Us Of Ed

Leading into the close of the ballots, Ed and Sean literally counted down the final few hours of the election race in a broadcast for 2ser 107.3 (9am - 12pm AEDT) Discussing the states to watch and senate turnout, the battle for the soul of America, voter suppression and intimidation, what the mandate will be depending on Senate results and more... Joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad and Brendan O'Connor from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Additional Producers: Rod Chambers Tina Quinn Ryan Stanton Max Tillman

"Go blue." Coming into the final week of the election race and all the polls look good for Joe Biden, but it's only the one on election day that counts. Amy Coney Barrett has been quickly confirmed ahead of the result as well though, raising fears about her role in a potential voting stalemate and questions about the future of the court. Talking the final debate, Barrett, swing states, bringing out the big guns in the Biden campaign, voting, as well as the latest from Lebanon and COVID cases in Europe.

"He's out of money, he's out of time, and he's out of games he can play." As we enter the final stretch, Trump is running the same plays as 2016 but looking a great deal more unsteady on his feet, while Democrats have learned to duck and weave. With voters on track for a record number of early turnouts, however, Americans seem largely decided even if the actual result remains undecided. Talking all the latest on the race including the final debate, shots fired at Hunter Biden and Dr Anthony Fauci, COVID, and the Supreme Court.

"A lot of people are saying, this is my right, this is my privilege, this is my duty as an American, and I'm not going to throw that aside." In this supersized special, Ed and Sean are once again joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher to take a look at the polls, key states, and key issues two weeks out from election day on November 3rd. Looking at record numbers of Americans voting early, and ongoing attempts at voter suppression and intimidation, COVID-19 and its impact on the issues, Amy Coney Barrett, the final debate, and voting in key demographics across battleground states.

"Trump keeps talking about someone stealing the election - it seems to be his side." The plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, while the perpetrators were almost certainly emboldened by Donald Trump, does it benefit him and could we see more in the event of a Joe Biden victory? Amy Coney Barrett's hearings have been a shambolic affair with a sense of inevitability about the result, can anything hold her back from the Supreme Court now? Also we talk Lindsey Graham, financial relief, voter suppression and other "chicanery", and the latest from the election trail - will there be another debate?

"There's no hiding from this now... but the Republicans want to make lemonade out of these lemons." In a fresh, chaotic twist to an already chaotic race, late last week it was announced Donald Trump and other top Republican figures had contracted COVID-19. Looking at the way in which both sides scrambled to turn the news to their advantage, and what happens if the president worsens in the coming week? Plus the VP Debate, latest on Trump's taxes, Breonna Taylor, and Senate seats being targeted in the election race.

"There's an opening that we can flip the Senate, that Democrats can take back the Senate." All eyes have been on the race to the White House, with media and polls focused on who will be America's next president. But to really decide the future of the nation, the race to control the Senate could be much more important. Ed and Sean are joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad to talk about some of the biggest issues of the 2020 campaign and how they'll be affected by the makeup of the Senate; Healthcare, Jobs, and Voting Rights.

"It was a shameful exhibition, but more damaging is the damage it did to the United States around the world." Unravelling the mess that was the first presidential debate, where the most lucid statements Donald Trump had to make were calling for white supremacists to stand by and for voter intimidation. Trump's taxes, or lack thereof, also finally released, not by the president as long promised but by the New York Times, and with impeccable timing. Also talking Amy Coney Barrett, Brad Parscale, Alexei Navalny and black voters targeted for 'deterrence'.

"Her steady hand on issues of social justice, civil justice, her pioneering ways." From humble beginnings through fighting for feminism to taking a seat on the highest court of the land, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an icon and inspiration to people, not just in the United States but around the world. Ed and Sean are joined by Dana Rawls and Stephanie Zuniga-Maher from Democrats Abroad to discuss the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this special edition of US of Ed, as well as touching on the battle to see her replaced and key issues the court will be facing in her absence.

"The nuclear option is the only one remaining." Sadly, this week saw the passing of Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. While a full accounting of her legacy is yet to be felt, literally within an hour of the announcement of her passing Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was quick to say the Senate would expedite Trump's replacement for Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, sparking cries of Republican hypocrisy and an ugly battle for votes. Trump has his only legal troubles though with a fresh investigation into his taxes in Manhattan. We're also looking at 200,000 COVID deaths in the US, protests, Breonna Taylor, Iran sanctions, and Joe Biden's latest endorsements.

