It’s our last episode! And what a wild ride it has been. Party in the U.S.A. was originally meant to cover the 2020 U.S. election, but then EVERYTHING happened. Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Trump got COVID-19, Biden won, and a deadly riot on Capitol Hill led to Trump’s second impeachment. In this episode, we take stock of the last few months and what’s next for the U.S. But first, a deep dive into what’s happening in Bessemer, Alabama where a group of Amazon workers are trying to make...

This week, an independent report found the RCMP racially discriminated against the family of Colten Boushie, the young Indigenous man whose shooting death in Saskatchewan was investigated by the national police force in 2016. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki accepted the report’s finding, the Saskatchewan RCMP is implementing the report’s recommendations, the Prime Minister has once again acknowledged the presence of systemic racism in the RCMP and other institutions — but what happens next?...

The Atlanta shooting attack on March 16 marked a culmination of a year of increased racism, discrimination and violence directed against Asians and Asian Americans in the U.S. In this episode, we look at the long history of discrimination against Asians in America, the complications of "Asian-American" as a political term, and what this moment means for mainstream politics and grassroots organizing. Elamin is joined by Kim Tran, an anti-racist researcher and consultant based in Oakland, and...

Maybe Elamin’s situation hits home for you, too: he’s been getting WhatsApp messages from his mom with questions about COVID-19 vaccines, and some of those concerns appear to be based on misinformation floating around the internet. On a week that saw plenty of headlines about the AstraZeneca vaccine in particular, Rosie and Elamin lay out the need-to-know facts about the updated recommendation for seniors getting the shot here in Canada, and why some European countries have chosen to...

President Joe Biden has his biggest moment yet — the passage of his $1.9 trillion dollar COVID-19 relief bill. It’s one of the largest expansions of federal social support in the U.S. in decades, bringing aid to tens of millions of people. But another area where President Biden had promised to distinguish himself from his predecessor — the immigration file — is proving more difficult. He’s promised to usher in a new, more humane system and erase Trump’s controversial legacy on immigration...

There’s still plenty to unpack following Sunday’s bombshell Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, which shed light on their departure from the same royal family that is intrinsically tied to Canada’s system of government. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the revelations of racism this week, and how they square with his own desire to address systemic racism and the legacy of colonialism in this country. Elamin and Rosie examine whether it’s enough to spur...

South of the border, there’s a battle brewing for the most basic expression of democracy — voting. And there’s never been more at stake. Former President Donald Trump has repeated false allegations that the 2020 election results are fraudulent due to massive, widespread voter tampering. This has inspired a wave of voter restriction measures at the state level — 43 states in all — and if passed, could represent some of the most restrictive voting laws since the Jim Crow era. At the same...

Two of this country’s former top military leaders are facing accusations of sexual misconduct. Last week, recently appointed chief of defence staff Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside after it was discovered he was under investigation by the military's National Investigation Service; his predecessor, Gen. Jonathan Vance is also under investigation for inappropriate behaviour. All of this has had many people wondering: what did Canada’s minister of defence know, and when did he know it?...

DC is in the midst of confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s new cabinet — and some of his picks are generating controversy. Today, a deep dive into just one of the nominees, Neera Tanden. While she may not be a household name, Tanden is a useful lens through which to examine the layers of DC culture. With strikes against her on both the left and right, it’s worth examining why the Biden administration is going to bat for such a polarizing figure. But first, a quick debrief on...

Last week, the federal government unveiled new legislation that would relax penalties for certain drug offences. It doesn’t go as far as decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of certain drugs — something many advocates, municipal leaders, public health officials, even chiefs of police have called for — but could it be a sign of shifting perspectives at the national level? As the opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of Canadians, Rosie and Elamin wonder whether more progressive...

American Christianity is a complex thing, and there’s plenty of diversity in terms of denomination, theology and belief. But over the last four years, white Christians who describe themselves as Evangelical or born again have consistently rated President Donald Trump highly. In fact, the tightly woven alliance between the religious right, Evangelicals and the Republican Party was fundamental to Trump's success. But as the former president moves on, where does that leave the Christian right?...

This week saw more calls for Canada to boycott or move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of Beijing. Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said the government of China is engaged in a genocide of its Uighur population, and urged a relocation of the Games — or, failing that, a serious examination of whether Canadian athletes should compete. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Annamie Paul have also called for the Games to be moved elsewhere; a rare coming together of viewpoints among...

It was the most bipartisan impeachment trial in U.S. history but in the end, the Democrats could not sway enough Republicans to state that Donald Trump’s actions played a role in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. The U.S. is still coming to terms with the events of that day which left five dead and over 140 injured. While Trump’s acquittal — which allows him to still run for office — might seem like a win for the former president, it is only the beginning of what could be...

