Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?

Summary

Americast – Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani Keep His Promises as New York Mayor?

Podcast: Americast by BBC News
Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Justin Webb, Marianna Spring, Sumi Somaskanda
Main Theme:
Answering listener questions on what’s happening in the U.S. beyond the war in Iran, with a special focus on U.S. political dynamics, Donald Trump's administration, Venezuela, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and whether his promises are being kept.

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Episode Overview

This special “Americanswers” episode is devoted to answering audience questions on the ever-changing American political landscape. The discussion spans topics such as U.S.-Venezuela relations post-Maduro, the evolving role of Trump’s cabinet, the challenges and achievements of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the impact of the upcoming midterms. The Americast team provides analysis on policy, power, media, and the subtle culture wars shaping the nation.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Venezuela: What’s Really Happening?

(03:16–08:46)

• Recent Events:

  • Ongoing (but less reported) drug boat strikes.
  • Maduro is captured; Venezuela is still run by Delsey Rodriguez and her cabinet, not by Trump directly.
  • U.S. controls Venezuela’s main oil revenue streams through accounts based in the U.S., exerting major influence.
  • “No, President Trump is not running Venezuela. The leadership there, Darcy Rodriguez and her cabinet and the current Venezuelan government, they are still in place… But what the US is doing is essentially controlling and selling and managing Venezuela’s oil revenues…” (Sumi, 03:16)

• Oil Industry Hesitancy:

  • U.S. oil companies reluctant to invest until there is legal clarity and compensation for past nationalizations under Chavez.
  • Venezuela still has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but production and foreign investment remain limited.

• Public Interest and Social Media:

  • Social buzz about Maduro’s capture faded; court proceedings lack viral appeal.
  • “There were so many memes … images of him in his gray tracksuit … but there’s not content from the court in quite the same way and manner." (Marianna, 03:56)

• Opposition Figures:

  • Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize winner, remains in exile and awaits real opportunity for democratic reform.
  • Trump’s skepticism of her support dampened her prospects.

• Trump’s Relationship with Venezuela:

  • Trump jokes about running for Venezuelan president, reflecting his showmanship:

    “Actually, I’m the highest polling person … I may go to Venezuela and run for president against Elsie. … No, they like me in Venezuela.”
    (Donald Trump, 08:09)

  • This blend of outrageousness and charisma is a hallmark of Trump’s presence.

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2. Inside Trump’s Cabinet: Showmanship or Substance?

(09:22–13:55)

• Nature of the Cabinet Meetings:

  • Largely public, performative, with a focus on praise and taking credit—unlike the British system’s private, serious discussions.
  • Entertaining soundbites, with Trump riffing on personal quirks and banter rather than debating policy:

    “I could even paint the White House on it, sir, if you like, in gold. … I’m looking at this guy. He’s central casting. Even the glasses are perfect. Where do you get those glasses?”
    (Donald Trump, 11:12)

• Policy Decisions Happen Elsewhere:

  • Real policy debates happen behind closed doors.
  • “Trump-style cabinet meetings are not usually open to the press … These are meant to be what they are, which are these discussions of all the achievements that President Trump has had … It’s part of the kind of showmanship of this presidency." (Sumi, 12:28)

• No Threat to President:

  • Unlike the UK, U.S. cabinet members work directly for the President and cannot challenge his power.

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3. Zohran Mamdani: Is He Keeping His Promises as NYC Mayor?

(13:55–17:24)

• Maintaining Popularity:

  • Mamdani remains a social media presence, sustaining the “hope core” tone: lighthearted, community-focused, and optimistic.
  • “Similar in lots of ways to how Donald Trump does social media … Mamdani’s stuff is also designed to provoke a reaction, but there’s a bit more hope in it." (Marianna, 14:27)

• Viral Moments and ‘Hope Core’:

  • Cute videos with children, playful memes like “holes filled” to celebrate infrastructure wins, which double as sexual innuendo and drive engagement.

• Substantive Achievements:

  • Filling potholes is cited as a literal win ("quite literally fill the potholes"), representing a departure from the Democrats' reputation for unmet promises.
  • Real test ahead: tighter budget constraints, pending rent freeze proposal, and the challenge of translating campaign idealism into governance.
  • “He’s going to have to do quite difficult things ... some of his supporters who just assumed that everything would be wonderful once he was in power … it never is for anyone and it won’t be for him.” (Justin, 16:26)

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4. The Midterms and Democratic Leverage

(17:24–21:10)

• Democratic Wins Could Restrain Trump:

  • If Democrats regain House and Senate, they can investigate, control the budget, and slow or block Trump’s executive agenda.
  • “If they’re able to win the House of Representatives … and the Senate … they can present a real problem to President Trump. They hold the power of the purse … they can launch investigations." (Sumi, 18:04)
  • Trump likely to accelerate his efforts (“flucht nach vorn,” a German idiom for “escaping forward”) if his power is curtailed.

