stale. Also talking gun control, "election integrity", Russia massing troops on the Ukrainian border, and the death of Prince Philip.Check out the new podcast as well for in-depth discussions, Pacific Conversations. First episode with former Labor leader and ambassador Kim Beazley out now.

Other Fish to Fry

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.