America Explained

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** In this episode, Andy discusses how the Biden administration has handled the Russian invasion of Ukraine so far. Credits Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** Just as this episode was being recorded, Russia announced its nuclear forces are being placed on alert. Andy discusses this as well as the current course of the ground conflict, and the truly unprecedented sanctions the West is considering...

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** The Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun. In this extra episode Andy gives a brief rundown of the situation right now and talks about his fears for the coming weeks and months. Credits Host - Andy Gawthorpe

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** As the crisis over Ukraine continues to unfold, there is one big question hovering behind it: Just how important is the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine to the United States? And is that importance based on material considerations or...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few free written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** Over the past year, more and more attention has been focused on an issue which has long been submerged in mainstream discussions of American politics - racism and discrimination against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. A wave...

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** Recently there's been a lot of talk about the idea that America might be headed for a new civil war. But how likely is it that Donald Trump will declare Mar-a-Lago to be the capital of a new MAGA-nated States of America and wage war on the...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** As violence shook the Middle East over the past few weeks, a debate was raging in the United States over American support for Israel. It has seemed to many observers that the Democratic Party is increasingl...

*** Check out the free America Explained newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** Russia is threatening war with Ukraine, and demanding that America give in to a whole host of demands if conflict is to be avoided. In this episode, Andy explores how the roots of this conflict lie in NATO's expansion eastwards after the en...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** We stand on the brink of a transformation in abortion rights in America. Just last week the Supreme Court seemed to indicate its openness to gutting Roe in a decision which could come as soon as next June. Meanwhile, earlier this year T...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** After nearly a year in office, how has the Biden administration changed U.S.-China relations? And what sort of legacy was left by Donald Trump? In this wide-ranging conversation with Xiaoxue Martin, a China expert at the Clingendael Ins...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** Democrats have enjoyed unified control of the federal government for nearly a year. What have they done with that opportunity? Two developments last week - elections in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere, and the passage by Congress of...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam *** In this, the first ever episode of America Explained, I talked with Professor Marcia Chatelain from Georgetown about her book Franchise, a history of fast food and capitalism in African-American communities which has now won a Pulitzer...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** This is a special episode in which Andy is interviewed by the host of the ISSA podcast at Leiden University, Edmund Flett, about U.S. foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific, the U.S.-Chinese relationship,...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** Last week Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced a new security agreement aimed at militarily containing China. In this episode I discuss what the agreement is, how it has its roots i...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** It's been about a month since Kabul fell to the Taliban, signifying America's defeat in one of the longest wars it has ever fought. While so much commentary has focused on blaming the Biden administration f...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** It's no secret that American politics has been filled with rage in recent years. On cable news, on social media feeds, at demonstrations, riots and insurrections, a seemingly limitless supply of anger has b...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** The Taliban are back in Kabul. The U.S.-backed Afghan government and military have collapsed much faster than almost anyone predicted. What does this mean for U.S. politics and foreign policy? And was there...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** America Explained is taking a short summer break over August, so we're going to be bringing you two of my favorite episodes from the archive. We'll be back with lots of great new material in September - unt...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** Over the past year, more and more attention has been focused on an issue which has long been submerged in mainstream discussions of American politics - racism and discrimination against Asian-Americans and...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** Last week Trump's business and its Chief Financial Officer were hit by criminal charges related to a tax evasion scheme. But Trump himself hasn't been charged, and there seems little prospect that he will b...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** The most successful politicians are often the most successful storytellers. Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan - they all excelled at telling spinning narratives with which their supporters coul...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** On Sunday, the Democratic Senator from West Virginia dropped a bombshell. Joe Manchin said he will refuse to vote for any legislation to advance or protect voting rights in America unless ten Republican sen...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** As violence shook the Middle East over the past few weeks, a debate was raging in the United States over American support for Israel. It has seemed to many observers that the Democratic Party is increasingl...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** It's no secret that American politics has been filled with rage in recent years. On cable news, on social media feeds, at demonstrations, riots and insurrections, a seemingly limitless supply of anger has b...

*** Check out the America Explained Substack newsletter for a few written posts a month on the big issues in U.S. politics and foreign policy and no extra spam: https://amerex.substack.com/ *** Just a few weeks ago, former Trump administration officials were still claiming that they had brought peace to the Middle East. But the latest round of violence demonstrates that their approach was deeply f...