Tull and Vince debate new guidelines for American tourist vias. Is the demand for social media history a violation of America's belief in free speech? Is it a step toward authoritianism? How do changes to ESTA link to the broader US policy and attitude toward Europe? And who, exactly, is responsible for ruining Christmas for Tull and Vince?
After an update on the growing political campaign against Ireland, Tull and Vince turn their attention to the unavoidable Donald Trump. Why has his base remained so loyal despite endless scandals and a political career that seemed over just five years ago? How, after a decade, do so many key questions remain? And how does the Irish-American experience highlight the core appeal of Trumpism? A few questions are answered, but many more remain.
Tull recaps the recent Irish presidential election and what Catherine Connolly's win tells us about the state of Irish politics. Is it a sign of Ireland moving left and against prevailing European winds? Meanwhile, there are signs of pressure coming from the US, in part due to Connolly's win. Tull highlights a key risk to Ireland, while Vince provides some perspective on whether Trump will look to concrete measures to bring Ireland back onside.
In the introductory episode, Tull and Vince discuss how the Irish and Americans view one another, why Americans know so little about the outside world, and Ireland's move away from alcohol toward a surprising new pastime.Notes on the bot problem:Facebook account deletions: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1013474/facebook-fake-account-removal-quarter/Tull's piece on bots more generally:https://www.irishpoliticsnewsletter.ie/p/online-ireland-is-a-bot-farm