US of Ed

US of Ed

Ed Blakely has served in different capacities under a succession of presidential administrations, has guided government policy on urban planning and is a widely cited academic. My name is Sean Britten, and each week, Ed and I have a chat about what's the latest news out of the United States, talking everything politics, planning and policy from sea to shining sea. US of Ed typically talks issues on a week by week basis, but check out some of our more timeless specials: SPECIAL: MLK's legacy and the issues of Black America: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=184046 US of Ed on Guns in America: Part One: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=285335 US of Ed on Guns in America: Part Two: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=285341 SPECIAL: South of the Border: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=372708 SPECIAL: Crafting Innovative Places: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=386032 SPECIAL: Who Killed the American Dream?: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=386003 SPECIAL: Climate Emergency: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=386003 SPECIAL: The Impeachment Process: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=433201 SPECIAL: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=738156

Episodes

September 8, 2025 • 5 mins

Sadly, it's my duty to inform you that my longtime friend and collaborator Ed Blakely passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, September 7th, at the age of 87 years old. I'd just like to use this platform one last time to share my thoughts on his life and his passing, and the time I knew him. Thank you again for listening.

More from Ed: https://www.edwardjblakely.com/

More from Sean: https://seanebritten.c...

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"This is my hobby, my heart... I love the United States of America."

This will unfortunately be the last chat that Ed and I have under this banner. For the past couple of months, Ed has been suffering with deteriorating health due to pancreatic cancer. It has been his desire to continue on as normal and we believed we would have more time together but over the past week his health has taken a downward turn. It's been a wonderful ru...

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August 27, 2025 • 15 mins

"This is a wakeup call for many Americans who thought, it doesn't make any difference."

The Trump regime is attempting to secure itself more power this week, with fresh attacks on top officials at the Federal Reserve and the CDC. Meanwhile, Trump continues to push for crackdowns by military forces in Democrat-led cities following efforts in Washington DC. Also discussing the Epstein files, the Minneapolis shooting, ICE, gerrymander...

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"These are just the bread and circus acts, but I'm glad to see the American people are resistant... I don't think this charade can go on much longer."

Meetings with Vladmir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have again come to nothing as Trump, who once promised an end to the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours, blunders through negotiations. Meanwhile, Washington DC looks like a city under military occupation while the White House hints a...

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August 13, 2025 • 17 mins

"He has a sore head so God only knows what will happen."

Trump has instigated a military and federal takeover of the city of Washington DC with a crackdown based on fictional crime figures, and threatened to do the same to other Democrat-led cities. A distraction from Epstein or a sign of things to come, or both? Meanwhile, plans for Trump and Putin to meet next week to divy up territory in Ukraine, without the input of Ukraine its...

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August 6, 2025 • 15 mins

"You don't cover up this much not to have a cover-up."

The Epstein saga continues as Ghislaine Maxwell is transferred to a minimum security prison following her apparent cooperation with the Trump administration and the Clintons are subpoenaed for a congressional probe. Meanwhile, Trump launches attacks on the Bureau of Labor Statistics after their numbers show his approach has crippled jobs growth. Also discussing ICE recruitment,...

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July 30, 2025 • 16 mins

"She should name Democrats and Republicans, and let's have a fresh take at this democracy."

The Trump administration is attempting to take the wind out of the Epstein controversy, meeting with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and raising the possibility of a presidential pardon. Meanwhile, Trump has made the trip to Scotland to cheat at golf and secure a heavily lopsided trade deal with the European Union. Also discussing...

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"They're there to protect him. Not the nation, not the truth, not what's good, not what's sacred, but just him."

Barack Obama, MLK Jr., the Washington Commanders / Redskins, even Hillary Clinton's emails, all things that Donald Trump would rather discuss than Jeffrey Epstein. But the Epstein story isn't going away, with reports Pam Bondi had confirmed to Trump months ago his name appeared in the mountains of evidence he and Republi...

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July 16, 2025 • 17 mins

"He knew his pictures were in there, he knew his name was in the log... this is one that really baffles me."

Trump is scrambling to find a way to get his supporters to forget previous promises in regards to the Epstein Files and his own involvement with the alleged sex trafficker. But while Republicans and MAGA influencers are falling into line, a great deal of his supporters are finally becoming more sceptical. Meanwhile, economis...