• Legislative vs. Executive Action:

  • Trump's legislative agenda is currently thin, focusing on postal voting and social/cultural topics (e.g., trans rights).
  • His administration—by contrast with predecessors—relies heavily on executive action.
  • “His agenda is largely economic … tax cuts, deregulating the economy, deregulating, for example, environmental standards … What can Congress do to get in the way of that? Well, lawsuits, investigations …” (Sumi, 21:10)

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5. What is Trump’s Legacy? Is It at Risk?

(23:17–24:19)

• Achievement vs. Vibes:

  • Hosts debate whether Trump is about concrete achievements or cultivating a powerful, emotional legacy.
  • “Achievement feels slightly too bureaucratic for Donald Trump ... What he wants is to leave this feeling of like, I was really good and I was really American and I made America great again.” (Marianna, 23:17)

• Risks:

  • Episodes like ICE raids and immigration crackdowns may sour public perception, even if headline promises are kept.

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6. Third Parties and Political Evolution

(24:41–28:46)

• Why No Third Party?
  • U.S. system (first-past-the-post, immense fundraising needs) is structurally hostile to third parties.
  • “The amount ... needed to run for office in this country are truly staggering. To be successful, certainly. ... Beyond the two parties, it’s near impossible at this point.” (Sumi, 25:39, 26:48)
  • Notable exceptions like Graham Platner in Maine, Dan Osborne in Nebraska, and Zoran Mamdani in NYC, most ‘outside’ figures gain traction inside existing party structures, not as real third party candidates.
  • Social media is now the true disruptor, allowing viral upstarts to gain name recognition even when “the system doesn’t really accommodate that happening anyway.” (Marianna, 27:55)

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7. Why Doesn’t America Have Bullet Trains?

(28:46–32:26)

• Cultural and Political Barriers:

  • Historical American sentiment values car freedom; highways were government-funded, but rail was privatized.
  • Regulations, funding, and a deep-seated cultural affinity for cars and suburbanization prevent nationwide bullet train adoption.
  • “Americans love their gas guzzling cars. … There’s this sense of freedom and independence that a car gives you that really plays into the ethos of what America is.” (Sumi, 29:12)
  • The failed, decades-old California High Speed Rail project is cited as a cautionary example.

• Freight, Not Passengers:

  • U.S. trains are successful in freight, not passenger, transport.
  • “For commercial passenger train, it is insanely expensive. The regulations … are also really restrictive … one of the biggest barriers to building out a more extensive rail network.” (Sumi, 31:47)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on Venezuela:
  “Actually, I’m the highest polling person … I may go to Venezuela and run for president against Elsie. … No, they like me in Venezuela.” (Donald Trump, 08:09)

• On Social Media Politics:
  “Mamdani’s stuff is also designed to provoke a reaction, but there’s a bit more hope in it.” (Marianna, 14:27)

• On Executive vs. Legislative Action:
  “His agenda is largely economic … tax cuts, deregulating the economy, deregulating, for example, environmental standards …” (Sumi, 21:10)

• On U.S. Political System:
  “The amount … needed to run for office in this country are truly staggering. To be successful, certainly. ... Beyond the two parties, it’s near impossible at this point.” (Sumi, 25:39, 26:48)

• On Trains vs. Cars:
  “Americans love their gas guzzling cars. … There’s this sense of freedom and independence that a car gives you that really plays into the ethos of what America is.” (Sumi, 29:12)

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Key Timestamps

• 03:16: Sumi explains U.S. control over Venezuela oil, Maduro’s capture, and leadership transition.
• 04:45: Justin contextualizes state of Venezuela’s oil industry.
• 07:02: Who is Maria Corina Machado and her political fate?
• 08:09: Donald Trump sound bite on his relationship with Venezuela.
• 11:12: Highlights from a Trump Cabinet meeting – banter, presentation, and praise.
• 14:21: Listener question: Is Mamdani delivering on his promises?
• 15:52: Sumi and Marianna on memes, potholes, and the power of hope core in Mamdani’s politics.
• 18:04: Sumi details how Democratic congressional wins could curtail Trump.
• 21:10: Sumi and Justin on the real scope of Trump’s legislative ambitions.
• 23:17: Marianna on the distinction between Trump’s achievements and “vibes.”
• 25:39: Sumi and Justin break down U.S. barriers to third-party politics.
• 29:12: Sumi and Marianna on why Americans have cars, not trains.

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Tone and Flow

The episode is conversational, insightful, and witty—balancing serious analysis with humor (e.g., “holes filled” memes, running gags about American geography). Each host brings a mix of expert knowledge and media savvy, with an eye on both political developments and their cultural/social context.

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Summary

This Americast episode provides a sweeping overview of current U.S. political issues outside immediate war headlines. With sharp listener questions as their compass, the hosts trace narratives from international drama to hyper-local governance, always highlighting how power, image, and public perception shape reality in 2026 America. The episode excels at showing not just what is happening in U.S. politics, but why it matters, capturing both the spectacle and the substance of the moment.

