Americanswers! How far will Trump go in siding with Putin against Ukraine?

Justin Webb (0:00)

Hello, it's Justin, and you're about to hear Americast. We are delighted to have you with us, and if you enjoy what you hear, please do consider subscribing to the podcast. That way, you'll never miss an episode. Now, on with today.

Sarah Smith (0:12)

Hello, we've been going through some of the questions you've been sending in to us, and most of you want to know what difference it will make to Donald Trump's agenda if he does lose control of Congress in the midterm elections, and also how is it that Donald Trump is able to bypass a new law sanctioning Russia to allow it to sell millions of barrels of diesel on to the international market? And why does he seem to be so much more sympathetic towards Vladimir Putin than he does to President Zelensky? We've been talking about that along with also where the money is being spent in the midterm elections and Donald Trump's fixation with what some of his male candidates look like on this week's edition of Americanswers with me, Sarah, along with Anthony and Marianna when we were talking to Matt Chorley on 5Live. Welcome to Americast.

Americast.

Katie Zacharia (0:58)

Americast from BBC News.

SPEAKER_5 (1:00)

Whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth because she's way out of your league.

SPEAKER_6 (1:06)

The tide is coming and this time we intend to win it all.

SPEAKER_7 (1:12)

So he doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.

Donald Trump (1:24)

When I'm not around, you're going to be broke. There's not going to be anybody to report on. Nobody gives a damn about anybody else.

Matt Chorley (1:36)

So before we come to this week's business, I feel like we need to allow Sarah to go on something of a victory lap. I was going to describe you as Mystic Meg, Sarah, but I wondered if Anthony might be too American and Marianna might be too young.

SPEAKER_5 (1:48)

I know Mystic Meg.

Matt Chorley (1:50)

When we did American Answers on Monday, Sarah said this, we were talking about the plan to live stream the execution by firing squad, as Pete Heggs has discussed. Sarah said this.

Sarah Smith (2:01)

The idea of live streaming it so that not just witnesses at Fort Hood itself, but the people in America all over the world has really, really shocked a lot of people, including high up Republicans. And it has become something of an ongoing debate in this country. And I mean, I don't know, I think there's probably a good chance it won't happen.

Matt Chorley (2:23)

So you got that one right, Sarah, that's since been called off.

Sarah Smith (2:25)

Yes, correctly. I could tell that Donald Trump wasn't that keen on it. JD Vance was obviously backing away.

And I think there weren't that many polls on it. But that I saw had over 80% of the American public by the middle of last week saying that they didn't want to see this happen. So it was Donald Trump doesn't mind doing U-turns or about faces or reverse ferrets or whatever you want to call it if he ends up on what he believes is the right side of public opinion. So it's always you can always predict Donald Trump running away from something that's unpopular without worrying about any hypocrisy being involved.

Matt Chorley (3:01)

And then last Monday, we talked about the new press secretary, Katie Zacharia. And then after she had done her first outing in the briefing room, Sarah came back to discuss how it had gone very well and said this.

Sarah Smith (3:13)

So the betting is now on in Washington. Will she last a full Scaramucci or is she about to set a new record and get sacked from that post even quicker than he did?

Matt Chorley (3:25)

And you're absolutely bang on. We didn't even get to a week.

Sarah Smith (3:29)

No, five days she did and a full Scaramucci, which is the length of time press secretary, Anthony Scaramucci, served in Donald Trump's first term. He did 11 days, Katie Zacharia managed only five or maybe four and a half, actually, if you were being very precise about it. So not even a half Scaramucci.

Matt Chorley (3:45)

Not even a half. We will come on to that momentarily, but well done, Sarah.

Marianna Spring (3:49)

Sarah, you should have saved these for our time capsule episode.

SPEAKER_11 (3:52)

You're going to be using up all your good predictions too quick.

Matt Chorley (3:57)