Factual America examines America through the lens of documentary filmmaking. Guests include Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning documentary filmmakers and producers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. Find out more about the current and upcoming documentaries on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Sky Documentaries and other platforms directly from the creators. Whether we discuss true crime, music, burning social and political topics, history, or arts, Factual America is your #1 documentary film podcast. Factual America is produced by Alamo Pictures, a London- and Austin-based production company that makes documentaries about the US from a European perspective for international audiences.
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episode 7: 2020 American Election: Super Tuesday
Factual America caught up with director and producer Adithya Sambamurthy, who is heading to the US to cover the 2020 American election for The Guardian newspaper. We discuss the upcoming elections and take a look back at President Donald Trump’s rise to power.
In 2016 and 2018 Adi spent weeks on the campaign trail filming and producing Anywhere but Washington. He shares his experiences criss-crossing America, where he was able to meet with Trump supporters and observe first hand the changing American political landscape.
We also look at how Trump has been so successful in certain areas that should be considered Democrat territory. Why do these communities reject Democrats and feel more hopeful and optimistic under Trump?
While there is a long way to go until the election in November, Trump has emerged from impeachment looking stronger. His campaign team and strategy have improved immensely since 2016. Conversely, he remains a highly polarizing figure despite his popularity in many parts of America.
Which Democrat will emerge from Super Tuesday the front runner? Do they even stand a chance against President Trump?
We also look at similarities and differences between the US and UK on the political front, in light of Brexit and the rise of Boris Johnson as prime minister.
“A lot of what we’ve seen has been Donald Trump’s attempts to run against Washington; he gets to claim outsider status even as he becomes the establishment.” – Adithya Sambamurthi
Time stamps:01:24 – Today’s topic and who our guest is.
02:38 – The film we are looking at today and what it’s about.
06:10 – Watching the first clip – West Virginia in 2016.
10:05 – Why some areas have shifted away from the Democratic Party.
13:28 – Watching the second clip – West Virginia in 2018.
16:15 – Revisiting subjects and seeing how Trump’s presidency has changed their lives.
18:52 – What struck Adi the most during his two stints on the campaign trail.
20:28 – The reception for foreign journalists in America.
24:00 – Analyzing the 2020 American election and comparing it with the 2016 election.
26:34 – Taking a look at the different candidates in the Democratic Party.
30:16 – A clip looking at Trump’s inauguration.
33:10 – How Trump remains a change candidate even when he is already a part of Washington. 34:07 – Expectations going in as Adi heads to the US.
36:33 – Would the American public ever elect a socialist like Bernie Sanders?
38:08 – Other projects Adi has been working on.
41:18 – Adi’s impressions of the UK.
42:52 – Similarities between what is happening in America and the UK.
44:44 – The need for change that people are expressing across the globe.
45:42 – The surprising amount of people that watched the Anywhere but Washington series.
Anywhere but Washington
Alamo Pictures
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