Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?

0:00This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

0:30Schwab offers. Because Schwab knows that when it comes to your finances, choice matters. No matter your goals, investing style, life stage or experience, Schwab has everything you need, all in one place, so you can invest your way. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

1:00with Maduro. Is Trump actually running Venezuela and selling their oil? Is ICE out of Minnesota? I'm sure there are others. Yes, there certainly are. It's such a good idea. We do it quite regularly, don't we? But this is a really good opportunity to do it. So in today's episode, what else is going on in the US besides the war in Iran and the politics about that? What else are you asking us about? We are going to answer your questions. Welcome to AmeriCast.

1:30AmeriCast from BBC News. You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it. This guy has Trump arrangement syndrome. I have four words for you. Turn the volume up!

1:56Hello, it's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England. And it is Mariana sitting next to Justin in the worldwide headquarters. And it's Sumi sitting at home in Washington, D.C. In the home headquarters. In the home headquarters. Good to have you with us, Sumi. And I should say as well, before we get going, it's a public holiday in the UK. So we have recorded this rather cheekily ahead of time, which may be a mistake in as much as some things may change. But it could well be that they don't as well. And since it's about questions about things that have happened, then quite a lot of it, I think, will stand very well.

2:30We're going to start with Venezuela because we've had so many questions about Venezuela and what is actually going on there. So let me kick us off, Sumi, with these. Linda, who describes herself as an American living in Farringdon, London for the past 17 years. Farringdon, very much a place on the up, Sumi, in case you don't know it in London. They've got the Elizabeth line, which is very much the thing to have. Anyway, that's kind of off the point because Linda asks this. I find it very curious that since the capture of Maduro, we no longer hear of any bombing of so-called drug boats in the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific.

3:05I think you mean the Gulf of America, don't you? Anyway, does this then show that Trump's initial claims regarding these boats were false? Or is it that now he has Maduro and Venezuela's oil, he doesn't care about the boats and has moved on? And there's another question as well. Nicole, who we heard right at the start of the episode, asks this. Is Trump actually running Venezuela and selling their oil? There actually have been a few strikes on drug boats in the last few weeks. So those have continued. The reason that we're not talking about them very much is because of the war in Iran. No, President Trump is not running Venezuela.

3:40The leadership there, Desi Rodriguez and her cabinet and the current Venezuelan government, they are still in place. But what the U.S. is doing is it's essentially controlling and selling and managing Venezuela's oil revenues through U.S. accounts. So that is Venezuela's main economic lifeline. And the fact that the U.S. is playing a massive role there tells you a little bit about how much influence you can say that President Trump has on that government. Is there still much interest in Venezuela online? I was just thinking this because I was just thinking about how when Nicolas Maduro was captured, obviously, or when he was taken by the US, there were so many memes.

4:17It was absolutely insane in terms of the amount it took over social media. People will remember those images of him in his grey tracksuit and holding the water bottle and travelling and all that kind of stuff. And I mean, as is often the way with social media, it's just sort of dropped off, really. And I guess even though Maduro and his wife have actually been in court and they're facing these charges about engaging in a narco conspiracy with designated terrorist groups conspiring to traffic cocaine into the US, possessing and using illegal weapons, primarily machine guns, to carry out the alleged conspiracy.

4:48Obviously, they deny all of these things, but there's not content from the court in quite the same way and manner. So therefore, it doesn't really go viral. People don't really engage with it anymore. and it's worth saying about Venezuela itself the jury's out really the extent to which life is going to improve for ordinary Venezuelans but it could hardly be much worse couldn't it so I mean in a way I think for a lot of people in Venezuela who knows things might be better around the corner although it is I mean you've made the point to me that the people in charge are the same people who were in charge before just without Maduro and his wife and Delce Rodriguez was certainly a hardline member of his inner circle and the people she's got in key positions are as well.

