Stateside with Kai and Carter

The historic Democratic victories in the 2026 midterm elections were more than just a rebuke of Donald Trump and his Maga movement – they are a five-alarm fire for the Republican party itself, which may be on the verge of collapse. The sweeping wins in GOP strongholds like Texas, Iowa and Kansas reveal an electorate that is fed up and eager for change. But that anger could turn on Democrats – quick. Now that they run Congress, what can the fractured Democratic coalition achieve? And will they do enough to keep voters on their side in 2028?Kai Wright andCarter Sherman break down what we know about this once-in-a-lifetime election and how this new Congress has the potential to be the most consequential since Reconstruction.

Image credit: Reuters

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Jennifer Welch is a Democrat who isn’t afraid to call out her own party. Her podcasts I’ve Had It and IHIP News, which she co-hosts with friend Angie Sullivan, have attracted a loyal fan base that loves to hear them preach something they like call "fuck you politics". An influential voice within the leftwing media ecosystem, Welch believes "fuck you politics" may be the key to winning over voters in red regions of the US – such as her home state of Oklahoma. Carter Sherman speaks to Welch about why rage has come to define these midterms, and whether Democrats have done enough to harness it. Welch also reveals her own limits when it comes to going low, and her message to Democrats if a "blue wave" materializes

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Are the Democrats really going to take Texas? If there is going to be a blue wave, as polling suggests, winning the Lone Star State is going to be essential. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for US Senate, is currently leading against Ken Paxton, a scandal-ridden, political survivor. Even the governor’s race in Texas, pitting Greg Abbot, the current governor, against Gina Hinojosa is within the margin of error. These elections, and ultimately control of the US Congress, are likely to be decided by one key demographic – Latinos. Hispanic men were key to Donald Trump’s 2024 win. But news commentator Carlos Eduardo Espina and pollster Stephanie Valencia tellKai Wright there are signs that the economy, the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign and Republican redistricting efforts are backfiring and Latinos seem to be swinging back to Democrats this year. Espina and Valencia break down what we really mean by “the Latino vote” and how those voters might just swing right back next election if Democrats aren’t careful.

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A nine-month Guardian investigation has revealed that when a landlord evicts someone in Louisiana, they can choose to file the eviction in a venue where a portion of the court fee goes directly into the pocket of the judge.The Guardian found one justice of the peace in the suburbs of New Orleans who may well be the highest paid judge in the country. His court took in nearly $1 million in revenue last year. And he personally took home over $400,000. Somehow, this is all legal. Kai Wright speaks with Guardian US southern bureau chief Oliver Laughland and data editor Will Craft about the real life ramifications of this system for tenants and Laughland and Craft explain how they dug through more than 11,000 pages of eviction records to discover this little noticed judicial system that evicts thousands of people a year. A former judge called the system “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Image credit: Annie Flanagan

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Benjamin Netanyahu is in the fight of his political life. Voters in Israel are heading to the polls today to decide an election that could determine whether Netanyahu will remain the country's prime minister (and affect the outcome of the corruption charges against him). But the Israeli election also arrives at a time when voters around the world seem to be rejecting authoritarianism. A student-run movement stunned the world on Sunday when its candidates routed Serbia's long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vučić. That same day, Brazilians beat back a campaign by Flávio Bolsonaro — the son of Jair Bolsonaro, the disgraced former president — in a historic upset.Carter Sherman speaks toJulian Borger, the Guardian’s senior international correspondent, about how these four elections could reshape the political world order in just 10 days, and why the upcoming US midterm elections are the biggest test for global democracy.

Image credit: Amir Cohen/Reuters

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Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s You Can See Everything has packed movie theaters and set records at the box office. It’s also kicked off a debate about, well, pretty much everything that happens on screen – including whether the film's subjects, notorious fraudster Elizabeth Holmes and her mysterious partner Billy Evans, can ever be trusted. Carter Sherman and Guardian arts writer Adrian Horton break down Horton's five-star review of the film, analyze Evans's most shocking moments and chart Holmes' trajectory from girlboss to (maybe) tradwife. They want to know: how did ideas about gender and sex shape this film? Contains spoilers

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This week, the Department of Justice charged 28 green card holders in California over alleged voter fraud. It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to crack down on noncitizen voters, and part of a wider push to throw the results of the midterms into doubt. In today's episode, Carter Sherman and Kai Wright are joined by George Chidi and Sam Levine, two reporters who have spent years covering Donald Trump’s attacks on voting rights. They analyze the tactics being used to purge voter rolls, and look ahead to how Trump might react if the results on election day don’t go his way.