Transcript

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[Justin]

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[Justin]

Nicole has emailed us. Please could you do an update on all the other things going on in the us? It all moves so quickly, it's hard to remember it all. But what is happening with Maduro? Is Trump actually running Venezuela and selling their oil is ICE out of Minnesota? I'm sure there are others. Yes, there certainly are. It's such a good idea. We do it quite regularly, don't we? But this is a really good opportunity to do it. So in today's episode, what else is going on in the U.S. besides the war in Iran and the politics about that? What else are you asking us about? We are going to answer your questions. Welcome to AmericasT.

[Mariana]

AmericasT.

[Sumi]

AmericasT from BBC News.

[Sound Clip / Donald Trump]

You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.

[Justin]

We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it.

[Sumi]

This is a big cover up and

[Mariana]

this administration is engaged in it.

[VRBoCare Announcer]

This guy has Trump derangement syndrome.

[Justin]

I have four words for you. Turn the volume up. Hello, it's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of AmericasT in London, England.

[Mariana]

And it is Mariana sitting next to Justin in the worldwide headquarters.

[Sumi]

And it's Sumi sitting at home in Washington D.C.

[Mariana]

in the home headquarters.

[Justin]

In the home headquarters. Good to have you with us, Sumi. And I should say as well, before we get going, it's a public holiday in the uk, so we have recorded this rather cheekily ahead of time, which may be a mistake in as much as some things may change, but it could well be that they don't as well. And since it's about questions about things that have happened, then quite a lot of it I think will stand. Very well. We're gonna start with Venezuela because we've had so many questions about Venezuela and what is actually going on there. So let me kick us off, Sumi with these. Linda, who describes herself as an American living in Farringdon, London for the past 17 years. Farrington very much a place on the up Sumi, in case you don't know it. In London they've got the Elizabeth line, which is very much the thing to have. Anyway, that's kind of off the point because Linda asks this. I find it very curious that since the capture of Maduro, we no longer hear of any bombing of so called drug boats in the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific. I think you mean the Gulf of America, don't you? There. Anyway, does this then show that Trump's initial claims regarding these boats were false? Or is it that now he has Maduro and Venezuela's oil, he doesn't care about the boats and has moved on? And there's another question as well. Nicole, who we heard right at the start of the episode, asks this, is Trump actually running Venezuela and selling their oil?

[Sumi]

There actually have been a few strikes on drug boats in the last few weeks, so those have continued. The reason that we're not talking about them very much is because of the war in Iran. No, President Trump is not running Venezuela. The leadership there, Darcy Rodriguez and her cabinet and the current Venezuelan government, they are still in place. But what the US Is doing is it's essentially controlling and selling and managing Venezuela's oil revenues through U.S. accounts. So that is Venezuela's main economic lifeline. And the fact that the US is playing a massive role there tells you a little bit about how much influence you can say that President Trump has on that government.

[Justin]

Is there still much interest in Venezuela online?

[Mariana]

I was thinking this because I was just thinking about how when Nicolas Maduro was captured, obviously, or when he was taken by the US there were so many memes, it was absolutely insane in terms of the amount it took over social media. People will remember those images of him in his gray tracksuit and holding the water bottle and traveling and all that kind of stuff. And it, I mean, as is often the way with social media, it's just sort of dropped off really. And I guess even though Maduro and his wife have actually been in court and they're facing these charges about engaging in a narco conspiracy with designated terrorist groups conspiring to traffic cocaine into the US possessing and using illegal weapons, primarily machine guns, to carry out the alleged conspiracy, obviously they deny all of these things, but there's not content from the court in quite the same way and manner. So therefore it doesn't really go viral, like people don't really engage with it anymore.

[Justin]

And it's worth saying about Venezuela itself, the jury's out, really, the extent to which Life is going to improve for ordinary Venezuelans, but it could hardly have been much worse, couldn't it? So, I mean, in a way, I think for a lot of people in Venezuela, who knows, things might be better around the corner, although it is. I mean, you've made the point, Sumi. The people in charge are the same people who were in charge before, just without Maduro and his wife. And Delsey Rodriguez was certainly a hardline member of his inner circle and the people she's got in key positions are as well, on the oil thing. So, you know, we're asked, now that he's got Venezuelan oil, does he not care about the boats and has moved on on the oil? He hasn't yet got it in the sense that there is more production from Venezuelan oil terminals than there was, but it's still not like anything that would make Venezuela the key player on the international oil market that it ought to be. Because, remember, Venezuela's got, I think I'm right in saying it is the single country with the most oil reserves of any country in the world. So including Saudi Arabia, including Russia, et cetera, et cetera, there is a lot of oil there to be got. But right at the very start, the American oil companies, the big companies, were saying, we're not going to do that because the place is. Well, one of them used the phrase, didn't he? The Exxon boss, Darren woods used the phrase uninvestable because the place is such a mess, but also added to that, they've got to sort out. So I was talking to someone who knows a bit about oil the other day was saying one of the things they've got to sort out is the American oil companies also feel that their assets were stolen by Chavez when he nationalized oil and they've got to find a way of being paid back. There's got to be a kind of legal structure that they can believe in and trust, otherwise they're not going to go in and. And do very much. So I think Venezuela has not changed as much as perhaps Donald Trump might suggest that it's changed, except that he's got Maduro.

