The State of It: USA
Katy Balls and Gerard Baker provide an honest, in-depth discussion of US politics and power, covering what's really being said inside the White House. Gerard brings nearly 30 years of experience reporting on America, while Katy chases news and navigates the Washington cocktail circuit. The podcast launches on 28 January 2026 and is supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times.
Episodes
Why the naysayers are wrong about the Maga World Cup
Welcome to the World Cup. Gianni Infantino spent much time and effort cultivating Donald Trump's friendship. Will it have been worth it? Some are complaining about America's border policies and about the price of the tickets but let's see...For a moment President Trump said he was going to bomb Iran, but now he's pulled back. We discuss the dizzying back and forth over the war.Donald Trump's birth
Why America's leaders keep getting worse
California is "a beautiful state, and they keep electing these terrible people to run it". Any chance of a change now?We discuss how polarisation drives the decline of character in political leadership.Donald Trump has suffered some political setbacks. His anti-weaponisation fund has been scrapped and his preferred candidate lost out in Iowa. Blips or signs of something more serious for the White
Republicans find their spines
President Trump's pick, Ken Paxton, has won the Republican primary to set up an interesting senate race in Texas. He beat John Cornyn who joins a growing group of Republican senators who are not standing for re-election so have little to lose from standing up to Donald Trump.Meanwhile, Steve Hilton is hoping to become the Republican governor of California and Katy has spent some time with him.We h
No dissent: Donald Trump's revenge tour
Donald Trump has demonstrated his grip on his party in this week's Republican primaries, and dissent will be punished. The president has established a $1.8bn fund to compensate people who've been unfairly investigated. Critics say it's just a slush fund for his allies. We explain how it came into being, how it will work and why people are worrying about it. And Britain's deputy ambassador to Washi
Trump in China: Iran for Taiwan?
As Donald Trump lands in China, could he change the US position on Taiwan in exchange for President Xi's help with Iran?What's at stake in the battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman?And is it chivalry that prompted the decision to concrete over the rose garden at the White House?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times
Trump's Iran problem deepens as a new king moves into view...
The unpredictability of Trump’s conflict with Iran shows no sign of slowing. Is a genuine peace deal with Tehran actually close — or is the President once again overstating progress? Why did Trump abruptly announce and then abandon “Project Freedom,” the US naval plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz?Meanwhile, Marco Rubio’s warmly received White House press briefing has sparked fresh
Trump and the King, and America's age of political violence
After an assassination attempt on President Trump threatened to derail the Royal Visit, King Charles has gone on the charm offensive -- with some mild and elegant rebukes.Katy Balls describes the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' attitude inside the White House Correspondents' Dinner.And as the former FBI director James Comey is charged with endangering the president's life, we discuss the weaponisation of
Is the Trump magic gone?
President Trump has said he's extending the ceasefire with Iran, and it's still unclear when talks will resume. What could an eventual deal look like and can the US find a radically better one than the deal that President Obama signed in 2015 to so much Republican scorn?Can the King paper over the cracks in the US-UK relationship?And did a joke by President Obama sow a seed that led to Donald Trum
Trump's blockade, AI Jesus and JD Vance's soul
Why the US counter-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is an elegant solutionWill Donald Trump pay a price with voters for his row with the Pope?And Gerry tells us what he really thinks about JD Vance.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
A fragile ceasefire and JD Vance's moment in Budapest
After threatening Iran with total civilisational collapse, Donald Trump steps back from the brink and agrees to a fragile ceasefire that both sides claim as a win. But how long can it really hold?And as Hungary heads to the polls, JD Vance lands in Budapest to back Viktor Orbán—a leader often seen as aligned with Moscow. What does it mean when the White House throws its weight behind a pro-Russia
Bonus: Trump's address to the nation unpacked
President Trump has addressed the nation about the war in Iran for the first time. What did we learn?This is a bonus episode. For this week's regular episode, click hereKaty Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesFraser Nelson, columnist at The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images.Clips: ReutersEmail
Foreign policy by tantrum
Forget the fog of war, this is the fog of Donald Trump. How much does he care about the political pressure created by the war in Iran? Is America entering the end game or ramping up operations? Also, how are the grassroots feeling? Katy has been to the Conservative Political Action Conference to find out. And we look at the secret life (and enormous fake breasts) of Kristi Noem's husband, Byron No
Trump in Iran: Blitzkrieg to quagmire?
Donald Trump is in a bind: there's very little appetite in Washington for boots on the ground but will that be the only way to unblock the Strait of Hormuz? Is there any possible deal that would look and feel like a victory over the Iranian regime?And why do people start looking more nervously at the president towards the weekend?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and Th
How Keir Starmer became Donald Trump's kickable pet
There are some reasons for the US to be optimistic about the war in Iran, but have the main beneficiaries so far been America's enemies?The resignation of a counterterrorism official has ignited a debate about antisemitism in US politics.Could Tucker Carlson really be the next president?And what on earth is a shamrock shake?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sund
No grand strategy on Iran, just vibes
In Washington people are talking about an off-ramp, but if the Iranian regime doesn't surrender, can the US really claim any kind of victory? And as sentiment in the US turns against Israel, could this war ultimately leave Israel more rather than less fragile? Meanwhile President Trump seems to be playing Marco Rubio and JD Vance off against one another.Katy Balls, Washington editor and colum
The White House's mixed messages on Iran
What is the plan for Iran? Donald Trump has given 30-second interviews to many different journalists; there are disagreements in the administration and in MAGA about the decision to attack Iran. So it's a fairly confused picture coming out of the White House. And what about the special relationship between the US and the UK? President Trump has said that Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill. Is th
What Trump got right and wrong at the State of the Union address
President Trump’s State of the Union address included berating the Democrats and sweeping claims that America is entering a new golden age. But what were the real successes and missteps in the marathon speech? What trial by fire awaits the incoming British Ambassador to the United States? And why could the upcoming Texas primary prove so pivotal for the current administration?Katy Balls, Wash
The Democratic Trump? AOC shapes up to take on JD Vance
With the media spotlight on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, Gerry asks if we should be looking instead at the outsiders to become the next Democratic candidate for the US presidential election in 2028. Is the Dallas Mavericks's owner Mark Cuban a dark horse? And is Stephen A. Smith a brighter, funnier Gary Lineker?Hosts:Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and T
Is America past peak Trump?
Polls suggest the Republicans are in big trouble, and people in Washington are getting jumpy about it. It could put JD Vance in a difficult position.Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his way to meet European leaders: what's his message from the White House?And the antisemitic influencer Nick Fuentes has hundreds of thousands of online followers: how much impact are they having on American polit
Epstein tried to befriend me
His enemies were hoping that Donald Trump would come out badly from the Epstein files, but he hasn't. Gerry argues that the scandal is a parable about modern capitalism, and remembers the time Jeffrey Epstein tried and failed to make friends with him. Katy tells the inside story of her interview with Peter Mandelson.Also, what can we expect when the Clintons testify to the Epstein investigation? A
Trump v Iran: what MAGA and the military are saying
Welcome to the first ever episode of The State of It: USA. An attack on Iran looks imminent: we reveal what senior military and political figures are saying about it.Also, is Donald Trump taking a softer line on immigration after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis?And get ready for Melania, the movie.Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday
Introducing The State of It: USA
Katy Balls and Gerard Baker bring you the REAL truth about US politics and power. No fake news, no flag waving and no Trump Derangement Syndrome. Just honest, in-depth discussion of what’s really being said inside the White House. Join the conversation between two people who know everyone in the USA who matters. Beaming in from NYC, Gerard brings almost 30 years’ experience reporting on Ameri
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