presidential candidates

Is Joe Biden too old to win another go in the White House? And could his son derail his campaign? The Americast team talks through the challenges the president is facing in the run-up to the next election.

Barack Obama's former spokesperson and podcaster Tommy Vietor gives us his thoughts on Biden's achievements and viral moments, as well as his 2024 chances, with some critics obsessed by his age and sceptical about Vice President Kamala Harris.

And the gang tries to guess the Republican presidential candidate from the songs that supposedly "stir their souls".

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • Tommy Vietor, host of 'Pod Save America' and 'Pod Save the World'

GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the senior editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 03:10 – Joe Biden's age 15:50 – Tommy Vietor interview 35:00 – Republican soul songs

(0:00) Besties welcome former NJ Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Chris Christie!

(2:14) US debt crisis, cutting entitlements

(14:03) Level-setting on foreign policy

(25:28) Ukraine / Russia: culpability, where to go from here

(36:47) US defense budget, optimizing spend, zero-based budgeting, influence peddling

(50:01) Immigration policy, how each party co-opts the issue

(1:02:24) Fentanyl crisis in SF, LA, and NYC, incarceration and criminal justice reform, political activism in law enforcement

(1:15:57) Why Chris Christie is running for president

(1:17:41) Thoughts on prosecuting Trump, January 6th, and more

(1:23:16) Chris Christie addresses his past controversies

(1:48:34) Post-interview debrief

Follow the besties:

https://twitter.com/chamath

https://linktr.ee/calacanis

https://twitter.com/DavidSacks

https://twitter.com/friedberg

Follow Chris Christie:

https://twitter.com/GovChristie

Follow the pod:

https://twitter.com/theallinpod

https://linktr.ee/allinpodcast

Intro Music Credit:

https://rb.gy/tppkzl

https://twitter.com/yung_spielburg

Intro Video Credit:

https://twitter.com/TheZachEffect

Referenced in the show:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GFDEBTN

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SMPOPNETMUSA

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2023/08/31/border-families-record-crossings-biden

Candidates for the Republican presidential nomination keep entering the field, despite the fact that Donald Trump polls consistently as the front-runner and Ron DeSantis has emerged as the clear No. 2. Why do so many lesser-tier Republicans think they have a real shot?

Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The Times, offers a guide to the new crop of candidates and discusses their rationale for running.

Guest: Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Mike Pence, former vice president — and now rival — to Mr. Trump gave his most aggressive criticism of his former boss, portraying him as unfit to be president.
• Chris Christie’s presidential bid has little chance of success. But if he takes out Mr. Trump along the way, the former New Jersey governor may consider it a victory.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.