Two friends reach out across the Atlantic to discuss the state of America. From Germany to California and back: Mike is a professor at Stanford, Johannes is a journalist from Berlin. Can American Democracy be saved? Where are the United States coming from, and where is it all headed? Politics & History in the Age of Donald Trump: Welcome to The Americanist Podcast! Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com (Cover Art: Flickr / Nicolas Raymond / flickr.com/82955120@N05/ CC BY 2.0)
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Kamala Harris Might Really Win! (Why Trump is Losing in Polls)
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Right before the 2024 US Elections, Mike has some good news for all Kamala Harris Democratic supporters: Some last-minute polling (source: "the internet") indicates that the Trump camp might be in trouble. Really? Can Harris really reverse her negative October trend? And can Joe Biden please not say anything anymore, at least publicly? This and mor…
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Raining Cats and Dogs on Trump's Parade: Kamala Harris Wins Debate
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On the day after the Harris-Trump debate, Mike and Johannes talk about how Kamala Harris set up a trap for the Republican candidate Donald Trump - and how he happily stepped into it. Will Harris' resounding victory in their possibly only presidential debate translate into November's election? The podcast's statistical powerhouse Mike disects the la…
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Walz #2 - Does Coach Tim Walz Strike the Right Chord for Democrats?
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Kamala Harris' running mate Tim "Coach" Walz has introduced himself to the Democratic party at their Chicago convention. But can he energize them enough so they can beat Trump and the Republicans in November? Mike shares his thoughts on the importance of having a good coach in American life, high school and beyond - and Johannes remembers his time …
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Can Kamala Harris Beat Donald Trump?
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After a two-year hiatus, The Americanist crew is back. Just in time so that Johannes and Mike can discuss Kamala Harris' nomination as a presidential candidate 2024 and Joe Biden's resignation from the campaign. Too little too late? Or can the Democratic party save its chances and prevent another Trump term? And what ever happened to JD Vance? Whil…
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Why are Urban and Rural America so Divided? (#23)
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Since the United States were founded, its urban population has risen from 5 % to over 80 %. Yet its political institutions remain the same. Mike and Johannes discuss this issue, the American obsession with suburbia, and how to possibly move forward. Also, what would actually happen if you took 5 % of Californians and move them to Wyoming? Rate and …
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How I Met Muhammad Ali (#22)
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Muhammad Ali would have turned 80 this week. What does he mean for us today? Mike talks about how Ali came up several times in his American history class, how impressed he is by his reinvention of identity, while struggling with his narcissistic side. Johannes shares the story how he met Ali in person, when he came to Germany to pull off his famous…
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#21 Hopes & Highlights - End of Year Pod 2021
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Mike and Johannes look back on their highlights from 2021 and share their thoughts and outlook on what they are planning for and hoping to achieve in 2022. Thanks for listening to THE AMERICANIST in the past twelve months. Happy holidays everyone! Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com and rate and subscribe on Apple iTunes, Spotify, and wherever …
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#20 The Good News Special
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As we've talked plenty EU/US crisis in past episodes, the October episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST is all about good news! From COVID-19 booster vaccination shots to more regional supply chains and the upcoming German coalition government. Subscribe and rate us - and email with any feedback to theamericanistpod@gmail.com Further Reads: mRNA techn…
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#19 9/11 - Where We Were, Where We Are
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20 years after the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, Mike and Johannes remember their personal 9/11 stories, where they were and how this day has changed life in the United States and in Europe. Please subscribe and leave a rating on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you listen - and email us with feedback to theamericanistpod@gma…
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#18 Joe Biden’s First 130+ Days in Office
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In the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST Podcast, Mike updates Johannes on the first 130+ days (yeah, we missed the other one) of Joe Biden's presidency: What has been achieved, what is missing, and can America possibly heal and how? All on how Number 46 is doing ... and the usual nonsense in between ... in episode #18. Please subscribe and leave a…
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#17 What’s Wrong with Health Care in the United States?
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Why are healthcare costs in the United States twice as high compared to similarly developed countries? And why has Obamacare not been able to level out systemic inequalities? This and more in the latest episode of our German-American therapy session. Johannes has dug up some history on the German public health insurance system, while Mike shares th…
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#16 Beating the Candy Crush: Is our Sugar Addiction a Political Choice?
