An Irishman Abroad

The people of spoken. American has chosen its next President. Was this an ”unwinnable” race for Harris? What does it reveal about America? Should pollsters just resign and go work in a supermarket somewhere in Wisconsin? Is there a celebrity in shining armour who can rescue the Democrats from themselves? How will this selection affect Ukraine and Gaza? Marion McKeone and I reflect on what the hell just happened.

It’s squeaky bum time for America. Marion McKeone looks back on the past week of hateful rallies, botched messages and urgent pleas. What have been the biggest turning points in this incendiary election? And what does it take to move the needle in the final few days. Jarlath has had his feet on US soil this week as he tours his standup show through several states. What is he hearing on the ground and does it match up with what Marion has seen on the campaign trail? Hear the full conversation and all the up-coming Irishman In America election podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad - it takes a few clicks to sign up and there’s no obligation, cancel any time you like.

Unprecedented is a word that gets thrown around too much in relation to this election but when the military suddenly start getting involved in flagging one of the candidates as a fascist, that fits the bill. John Kelly’s comments and various pieces in the New York Times this week would have sunk a candidate in any other era. Today it seems meaningless to Republicans who don’t mind supporting a self confessed fan of Hitler. Marion McKeone examines the latest developments form the campaign trail including Tucker Carlson’s spanking fantasy, Elon Musk’s election interference, threats against Jack Smith and the political scientist Matt McWilliams who predicted America’s gravitational pull towards an authoritarian leader back in 2015.

Would you like to be coached by Sonia O’Sullivan? As Jarlath Regan can tell you, it is life changing. Today on the podcast Sonia and Jar sit down to reflect on the crazy 4 year journey of this podcast and the new direction it is taking with it in 2025. The podcast is focusing the series on various hand picked races throughout the year and inviting you to join a squad coached by the GOAT herself. The first of which will be Sonia’s very own race: The Cobh 10 Miler in April 2025. Now is your chance to be considered for the squad. Submit your story and entry to irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com today. Squad members will receive a tailor-made weekly program from Sonia, free entry to the race, of course the stunning Irishman Running Abroad singlet and of course, the chance to meet and run with Sonia in her home town. Listen to the episode to hear all about the big new plan for the coming year. Both Sonia and Jarlath are really excited to take the show in this direction and you can enjoy a heap of extra content including the Sonia’s previous training plans for 5km, half and full marathons by joining up on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad Jarlath heading for Boston on Friday. Follow him on Strava or drop us a line if you’d like to join him at the Boston Parkrun there on Saturday morning.

Marion takes us out on the campaign trail this week where things got very weird very fast. We look back on a week of tough questions, town halls and challenging moments for both candidates. Rumours have swirled about Donald Trumps sudden mental decline this week. Could he be facing a Joe Biden-like decrease in capacity or is he just a bored entertainer becoming increasingly cranky with his old worn out material? Are the polls reliable or are they being conservative in their estimates? Marion takes out her crystal ball to answer the question, ”What will he do if he loses?” Obviously, this time, he does not need to be shown from the building but will riots break out in swing states. One things is for sure the dialogue is changing or ramping up as the big day draws near. Hear some of the highlights in this week’s episode and get in touch with your questions for Marion in the comments section or by emailing irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com & make sure to come over to www.patreon.com/irishmanabraod to hear the full conversation, support the show and more. (Jarlath is off to America next week but not before he drops 3 more episodes for you. You can find him this weekend in Dundalk at the Spirit Store and next weekend at The Shubert Theatre in Boston. Tickets for all tour dates available at www.jigser.com/gigs )