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In the first of a series, Andy gives explainers on U.S. swing states. Up first is Arizona, whose identity and politics are very different to the Midwestern states which people usually have in mind when they think about the most hotly-contested states. It's also a place where the big issues driving this election - immigration, election denialism, and abortion are unusually turbo-charged.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

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Andy and Catherine talk about Trump's trial in New York, and whether there's any real chance of him going to jail before the November election.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Catherine Wood

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In this episode I spoke to Gregory Brew, deputy editor of the Texas National Security Review and a historian of U.S.-Iranian relations, about U.S. relations with Iran. We talked about the deeper history of the relationship, what drove policy during the Trump administration, and the role that oil plays in the broader U.S. stance in the Middle East.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

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Andy and Catherine go over some lesser-known and surprising recent Supreme Court decisions covering democracy, animal rights, and Native affairs.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Catherine Wood

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Nowadays we're used to the idea that antagonism exists between the West and China, but we don't often pause to consider that this antagonism long predates China's rising economic and military power. Our guest today, Professor Jeffrey Crean from Tyler Junior College in Texas, is someone who has considered this - and he's written a great book, The Fear of Chinese Power, which examines over 150 years of Western fears of China.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Martijn van Ette

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In this special 100th episode of America Explained, Andy zooms out to look at what happened in the four years since the podcast launched to bring us back to this moment - one in which Donald Trump could once again become president of the United States.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

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In this episode, Andy is joined by Martijn to talk about the hold-up in getting aid for Ukraine through the House of Representatives. How is it that Speaker Mike Johnson can single-handedly hold up this aid? And will Ukraine eventually get it?

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe

Co-host - Martijn van Ette

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In this special episode, Andy is interviewed by Phil Dobbie and Roger Herring of The Why Curve podcast about how Europe should prepare for a second Trump presidency. We talked about trade, alliances and democracy, as well as how Trump's re-election might lead to an undignified scramble to get on his good side.

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Host - Andy Gawthorpe