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Americast

A Politics , News and Government podcast

#5 in Politics · 🇬🇧 #5 in Politics · 🇮🇪
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About the show

Insight and analysis on happening in Donald Trump's White House? Podcast episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Watch on iPlayer here: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s social media investigation correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on BBC Radio 4 and every Saturday on the BBC World Service. Oh, and you can now watch us on YouTube and on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy. Also, you can listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from our friends, including BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Newest episodes

The Democrats pull off an historic victory in Mississippi

29 min

Scott Colom will be the first black senator since the 19th century, and the first Democrat since 1982 to win a Mississippi senate seat. He beat the Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by just a few thousand votes, in a state Donald Trump won by 23 points in 2024. It’s a momentous victory for the Democratic party who didn’t invest in its senate Mississippi campaign until very late on in the election cycle. So how did Scott Colom do it, and is the Deep South now in play for the Democrats? In this episode, Justin, Sarah and Marianna unpack one of the biggest upsets of the midterms, looking at the impact of Colom’s viral ad “pick another protein”, why he was a strong candidate and what this means for 2028. Should the Democrats be investing more in US southern states in the presidential election, and would the the party benefit from a candidate who is from the south? Plus, Justin speaks to Charles Taylor, the NAACP’s Mississippi executive director, whose team knocked on more than 150,000 doors to get out the black vote. Can that turnout be repeated in future elections? HOSTS - Sarah Smith, North America Editor - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter GUEST - Charles Taylor, Executive Director, Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on t...

Pete Hegseth survives… but will Trump fire him?

27 min

Pete Hegseth has survived an impeachment attempt, but for how long? What does this mean, and will he keep his job as Defence Secretary? Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has accused Hegseth of fighting an unauthorised war with Iran, but his own party blocked the move. In this episode, Sarah and Sumi unpack Pete Hegseth’s first press conference in six months, where he dismissed the impeachment as a “farce” and a “stunt”, and discuss how Trump is standing by him… for now. But with Democrats taking over Congress in January, and Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the Republicans’ midterm defeat, can Hegseth hold on? Plus, Donald Trump is making new claims about the veracity of the midterm elections… we discuss how far the US president might go, and what his claims are based on. We also look at the still undecided senate race in Alaska between Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan and why Trump this particular race is “rigged”. HOSTS - Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Nik Sindle and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjo...

Americanswers! Does Trump really want UFC boss Dana White as his new press secretary?

26 min

Donald Trump has said he was joking when he suggested that Dana White could become the new White House press secretary despite reports that the UFC boss turned down the role. Was he really offered the job, or did the president mean to nominate a female candidate with the same name? And, the president has already begun ringing the changes in his inner circle after last week’s midterm defeat to the Democrats. The president has replaced his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, with her former deputy, Stephen Miller, the hardliner responsible for Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies. Is he getting ready for a major fight with Democrats in Congress? Plus, Sumi and Marianna discuss the sensational revelations that US tech boss, Jensen Huang, has had an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. The reports come on the cusp of a major summit between the US and China and follow Donald Trump’s recent comments on the global AI race, saying that “whoever wins AI, wins.” Nvidia says it has no reason to believe its secrets or national security were compromised, but will "examine all available information". Huang has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and apologised. How will the news affect relations between the two countries? HOSTS - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers....

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The newest 50 of 677 episodes

The Democrats pull off an historic victory in Mississippi

29 min

Scott Colom will be the first black senator since the 19th century, and the first Democrat since 1982 to win a Mississippi senate seat. He beat the Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by just a few thousand votes, in a state Donald Trump won by 23 points in 2024. It’s a momentous victory for the Democratic party who didn’t invest in its senate Mississippi campaign until very late on in the election cycle. So how did Scott Colom do it, and is the Deep South now in play for the Democrats? In this episode, Justin, Sarah and Marianna unpack one of the biggest upsets of the midterms, looking at the impact of Colom’s viral ad “pick another protein”, why he was a strong candidate and what this means for 2028. Should the Democrats be investing more in US southern states in the presidential election, and would the the party benefit from a candidate who is from the south? Plus, Justin speaks to Charles Taylor, the NAACP’s Mississippi executive director, whose team knocked on more than 150,000 doors to get out the black vote. Can that turnout be repeated in future elections? HOSTS - Sarah Smith, North America Editor - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter GUEST - Charles Taylor, Executive Director, Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on t...