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When the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, millions of people got angry — and voted on it, making abortion was one of the top issues in the 2022 and 2024 elections. But now, during this year’s midterms, it seems like abortion has fallen out of the headlines. Candidates aren't discussing it nearly as much as they used to, while voters say it's no longer as important to them — even though four states are voting directly on ballot measures that deal with abortion access. One state could even reinstate its near-total abortion ban.

How did this happen? Co-hostCarter Sherman, a longtime abortion rights reporter, speaks with co-hostKai Wright about this election's effects on abortion rights, how bans are imperiling women and why the Trump administration might attack abortion rights after the midterms.

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The vast majority of Americans say they are struggling to pay for gas and groceries, and are cutting back on luxuries. But what or who is actually behind these price rises? We asked you to tell us what's gotten too expensive in your own life. Now, Kai Wright and Carter Sherman enlist Guardian columnist and former labor secretary Robert Reich to explain why you’re feeling the pinch. From breaking down the market factors behind the cost of a $16 cheesesteak, to explaining why AI is playing into the price of a Nintendo Switch 2, Reich reveals who you should point the finger at in this economy. Additional music by Epidemic Sound

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As the midterms approach, Donald Trumpis continuing to make strongman moves: banning reporters from the White House; trying to remake Washington DC’s architecture in his name; putting "Dear leader"-style videos on television. But historian Timothy Snyder tellsKai Wright that what this really is, is a sign of weakness. And even as the Democrats seemed poised to win the midterms, Snyder argues that the Democrats need to take bold, decisive action if they do win. They have to investigate cases of obvious personal corruption among the people surrounding Trump and try everything they can to get money out of politics. Snyder is the author of On Tyranny and one of the first scholars to warn that the Trump movement presented a threat that looked like fascism.

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The biggest question in US politics may be whether Democrats can ever win in the south. In this year’s midterms, Georgia has once again emerged as a bellwether. The state has shifted from deep red to purple for the last several election cycles and remains a frontline state in the battle over voting rights. In a recent Stateside with Kai and Carter live event in collaboration On Air Presents, hostsKai Wright andCarter Sherman were joined by Guardian contributing writer Charles Blow and political reporterShrai Popat for a lively conversation about everything at stake in Georgia – including why Jon Ossoff needs Keisha Lance Bottoms to win the governor’s race if he hopes to run for president in 2028, what Donald Trump might do to intervene in the election, and how any voter suppression moves could backfire in the south.

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The internet is on fire with demands for justice for Jane Doe, the anonymous woman who alleges she was gang-raped at a Cornell fraternity house in 2024. Doe has filed a civil lawsuit, and law enforcement has reopened her case – but did Cornell fumble its Title IX investigation into her case? Title IX is a federal civil rights law that is supposed to protect against sexual discrimination in schools, including protecting young people against sexual assault and harassment. But in practice, it rarely works.Host Carter Sherman, a longtime sexual violence reporter, speaks with civil rights lawyer and Title IX expert Alexandra Brodsky about how the Trump administration has spent the last decade warping Title IX – and why #metoo never really made its way onto college campuses. If the law is broken, what can be done to fix it?

• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

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Earlier this year, the ACLU filed more than 50 legal claims across 17 states on behalf of people harmed by federal immigration agents. One of them is Norma Bowe. Norma is a nurse and grandmother who was working at her mobile medical clinic outside the Delaney Hall immigration center when protests broke out there in May. An ICE officer flung her to the ground while she was still wearing her stethoscope. In today’s episode Kai Wright speaks to Norma about why she is fighting back, and why her work continues to be vital for family members of people stuck in immigration detention.

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After more than a year of legal limbo, Mahmoud Khalil is preparing to ask the US supreme court to hear his deportation case – and if they take it up, the outcome could have sweeping ramifications for political speech in the US. When Khalil was detained by ICE for his role in student protests at Columbia University, it was widely understood as a test case. Khalil was a legal permanent resident with a green card. The Trump administration claimed his advocacy on behalf of Palestinian people made him a threat to US foreign policy.Kai Wright speaks with Khalil about his new book, No Land To Stand On, which details what happened after ICE snatched him up, flew him across the country and deposited him in a for-profit detention center. Khalil and his wife, Noor Abdalla, share their family’s experience – how, with a newborn child, they fought to keep Khalil in the US, and how they’re facing the reality that the Trump administration is still trying to deport him.