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Just how bad is our daily sugar intake - and what happens if you try to cut sweets and chocolate out? Johannes has been trying it lately - with crazy consequences. High time THE AMERICANIST talked about just how unhealthy the sweet stuff in our life can be. Mike shares some perspective on the healthcare implications as well as the political side of…
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#15 AstraZeneca and Other Cheap Shots
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Big news for The Americanist crew (well, for one half of it): Mike got vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in California. Time to celebrate this milestone with a Japanese whiskey, while Mike shares his take on the much-talked about AstraZeneca vaccine that German authorities seem to struggle so mightily with. What does any of that have to do with si…
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#14 The Virus and our Mental Health
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One year after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States as well as Germany and Europe, Mike talks about his mental health struggles last year and what helped him get through this tough time. If you liked the show or have suggestions, you can email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com ! Sources Quoted: Emergency Department Visits h…
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#13 Corona Vaccine Facts and Rumors
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In a historic week when THE AMERICANIST is ranked the #1 Politics Podcast in Kosovo, Johannes and Mike talk about the impatient wait for the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. While Germany has been starting slow, President Biden wants to have 100 million Americans vaccinated within his first 100 days in office. A realistic scenario? And what about all…
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#12 Super Bowl? SUPER BOWL!
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Is Super Bowl Sunday the last big thing the entire country can agree on? The quarterback mythology for the duel between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes is running wild. Mike might be American, but he could actually care less about American Football. Turns out he needs help from a German guy to even know how many players are on each team... More impor…
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#11 On Eagles’ Wings: Biden Inauguration & Capitol Riots
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Why did it take an old white man to replace the other in the White House again? In the first episode of 2021, Johannes and Mike catch up on recent events in Washington. The deadly riots fanned by Ex-President Trump were followed, at long last, by the official inauguration of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th US President. Is all now going to be good with…
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#10 Wrapping Up the Corona Year
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In the last AMERICANIST episode of the year, Mike gets all excited talking about the COVID-19 vaccines currently under development. Johannes shares what his small kids taught him during this crisis year. So what to expect from 2021? All in our latest pod. Subscribe and rate and send us an email to theamericanistpod@gmail.com ! Happy holidays and ta…
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#9 Thanksgiving And Its History
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Thanksgiving is all about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans? Johannes shares a different historical truth behind America's most popular national holiday. It connects a belief in divine intervention with the American wars since 1776. As the two friends interpret the documents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, Mike shares his vision of a…
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#8 Democrats Divided? (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Liberals & Progressives)
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Two weeks after the election, Donald Trump has yet to concede his loss. Meanwhile, the Democratic party is debating the way forward: Should moderates or progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead the way? Mike has traveled to his home state Maine to finally answer the question: Is he a liberal or a progressive? And Johannes remembers the Germa…
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#7 Biden Phor President! US Election Won in Pennsylvania
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Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States. And Philly celebrates! Mike and Johannes are all excited that the votes of their former student hometown of Philadelphia (and Pennsylvania) have decided the race for the Democratic nominee and VP Kamala Harris. And guess what ... Donald Trump won't concede. What that says about his image of…
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One and half days into the US Presidential Election 2020, votes are still being counted across the country. It looks like Joe Biden might be the winner - but Donald Trump's supporters are also protesting in some places. Where are we at? Mike shares his emotions and Johannes recounts his election night in Germany. Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail…
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#5 America Votes: Election Day 2020
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The week of the US Presidential Election 2020 is finally here. Mike's anxiety level is already off the charts, and Johannes has pulled up some fun and not-so-fun facts around the history of the American presidents and the voting process. Will Biden or Trump make it to 270 electoral votes on Tuesday? Will Trump declare himself the winner? And what w…
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The big election night in the United States is just one week away - and Mike tries hard to explain how Americans can vote for their favorite candidate for president. But, well, it's a little complicated: Electoral College, early vote counting, states that are no states ... In the end, Mike and Johannes do find some common ground and take some time …
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#3 Supreme Justice? (Amy Coney Barrett, SCOTUS, Conservative Court)
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The Republican party has decided to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's spot at the United States Supreme Court with conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett. The US Senate hearings were little more than a farce. Mike feels embarassed, and Johannes wonders whether the Republicans want to turn back the time. And, anyway, how is "Whip" pronounced properly? All of…
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#2 Corona Crisis in the US and Europe
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2020 has been overshadowed by the coronavius pandemic and the rise of COVID-19 cases in both Europe and the United States. Johannes remembers the early guidance by virologists like Professor Christian Drosten and politics from German chancellor Angela Merkel. Mike says American individualism and economic concerns might have contributed to the very …
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#1 How is America? (Trump and Election 2020)
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After a crazy week for the United States and President Trump, a lot of questions are flying around. How are the USA doing four weeks before the US presidential election 2020? Just how bad has this year been so far? And what else can come? Mike shares his take on the Trump-Biden race, talks about the division in American society, and Johannes has a …
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How is America? Let's find out. In a crucial time in US history, two friends reunite across the Atlantic to try and make sense of American politics, history, and culture. The Trump presidency, the election 2020, the science behind COVID-19 and Corona. Mike is an epidemiologist and professor at Stanford University, Johannes is a Berlin-based writer …
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