- 11 minutes 35 secondsStudy Notes: The Events of 9/11
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
Today: the events of 9/11 - what happened that morning, the immediate aftermath, and the consequences that shaped the United States and the world in the 25 years since.
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
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11 September 2026, 1:00 am - 55 minutes 4 secondsIn the Making: Trump and the AfD
This week, as Germany's far right AfD party win crucial state elections, we discuss Trump's celebration and how the MAGA blueprint is being used around the world to normalise extremism in politics.
Plus, Trump has created his own map of the world, and it's not great news for Greenland and Iceland.
And Lonnie Bunch is the latest high profile figure to be forced out of post by the current administration, leaving the Smithsonian after 38 years.
To discuss this, I am joined by Alyssa Royse, gym owner, writer, caller-outer of BS, common sense advocate, and all round lovely person.
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JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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01:22 - Trump Admits to High Oil Prices
02:52 - Lonnie Bunch Leaves the Smithsonian
08:25 - Trump's Map of the World
14:59 - Trump and the AfD
46:11 - Oysters in New York
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News Sources:
Lonnie Bunch leaves The Smithsonian: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/lonnie-bunch-smithsonian-leader-to-retire-amid-trump-criticism/ar-AA2bOuar?ocid=BingNewsSerp
Trump Maps: https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/trumps-map-making-social-media-stirs-controversy-north-136273860
New America: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117225349620809512
Saving the planet with oysters: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/3-million-oysters-eaten-by-new-yorkers-are-rebuilding-the-citys-reefs/
Billion Oyster Project: https://www.billionoysterproject.org/
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/
Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Get in touch: [email protected]
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10 September 2026, 8:36 am - 50 minutes 31 secondsWhy is Psycho So Scary?
Disclaimer: there may be short blips of incoherent sound in this episode. Please bear with us.
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When Psycho premiered in 1960, audiences had never seen anything like it. Alfred Hitchcock - already one of the world’s most prolific directors - released a low‑budget, black‑and‑white thriller that shocked critics, electrified audiences, and permanently changed the rules of American cinema. The film’s infamous shower scene, its brutal narrative twists, and its psychological intensity helped redefine what horror could be.
But Psycho wasn’t just scary because of what was on screen. It was scary because of how Hitchcock marketed it, how it tapped into real‑world anxieties, and how it drew inspiration from the crimes of a real life monster, still fresh in the public imagination.
So today, on the anniversary of its theatrical release, we explore why Psycho gained immediate notoriety, how it executed and reinvented horror conventions, and why it remains one of the most frightening and influential films ever made, as I ask… why is Psycho so scary?
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Special Guests:
Stephen Rebello, whose book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho is the definitive account of how the film came to be.
Buy the book now: https://a.co/d/09caklxY
. Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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Reading List:
- Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello
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Highlights:
02:29 - Throwing Out the Rulebook
09:04 - A Master of Suspense
14:03 - A Blueprint for Horror Marketing
21:55 - 3 Melons = Untimely Death
29:04 - Ed Gein
39:13 - Psycho's Legacy
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Contact us: [email protected]
Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Brands & advertisers: [email protected]
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Credits:
Producer - Liam Heffernan
Host - Liam Heffernan
Editor - Liam Heffernan
In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies
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8 September 2026, 6:27 am - 11 minutes 58 secondsStudy Notes: The Presidents - John Tyler (1841 - 1845)
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
Today: the tenth President of the United States, John Tyler - his unexpected rise to the presidency, his turbulent time in office, his key achievements and controversies, and his lasting legacy.
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/
JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Get in touch: [email protected]
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4 September 2026, 1:00 am - 51 minutes 32 secondsIn the Making: Trump Taking Oil and People Giving Pizza
This week, Donald Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America, and though nobody is going with it, Google and Apple have both updates their maps.
Trump received good news from the Supreme Court, who have allowed construction of his $400m ballroom to continue.
Meanwhile, the US are yoinking over 60 billion barrels of oil from Venezuela, and they should be gosh darn grateful about it.
And Amazon face a lawsuit from 22 states over allegedly inflating their ad rates and raking in tens of billions of dollars more than they should.