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When the documentary NAZA premiered at the Venice international film festival earlier this month, it sent shockwaves across the globe. Composed of interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers, NAZA is a haunting exposé of the tools that the Israeli military uses to carry out the remote killing of Palestinians in Gaza – including AI, mass surveillance, and devastating airstrikes that kill civilians and raze homes. Now, the Israeli government is treating NAZA like a national security crisis. Its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is even pushing for legislation that could strip the film's two directors of their Israeli citizenship. HostCarter Sherman speaks with the directors of NAZA, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, in one of their first interviews with an American journalist. The film, which was produced by the Guardian, will open in New York on September 30th and will play in theaters across the US starting October 9th. It will also stream, for free, on the Guardian website in November.

Read some of the Guardian reporting that NAZA builds on:

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Benjamin Netanyahu lands in New York today to speak at the UN general assembly. This visit marks the Israeli prime minister's first time in the city since Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to arrest him for war crimes – and it's happening as support for Israel among US voters is taking an unprecedented plunge. Sixty percent of Americans now have an unfavorable view of Israel. (In 2022, only 42% of Americans said the same.) But what does this mean for Netanyahu’s hold on US politics? And how will it play into Israel’s October elections? Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are joined by two reporters with different perspectives on the Netanyahu story. Andrew Roth spent time reporting from Israel and the West Bank this summer, and Alice Speri has covered the pushback against Israel in Democratic politics here in the US.

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John Green is probably as famous as an author can get. His 2012 young adult novel The Fault In Our Starssold more than 20m copies, got adapted into a Hollywood hit film, and catapulted to a level of success that he’d always longed for. And yet, all that left him feeling empty. Now, after nearly a decade away from fiction, Green is back with his first novel for adults, Hollywood, Ending.In a very meta conversation withCarter Sherman, Green explains how interviews can be maddening, explores his own insecurities around fame, and argues that social media has trained all of us to sell our private lives as products. Carter and John also talk about his success as a pioneering YouTube creator alongside his brother Hank Green and Hank's recent dustup over his use of AI.

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In a new book,writers Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor have created a term to define the era we are living in: End Times Fascism. A response to the climate crisis, the rise of the far-right and advancing AI technology, they spell out how the damage being wrought by the super-rich is becoming normalized. Klein and Taylor join Carter Sherman to talk about the recent events that have made us all feel like we’re hurtling towards the apocalypse, and how we can fight back through ‘hereness’.

End Times Fascism And The Fight For The Living World is out now.

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A former Anthropic researcher’s apocalyptic declaration about artificial intelligence has led to a global panic that the technology might be the end of us all. At an event in Washington today to warn about the dangers of AI, US senator Bernie Sanders said that Congress has been ‘asleep at the wheel'. Oddly, Steve Bannon appeared at the same event. But is this response a distraction from the more immediate problems AI is already causing? Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are joined by Guardian tech reporter Johana Bhuyian to put this moment in context, and she explains why we should be cynical about industry calls for regulation

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What are we going to do about kids and social media? Lawsuit after lawsuit has accused the biggest social media platforms in the US of designing their products to be addictive and of endangering children. Meta recently settled one of those lawsuits, agreeing to pay up to $17.1bn in penalties and to limit how kids use its platforms, like Instagram and Facebook. (They did not admit to any wrongdoing.) The rest of the world is embracing a different solution that tech journalistTaylor Lorenz tellsCarter Sherman would forever change the way we use the internet: social media bans. Last year, Australia became the first country to ban people under 16 from social media, and this week, the European Union is expected to propose a similar ban. If it goes into effect, the EU ban would be, by far, the world’s biggest effort to block kids from social media. But, as Lorenz points out, these laws raise all kinds of questions about civil liberties, data privacy, and the future of free speech on the internet.

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Charlie Kirk's death created a vacuum of power that still consumes the Maga right a year later. Immediately after Kirk was shot and killed, his ultraconservative activist organization Turning Point USA announced that his widow, Erika Kirk, would replace her late husband as CEO. But as Guardian reporterJ Oliver Conroy tellsKai Wright, conspiracy theories pushed by Kirk's former allies and proteges have dogged both the organization and Erika Kirk herself. Real questions remain about whether Erika Kirk can maintain the enormous power and influence Turning Point holds on the right and what she is planning to do with the organization. Conroy spent months reporting on Charlie Kirk’s legacy talking to dozens of people within Turning Point USA and the larger Maga movement who view Charlie Kirk as a martyr. Conroy says martyrdom is a powerful force that can’t be controlled.

