The Divided States of America & US Election Watch Party

PART 1: The Divided States of America (9:00 PM – 11:00 PM).

The elections in the United States are very exciting this year. Joe Biden withdrew, so what are the chances for the Democrats with Kamala Harris? Can Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt and was convicted of fraud, still become president? ? Are these the best candidates to lead the most powerful country in the world? What are the consequences of these elections? What does the 'ordinary' American think about the path the country should take and what will the outcome mean for Europe?

The run-up to the election is tumultuous with conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift's influence and viral memes. How will America vote and what does the outcome mean for domestic politics? What is the big Project 2025 from Trump's ranks and what remains then what is left of democracy? Or will Biden be given the chance to extend his term and focus on the Green New Deal and securing abortion rights?

During THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA, various America experts will have their say. Including Danny Ghosen about his conversations with ordinary Americans; journalist Süeda Işık about meme culture; America expert Kirsten Verdel about domestic politics; Jaap van Slageren about populism and democracy and professor . dr. Michal Onderco on what the election results will mean for Europe. More names will be announced.

Guest at The Divided States of America:

Danny Ghosen is a journalist, programme maker and TV presenter of, among others, Danny's Wereld, Danny in Arabistan and Danny & The Americans (VPRO). In his programmes he searches for the fringes of society and portrays people who usually have no voice.

Journalist Süeda Işık knows everything about memes and meme culture. She writes about it at NRC.

Kirsten Verdel is an expert on America. As a freelance journalist and political analyst, she writes for De Volkskrant and the FD, among others. She was the only foreigner working in Washington for Barack Obama's campaign team in 2008.

Prof. Dr. Michal Onderco is Professor of International Relations at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and an expert in the field of foreign and security policy in Europe and beyond.

Dr. Jaap van Slageren is an Assistant Professor in Human Geography and Spatial Planning. His research interests focus on voting behavior, especially concerning economic and cultural determinants of the populist radical right and populism.

PART 2: US Election Watch Party (11:00 PM – sunrise)

Stick around after the program or join us from 23:00 for the US ELECTION WATCH PARTY. Watch the election results together with comedians from Club Haug. America experts, fans and critics, line dance professionals and many others . With national and international TV channels on the screens, interspersed with entertainment and knowledge. It will be a night of laughing together and crying together until the sun comes up or until you feel like it.

Including live podcast recordings of Desire + Capital by Jamie van der Klaauw, Dr. Ryan Kopaitich and Max Wassink about Marx and more and of Echt Amerikaanse by Pascal Theunissen; a mini-lecture by Dr. João Gonçalves about AI and the spread of misinformation; comedy by Rogier Bak from Club Haug, a line-dance workshop by Ria Vos and live analyses of incoming exit polls. Expect burgers and popcorn, red cups and flags. We're going to make a party of it no matter what. More names will follow.

Guest at the US Election Watch Party:

Dr. João Gonçalves is an associate professor of Artificial Intelligence & Digitalization at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC). His research focuses on the interaction between artificial intelligence, politics and society.

Jamie van der Klaauw, dr. Ryan Kopaitich and Max Wassink are affiliated with the Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil). Van der Klaauw is a political philosopher and conducts research on symbolic reinterpretation of political representation and is involved in a wide range of topics such as conspiracy thinking, film and different layers of politics from local to international. Kopaitich is from the US and is doing postdoctoral research on populism and the future of democracy. Max Wassink is a multimedia producer and works in science communication. Together they make the podcast Desire + Capital.

Rogier Bak from Club Haug.

Pascal Theunissen makes the podcast Echt Amerikaanse.

Ria Vos is a choreographer and owner of the dance school Dansen bij Ria in Hoogvliet. She gives line-dance workshops from beginners to advanced and is invited all over the world to share her choreographies. She has won international prizes such as the Crystal Booth Award for “International Choreographer of the Year” and “International Instructor of the Year” and in January of this year her choreography “Wow Tokyo” won the Dance of the Year award.