To discuss this, I am joined by Alyssa Royse, gym owner, writer, caller-outer of BS, common sense advocate, and all round lovely person.
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JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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01:18 - Lake Ontario or Lake America?
05:57 - SCOTUS Give Thumbs Up to Ballroom
15:04 - Naughty Amazon
27:13 - Venezuelan Oil
41:17 - Pizza Philanthrophy
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News Sources:
Executive Order Renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/honoring-the-american-history-of-the-great-lakes-and-renaming-lake-ontario-as-lake-america-3a36/
Ballroom construction can continue: https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/
22 States Sue Amazon: https://themediaonline.co.za/2026/09/ftc-and-22-us-states-sue-amazon-over-alleged-secret-advertising-price-inflation/
Venezuelan Oil: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-venezuela-oil-us-president-b3041501.html
Pizza with a Purpose: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/florida-teens-design-charity-app-to-help-generous-locals-deliver-pizza-for-a-purpose/
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/
Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Get in touch: [email protected]
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3 September 2026, 1:00 am - 54 minutes 31 secondsWhat is the UN?
The United Nations was born out of catastrophe - a world shattered by war, genocide, and the collapse of international order, and it was on this very day in 1945, that the US senate ratified the UN Charter. This new institution, in the wake of the Second World War, that promised collective security, human rights, and global cooperation.
For decades, the UN and the U.S. were intertwined: American leadership shaped peacekeeping, development, humanitarian action, and the rules of the post‑war world. But the relationship has never been simple. It has swung between idealism and frustration, partnership and tension, global ambition and domestic politics.
Today, as the UN faces new crises and the U.S. reconsiders its role, we look back at how this relationship began, how it evolved, and why it matters.
So in this episode, I’m asking… what is the United Nations?
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Special Guests:
Thomas G. Weiss, one of the world’s foremost experts on the United Nations, humanitarian intervention, and global governance.
. Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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Reading List:
What’s Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix It by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/023mkHow
Humanitarian Intervention (War and Conflict in the Modern World) by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0fXKXmKQ
The United Nations and Changing World Politics by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0eX10DWI
Would the World Be Better Without the UN? By Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0heH7o4O
UN Charter in the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov
UN History Timeline: https://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations
U.S. Mission to the United Nations: https://usun.usmission.gov
A World at Risk: The UN and Threats to Global Security, UN University Press
The United Nations: A Very Short Introduction by Jussi Hanhimäki: https://a.co/d/06l19a3H
The Parliament of Man by Paul Kennedy: https://a.co/d/09z0jRiO
U.S. Senate ratification records (October 24, 1945): https://www.senate.gov
UN Security Council archives: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil
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Highlights:
02:06 - The Birth of the UN
07:43 - The Core Values
10:18 - America's Role in the UN
16:19 - The Cold War
22:48 - Keeping the Peace
31:06 - How Much Money Does America Give the UN?
37:20 - What Does the US Get from the UN?
42:44 - Running Down the Clock
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Contact us: [email protected]
Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Brands & advertisers: [email protected]
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Credits:
Producer - Liam Heffernan
Host - Liam Heffernan
Editor - Liam Heffernan
In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 September 2026, 1:00 am - 9 minutes 55 secondsStudy Notes: Dolly Parton
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
Today: Dolly Parton - the life of a woman whose music, generosity, and spirit shaped American culture for more than half a century. Dolly passed away this week, and today we’re taking time to honour her story, her work, and the legacy she leaves behind.
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28 August 2026, 1:00 am - 50 minutes 1 secondIn the Making: Natalie Harp, Canada, and Trump's War on Visas
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This week, Donald Trump tries to revoke 200,000 Visa applications, targeting those seeking asylum in the US, and his trade war with Canada heats up after Prime Minister Mark Carney imposes retaliatory tariffs.
Plus, I speak with Marcia Chatelain about her new book, looking at the women behind the historic March on Washington 63 years ago. Buy it here: https://a.co/d/0fC6zeGF
Joining me this week is a virtual audience of SOTUS listeners as we record the podcast live. To hear about our next live recording before anyone else, join the SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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01:53 - Who is Natalie Harp?