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In the hours after the 9/11 attacks, the journalist Rozina Ali remembers her parents telling her that as Muslims, they would now be under suspicion. It took years for Ali to understand what they meant. She talks to Carter Sherman about this journey and how it led her to write about the history of Islamophobia in the US. Ali explores how attacks on Muslims by successive administrations since 9/11 cemented Islamophobia in all areas of American life, and she explains why she believes these prejudices are more pervasive now than ever.

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Stateside with Kai and Carter is taking a short end of summer break.

We'll be back with new episodes after Labor Day.

Make sure to catch previous episodes on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. See you soon!

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The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse accused of murdering her three children, is wrapping up its fifth week. On Friday morning, the defense rested, and the public attention to the case is at a fever-pitch — especially on social media. Clancy, 36, does not deny that she strangled her children, but has pleaded not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility, also known as an insanity defense. She argues that she was in the throes of postpartum psychosis, a rare and devastating condition that can go unrecognized and untreated. Host Carter Sherman speaks with Jenna Amatulli, deputy head of news for Guardian US, about how the case has renewed attention on the fundamental shortcomings in America's maternal healthcare system, and about why Clancy's story has captivated—and polarized—so many people.

Correction added September 1st 2026:This episode referenced a study that appeared to overstate the prevalence of postpartum depression in the US as more than 80%. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control found that about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. report experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression up to 6 months after giving birth. This was based on data the CDC analyzed from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).

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Ten months into a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel and Hamas seem like they are no closer to a real end to the war. Israel reportedly says they will carry on with their military operation until Hamas fully disarms. Hamas has said they will not begin disarming until Israel begins withdrawing. At the center of it all are Gazans living without the basic infrastructure of electricity, water sanitation and hygiene.Kai Wright speaks with two surgeons – Dr Mark Perlmutter and Dr Feroze Sidhwa – who worked under those conditions. The doctors are at the center of the new documentary,American Doctor, which chronicles what they witnessed first-hand while volunteering on the frontline in a Gaza hospital. The film follows the doctors and a third, Dr Thaer Ahmad, in their work on the ground and their subsequent return to the US to tell the media and congress what they saw.

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When 18-year-old Nolan Wells went missing, his story immediately touched a nerve in Black families. He was last seen while hanging out with a group of white friends, at a popular beach near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Nolan never came home from the trip, and he was found dead days later. Many questions about how he died remain unanswered publicly. And the mystery surrounding his death has revived an old conversation within Black communities: are we ever truly safe in white-dominated spaces? Who will feel responsible for our children’s safety when we send them out into a world where Black life is not valued? HostKai Wright talks with historianStacey Patton and writerAshley Stoney about why Nolan Wells’ story has captured so much attention – and sparked so much anxiety – among Black parents, in particular. What does our collective reaction to Nolan Wells’ disappearance and death reveal about the limits of interracial society today?

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We should, in theory, be happy. Thanks to our phones, we can do practically anything – listen to our favorite bands' entire discographies, have extravagant meals delivered to our door, travel the world through an endless scroll. So why do so many of these experiences feel so joyless? Why do so many of us feel so empty all the time? HostsKai Wright andCarter Sherman wrestle with these questions with academicsMichèle Mendelssohn andCharlie Tyson, who argue that we are living in an era of decadence without pleasure. While decadence always arises in times of extreme inequality, they say that tools like AI and GLP-1s reveal how we've lost our ability to truly enjoy things – and, ironically, reclaiming decadence may help us finally have fun.

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On 13 August, three states are set to carry out executions by lethal injection. It’s the first time since 2010 that three people will be put to death on the same day in the US. In Tennessee, the execution of Darrell Hines is in the spotlight, because the last lethal injection in the state was botched. Ed Pilkington speaks to Kai Wright about the doctor at the center of that botched execution, whose identity was revealed inadvertently last year. Ed explains how his reporting has lifted the lid on a role that is usually hidden away from public view, and what it tells us about the American death penalty today

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Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan may soon be extradited back to the UK – but the manosphere influencers' case will have lasting consequences in the US, where the Tates reportedly maintained multiple ties to the Trump administration. (The Tates have been charged with rape, trafficking and numerous other crimes, but deny all criminal wrongdoing.) HostCarter Sherman talks with author and Guardian columnistRebecca Solnit about what the Andrew Tate saga reveals about Republicans' approach toward sexual violence and Donald Trump's connections to the manosphere. They ask: do people secretly like it when the US president hates women?

