Francesc Garriga: "What do you gain by staying in the US? Another year of Trump, another Oscars, another Super Bowl?"

Four months ago, Francesc Garriga (Súria, 1983) returned to Catalonia after working for four years as a correspondent for Catalunya Ràdio in Washington, a period marked by Donald Trump's return to the White House. In addition to his day-to-day work, this period has resulted in a book. In Washington by parachute (Portico, 2024), but above all a very concrete way of looking at the United States through everyday details, contradictions and small – and large – cultural clashes.

In his book he says that in Texas it's easier to buy a gun than a beer. Is that an exaggeration?

— It's an exaggeration, but it's also a reality in certain cases. A 20-year-old can vote, can drive, and can legally buy a shotgun, but he can't go to a supermarket and buy a beer.

How do they justify it?

— It's a historical issue. You can't buy alcohol until you're 21, period. And the enforcement is very strict. In every restaurant, they always asked for my ID. And in many supermarkets, they have to scan your ID: the reader reads the barcode, and if it doesn't, a worker has to manually enter your date of birth so you can buy a beer.

Another thing that many people who go to the United States complain about is the prices.

— It's crazy. My colleagues and I in Washington never went to a bar for a beer or a glass of wine. A beer on tap costs $7 or $8, but then you add tax and tip, and you never pay less than $10. A glass of wine costs what you'd pay here for a bottle, and a bottle costs $50 or $60. It's almost impossible to have dinner at a restaurant and order a bottle for less than $60.

Why does this happen?

— In Canada, they explained to us that there are 100% tariffs. A bottle that the producer in Penedès is paid 18 dollars for, ends up costing 36 dollars there before being sold. The restaurateur has to sell it for 60-something dollars to make a profit. That's why social gatherings with friends were at home: we'd buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket for 12 or 15 dollars and drink it there.

Did they buy American wines or wines from other places?

— There wasn't much choice at the supermarket. Mostly Californian wines and a few French, Chilean, or Argentinian ones. In Washington, since there are people with a lot of purchasing power, there are also specialty wine shops. There was one near my house that even had Catalan wines. Whenever I went to a dinner party with non-Catalan people, I tried to bring a bottle of cava. It was expensive compared to prices here, but at least you had a choice.

What interests you about wine?

— I like it mostly as a social activity. I wouldn't start a bottle just for myself, but when you're meeting up for dinner or going to someone's house, a bottle of wine always enhances the meal.

Do you have a preference?

— I usually have a trio of white wine. I like it to be something fresh, with a touch of vibrancy. But if they give me a red wine, I'll drink that too.

Drier or fruitier?

— Medium-sized. Not too fruity, but not the driest either.

What's the last glass of wine you remember?

— A dinner with friends just before the holidays. We had a great time, and the wine choice was perfect.

Did you toast with cava for New Year's Eve?

— Not this year. I went on a trip and New Year's found me out on the street, without a toast.

Do you usually choose or do you prefer that others choose?

— There's usually someone at the table who knows more. I have a palate that can tell if a wine is good or bad, but I can easily be fooled. I'm an appreciative drinker.

Do you have any family relationship with him/her?

— My grandparents, who were from Castellolí, near Igualada, made wine and had vineyards and wine barrels in the lower part of the house. It was for their own consumption, but I remember the smell of the wood and the wine very well. I remember the house set up: there was a place where they poured the grapes, pressed them, and stored the wine in barrels.

Have you kept any?

— There are several left. My mother told me that my grandparents were the last to use them.

And how's your return to Catalonia going?

— Better than I imagined. I'd spoken with many correspondents who had returned, and practically all of them told me they were depressed or had been for a while. I was afraid of suffering from that myself, and also of returning to a stable routine: I was afraid the routine would wear me down a bit. I've only been here four months, but so far I'm comfortable, at peace. Reconnecting with family, friends, and my lifelong job has gone very well. The potentially bad part hasn't arrived yet. Perhaps it will, but not yet.

Do you want to leave again?

— There are certain days, when there's big news—Mamdani's election, the current crisis—when I think, "I wish I could be there now and tell the tale." But not enough to pack my bags and go back. I do tell myself that maybe in the future there will be another crazy phase, another break from routine. But right now it's not a real possibility; it's more a way to quell those latent desires.

Would you return to the United States or would you prefer somewhere else?

— In an ideal world, I'd cover another US election, because it was so exciting. But thinking about it is pretty unrealistic. Besides, I felt that if I stayed another year, I'd miss out on important things: my parents get older, my nephew grows up… On the other hand, what do you gain? Another year of Trump, another Oscars, another Super Bowl? So many things were already repeating themselves. It seemed like a good time to move on.

How are you experiencing the latest news from the United States from here?

— People ask me as if I should know something, and I always say I have no idea what's going on. But surely neither do Americans. And probably not even the White House really knows what it's doing. Yes, there is a plan, but they're implementing it as they go along: now they say A, then they say B, then they say C. If they themselves keep changing their story, imagine what those of us watching from the outside are supposed to know.

Why does Trump talk about his economic interests so openly, unlike other presidents?

— Because he feels very powerful. He has no need to hide anything. He feels untouchable worldwide, and that's because the American political system allows it. Congress, the people in his party... Although someone occasionally disagrees, they're usually scared and go along with everything he says. The Speaker of the House, who is the third most important political figure in the country, is a pawn of the White House. This has never happened before. Normally, even if they're from the same party, the Speaker commands respect. Here, Mike Johnson doesn't command respect.

And internationally...

— Foreign countries haven't done much either. The NATO Secretary General goes to Washington and panders to them. European leaders—Macron, Starmer—are going to try to calm the beast. But calming the beast won't calm it: in the end, it will devour you.