If you’re feeling stir-crazy these days, you’re not alone — Elamin and Rosie are both feeling way overdue for some haircuts. But as provinces all across the country take steps to lift lockdown measures, or in some cases simply allow for more indoor activities, the two can’t help but wonder: is now the time to do it? Coronavirus variants have been detected in seven out of Canada’s 10 provinces, and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledges these more contagious variants could...

A battle is underway for the future of the Republican Party, just as former President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is about to begin. This week, we take a closer look at two GOP congresswomen — the Trump-wary Liz Cheney and the conspiracy theory-spouting Marjorie Taylor Greene. The two politicians represent different directions for the Republican party in a post-Trump world, one where the internal divisions in the party seem increasingly difficult to reconcile within the GOP...

The Proud Boys, a group operating in Canada, who were players in the U.S. Capitol attack have been listed as a terrorist organization in this country. This makes Canada the first country to take this step. Rosie and Elamin lay out what a terrorist designation actually means, how many new tools it offers the government, and who else was added to the list. (Hint: several white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups.) This kind of designation makes for a strong statement, but what impact might it...

Since we last checked in President Joe Biden has signed even more executive orders, including directives to advance racial equity and expand health care. He’s also got that big COVID-19 relief bill to get through Congress, and the massive issue of climate change to move up the agenda. By contrast, former President Donald Trump — who faces his impeachment trial on February 8th — had his five lawyers quit this weekend. This week Elamin calls up Seung Min Kim, White House reporter for the...

Two significant news stories have taken over political headlines since Elamin and Rosie dropped their last episode. The first involves some heavy hints from the federal government that tighter travel restrictions are just around the corner. Rosie and Elamin wonder if new COVID-19 variants are behind the push for stricter rules — though as of right now, international travel accounts for less than two per cent of coronavirus cases in Canada. Why has travel become a priority when other methods...

It's been just under a week since Joe Biden took office as the 46th president of the United States, and already so much has changed. Biden is quickly reversing Trump's policies, working to get major legislation passed to curb the coronavirus and fix the economy. We’re also hearing from people like Anthony Fauci who were muzzled by the Trump administration and are now speaking freely and looking much happier. Trump, meanwhile, has been kicked off social media and he's facing an impeachment...

There’s a new president in the White House — and one of Joe Biden’s very first executive actions has a big impact on Canada. Revoking the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline was reported as a likely priority early in the week, ruffling feathers in Ottawa and Alberta alike. But how much of a surprise was the incoming president’s move, really? And where can Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney go from here? Rosie and Elamin also have another question to...

It’s almost Inauguration Day, and Joe Biden's formal admission to office is going to look very different from any before it. Not only is it taking place during a pandemic, but also as Capitol Hill and state buildings across the country maximize security following the Jan. 6 riots. Today, Elamin calls up Sabrina Siddiqui, national politics reporter for The Wall Street Journal, to review some of the disturbing new details we’ve learned in recent days. Plus, is Trump’s power really...

Quebec: under curfew. Ontario: under a stay-at-home order. Manitoba: under lockdown for an extra two weeks. Many Canadians have seen their public health restrictions grow progressively tighter in recent days, but all this has Rosie and Elamin wondering: how many more tools do politicians have at their disposal? As cases continue to rise and we await more vaccinations — which are still weeks and months away, for most of the population — is trust in people and trust in leadership at risk of...

On Wednesday, as we recorded last week’s episode, a mob of pro-Trump extremists shocked the country and the world by breaking into the Capitol building. It’s been a few long days since that violent insurrection and we’ve had some time to assess the political fallout. Elamin calls up Paul MacLeod, BuzzFeed’s Capitol Hill reporter, who was on the scene as the chaos unfolded. Plus, he chats with author and scholar Sarah Kinsey who has been predicting something like this for years. (Fingers...

By the time you hit play on this episode, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will likely be preparing for his first call of the new year with premiers, where vaccine rollout is expected to top the agenda. Thousands of doses are still waiting in freezers to be administered, which has Rosie and Elamin wondering: what’s the hold up? And is there more the federal government can do, to speed up getting shots in arms? The two also take a close look at the outrage that continues to simmer over certain...

It’s a historic day in American politics. Much like the general election, the Georgia Senate runoffs have been high stakes nail biters, with Senate control and a lot of Joe Biden’s agenda hanging in the balance. But now, as Democrats celebrate historic wins in both races, Elamin calls up Josh Wingrove, White House reporter for Bloomberg News, to discuss the importance of this moment. Also today, Congress will meet to confirm the presidential election results. Normally, this is a pretty...