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An outspoken conservative endorsed by Donald Trump was sworn into office as Colombia’s new president on Friday. Abelardo de la Espriella is the seventh rightwing politician to take office in Latin America since the start of Trump’s second term. Kai Wright speaks to former US ambassador to Panama John Feeley about why the region is moving rightwards, and how it is boosting Trump’s foreign policy objectives, from immigration to containing China.

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There are more than 120,000 Flock surveillance cameras in 6,000 communities across the US. These ALPRs (automatic license plate readers) are largely used by law enforcement, and have come under criticism from privacy campaigners, who say they are being used to surveil private citizens and target immigrants. Flock says their cameras are integral to public safety, but critics fear that the company is creating a mass surveillance network. Cities across the US are cancelling Flock contracts, but some concerned citizens feel the fightback isn’t happening quickly enough. Carter Sherman speaks to Sanya Mansoor about the underground vigilante movement taking matters into their own hands, and speaks to a self declared Flock vigilante known as Nomark, who is on a mission to destroy every Flock camera across the country

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Democrats are pissed off – and they're taking their anger straight to the ballot box. In the wake of Donald Trump's return to the White House, progressives (including members of DSA – Democratic Socialists of America) have defeated established moderates in elections in liberal cities like New York, Washington DC and Seattle. Now, they're trying to win a series of major primaries in the deep-purple midwest. HostCarter Sherman speaks with Guardian midwest political correspondentRachel Leingang, who has traveled all over the region covering several key races – including this week's Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, where progressive Abdul Al-Sayed is squaring off against the establishment candidate, Haley Stevens. Can leftist politics win outside of blue bubbles? And what do these races reveal about the fight for the midterms and the White House?

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With Republicans' chances in the midterms looking shaky, Donald Trump is increasingly trying to rewrite the rules that govern US elections. Voting rights groups say he's really laying the groundwork to suppress voters. Trump has already moved to change mail-in voting, but he now wants Congress to pass the Save America Act, which includes strict voter ID restrictions. He's also accused China of interfering in the 2020 election. (Trump didn't back up that claim with evidence.) HostKai Wright speaks with Garrett Epps, legal affairs editor at Washington Monthly, about the threat to US elections and what voters can do to protect them.

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After a lull in fighting, airstrikes between the US and Iran resumed Wednesday, killing at least 20 members of Iraq’s popular mobilization force. The conflict between the US and Iran has now entered its fifth month, with no obvious conclusion in sight. Analysts have warned that the latest escalations are pushing the Middle East region into "unchartered territory". Carter Sherman is joined by the Guardian’s senior international correspondent Julian Borger and Deepa Parent, an independent journalist who reports on Iran, to answer the question: is this a forever war? 

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A parasite called cyclospora has sickened thousands of people across at least 41 states and prompted waves of headlines about weeks-long "explosive diarrhea". But as Guardian health contributor and reporterMelody Schreiber tells hostCarter Sherman, Donald Trump's cuts to the CDC and FDA have kneecapped the agencies' ability to contain the dangerous outbreak – which is now growing rapidly. Melody and Carter trace one food supplier's role in the outbreak, discuss the future of public health and reveal tips for safe eating and cooking.

Read Melody Schreiber's reporting in the Guardian about cyclospora:

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After years of trying to be skinny, Guardian reporter Madeleine Aggeler did a 180 and decided to 'bulk'. Bulking, or gaining weight on purpose to get stronger, challenged everything she had been taught about her body, and transformed her relationship to food. Madeleine speaks to Carter Sherman about her owns body image struggles, and they discuss why strength training and weightlifting has become so popular for women. Is this actually healthy, or just an extension of toxic diet culture?

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Earlier this year, Congress reached a depressing milestone: 86% of Americans, a record high, disapproved of its job performance. But this summer, there have been some signs that shifts are underway. On the left, House Democrats have just voted in unprecedented numbers to withhold military aid from Israel, and across the country, progressive candidates are running competitive primary campaigns that are energizing a base fed up with the status quo. On the right, Republicans are reeling from the sudden death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of President Trump's staunchest supporters, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remains sequestered following a health scare in June, raising questions of if a changing of the guard might be underway there too. Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are joined by Guardian Washington bureau chief David Smith and Midwest political correspondent Rachel Leingang to discuss gerontocracy, transparency, the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America, and just how much of an inflection point this summer might be for both parties.

