The Atlantic Current

After five days of strikes in Iran by the US and Israel, Tull and Vince take stock. Comments from Donald Trump suggest a massive, and permanent, change in America’s relation to the world. Europe walks a tightrope, and the two battle over petrol and gasoline.

Tull and Vince do their first “emergency pod” as US and Israeli forces strike Iran. The obvious question: is this another Iraq? Vince and Tull debate, and both offer their predictions for how this very uncertain situation will play out.

A week with major events in the US provides surprisingly little impact, and so Tull and Vince pivot (mostly) to less-covered news. Internal IRS discussions raise yet more risk to the rise of Big Tech in Ireland; a ham-fisted and fatal attempt to enter Mar-a-Lago charges conspiracy theories; the “Clonakilty Test” replaces the “Turing Test” and Vince asks Tull if Ireland feels like it’s on shaky ground.

Tull and Vince discuss the role of the military in their respective countries. Tull explains why Irish neutrality is something of a myth, while Vince details the long-running effects of World War II and Vietnam on American politics. The Irish have the Triple Lock, and Americans a deep-seated belief in their moral superiority. Tull closes by providing Vince a "brutal but brilliant" take on the dimming perception of the US overseas.

Tull and Vince cover the sudden, dark turns for both Seamus Culleton and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. As always, Donald Trump makes an appearance: the billions raked in by his family this term, his confusing attitude toward the press, and the very real risk of a military attack on Iran in the not-too-distant future.

With some help from ChatGPT, Tull and Vince discuss the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Will AI lead to abundance and bliss — or the enslavement of humanity? And can ChatGPT predict the future of The Atlantic Current, or, in the most human way possible, is it simply trying to insert itself in the episode? A thought-provoking, often funny, and occasionally bizarre episode.

Tull and Vince discuss the case of Seamus Culleton, an Irish immigrant currently held in ICE detention. New revelations have changed public opinion in Ireland, but Culleton's fate still has the potential to upend cross-Atlantic relations.

The Epstein Files make a return in typically bizarre fashion, with odd lies from Howard Lutnick, more binders from Pam Bondi, and a strange but credible claim about Donald Trump's behavior 20 years ago that raises still more questions.

With the Super Bowl completed, Tull and Vince return to the topic of sport. Tull covers the beauty of the GAA, while Vince highlights the geographical insanity and occasional felonies that are part of American college sports. It's an episode with poisoned trees, spiteful fans, and plenty of laughs.

The Epstein Files reach Europe, and may actually have had a more significant impact on the Continent than in the U.S. Governments wobble and royal families are called into question. Meanwhile, key questions remain about Epstein's pre-conviction past and the role played by Donald Trump. A detailed, and often darkly funny, look at the scandal from across the ocean.

With the Super Bowl on Sunday, Vince explains the massive cultural impact of America's biggest event of the year. Tull explains Irish sport; Vince cries in sadness (the Jets) and joy (the Thunder); Tull closes with the story of the most painful cursein the history of sport.

The title says it all. Tull and Vince discuss tragedy in Minneapolis, the bizarre children's book written by the currnet director of the FBI, and insane early-morning posts on Truth Social. An episode alternately hysterical and horrifying.

After 25 years of negotiations, the trade deal between Mercosur and the European Union has stumbled just before the finish line. Can the deal get done? Is there any truth to Vince's typically self-centered American belief that the US is a key factor here? And what does the backlash against globalization portend for the Continent and the world as a whole? Tull and Vince tackle one of the most important issues in modern politics.

Tull and Vince cover the explosive World Economic Forum in Davos, where speeches were made by — and against — U.S. president Donald Trump. While supporters cite galaxy-brained 4D chess as the catalyst for Trump's negotiation, critics see simply a lack of a plan or a coherent framework.

Tull and Vince discuss one of the world's most fascinating and influential people. He reasonably can be seen as a threat to the liberal world order. Yet he is also a staggerly brilliant executive, albiet one with an apparent Twitter addiction and questionable taste in sources. A fascinating discussion, one which touches on the fraught nature of US-Europe relations at the moment.

Tull and Vince discuss America's continuing interest in (or aggression toward) Greenland. Tull questions American exceptionalism; Vince somehow compares Joe Rogan to Walter Cronkite; and the rising price of Guinness is bemoaned at a time when even EU bigwigs are suggesting a stiff drink.

Tull and Vince discuss the differences between healthcare in the US and Europe, and try desperately to explain and understand the stunning complexity of the American system.

Vince talks about the feeling in America after the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Tull highlights European sentiment toward the audacity of that mission, and US saber rattling toward Greenland. Is the transatlantic relationship heading for a messy, potentially final end?

Five years on, Tull and Vince look back on the chaos of January 6, 2021, one of the most pivotal days in modern American politics. What actually happened that day? How is it viewed in Europe? And how do Trump and the Republican manage to retake the White House in less than four years?

Tull and Vince cover the best and worst political events of 2025 - but mostly the worst. Ireland's long road to forming a government, DOGE's disastrous rollout, Pam Bondi's bizarre binders, and a case of hilariously mistaken identity in Dáil Éireann all make an appearance.

Tull and Vince debate new guidelines for American tourist vias. Is the demand for social media history a violation of America's belief in free speech? Is it a step toward authoritianism? How do changes to ESTA link to the broader US policy and attitude toward Europe? And who, exactly, is responsible for ruining Christmas for Tull and Vince?

After an update on the growing political campaign against Ireland, Tull and Vince turn their attention to the unavoidable Donald Trump. Why has his base remained so loyal despite endless scandals and a political career that seemed over just five years ago? How, after a decade, do so many key questions remain? And how does the Irish-American experience highlight the core appeal of Trumpism? A few questions are answered, but many more remain.

Tull recaps the recent Irish presidential election and what Catherine Connolly's win tells us about the state of Irish politics. Is it a sign of Ireland moving left and against prevailing European winds?

Meanwhile, there are signs of pressure coming from the US, in part due to Connolly's win. Tull highlights a key risk to Ireland, while Vince provides some perspective on whether Trump will look to concrete measures to bring Ireland back onside.

In the introductory episode, Tull and Vince discuss how the Irish and Americans view one another, why Americans know so little about the outside world, and Ireland's move away from alcohol toward a surprising new pastime.

Notes on the bot problem:

Facebook account deletions: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1013474/facebook-fake-account-removal-quarter/

Tull's piece on bots more generally:
https://www.irishpoliticsnewsletter.ie/p/online-ireland-is-a-bot-farm