As part of the fast-moving argument over US military support to Ukraine, the US demanded $500bn worth of access to what was variously reported as Ukraine?s rare earths or rare metals or rare minerals. But is there that amount of minerals in the ground?
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer and Editor: Richard Vadon
Studio Manager: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
The tariff policies preferred by President Trump will be a "disaster" for the United States according to Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. We discussed trade, tariffs, and his hope to make spending cuts identified by DOGE permanent.
Dozens of Democratic governors across the country are facing a nearly impossible task: Manage the day-to-day operations of their state while also playing wack-a-mole with the waves of awful federal policies coming out of Washington right now. From tariffs to mass government layoffs to threats to shutter the Department of Education, it's a lot! New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul talks about how she's navigating Trump 2.0 and the ways she's taking 'the gloves off' with the administration.
And in headlines: Trump considers revoking deportation protections from nearly a quarter million Ukrainians, the president puts a pin in tariffs on a wide range of products from Mexico and Canada, and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says it's 'unfair' to let trans athletes play women's sports.
To understand the second Trump administration, you have to understand the internet culture that gave birth to it.
Guest: Elle Reeve, CNN correspondent who reported on the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA for Vice News.
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Podcast production by Evan Campbell and Patrick Fort.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dealt one of its first blows to President Donald Trump’s aggressive agenda to reshape how the federal government works. It was a minor decision: The justices rejected an emergency request from the administration to keep frozen some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals, raising questions about how the court will handle the waves of litigation crashing against the White House with Trump back in office. Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School, helps us read the SCOTUS tea leaves.
Later in the show, Missouri Farmers Union Vice President Richard Oswald joins us to talk about how Trump's tariffs will hurt farmers.
And in headlines: The Trump administration puts a one-month pause on auto tariffs for Canada and Mexico, some fired federal workers go back to work, and climate change might be making allergy season longer.
Aware of Donald Trump’s reputation as a dealmaker, Ukrainians had some hope as he took office—maybe Trump could break the stalemate with Russia and find peace. Then that Oval Office meeting happened…
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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther.
Has the US really sent Ukraine $350 billion for its war effort? Is a $500billion cut of Ukraine?s rare earth minerals a good deal? How will the UK fund the governments ambitions to raise defence spending to 3%? But most important of all - how many muscles are in an elephant?s trunk?
Presenter: Tim Harford
Series Producer: Charlotte McDonald
Reporter: Lizzy McNeill
Producers: Nathan Gower and Josh McMinn
Sound Mix: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown
President Donald Trump gave his first speech to the American people since taking office Tuesday night, and it was long. The president's address to Congress lasted more than 90 minutes breaking Bill Clinton’s 2000 State of the Union record. Trump talked about everything from tariffs to immigration to trans kids to the economy. Pod Save America’s Jon Lovett joins us to debrief the president’s rambling speech.
In Europe, Vice President J.D. Vance issued speech-threatening and trade-restricting demands for future American AI systems. Matt Mittlesteadt comments.