[Sumi]

Two things to keep in mind that I think are important. If and when Maria Corina Machado decides to head back to Venezuela, that will be a key turning point because she will demand, as many members of the Venezuelan opposition will, that there are free and fair elections and just remind us

[Justin]

of who she is.

[Sumi]

So she's the Nobel Prize winner, she's a key opposition figure in Venezuela, and she was barred from running in the last Venezuelan election, which by all accounts was neither free nor fair. And she, since winning the Nobel Peace Prize and after Maduro was captured, had anticipated that perhaps the Trump administration would see her as the rightfully not elected necessarily, but the rightful leader of Venezuela. But remember that President Trump said he doesn't think that she necessarily has the support, and that's been a big blow to her chances. So she said she'll go back to Venezuela. Whether she does and when she does will be a question. But, I mean, Justin and Marianna, remember President Trump to the question is, has he moved on? He's now talking about Cuba and that might be the next battlefield in his sights, if you will. We don't know if he actually means any sort of military action, but they're now having negotiations with the Cuban government, and so it appears they're happy with the relationship they have with the Venezuelan government.

[Justin]

Yeah, and really happy Donald Trump is, isn't he, with the relationship he thinks he has with the Venezuelan people? Cause he talked about it, didn't he? A cabinet meeting recently. We should listen to what he said.

[Sound Clip / Donald Trump]

Our relationship with Venezuela has been amazing. The people, actually, I'm the highest polling person and in other words, after the presidency, I think I may go to Venezuela and run for president against Elsie. I may run against Elsie. It's an option. No, they like me in Venezuela.

[Mariana]

It's these kinds of clips that everyone sees as on social media because people will obviously be outraged by those kinds of comments. They'll say, hang on a second, you can't go do that. But then also the laughter and the sort of like tongue in cheek, like you presume that Donald Trump is. Is joking, although you can't.

[Justin]

You can't always never quite be sure. Yeah, no, I mean, that, that, that clip just to me sumi, that just sums up Donald Trump's ability to outrage and annoy, but at the same time to just wheedle his way into people just kind of half laughing and kind of going along with it in a way that just. I mean, I just can't think of another politician or political leader in recent times, any who's managed it.

[Sumi]

I agree, and I'm with Marianna. I often these days can't tell when President Trump is joking or not. I used to have a pretty good radar for those things, but these days I just don't.

[Justin]

On the subject of his cabinets and these extraordinary cabinet meetings that he has where everyone is very obsequious, et cetera, et cetera, and a lot of it is held in public. We've had a question from Sophie, who is from Billings, Montana, which she calls the most beautiful US state and is. She is absolutely 100% right. Not only are you right about Montana, Sophie, Billings is just of all the places I would like to retire to, I think Billings, Montana, which is actually

[Mariana]

a New Americas miniseries, which is Justin evaluates all of the locations where the people have sent the questions in from and gives them a rating.

[Justin]

After Billings, the whole of Montana is lovely.

[Mariana]

There are Farrington, Billings.

[Justin]

Yeah. Yes, I've endorsed Farrington already. Well, here we are then. One on each side of the Atlantic. For balance, Billings, Montana is, I think I'm right in saying the biggest town in Montana, almost certainly is sort of semi industrial, but it's absolutely gorgeous. Incredible views all around it and very friendly, too. I went there with the governor of Montana in the early 2000s, whose name was Brian Schweitzer. He was a Democrat who was very famous because he used to say gun control to him is being able to shoot straight, which was not the view of the Democratic Party at the time. He was quite an iconic sort of Montana figure. Anyway, that's none of that is what Sophie from Montana wants to talk about.

[Mariana]

That's just a little subplot for everyone.

[Justin]

Subplot. There we are, she says, I've been thinking about this for some time. What's the point of Donald Trump's Cabinet meetings? Is there ever serious debate when the cameras are turned off? Are they ever turned off? Because the whole process seems very unserious from what I've seen, they seem to be more about sound bites and flattering Trump or is this typical of the US Political system no matter which president was in charge? Sumi.

[Sumi]

Well, let's actually listen to a couple of those moments from the Cabinet meeting last week before we talk about it.