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July 10, 2025 • 19 mins

"Representatives used to represent their constituents. Now they represent pools of money."

Over a hundred dead and many more missing due to flooding in Texas, with part of the blame being directed at the lack of warning due to Trump's cuts to the NWS. But Trump is riding on a high this week thanks to the passage of his Big Beautiful Bill, cutting taxes on the rich, severing federal loan programs, and funnelling massive amounts of c...

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"Every single family in America is affected."

The Senate has passed Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill, sending it back to the House for final approval in spite of stated reservation, eschewing all responsibility for its effects on the American people. Meanwhile, Trump is looking to expand his targeting of immigrants by revoking the status of some while floating the possibility of denaturalising those who already have citizenship. Also di...

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June 26, 2025 • 18 mins

"Trump is one thing, the US government is another and the US people are another. Each of these groups is fractured, including Trump."

A decisive bombing of three nuclear sites and a shaky ceasefire in the Iran / Israel / US conflict this week with allies lining up to praise Trump's actions. But is it genuine admiration or fears about what the mad king might do next that's driving world leaders? Meanwhile, tensions escalate over ICE...

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June 18, 2025 • 22 mins

"Intimidation, intimidation, intimidation... Sooner or later, people crack. Let's not crack."

Donald Trump's military parade through Washington DC has gone off with a whimper rather than a bang, largely drowned out by the colour and defiance of the 'No Kings' protests scheduled in cities across the US for the same day. Tensions in the US and abroad continue to ratchet up, however, with politically motivated assassinations, arrests,...

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June 11, 2025 • 20 mins

"You'd almost wish he was a better dictator, there'd at least be a gameplan there but there's nothing."

Wild scenes in Los Angeles as confrontations with ICE agents rounding up immigrants in parts of the city has escalated to full scale warfare, with journalists targeted by LAPD and President Trump deploying the National Guard and Marines to the city. But first, looking at the developing situation in the Middle East where Israel ap...

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In spite of claims from Trump Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that there was no scenario in which wrongfully deported man Kilmar Abrego García would be returned to the United States, in breaking news this morning that is exactly what has happened. Facing charges of human smuggling over a 2022 incident that police formerly declined to pursue, however, is this a win for due process or the Trump administration trying to...

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June 4, 2025 • 16 mins

"They're not guilty of anything. They may be here illegally, sure, deport them, but treat them humanely."

A terrorist attack in Colorado has led to the arrest of not just the perpetrator but his wife and five children as well, living illegally in the United States, with attempts to streamline deportation leading to yet another court battle. Meanwhile, Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill has seen fallout from some surprising quarters but it...

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May 28, 2025 • 18 mins

"You're asking the House to give up its power, you're asking the Senate to give up its power, and you're asking to dethrone the judiciary. What mad person would vote for that?"

In the wee hours of the morning, House Republicans convened to pass Trump's Big Beautiful Bill through to the Senate. But not only does the bill knock a $3.8 trillion hole in the budget and take from the poorest Americans to extend Trump's tax cuts, it's als...

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May 21, 2025 • 23 mins

"Trump is under siege, he's underwater, and let's hope he'll be under the table soon."

News this week that former president Joe Biden is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer raises the question of how the diagnosis was missed while he was still in the White House. Trump is set to be flying high in spite of protests his acceptance of a new luxury 747 is unconstitutional while the FAA continues struggling to deliver safe air t...

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May 15, 2025 • 20 mins

"I fear that this is going to be the largest constitutional crisis ever."

The first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, has ascended to the head of the Catholic Church in Rome and Ed just so happens to be in Italy to catch the historic moment! Meanwhile, back on American shores, accusations of open corruption are becoming a commonplace feature of the Trump presidency with more gifts and offers showered on the grateful grifter-in-chief. Al...

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May 8, 2025 • 23 mins

"Trump is very large on the global stage. The good thing about that is it's making people wake up, the United States can no longer rule the world."

Coming off the back of a similar result in Canada, does a thumping win for the Australia Labor Party and rejection of 'Temu Trump' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton indicate a global rejection of Trumpian politics? Other nations are also jumping at the chance to step into the gap on scienc...

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