5:28On the oil thing, so we're asked now that he's got Venezuelan oil, does he not care about the boats and has moved on? On the oil, he hasn't yet got it in the sense that there is more production from Venezuelan oil terminals than there was, but it's still not like anything that would make Venezuela the key player on the international oil market that it ought to be. Because remember, Venezuela's got, I think I'm right in saying, it is the single country with the most oil reserves of any country in the world. So including Saudi Arabia, including Russia, etc., etc. There is a lot of oil there to be got.

6:10But right at the very start, the American oil companies, the big companies, were saying, we're not going to do that because the place is, well, one of them used the phrase, didn't he? The Exxon boss, Darren Woods, used the phrase uninvestable. because the place is such a mess. But also added to that, they've got to sort out. So I was talking to someone who knows a bit about oil the other day, was say one of the things they've got to sort out is the American oil companies also feel that their assets were stolen by Chavez when he nationalized oil. And they've got to find a way of being paid back.

6:42There's got to be a kind of legal structure that they can believe in and trust. Otherwise, they're not going to go in and do very much. So I think Venezuela has not changed as much as perhaps Donald Trump might suggest that it's changed, except that he's got Maduro. Two things to keep in mind that I think are important. If and when Maria Corina Machado decides to head back to Venezuela, that will be a key turning point because she will demand, as many members of the Venezuelan opposition will, that there are free and fair elections. Just remind us of who she is. So she's the Nobel Prize winner.

7:16She's a key opposition figure in Venezuela. And she was barred from running in the last Venezuelan election, which by all accounts was neither free nor fair. And she, since winning the Nobel Peace Prize and after Maduro was captured, had anticipated that perhaps the Trump administration would see her as the rightfully, not elected necessarily, but the rightful leader of Venezuela. but remember that President Trump said he doesn't think that she necessarily has the support and that's been a big blow to her chances so she said she'll go back to Venezuela whether she does and when she does will be a question but I mean Justin and Mariana remember President Trump to the question is has he moved on he's not talking about Cuba and that might be the next battlefield in his sights if you will we don't know if he actually means any sort of military action but they're now having negotiations with the Cuban government.

8:07It sort of appears they're happy with the relationship they have with the Venezuelan government. Yeah, and really happy Donald Trump is, isn't he, with the relationship he thinks he has with the Venezuelan people? Because he talked about it, didn't he, at a cabinet meeting recently. We should listen to what he said. Our relationship with Venezuela has been amazing. The people... Actually, I'm the highest polling person. In other words, after the presidency, I think I may go to Venezuela and run for president. Against Elsie. I may run against Elsie. It's an option. No, they like me in Venezuela.

8:43It's these kinds of clips that everyone sees us on on social media because people will obviously be outraged by those kinds of comments. They'll say, hang on a second, you can't go and do that. But then also the laughter and the sort of tongue-in-cheek. You presume that Donald Trump is joking, although you can't always presume that. Never quite for sure. No, I mean, that clip just, to me, Sumi, That just sums up Donald Trump's ability to outrage and annoy, but at the same time to just wheedle his way into people just kind of half laughing and kind of going along with it in a way that just, I mean, I just can't think of another politician or political leader in recent times than he has managed it.

9:25I agree. And I'm with Mariana. I often these days can't tell when President Trump is joking or not. I used to have a pretty good radar for those things, but these days I just don't. On the subject of his cabinets and these extraordinary cabinet meetings that he has where everyone is very obsequious, etc., etc., and a lot of it is held in public, we've had a question from Sophie, who is from Billings, Montana, which she calls the most beautiful U.S. state and is. she is absolutely 100 % right not only are you right about Montana so if you're Billings is just of all the places I would like to retire to I think Billings Montana which is actually the biggest town a new America's miniseries which is Justin evaluates all of the locations where the people have sent the questions in from and gives them a rating out of 10 Billings the whole of Montana is lovely Farringdon Billings yes I've endorsed Farringdon already well here we are then one on each side of the Atlantic for balance Billings Montana Montana is, I think I'm right in saying the biggest town in Montana, almost certainly is.