[Sound Clip / Donald Trump]

I said, I'd like to use your pen, but I can't have a gray thing with a big S on it saying sharpie as I'm signing a trillion dollar airplane contract. He said, well, I can make it nicer. I said, what can you do? He said, I'll paint it black. I said, that's nice. And I could even paint the White House on it, sir, if you like, in gold. We're fixing up the. What was the Kennedy Center. I was honored when the board changed the name a little bit, actually. It shows that the Republican and the Democrats, they work together. It's really something. We work together. It's going to be beautiful when you add the name Trump. I'm looking at this guy. He's central casting. Even the glasses are perfect. Where do you get those glasses? I think I'm going to get glasses. That's beautiful.

[Mariana]

And I guess it's these kinds of clips really that, I mean, they're the ones I see popping up on social media because they are sort of funny. They make Donald Trump seem kind of human and not so much like a traditional quote unquote politician. And it feels so contrasted to, if you think of like the British Cabinet, for example, and the general vibe of everyone sitting around a long table being very serious. Suvi, is it, Is this a Trump style Cabinet thing or was it like this before?

[Sumi]

100%. Trump style cabinet meetings are not usually open to the press. This is a new tradition that we've seen under President Trump. And I don't really see these as opportunities or platforms for real policy discussions. These are meant to be what they are, which are these discussions of all the achievements that President Trump has had and an opportunity for an update. And they go on for hours. And in fact, you know, press can even ask questions. That doesn't mean that they're not having serious policy discussions. But that's not happening in front of the camera. That those cabinet meetings that we're seeing are something entirely different. It's part of the kind of showmanship of this presidency.

[Justin]

And it's worth saying, isn't it, that the American system is very different to the British. Marianne mentions the British Cabinet. I mean, I suppose constitutionally in Britain, the Prime Minister is first among equals and the cabinet ministers can, and indeed in quite recent history do plot against prime ministers here and potentially overthrow them. And Sumin, in your system, I mean, they are working for the President. There's no way they're a threat to him, is there?

[Sumi]

They are. They're working indeed for the President. They're not in any sense a threat to him. The only, you know, possible rivalry that you could see is some of those cabinet members who might be angling for a run in 2028. Of course, his vice president, J.D. vance, his secretary of State, Marco Rubio. But all of that takes a backseat to serving in the President's Cabinet and serving his agenda.

[Justin]

Right. Let's turn to Zoran Mamdani, mayor of New York, because we had a few emails and messages about him as well. Janet says, could you find time to update us on how Mamdani is tackling his promises in New York? Is he maintaining popular support? And David in Cambridge asks, is it too early to ask how Mamdan is doing? Given the difficulties of governing as opposed to campaigning, are there any lessons the Democrats can take from how things are panning out?

[Sumi]

He's still pretty popular, isn't he, Marianne? If you look at social media, he's all over social media still. Yeah.

[Mariana]

And it's interesting because similar in lots of ways to how Donald Trump does social media, he's managed to kind of keep up that slightly like cheeky glint in your eye, like taking. Taking the mic a bit or. I mean, it's different because a lot of Donald Trump, Trump's social media content or that of the White House team and his wider team is quite rage baity. Like it's designed to provoke a reaction. Mandami stuff is also designed to provoke a reaction, but there's a bit more kind of hope in it. Like there's a lot of community based stuff. There's a lot of videos where he'll kind of be bringing people together and they'll be playing a game of basketball or they'll be doing, you know, it. He. There's. There was a really viral clip people might remember quite recently of him with these little kids talking about like their favorite animals and stuff like that. Like that kind of cute content. Like what we'd call hope core.

[Justin]

Yeah.

[Mariana]

Online does pretty well. My favorite animal is a shark.

[Justin]

Is a shark. That's honestly such a good one.

[Mariana]

Is a goat.

[Justin]

Oh, and a goat.

[Mariana]

The other thing is, I don't know if you've seen either of you the memes. They did these kind of quite cheeky infographic style memes about how many potholes have been filled and it's like a picture of Mandami and it's like holes filled. It's like that kind of thing, obviously is like sexual innuendo and performs quite well as well. So I'd say in terms of he's kind of maintained the aura and energy that he had online. Obviously it's slightly less intense than in the build up to the election, but it still feels broadly like he's doing quite well, I'd say. Sue me.

[Sumi]

That point about potholes filled is actually an important one because in the question that was asked about what can Democrats learn from his style of governing or what he's done so far, of course

[Justin]

it hasn't fill the potholes.

[Mariana]

No.

[Sumi]

But quite literally fill the potholes. What has been the issue with Democrats in is actually deliver on what you promise. And if Zoran Bomdani is able to do that even in just the most basic things like filling potholes, those are the Things that people remember, those are the local politics agenda that people care about because it affects their day to day lives. I think that's something that Democrats can think about.