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Christopher Nolan’s new adaption of The Odyssey is an absolute monster of a hit, grossing $264m in its opening weekend. But celebrated classicist Mary Beard tells hostCarter Sherman that while Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem comes with plenty of action-packed battle scenes, the film is missing the original's "elusive sexiness" – and its approach to women left her disappointed. Carter and Beard also explore why rightwing politicians – and people like Elon Musk – are so obsessed with co-opting the ancient world. They ask: who gets to own the classics?

Commentary and criticism about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey from the Guardian:

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The 2026 World Cup final has not happened yet, but we already know that there were some clear winners (and total losers) during the tournament. And we’re not just talking about what happened on the pitch. Ahead of Sunday’s game, hostCarter Sherman speaks withMax Rushden – host of the Guardian’sFootball Weekly podcast – about Argentina’s win over England in the semi-finals, why Lionel Messi is probably “the greatest footballer ever", and what we should be looking out for as Argentina takes on Spain in the final. Then, Guardian US soccer editorsAlexander Abnos andElla Brockway break down some of the most memorable moments of the tournament – and decide who (or what) won the World Cup vibes contest. Spoiler: it's not Donald Trump.

Correction added 19 July 2026: This episode says that Cape Verde player Josimar Jose Evora Dias, known as Vozinha, was recruited via LinkedIn. In fact it was his teammate, Roberto "Pico" Lopes.

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Over the past ten days, ICE officials have killed two immigrants in separate shootings in Texas and Maine. While the Department of Homeland Security has claimed that the officers were acting in self-defense and the interest of public safety, no evidence has emerged to support those accounts, and outrage is mounting over these latest examples of violence from the agency. Kai Wright speaks with Guardian immigration reporter José Olivares about the killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, how their deaths reflect a broader pattern of brutality animating President Trump’s mass deportation agenda, and what accountability for them might look like.

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Thanks to pollution, overpopulation and the climate crisis, Earth is facing a terrifying new crisis: an irreversible "water bankruptcy". Now, fights over water have ramped up across the world, including in the US west. HostCarter Sherman speaks with Guardian extreme weather correspondentGabrielle Canon about the battle over the future of the Colorado River Basin, whose water sustains some 40 million people across seven states – but is now drying up. Gabrielle recently rafted down the basin's last "wild" river, the Yampa. Damming or diverting the Yampa could bring the west some much-needed hydration. It may also devastate the vast natural ecosystem that relies on the river's free-flowing waters. Also: Carter andKai Wright react to the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

Guardian stories on Lindsey Graham:

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Earlier this week, Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, was accused by a former partner of sexual assault. Platner denies the allegations, but on Wednesday, he suspended his campaign, accusing the “political establishment” of tanking his candidacy. But this is only the most recent scandal to have surfaced around Platner’s campaign — over the past year, the oyster farmer and combat veteran was revealed to have a tattoo that closely resembled a Totenkopf (a widely recognized Nazi symbol), a long paper trail of racist, misogynist and homophobic posts on Reddit, and in June, the New York Times published allegations from three former partners about Platner’s “toxic” behavior in their relationships, including, in several cases, physical intimidation (allegations Platner denied).

As Democrats regroup and evaluate their dwindling chances to flip the Senate in November, hosts Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are joined by Guardian political reporters Lauren Gambino and Shrai Popat to ask why voters flocked to Platner, why they were reluctant to abandon him as the scandals came out — and what the whole mess says about who gets the privilege of political redemption.

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Last week, the US supreme court ruled that Idaho and West Virginia can continue enforcing their bans on transgender athletes playing on girls’ and women's teams in schools. It’s the latest development in the political and legal attack on trans people —and especially trans youth— that has surged in recent years. On the heels of that decision, Kai Wright talks with Guardian reporter Sam Levin, who has been covering the debate over trans athletes in California and speaking with students and their families, and Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Project, who is the first out trans person to argue in front of the US supreme court. They walk through the legal and political strategies animating the anti-trans movement, and discuss why this most recent decision could open the door to the erosion of civil liberties for everyone.

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On the Fourth of July, the Trump administration's new savings accounts for children went live. These ‘Trump accounts’, created as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are ostensibly supposed to help families pay for college and other expenses. But Guardian columnistMoira Donegan says these accounts are really the work of the pronatalist movement, which wants women to have as many babies as possible – and is backed by powerful rightwingers such as JD Vance and Elon Musk. Moira speaks with Carter Sherman about the strange bedfellows who make up the movement, including its ties to the racist conspiracy theory known as the ‘great replacement.’

