US of Ed
US of Ed
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. US of Ed typically talks issues o…
At the Twilight's Last Gleaming, 2024 in Retrospect
"This is pre-Civil War-like, I think the nation is changed forever." As 2024 draws to a close, we stand at the precipice of what could prove to be one of the most consequential periods in human history. On the hunt to make some sense out of it all, Ed and Sean have a final word on the election cam…
27:22
Update: Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire
"[Trump] wants to go to war with Iran, they don't want to give him that opportunity." Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have acceded to a 60-day ceasefire agreement backed by the United States, with the Lebanese military to act as a mediator in the coming days. But with Hezbollah bloodi…
13:17
Elect a Clown, Get a Circus
"It is so scary, and so unAmerican." Trump's dream team continues to take shape, but dogged by accusations of sexual misconduct and unfitness for their roles it remains to be seen if the Republican-led Senate will take a stand on appointments or simply let Trump have his way. Meanwhile, ominous pl…
18:31
Picking Up the Pieces
"A lot of good, strong, smart people will be leaving the United States." A week on from the shock re-election of former president Donald Trump and a great deal of people and institutions are still reeling as plans are cemented for his second term. Unable to stay away, Ed and Sean look at where it …
19:10
It’s All Over but the Crying
"We lost the election but we are not defeated." Defying a late surge in the polls for Harris, American voters have returned Donald Trump to the White House with a historical win that has made him only the second president to be voted to two non-consecutive terms and the first Republican to win the…
12:03
Closing Arguments
"We're voting for Kamala to keep the democracy." In the final days of the election campaign, polls continue to run on a razor's edge and the United States appears more divided than the days of the Civil War when the two sides were literally shooting at one another. Are there any closing arguments …
14:53
Too Close to Call
"I think you ought to get your divining stick out." The November election is only a couple of weeks away and polls continue to show a result too close to call with nothing having a real impact on the Trump campaign in spite of his many, many, many scandals, slips, and absences. Meanwhile, Russia a…
17:14
Dancing with the Devil
"They thought they could take her down but she stood up and fired right back." Kamala Harris steams ahead with interviews and new policies this week while Donald Trump dances and amps up his fascist rhetoric, so how the hell does this election still look so close? Meanwhile, the US is getting itse…
16:49
Storm Warning
"Florida is no longer habitable." At time of recording, Hurricane Milton is closing in on Florida shores with devastating winds and storm surges predicted. How did it go so wrong so fast, and how has partisan politics derailed the response? Kamala Harris has been on a media blitz this week, appeal…
24:10
Battle of the Running Mates
"If delivery counts, Vance wins. If honesty counts, Walz wins." The VP presidential debate this week appeared more substantive, and certainly more civil, than anything we've seen lately, but does it really matter? And do new polls reflect the performances. Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene has carved a …
13:25