"People know violence breeds violence and for the president to be on the side, one way or the other, is causing his polls to go down." Trump continues to escalate tensions around protest movements in the US, calling for 'retribution', but is the focus on law and order distracting at all from his failures on other issues? Meanwhile, a historic peace deal signed by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain presided over by Trump, could it repair his reputation as a deal maker and even net him a Nobel Peace Prize? Also talking the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, trade, misinformation on COVID, West Coast fires, and latest from the election race.

"He knew how bad it was, he knew how deadly it was, and then he has no game plan." Suckers and losers, some choice words from Trump regarding America's much-venerated war dead, and Trump on tape admitting he underplayed the threat of COVID-19 from the start. For any other president, these would be historical scandals but given everyone has pretty much made up their mind on Trump, will they have any impact on the race? Also talking Louis DeJoy, a COVID vaccine, California, Australian journos out of China, Brexit news, and latest on the election race.

"They're trying to scare the American electorate into a victory." Violent scenes from Portland and Kenosha looking more and more like a second Civil War, and with the actions of Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse lionised in the conservative media and by Donald Trump himself it doesn't seem likely to stop any time soon. Meanwhile, a federal court has again blocked the release of Trump's tax returns until after the November election. Also talking Breonna Taylor, Hurricane Laura, Shinzo Abe and 9/11 remembrances coming up next week.

"I think this was a homage to Trump, little policy, little substance." Republicans held their convention this week to officially renominate Donald Trump for the White House, so what were they selling and who's buying? Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter protests have been reignited following the police shooting of Jacob Brown with violence erupting as far-right militia involve themselves in proceedings and the NBA cancels games as a sign of protest. Also talking Iran sanctions, poisoning of Alexei Navalny and just what is going on with Kim Jong-un?

"Racial and economic justice, healthcare, honesty in bureaucracy, restoring international relationships. Making America honest again." The Democratic Convention was a showstopper this week, as Joe Biden officially accepted the mantle of his party's presidential candidate and Kamala Harris made history as his running mate. First though, we know that any result where Biden/Harris wins is likely to be challenged by Donald Trump as illegitimate, "proof" the election was rigged, but with all the interference and undermining coming from Trump and Republicans we have to ask, at what point would a Trump victory instead be seen as illegitimate? Also talking the latest on USPS, Russian interference, and the Israel / UAE peace deal.

"People in the suburbs... they don't care what colour she is, they know she's real." Kamala Harris has been at long last confirmed as Joe Biden's running mate, so what factors are going to work for and against her in November? And what can we expect from next week's Democratic convention? Republicans also have dirty tricks up their sleeves, hacking away at the United States Postal Service and using Kanye West to run interference. Also talking COVID latest, the Great American Outdoors Act, Lebanon, TikTok, and the spectre of Trump's face on Mount Rushmore.

"The ongoing economy is falling even faster, so this is something deeper than the Depression, I don't know how the United States gets out of this." Widely denounced and largely in-character, Trump's calls to delay the November election may come to nothing but they did serve to distract away from the States' dire economic position. But his constant attacks on mail-in voting could damage Republicans more so than Democrats. And one of the largest non-nuclear blasts on record has rocked Beirut, how will if affect a country already teetering on the edge? Also talking the latest on COVID, William Barr, Roger Stone, and Joe Biden, where is his running mate?

"Trump did so much damage and the nation is so far behind, that's going to be a really tough catch-up but a very necessary one." Bumper episode this week as Ed and Sean look at what's in the Democratic platform for 2020, both foreign and domestic. How might relations with China be improved under Biden? What about Russia and Syria? What approach are Democrats taking on improving Obamacare? Where's the plan on climate change and environmental cutbacks? But first, a quick look at the news, with COVID deaths, Portland retreat, William Barr and the passing of John Lewis.

"There's people who now want him out at any cost, and it may be bloody." It's been a concern for some time now, but following fresh comments this week what happens if Trump loses in November but refuses to accept the results? How likely even is such a possibility? And with the current strategy on COVID of shutting eyes, putting fingers in ears and singing loudly failing to do much to stop the pandemic, Trump is switching tacks but reasons things will get worse before they get better. Also talking Roger Stone, pandemic compensation, militant crackdown in Portland, and Joe Biden keeping his head way, way down in the lead-up to November.

"It took the Supreme Court to wrest justice back for America and give the nation some spine." No man is above the law declares the latest Supreme Court decision regarding Donald Trump's financial records, limiting the presidential power Trump has been relying on to keep himself above prosecution. Although the public may not see those records before the November election, the loss is part of a larger losing streak Trump and Republicans are experiencing in the court. Ed and Sean take a look at the latest decision, and implications on cases such as the Louisiana abortion bill, Oklahoma reservations, DACA and more.