The State of It: USA

US foreign policy shifts on Ukraine: President Zelensky and President Trump have met in the White House and US-Ukraine relations are on a much friendlier footing than at any time since Donald Trump returned to office.
They agreed that the US will give Ukraine licences to make their own Patriot missile interceptors to protect from Russian attacks, and there's talk that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could make a trip to Ukraine.
Maga influencer Laura Loomer went from saying that Ukraine was full of Nazis to being a cheerleader for President Zelensky. That shift in opinion seems to have filtered through to the Oval Office, but how much has Trump's position shifted? And how has the war in Iran changed his view on Russia and Ukraine?

The Battle for Fifa: after Martyn Ziegler's Times scoop that Fifa's president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell off parts of Fifa to private investors, even Andy Burnham has weighed in to telegraph his disapproval...is the reaction justified or "complete balderdash"?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington Insider: the very latest from Times Radio.
President Trump is having meetings today with both Binyamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelensky in separate meetings at the White House. What can we expect?
Also, new footage of Lindsey Graham before his death reveals more about his attitude to Iran.
And how does Donald Trump do when he's delivering jokes that have been written for him?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and Sunday Times
Carolyn Quinn, presenter, Times Radio

Producers: Tom Vigar, Amelia Melvin

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham and Donald Trump have had their first phone call. How did it go? Will President Trump find time to visit Manchester? And how is Ed Miliband's appointment as foreign secretary going down in Washington?
Also, why has the US announced 50% tariffs on goods from Canada? And JD Vance and his wife Usha have had another baby, their fourth child. How is the Secret Service coping with Vance's growing family?

Bonus episode from Times Radio.

Hugo Rifkind, Times Radio presenter
Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times

Producer: Amelia Melvin

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Andy Burnham takes over as prime minister, how will he get on with Donald Trump and what will their relationship mean for US-UK relations? President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the people of Aberdeen are dancing in the streets because Burnham will open up North Sea Oil, and will "make the United Kingdom, from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World!" But is Burnham as enthusiastic about drilling as Trump thinks he is? And what other issues could make or break their relationship?
After three US servicemen died over the weekend, will the US feel obliged to escalate the war with Iran to avenge their deaths? Is there a danger that they get locked into a cycle of escalation with Iran?
Plus, does Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey set the lights flashing on Gerry's woke radar?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Sophie Dolding
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters, The Odyssey trailer
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's groundhog day in the White House, as Donald Trump reverts back to all out war with Iran, bombing essential targets and threatening escalation if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. Is there any genuine optimism in Washington that the regime could fall—or is this 'hit em hard' attitude a cover for a foreign policy running out of options? If there is no appetite for real military action in US politics, are we left with an Iran War being used as a political statement rather than a coherent military strategy?

Also in this episode: the Democratic Socialists of America. Centrist Democrats are making a stand against a group of socialists that include Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, promising 'capitalism not socialism', but are they being pulled leftwards on the economy? Troy Jackson, aka Johnny Cash of the Allagash, is a Democratic Socialist, and is currently favourite to replace the disgraced Graham Platner as the candidate for Maine.

Finally, Katy Balls and Gerard Baker look ahead to Trump's prime-time address on Thursday. White House aides are increasingly nervous; Trump is expected to use the broadcast to aggressively attack the integrity of US voting system. Is the President laying the ground to nullify the upcoming midterm elections in November?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Handout photo by US Department of Defense via Getty Images (US sea drones strike a submarine and a ship maintenance facility on July 13, 2026 in an undisclosed area of Iran)
Audio: Fox News, AP, CBS, https://www.facebook.com/TroyJacksonmaine, Reuters

00:00 - Inside Trump's "Performance War"
01:43 - Bombing Iran: The Battle for the Strait of Hormuz
03:33 - A War with No Clear Way Out?
05:13 - Trump Unleashed & The Legacy of Lindsey Graham
06:36 - Military Strategy vs. Political Illusion in the Gulf
10:51 - Trump's History Obsession & The Shocking Oil Market Reality
15:25 - The Democratic Party's Sudden Lurch to the Left
17:07 - Can Centrist Democrats Survive the Socialist Momentum?
21:42 - The Fierce Battle Over Israel Aid & Speculation for 2028
23:57 - Meet Troy Jackson: The "Johnny Cash of the Allagash"
25:34 - Trump's "Wild Card" Speech on Election Integrity
28:07 - Laying the Groundwork to Nullify the Next Election?
29:44 - "See You In Court" — The Legal War Ahead
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.