[Justin]

So true that when it comes to fulfilling the agenda, yes, he seems to have done well on the potholes or at least there are pictures of him doing well. But I mean, it's fair to say as well, it's a bit early to, to judge, as David was suggesting when he asked. Is it too early? I mean, it is slightly too early, isn't it? Because he's got this rent freeze that he wants, which hasn't yet happened because the committee hasn't fully sorted out what it is going to do. He also has to balance the budget. I mean, this comes to the question of governing in prose, having campaigned in poetry or whatever the phrase is, that he's going to have to do quite difficult things and he's not going to be able to shrink from them because he's legally mandated to balance the budget. And that will mean, I think there are already some places where he's thinking of cutting and that is going to be quite a difficult moment for some of his supporters who just assumed that everything would be wonderful once he was in power because obviously it never is for anyone and it won't be for him.

[Mariana]

We have got a few more questions. These are about the midterms. So Charlie from Worcestershire sent us this voice note.

[Justin]

If the Democrats run Congress after the midterm elections, will they be able to control Trump more effectively? And following on, if Trump's power will be curbed or is curbed, does he feel he needs to press on with his policies with increased speed?

[Mariana]

And link to that question is Denise's email, who asks, will it make any difference if the Democrats win the half terms, seeing, oh, that's a new name.

[Justin]

Yeah, we should call them half terms.

[Mariana]

I quite like that.

[Justin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mariana]

Will it make any difference if the Democrats win the half term, seeing as how Trump makes executive orders and appears to ignore the two houses by just informing them after the event?

[Sumi]

Those are really interesting questions. Yes, it does make a difference if it depends, of course, what Democrats are able to do. If they're able to win the House of Representatives, which at this point they seem well poised to do, and the Senate, which is a much larger uphill battle for the Democrats but is now in the realm of possibility, then they can present a real problem to President Trump. They hold the power of the purse so they can in a way block funding for President Trump's agenda. They can Launch a number of investigations. They can hold hearings, subpoenaed documents and witnesses. They can investigate executive actions. There's so much that they can do that will really throw a wrench into President Trump's agenda. Will he then? I think the question was intensify or kind of move forward with this agenda even further. That reminds me of this great German term, which is flucht nach von, which is like escaping forward. It's like running forward. Sorry. Sorry for the German phrase, but that

[Mariana]

just makes me think.

[Sumi]

But it just makes me think of.

[Mariana]

It's like a Twitter account. Sue me. You know, like German word to describe things that you don't exactly.

[Sumi]

Fluffner is a good one. And I do think that will be the case. I do think that we could see President Trump intensify his efforts and agenda if he knows that he's going to be stymied by Congress.

[Justin]

It's no surprise, is it? There is a single German word to describe what will happen to Donald Trump.

[VRBoCare Announcer]

It's three words.

[Justin]

It's three words. What the heck? When we spend. This is podcast after podcast and the Germans have it in three words.

[Mariana]

Well, this is kind of Adam's question that maybe there's a separate word for. For this one. What kind of legacy Donald J. Trump is attempting to construct and whether the intensity of his approach risks backfiring, ultimately cementing a legacy defined more by division than achievement.

[Justin]

Yeah, I mean, that. That is an interesting one. So to take all of these questions together, number one, I'm thinking, as I'm listening to them thinking, hang on, what is his agenda? What is he in legislative terms? What's he trying to do? Because, Simi, the answer really in legislative terms is not much actually at the moment, isn't it? I mean, there's not. He's trying to pass this act that has an impact on postal voting and all the rest of it. And Anthony and I were talking about that quite recently, and he's desperate to get that through and attach a few things to it. Some cultural things he wants to push on with his, as he would say, women's rights rather than trans rights agenda. And that is politically popular. But beyond that, I'm not sure there's an awful lot that he's trying really to get through. Yes. Peace. General. I don't know what's going on generally.

[Mariana]

Peace. That does that.

[Justin]

The peace thing is steps of.

[Mariana]

Quite.

[Justin]

And he's got a new fight with the Supreme Court, hasn't he? Sumi coming up pretty soon. Because he's got this effort to try to stop people having birthright citizenship in the United States and the Supreme Court. I think he's probably likely to strike that down, and that's going to annoy him. But beyond that, I'm not sure necessarily that whether Congress is Democrat or Republican makes the difference. It's only for the things, Sumi, that you were talking about, that they can just be a nuisance to him and harass him from Congress rather than it stops him getting anything through.

[Sumi]

That's true. He's been able to govern largely by executive action, so he could continue to do so. But you have to remember that he's also been able to do so because Congress has been completely pliant. Let's say Republicans and Congress, they have followed Donald Trump's orders, they've closed ranks behind him. And if he doesn't have Congress behind him in the way that he has, they can be a thorn in his side. But I think if you talk about what President Trump's agenda is, his agenda is largely economic. He wants to see a flourishing America, as he has said. So how has he done so with tax cuts, for example, deregulating the economy, deregulating, for example, environmental standards. All of that, to him is part of this new golden age of America. What can Congress do to get in the way of that? Well, lawsuits, investigations, stopping President Trump from dismantling some of those regulations. But all of that will be difficult to do with the president moving forward ever faster with executive action.