10:25Sort of semi-industrial, but it's absolutely gorgeous, incredible views all around it. And very friendly, too. I went there with the governor of Montana in the early 2000s, whose name was Brian Schweitzer. He was a Democrat who was very famous because he used to say gun control to him is being able to shoot straight. Which was not the view of the Democratic Party at the time. He was quite an iconic sort of Montana figure. Anyway, none of that is what Sophie from Montana wants to talk about. That's just a little subplot for everyone. Subplot, there we are. She says, I've been thinking about this for some time.

11:01What's the point of Donald Trump's cabinet meetings? Is there ever serious debate when the cameras are turned off? Are they ever turned off? Because the whole process seems very unserious. From what I've seen, they seem to be more about soundbites and flattering Trump. Or is this typical of the US political system, no matter which president was in charge? Sue me. Well, let's actually listen to a couple of those moments from the cabinet meeting last week before we talk about it. I said, I'd like to use your pen, but I can't have a gray thing with a big S on it. St. Sharpie. As I'm signing a trillion dollar airplane contract.

11:34He said, well, I can make it nicer. I said, what can you do? He said, I'll paint it black. I said, that's nice. And I could even paint the White House on it, sir, if you like, in gold. We're fixing up the, what was the Kennedy Center. I was honored when the board changed the name a little bit. Actually chose that the Republican and the Democrats, they worked together. It's really something we work together. It's going to be beautiful when you add the name Trump. I'm looking at this guy, he's central casting. Even the glasses are perfect. When do you get glasses? I think I'm going to get glasses.

12:11That's beautiful. And I guess it's these kinds of clips really that, But I mean, they're the ones I see popping up on social media because they are sort of funny. They make Donald Trump seem kind of human and not so much like a traditional, quote unquote, politician. And it feels so contrasted to if you think of like the British cabinet, for example, and the general vibe of everyone sitting around a long table being very serious. Sumi, is this a Trump style cabinet thing or was it like this before? 100 % Trump style. Cabinet meetings are not usually open to the press. This is a new tradition that we've seen under President Trump.

12:47And I don't really see these as opportunities or platforms for real policy discussions. These are meant to be what they are, which are these discussions of all the achievements that President Trump has had and an opportunity for an update. And they go on for hours. And in fact, press can even ask questions. That doesn't mean that they're not having serious policy discussions, but that's not happening in front of the camera, that those cabinet meetings that we're seeing are something entirely different. It's part of the kind of showmanship of this presidency. And it's worth saying, isn't it, that the American system is very different to the British.

13:22Marianne mentions the British cabinet. And I suppose constitutionally in Britain, the prime minister is first among equals. and the cabinet ministers can, and indeed in quite recent history, do plot against prime ministers here and potentially overthrow them. And Sumi, in your system, I mean, they are working for the president. There's no way they're a threat to him, isn't there? They are. They're working indeed for the president. They're not in any sense a threat to him. The only possible rivalry that you could see is some of those cabinet members who might be angling for a run in 2028. Of course, his vice president, J.D.

13:59Vance, the secretary of state, Marco Rubio. But all of that takes a backseat to serving in the president's cabinet and serving his agenda. Right. Let's turn to Zoran Mamdani, mayor of New York, because we had a few emails and messages about him as well. Janet says, could you find time to update us on how Mamdani is tackling his promises in New York? Is he maintaining popular support? And David in Cambridge asks, is it too early to ask how Mamdani is doing, given the difficulties of governing as opposed to campaigning? Are there any lessons the Democrats can take from how things are panning out?

14:33He's still pretty popular, isn't he, Marianne? If you look at social media, he's all over social media still. Yeah. And it's interesting because similar in lots of ways to how Donald Trump does social media, he's managed to kind of keep up that slightly like cheeky glint in your eye like taking taking the mick a bit or i mean it's different because a lot of donald trump's social media content or that of the white house team and his wider team is quite rage-baity like it's designed to provoke a reaction mandami stuff is also designed to provoke a reaction but there's a bit more kind of hope in it like there's a lot of community-based stuff there's a lot of videos where he'll kind of be bringing people together and they'll be playing a game of basketball or they'll be doing you know there was a really viral clip people might remember quite recently of him with these little kids talking about like their favourite animals and stuff like that.