05:49 - The Midterms Explained
09:59 - The Largest Visa Revocation in History
16:45 - The US-Canada Trade War
21:31 - Marcia Chatelain and Her New Book
43:28 - Join the Next SOTUS Live Recording
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News Sources:
Mass visa revocation: https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-visas-revoke-e9c14fdfd0ada439d2b9d8694e678a46?
Trade War with Canada: https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-tariffs-senate-2026-campaign-c3d2461184a2b8656abd01376452e0d5
How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington by Marcia Chatelain: https://a.co/d/0fC6zeGF
Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain: https://a.co/d/00HXZIwX
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/
Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Get in touch: [email protected]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27 August 2026, 9:55 am - 59 minutes 59 secondsWhat is the Supreme Court Term, and Why Does it Matter?
The Supreme Court term is the annual rhythm of American constitutional life - nine justices, a docket of cases, and decisions that can reshape law, politics, and everyday life.
This year’s term produced headline rulings and quieter doctrinal shifts: questions about presidential power, the reach of federal agencies, the rights of transgender people, and immigration enforcement. It also renewed debate about the Court’s “shadow docket” - emergency orders and summary decisions that shape policy without full briefing or oral argument.
These developments matter not just in Washington: they reverberate across democracies, including here in the UK, where debates about judicial review, executive discretion, and rights are very much alive. So today we’ll explain what it is, unpack the big cases and themes, and ask what the Court’s choices mean for politics, law, and democracy, as I ask… what is the Supreme Court term, and why does it matter?
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Special Guests:
Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia, and an expert on the Supreme Court.
. Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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Reading List:
Supreme Court of the United States - Official Opinions and Orders: https://www.supremecourt.gov
SCOTUSblog - Term coverage and case pages: https://www.scotusblog.com
“Shadow Docket” explainer - Brennan Center for Justice: https://www.brennancenter.org
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Highlights:
02:29 - How the Supreme Court Works
06:09 - The Chosen Ones
09:56 - The Biggest Cases of Last Term
13:57 - The Shadow Docket
23:14 - Exercising Authority Over the President
28:11 - Gaming the System
32:36 - Roll Over
40:59 - Setting an Example for Other Countries
47:26 - Impartiality in the Supreme Court
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Contact us: [email protected]
Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Brands & advertisers: [email protected]
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Credits:
Producer - Liam Heffernan
Host - Liam Heffernan
Editor - Liam Heffernan
In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 August 2026, 1:00 am - 9 minutes 45 secondsStudy Notes: What Qualifications Do You Need to Run for Office in the US?
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
Today: what qualifications do you need to run for office in the United States?
From the President to local city councils, we’ll break down the eligibility rules, how they’ve changed over time, and which offices are the hardest - and easiest - to run for.
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
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21 August 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 10 minutesIn the Making: Lindsay Clancy and America's Live Courtroom Obsession
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This week, as Trump continues to put his name on or build a wall through everything he touches, the Lindsay Clancy has gripped the nation, so we take a closer look at live courtroom coverage in America, and the impact this can have on both the trial and the people involved.
Joining me this week is Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia.
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02:09 - The Trump, Not Trump, Sort Of Trump Kennedy Center
10:28 - Big Bend Border Wall
18:30 - Lindsay Clancy
44:58 - Florida Governor Race
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News Sources:
Kennedy Center votes to put Trump’s name back on the building: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/13/politics/kennedy-center-board-vote
Construction of border wall halted: https://apnews.com/article/trump-border-big-bend-national-park-immigration-c8439ceed11ff5e7f3ca95fa0003327b
Trump wants to end roadless rules in national forests: https://apnews.com/article/roadless-rule-forests-trump-e80a41e0231aa070313a3484261368f3
Lindsay Clancy 101: https://www.biography.com/crime/a71603379/who-is-lindsay-clancy-duxbury-murder-trial
Florida sets up Trump Backed-Donalds Against Former Republican Jolly in Gubernatorial Race: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/18/florida-primary-results-governor-senate
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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/
Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community
Get in touch: [email protected]
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20 August 2026, 1:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App