[Justin]

Yeah. And a lot of the other stuff that he wants to do is essentially cultural, isn't it? If you include illegal immigration.

[Mariana]

Yeah. I was just about to say, which he has done.

[Justin]

I mean, there's no doubt at all for all that it's gone pretty awry in terms of public opinion after what happened in Minnesota. But the fact is that there were millions of people getting into America illegally through the southern border, and there are no longer. There's hardly anyone getting in now. And he will be able to say that was an achievement. It was something he promised to do, and he did. And on the broader cultural things as well, things like dei, diversity, equity in inclusion. He has done real damage, which he promised to do to the various commercial enterprises who had embraced that agenda. He thought wrongly and his supporters thought wrongly and are now de. Embracing it as a word. And it's not just the federal government, remember, it's right across America, all these big organizations that had huge bureaucracies enforcing this agenda, who are now getting rid of it. And that, again, is something that he's managed to do already. And I don't think Congress changing hands will have any impact on that at all.

[Mariana]

Don't you think, though, on this wider point about legacy achievement feels slightly too bureaucratic for Donald Trump, it's almost that suggests that he's got like, a little list of, like, I want to take this off, want to take that off, which is not how he operates, I don't think. I think what he wants is to leave this feeling of like, I was really good and I was really American and I made America great again. And I, you know, it's like that kind of stuff. And I think the risk for him is things like exactly what you're describing around immigration. On paper, it might be that he executed what he said he would, but the impression left is that, like, little kids are being arrested by ICE officers and, you know, Americans were shot who shouldn't have been shot and that kind of thing as a public opinion issue. And I think across the board, not just people on the left, like, I think there'll be some Republicans who'd be like, well, that didn't feel. I don't know how I felt about that sort of thing. I think that's his. His risk. Whereas if he can up the vibes on some of these issues, then the impression will be different. And maybe that's things like some of the clips we've been talking about, like him in the Cabinet office and him being funny and all that kind of stuff. Like, that's more the impression I imagine he wants to leave than I ticked off all the things on my list.

[Sumi]

Well, we also have a question that's been coming in here from Michael about the US Political system. So I'll read this out. He says, with the midterms coming, the war in Iran and the cost of living rising so much, is there any other political parties gaining momentum in interest? Like, for example, we unfortunately have reform making some gains. Should the Republicans be a little concerned?

[Justin]

It's a really interesting one about other parties because we often get this. There is a single overriding reason, isn't there, Sumi, why other parties don't tend to get traction in the United States system. And we were talking, Anthony and I were talking recently about the Texas primary election on both the Republican and Democratic side and the fact that that election alone. So it's not a general election. It's not an election for anything other than who the candidates are on both sides. It costs more than 100 million. I mean, it's just staggering sums of money that it takes to run Seriously, in a relatively big American election. And that, Sumi, it seems to me, is the glue, isn't it really? That means that if you're ever going to get anywhere, you need the party structure around you. And the idea that it goes now because people have a range of opinions within the parties seems to me to be for the birds.

[Sumi]

Also, it's not a parliamentary system. Right. And we have a first past the post election system here as well, which also kind of stifles any sort of ability for an outside party or voice to rise up. But the money is such a critical part of it. Justin, you're absolutely right. I mean, the amount, the sums of money needed to run for office in this country are truly staggering. To be successful, certainly. And there are outside bids or candidates who have managed to rise up despite not being part of the, let's say the party establishment. Graham Platner, who's running to be the Democrat candidate in Maine to be the senator there, and he has not been endorsed by the Democrat Party establishment and yet still has managed to raise quite a lot of momentum without the money and all of the funds that the party machinery behind you brings. That being said, beyond the two parties, it's near impossible at this point. So what you have instead is these little strains within the parties. The left wing progressive part of the Democrats, the Freedom Caucus and the Republicans who can kind of push their candidates through as the system becomes more and more extreme and polarized. But that's really about it.

[Justin]

I hadn't realized that Platinum wasn't a fully endorsed Democrat. I can think of one other similar example then, or perhaps more of an example in a sense, which is a guy called Dan Osborne in Nebraska. So Nebraska, very, very hardline Republican state. Donald Trump won it very, very easily. The Democrats, I think I'm right in saying Sumi, have no real interest in running their own candidate. And they've got this guy, Dan Osborne, who's a former union leader, working class, has done very well in previous elections. He's never won, but he's done previous elections in Nebraska and done surprisingly well. And I think I'm right in saying that he is. If the Republicans are going to lose the Senate election in Nebraska, it would be to this guy Osborne. And he is certainly not a Democrat. He says, I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican, I'm an independent. So just occasionally around the place it can happen, but not much.

[Sumi]

That's where social media comes in as well. Right? Marianna, you can actually launch a pretty successful social media campaign like Soran Mamdani, who we talked about, who kind of came out of nowhere.