15:19Like that kind of cute content, like what we'd call Hopecore online does pretty well. My favourite animal is a shark. Is a shark? That's honestly such a good one. My favourite animal is a goat. Oh, and a goat. The other thing is, I don't know if you've seen either of you the memes, they did these kind of quite cheeky infographic style memes about how many potholes have been filled. And it's like a picture of Mandami and it's like holes filled. It's like that kind of thing obviously is like sexual innuendo and performs quite well as well. So I'd say in terms of he's kind of maintained the aura and energy that he had online.

15:58Obviously, it's slightly less intense than in the build up to the election, but it still feels broadly like he's doing quite well, I'd say, Sumi. That point about potholes filled is actually an important one, because in the question that was asked about what can Democrats learn from his style of governing or what he's done so far, of course, it hasn't... Fill the potholes. No, but quite literally, fill the potholes. What has been the issue with Democrats is actually deliver on what you promise. And if Zoran Ramdhani is able to do that, even in just the most basic things like filling potholes, those are the things that people remember.

16:29Those are the local politics agenda that people care about because it affects their day-to-day lives. I think that's something that Democrats can think about. So true that. When it comes to fulfilling the agenda, yes, he seems to have done well on the potholes, or at least there are pictures of him doing well. But I mean, it's fair to say as well, it's a bit early to judge, as David was suggesting when he asked, is it too early? I mean, it is slightly too early, isn't it? Because he's got this rent freeze that he wants, which hasn't yet happened because the committee hasn't fully sorted out what it is going to do.

17:02He also has to balance the budget. I mean, this comes to the question of governing in prose, having campaigned in poetry or whatever the phrase is, that he's going to have to do quite difficult things and he's not going to be able to shrink from them because he's legally mandated to balance the budget. And that will mean, I think there are already some places where he's thinking of cutting. And that is going to be quite a difficult moment for some of his supporters who just assumed that everything would be wonderful once he was in power. Because obviously it never is for anyone and it won't be for him.

17:36We have got a few more questions. These are about the midterms. So Charlie from Worcestershire sent us this voice note. If the Democrats run Congress after the midterm elections, will they be able to control Trump more effectively? And following on, if Trump's power will be curbed or is curbed, does he feel he needs to press on with his policies with increased speed? And linked to that question is Denise's email, who asks, Will it make any difference if the Democrats win the half terms, seeing... Oh, that's a new name. Yeah, we should call them half terms. I quite like that, yeah. Will it make any difference if the Democrats win the half terms, seeing as how Trump makes executive orders and appears to ignore the two houses by just informing them after the event?

18:16Those are really interesting questions. Yes, it does make a difference. It depends, of course, what Democrats are able to do. If they're able to win the House of Representatives, which at this point they seem well poised to do, and the Senate, which is a much larger uphill battle for the Democrats but is now in the realm of possibility, then they can present a real problem to President Trump. They hold the power of the purse, so they can, in a way, block funding for President Trump's agenda. They can launch a number of investigations. They can hold hearings, subpoena documents and witnesses. They can investigate executive actions.

18:53There's so much that they can do that will really throw a wrench into President Trump's agenda. Will he then, I think the question was, intensify or kind of move forward with this agenda even further? That reminds me of this great German term, which is Flucht nach vorne, which is like escaping forward. It's like running forward. Sorry, sorry for the German phrase, but it just makes me think of that. That sounds like a Twitter account to me, you know, like German word to describe thing that you don't say. Exactly. Flucht nach vorne is a good one. And I do think that will be the case. I do think that we could see President Trump intensify his efforts and agenda if he knows that he's going to be stymied by Congress.