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This term, the US supreme court handed down decisions on issues ranging from voting rights to immigration and birthright citizenship, reshaping life for millions of people. Kai Wright speaks with Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, about how the court got all its power in the first place, and why Mystal thinks court reforms to rein in that power aren’t just constitutional — they’re necessary.

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After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration vowed to prosecute "antifa" activists for domestic terrorism. Now, it's made good on that threat. A group of activists who joined an anti-ICE protest that went dangerously awry have been sentenced to decades in prison, and the case could have enormous consequences for the future of the First Amendment and American protests. Carter Sherman speaks with Guardian reporter Lex McMenamin, one of the few journalists to have interviewed the activists at the heart of the case.

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Over the past two decades, Taylor Swift has changed the music industry, and how we think about girlhood. From songs like Fifteen about first love and heartbreak to introspective tracks like Mirrorball from Folklore, Swift has chronicled the emotional lives of young women in a way few artists have. Her music says that the experiences of girlhood deserve to be immortalized. But as fans celebrate her upcoming marriage and the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Carter Sherman and the Guardian's deputy music editor, Laura Snapes, ask: is she leaving that stage of her life behind, and if so, what's in store for her next era?

Correction note added 26 June 2026: This video incorrectly says Taylor Swift's jet has burned hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel since March. The figure is actually reported to be tens of thousands of gallons.

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As the US prepares to celebrate 250 years since its founding, Kai Wright sits down with Eddie Glaude Jr, a Princeton University professor, to talk about the conflicts at the heart of the American project. Glaude argues that Black Americans have played a vital role in establishing the country, but their presence is a constant reminder that the American fantasy – the story of a white republic – doesn’t exist. He and Kai discuss how the Trump administration has normalized white supremacist rhetoric and the myriad ways the president is trying to whitewash history. Glaude’s bookAmerica, USA: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries, is out now.

• 'We’re witnessing the end of the America that made our lives possible’: author Eddie Glaude on US’s 250th birthday

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With negotiations to end the war in Iran now underway, experts widely agree that the Iranian government has the upper hand. But if the regime emerges from the war stronger than before, what does it mean for the people of Iran? Carter Sherman speaks withShirin Jaafari, a journalist for the World who focuses on the Middle East, about her reporting on Iranians living through war, a devastated economy and a government that executes people who dare to protest. Carter and Kai Wright also speak about the lasting effect of this war in the US – and what Americans have already lost.

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Parents of children with autism are turning to a controversial stem cell treatment backed by the US Health Secretary. A growing number of clinics in the US are charging parents tens of thousands of dollars for stem cell therapy, which is being given to children as young as 18 months old. The Guardian’s chief reporter Ed Pilkington tells Kai Wright about his months-long investigation into the providers of these treatments, and their connections to the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. He also spoke with figures in the science community who fear the FDA may be loosening its rigorous restrictions on stem cell treatment for autism

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A far-right, white supremacist ideology known as “remigration” aims to make life so punishing for immigrants that they leave the US. It’s also the policy of the Trump administration. There’s an "office of remigration" in the state department and the Department of Homeland Security has posted on X in support of it, saying: “The stakes have never been higher and the goal has never been more clear: Remigration now.”Carter Sherman speaks with journalist and authorPaola Ramos about the immigrants who have made the difficult decision to leave the US, and how their departure could spell the death of the American Dream.

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Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire thanks to his company SpaceX, which now has the biggest IPO of all time. Public trading in the company has put it's valuation at over $2tn. The eye-watering sums of money pouring into AI are also boosting other tech titans, including OpenAI and Anthropic. Both companies are expected to go public this year with nearly trillion-dollar valuations. The Guardian’s US tech editor Blake Montgomery tells Kai Wright that with these IPOs, all our financial futures are forever tied to AI’s success, and more worryingly, its possible failure

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When the US, Mexico and Canada submitted their winning World Cup bid, they predicted that Donald Trump would not be president in 2026. That prediction didn't exactly pan out – and now, as the tournament begins, Guardian soccer correspondentJeff Rueter explains how Trump's America is rewriting the rules of the World Cup. Jeff also previews fun teams to watch, while Kai and Carter reveal who they’re rooting for. (Hint: it's not the US.)