[Mariana]

Yeah, exactly. And, and I think it's kind of interesting the tension that exists between the, the established political system and then now the ability to essentially, yeah. Come out completely out of nowhere because the ability to go mega viral, reach everyone's for you pages or wherever it might be with your content. You don't really need to spend very much money at all on this content. You can just make stuff, see what sticks, it flies, you get loads of views and likes and you know, you think of like attempts to I guess rival the political system. We've had like Elon Musk at times when he's been falling out with Donald Trump saying he's going to launch another party. You know, the idea that like if Donald Trump loses some of his anti establishment cohort because he's then seen to be part of the establishment, like are they a bit politically homeless and is there somewhere they could turn? But I think as you point out, Justin, the system doesn't really sort of accommodate that happening anyway. So it would more be. Does the direction of one of the major parties change significantly?

[Justin]

Can I sneak in one extra question? It's from Vanessa in Salisbury who says your discussion referencing air travel made me question why, given the vast geography and wealth of the US the train system is poor in comparison with other developed nations. Why has the US not invested in a network of high speed bullet trains? Intra US travelers seem to be highly dependent on increasingly poor airline services and their gas guzzling cars.

[Sumi]

Sumi, Vanessa has really spoken to my soul with this one. I love trains. I lived in Europe for many years and it has been the bane of my existence to have to rely on planes and mostly cars in this country. Although I live in the city in D.C. so I actually don't drive around the city, thankfully. But in part it's because Americans love their gas guzzling cars. It gives them there's this sense of freedom and independence that a car gives you that really plays into the ethos of what America is. But there are also practical reasons behind it. I mean, the government incentivized the building of the highway system. The publicly funded highways they built operated at a loss originally, unlike the railroads, which had to be privately financed. And you really saw this just like suburban homeownership became the symbol, if you will, of American success and American growth, so did car ownership. I mean that, that is something that feels so uniquely American. Perhaps not uniquely American, but very American.

[Justin]

Very American.

[Mariana]

And I find it a Nightmare. Because I can't drive. Fun fact for America. And I absolutely love being able to get like the train, buses, bikes, walking. Like, I can't get over how hard it is to like walk like sometimes when you're walking in the us When I've been on trips for like documentaries or podcasts, whatever you feel like you're like, like you're like walking along the edge of like a highway.

[Sumi]

They stare at you as well. I mean people.

[Justin]

Yeah, yeah. And the nicer areas of Washington D.C. it always used to amuse me. This don't have pavements in the sense of walking, in the British sense of pavements. They don't have anywhere to walk because the assumption will be that you don't. Isn't that right, Sumi?

[Sumi]

It is. That's right. People drive their cars around even in a city like Washington D.C. i bike around here probably at my own peril. So if I don't show up for this podcast again in the future, you know, something happened to me.

[Justin]

Just actually to Vanessa's wider point as well, I would advise Vanessa and anyone who wants to know why the United States doesn't have a wonderful network of high speed trains to look up the fate of the California High Speed Rail, which was a project that started, I think I'm right in saying they first talked about it in the late 70s, early 80s and it has got essentially nowhere. It's cost billions of billions of dollars and an incredible amount of political angst. And Sumi, you know, without going into details about it, it is staggering, isn't it, that even where in a state like California they want to do it and they had governors who wanted to do it, it just hasn't been possible.

[Sumi]

This is part in part the premise of that book that got so much attention last year, Ezra Klein's Abundance about why the US can't seem to build things anymore. Hous. High speed rail is another one of those. You have these independent projects and we should say that there is an extensive rail network for freight train, just not for passenger trains. So there's quite a lot of freight that still happens in the us A lot of goods that are carried by train. But regardless, for commercial passenger train, it is insanely expensive. The regulations of course, for building are also really restrictive and that has been one of the biggest big barriers to building out a more extensive rail network.

[Sound Clip / Donald Trump]

Right.

[Justin]

We've got to leave it there. That's it for now. Bye bye.

[Sumi]

Bye, bye bye.

[Justin]

Thank you for answering our call and continuing to send your messages to us. We do read every single one. We love to hear your thoughts, your feedback and questions as well. So please do keep them coming. You can send us an email if you americastbc.co.uk. the WhatsApp is 443-301-239480 and you can get involved in the AmericasT Discord server. The link to that is in the description and don't forget to subscribe. That way you will never miss an episode. Until next time.

[Narrator]

It's 2009 and we're in the German mountains. A man straps himself into a car on the world's most dangerous racetrack. He whispers to himself, it's time to

[Justin]

put my balls on the dashboard as

[Narrator]

he starts the engine.

In 15 minutes he's in an ambulance, unconscious. In 15 years, he's a billionaire.

This is Toto Wolff, Formula One's most powerful team boss and the breakout star of Drive to Survive.

This week on Good Bad Billionaire How Toto Wolff Made His Billions Listen wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

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