19:31It's no surprise, is it? There is a single German word to describe what will happen to Donald Trump next. It's three words. What the heck? When we spend podcast after podcast and the Germans have it in three words. Well, this is kind of Adam's question that maybe there's a separate word for this one. what kind of legacy Donald J Trump is attempting to construct and whether the intensity of his approach risks backfiring ultimately cementing a legacy defined more by division than achievement Yeah I mean that is an interesting one so to take all of these questions together number one I'm thinking as I'm listening to them I'm thinking hang on what is his agenda what is he in legislative terms what's he trying to do because Sumi the answer really in legislative terms is not much actually at the moment isn't it I mean there's not He's trying to pass this act that has an impact on postal voting and all the rest of it.

20:19And Anthony and I were talking about that quite recently. And he's desperate to get that through and attach a few things to it, some cultural things. He wants to push on with his, as he would say, women's rights rather than trans rights agenda. And that is politically popular. But beyond that, I'm not sure there's an awful lot that he's trying really to get through. Yes, peace. I don't know what's happening with that. Generally peace. The peace thing is on hold. The steps have quite packed up with that. And he's got a new fight with the Supreme Court, hasn't he, Sumi, coming up pretty soon because he's got this effort to try to stop people having birthright citizenship in the United States.

20:58And the Supreme Court, I think, is probably likely to strike that down and that's going to annoy him. But beyond that, I'm not sure necessarily that whether Congress is Democrat or Republican makes the difference. It's only for the thing, Sumi, that you were talking about, that they can just be a nuisance to him and harass him from Congress rather than it stops him getting anything through. That's true. He's been able to govern largely by executive action, so he could continue to do so. But you have to remember that he's also been able to do so because Congress has been completely pliant, let's say, Republicans in Congress.

21:35They have followed Donald Trump's orders. They've closed ranks behind him. And if he doesn't have Congress behind him in the way that he has, they can be a thorn in his side. But I think, you know, if you talk about what President Trump's agenda is, his agenda is largely economic. He wants to see a flourishing America, as he has said. So how has he done so with tax cuts, for example, deregulating the economy, deregulating, for example, environmental standards? All of that, to him, is part of this new golden age of America. What can Congress do to get in the way of that? Well, lawsuits, investigations, stopping President Trump from dismantling some of those regulations.

22:16But all of that will be difficult to do with the president moving forward ever faster with executive action. Yeah. And a lot of the other stuff that he wants to do is essentially cultural, isn't it? If you include illegal immigration as a culture thing. Well, I was just about to say. Which he has done. I mean, there's no doubt at all for all that it's gone pretty awry in terms of public opinion after what happened in Minnesota. But the fact is that there were millions of people getting into America illegally through the southern border and there are no longer. There's hardly anyone getting in now.

22:48And he will be able to say that was an achievement. It was something he promised to do, and he did. And on the broader cultural things as well, things like DEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, he has done real damage, which he promised to do, to the various commercial enterprises who had embraced that agenda, he thought wrongly and his supporters thought wrongly, and are now de-embracing it, as a word. And it's not just the federal government, remember, it's right across America, all these big organisations that had huge bureaucracies enforcing this agenda, who are now getting rid of it. And that, again, is something that he's managed to do already.

23:26And I don't think Congress changing hands will have any impact on that at all. Don't you think, though, on this wider point about legacy, achievement feels slightly too bureaucratic for Donald Trump. That suggests that he's got like a little list of like, want to tick this, want to tick that off, which is not how he operates, I don't think. I think what he wants is to leave this feeling of like, I was really good and I was really American and I made America great again. And I, you know, it's like that kind of stuff. And I think the risk for him is things like exactly what you're describing around immigration.

23:53On paper, it might be that he executed what he said he would. But the impression left is that like little kids are being arrested by ICE officers. And, you know, Americans were shot who shouldn't have been shot and that kind of thing as a public opinion issue. And I think across the board, not just people on the left, like I think there'll be some Republicans who'd be like, well, that didn't feel. I don't know how I felt about that sort of thing. I think that's his risk. Whereas if he can up the vibes on some of these issues, then the impression will be different. And maybe that's things like some of the clips we've been talking about, like him in the cabinet office and him being funny and all that kind of stuff.