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In 2022, Amazon workers at a fulfillment center in Staten Island made history by voting to form a union. Their leader was fired Amazon worker Chris Smalls, who became something of a celebrity within the labor movement. Smalls left the union amid internal tensions, and has gone on to become a freelance activist since. He speaks with Kai Wright about being arrested while protesting the Jeff Bezos-funded Met Gala, and why courting attention is an effective form of activism. Smalls’ new book When the Revolution Comes is out now.

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After winning Game 1 of the NBA finals, the New York Knicks are one step closer to winning a championship that has eluded them for 53 years. New Yorkers are feeling elated, but the Knicks are going to have to get through 7ft4in Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, who just might be the next face of the league. Kai Wright speaks with the Guardian’sAndrew Lawrence about who exactly these teams are, and why despite all the money flowing through the sport, this is a series for the people.

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This week the bipartisan furor over Donald Trump’s $1.8bn slush fund escalated to the point that the administration balked, saying they are no longer moving forward with it. But Robert Reich, a Guardian columnist and former US secretary of labor, says the fund, and specifically, the additional detail of the settlement giving Trump and his family immunity from future IRS audits, are the essence of corruption – and if Democrats can successfully connect that corruption to the affordability crisis, they might just have a winning message on their hands.

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Last summer, Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens started getting messages from people in his state about plans for a major datacenter in their community. When Berens dug in, he was shocked to discover the impact the datacenter would have on local residents. So he responded with comedy. The video he posted online about the datacenter went viral, and Berens has been on the frontlines of the fight against datacenters ever since. Carter Sherman speaks to Berens about how he is using his comedy as a tool for activism

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When the US indicted Raúl Castro recently, it was another step in the escalating pressure campaign the Trump administration is conducting against Cuba’s communist government. As Cuba’s president warns of a “bloodbath” if the US engages in military action, how are Cubans coping and what outcome are they hoping for? Host Kai Wright speaks with Mónica Baró Sánchez, a Cuban reporter in exile in Miami, and the Guardian’s Cuba correspondent Ruaridh Nicoll in Havana, about what they’re hearing from Cuban citizens stuck between two governments.

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Across California, ballots sit unopened as voters struggle to decide who to back as their chosen candidate for governor. US senior political correspondent Lauren Gambino tells Kai Wright that the race has been a head-scratcher for Democrats. Despite a huge field of candidates, the race has been mired in scandal and few have managed to cut through. What does this say about the future of the Democratic party, and does this leave an opening for Republicans in the Golden state?

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Soon after Twitch streamerHasan Piker started campaigning with Democratic candidates this spring, an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was published with the headline “Democrats are too cozy with Hasan Piker". That triggered a fever pitch of more op-eds and interviews asking Piker to respond to past statements he’s made on Israel's war in Gaza, 9/11, and more. But the controversy surrounding him hasn’t slowed his momentum or influence – if anything, it’s amplified both. HostKai Wright talks to Piker and asks, what exactly is this very online, very popular figure trying to achieve in the real world?

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The US supreme court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills – for now. As Carter Sherman explains, the fight to protect this medication is far from over, as a nationwide, near-total abortion ban could be on the horizon. Carter speaks with Dr Angel Foster, co-founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, who reveals how the legal battle over abortion pills has affected patients across the US – and what could happen next

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All month, people all over the world have been nervously watching as the Hantavirus spread aboard a cruise ship called the MV Hondius. Three people from the ship died and as the virus spread to other passengers, people wondered – is this the next pandemic? It isn't. But as Guardian health correspondent Melody Schreiber tells host Kai Wright, the outbreak revealed how Trump's cuts to government funding for public health and a climate of rampant misinformation have affected our readiness for the next pandemic.

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In June 2025, Christian Cerna went to a protest in his neighborhood against ICE raids and allegedly punched a border patrol agent. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, but denies that he ever hit the officer. Days after the protest, Christian was violently arrested in front of his family by ICE officers, who filmed the whole operation and later posted it to social media. Christian tells Carter Sherman how the experience took a "heavy toll" on him and Sam Levin reveals the reporting behind the story.

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The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais last month that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority Black districts, sparking chaos for the midterm elections. Kai Wright talks with Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and former Georgia house minority leader, about the fallout from the decision, and why, even now, she thinks the way forward is still through engaging more voters to participate in democracy: “They have fractured communities and said we’re going to scatter these seeds. Our job is to grow.”

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The news is stressful. Talking about it doesn’t have to be. Join The Guardian’s Kai Wright and Carter Sherman for conversations with the best journalists and biggest thinkers. First episode on 13 May and then episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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