Planet America (ABC-TV, Mondays, 9.35pm) has developed into a great little explainer for the bewildering and fascinating phenomenon of United States politics. It also reflects that most Australians know more about American politics than most Americans. Planet America is presented by John Barron, with a strong background in Australian Broadcasting Corporation as journalist/producer and as a research associate at the United Stares Studies Centre at Sydney University, and Chas Licciardello, formerly part of The Chaser political satire show. Licciardello is best remembered being dressed as Osama Bin Laden in the Chaser’ limousine stunt that dodged high security to get near the Sydney hotel where US president George W. Bush was staying during the 2007 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit.
Planet America allows Licciardello to express his full intellectual heft as a Sydney University graduate in law, science, physics and computer science. His analysis of US statistics is as good, maybe better, than much of what’s seen in the American media. He presents is all with Chaser cheekiness as a counterpoint smooth wryness. The prime Monday night spot for Planet America was long overdue for a programme that goes back to 2012 and was hidden away on ABC News 24 channel. But those years have, conversely, built Barron and Licciardello’s credibility in the United States, reflected in the quality of American guest commentators they attract.
More insights into ‘Stop laughing this is serious’ US politics whirl
More outlets have been satisfying those addicted to following the “Stop laughing; this is serious” American political whirl. The Donald Trump era has seen a sprouting of YouTube channel in the USA to counter balance the White House’s orange agents at Fox News who have been joined by other such as NewsMax and News Nation plus a jungle of other individuals such as Joe Rogan.
Meidas Touch, founded the Ben Meiselas and his brothers, has led the much-needed questioning alternative, especially with the mainstream media neutered to lamestream.
The Meidas Touch grew to a network, with strong research backing, that hit the highest rating of YouTube channels in that genre.
Keith Olbermann’s Countdown, Brian Taylor Cohen, IHIP, Pod Save America, the Daily Beast and the Bulwark are among others in the same vein. These outlets could be described as left leaning but, in the context of other Western democracies, they are part of an exasperated push to restore USA politics to the sensible centre.
They are invaluable insight into what’s going on behind the incredible rough and tumble alignments of social, class, racial and religious forces with big money and big media in the 50 nations that make up the United States.
MEIDAS TOUCH (YouTube, podcast, substack) is a network built by Ben Meisalas and his brothers that has reached near seven million subscribers. Ben Meiselas’ background is in law, notably sports law where he became involved with American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
BRIAN TYLER COHEN (YouTube, podcast, substack) has built a following by his sharp, witty and intelligent sessions, backed up by his best-selling books Shameless Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy and How To Wield Power in a Post-Trump World. He also attracts top level guests and experts in the law and electoral issues.
COUNTDOWN (YouTube, podcast) is Keith Olbermann’s bi-weekly takedown that draws on decades as a politics and sports broadcaster. Olbermann is at that independent stage in life where he doesn’t hold back on criticism of anything and anyone – and he has known lots of the anyones. He rounds off his show by nailing the “worst persons in the world!”
IHIP NEWS or I’ve Had It with Politics (YouTube) is presented by Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan whose book, Life is a Lazy Susan of Shit Sandwiches, sets the bold tone of their show. Welch particularly shines as she slashes through the veneer of hypocrisy that holds together some of the worst characteristics of American powerplays.
POD SAVE AMERICA (YouTube, Podcast) promotes itself as a no bullshit conversation about politics hosted by a rotation of former Barack Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. They’re regularly joined by journalists, activists, politicians, entertainers, and world leaders.
DAILY BEAST (YouTube) is hosted by the charismatic Englishwomen Joanna Coles, whose career includes working for the The Spectator, the Guardian, The Times, Marie Claire. Cosmopolitan). Her Inside Trump’s Head segment is particularly entertaining with the insights of author Michael Wolff.