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There was a whole lot of hype about Trump’s State of the Union address, that you'd almost be forgiven for thinking the newsrooms had been tipped off about something spectacular to be announced.
What actually transpired was nothing more than a lot of typical Trump ramblings. And I mean a LOT. A record amount, in fact. His near one hour and fifty minutes is the longest ever State of the Union address in American history.
We feel your pain, Tom Suozzi…
It was surprising, dare I say refreshing, to hear Trump being diplomatic, even to those he clearly has some real beef with at the moment... like the Supreme Court. Let’s not forget only a few days earlier they blocked him from pushing his tariffs through - a pillar of his economic agenda - without Congressional approval and, though he expressed his disappointment, he demonstrated uncharacteristic levels of restraint.
But largely, this felt a lot like Trump laying the groundwork for the midterm narratives, where he will be telling Americans who are struggling to pay their bills how much better the economy is, and celebrating the drop in border crossings to the friends and families of those abducted by ICE.
Make no mistake, Trump understands the importance of the midterms, and this sightly tempered version of himself at the SOTU might just be the start of his charm offensive, to win back many of the swing voters who feel let down by his empty promises of 2024.
You can hear me and UEA’s Emma Long break down the speech in our free Patreon bonus episode. If you like what you hear, consider supporting the show. A percentage of everything we get goes straight back to our partners at BAAS.
Otherwise, it’s been a fascinating week in the US, largely by what's been happening outside of the US, and the ramifications it could have.
The UK have arrested a British royal for the first time in over 350 years, setting a precedence that may just lead to others being investigated and held to account over their involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.
A notorious cartel boss in Mexico has been killed, sparking a violent retaliation. This particular gang is known for smuggling drugs including fentanyl and meth into the US, and I suspect many conspiracy theorists out there may be cooking up some interesting ideas, so keep your eyes on TikTok.
And Cuban soldiers have killed four and injured six after a Florida-registered speedboat entered their waters and opened fire. Marco Rubio has been informed but, at the time of writing, we are not sure if those killed were American citizens.
Today on America: In the Making…
The Supreme Court block Trump from bypassing congress with his key tariff proposals, sparking a furious outburst on Truth Social.
What does the arrest of Andrew (formerly known as Prince) and Peter Mandelson mean for US lawmakers?
An armed man is killed after breaking into the premises of Mar-a-Lago.
And I spoke to Corbin Trent, the former comms director for AOC and Bernie Sanders staffer during his 2020 campaign, about the importance of keeping campaign messaging simple enough for a five year old to repeat.
He shares his thoughts on the future of the democratic party and who he thinks should, and shouldn't, lead the party into 2028.
You can listen to America: In the Making right now by clicking here or heading to your favourite podcast player.
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