Pete Hegseth survives… but will Trump fire him?

27 min

Pete Hegseth has survived an impeachment attempt, but for how long? What does this mean, and will he keep his job as Defence Secretary? Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has accused Hegseth of fighting an unauthorised war with Iran, but his own party blocked the move. In this episode, Sarah and Sumi unpack Pete Hegseth’s first press conference in six months, where he dismissed the impeachment as a “farce” and a “stunt”, and discuss how Trump is standing by him… for now. But with Democrats taking over Congress in January, and Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the Republicans’ midterm defeat, can Hegseth hold on? Plus, Donald Trump is making new claims about the veracity of the midterm elections… we discuss how far the US president might go, and what his claims are based on. We also look at the still undecided senate race in Alaska between Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan and why Trump this particular race is “rigged”. HOSTS - Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Nik Sindle and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjo...

Americanswers! Does Trump really want UFC boss Dana White as his new press secretary?

26 min

Donald Trump has said he was joking when he suggested that Dana White could become the new White House press secretary despite reports that the UFC boss turned down the role. Was he really offered the job, or did the president mean to nominate a female candidate with the same name? And, the president has already begun ringing the changes in his inner circle after last week’s midterm defeat to the Democrats. The president has replaced his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, with her former deputy, Stephen Miller, the hardliner responsible for Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies. Is he getting ready for a major fight with Democrats in Congress? Plus, Sumi and Marianna discuss the sensational revelations that US tech boss, Jensen Huang, has had an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. The reports come on the cusp of a major summit between the US and China and follow Donald Trump’s recent comments on the global AI race, saying that “whoever wins AI, wins.” Nvidia says it has no reason to believe its secrets or national security were compromised, but will "examine all available information". Huang has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and apologised. How will the news affect relations between the two countries? HOSTS - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers....

Midterms! The Democrat race for 2028 has already begun

30 min

Jim Messina, Democrat strategist and Obama’s former campaign manager gives us the inside track on what Democrats will look for in their next presidential candidate for 2028, and how the race has already started. Jim Messina and Justin discuss the priorities for a future candidate and why money (and the ability to raise millions) is essential. We also unpack the results and look at how the Democrats achieved huge midterm gains, and what their priorities should be for Congress. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter GUEST: • Jim Messina, Barack Obama's 2012 campaign manager GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Kyhree Gray. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Midterms! What do the results mean for Trump's presidency?

36 min

After one of the most disastrous set of midterm results in US political history, how are Republicans dealing with the outcome, and where does it leave a JD Vance presidential run in 2028? The bad news for Republicans is that the midterm results aren’t yet finalised and there could be more bad news in the Senate races taking place in Mississippi and Alaska. Those results are not yet in. Regardless, senior Republicans have already gone public with their own take for the party’s performance, most notably vice president JD Vance, who’s broken ranks by publicly declaring that the party’s losses were caused by Donald Trump’s war in Iran. That’s led to reporting suggesting that Pete Hegseth’s position as US defence secretary could now be under threat with Donald Trump considering whether to remove him from his position. As the inquest begins within the Republican Party, the entire Americast crew get together to unpack what Democratic control of Congress will mean for the rest of Donald Trump’s presidency. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby, Nik Sindle and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Phillip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Amer...

Midterms! Democrats make historic shift in US politics (results, part 2)

38 min

What’s next for the Democrats, and for the last two years of Trump’s presidency? As Democrats make sweeping gains across traditional red states in America, Justin, Anthony and Sarah discuss how it was done, and the impact for Democrats and Donald Trump. Kansas has elected its first Democratic senator since the 1930s. South Carolina has rejected a Senate candidate strongly endorsed by Donald Trump. And Iowa and Ohio have also gone to the Democrats. Mississippi, meanwhile, is still too close to call. The president has said he will accept the results. But with Democrats in control of Congress, what can he still get done? Justin, Sarah and Anthony ask what this means for the rest of the Trump presidency, and which way both parties might now turn as they look ahead to 2028. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Oliver Bowbrick, Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See...

Midterms! Democrats win back control of Congress (results, part 1)

20 min

The Democrats have made seismic gains by taking Texas, Kansas and South Carolina senate seats. After taking back control of the House of Representatives, it was then confirmed that James Talarico had won the Democrat’s first Senate seat in Texas in decades, while Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since 1932. With more results still to come in, Donald Trump proclaimed on Truth Social overnight “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!”. What do the results so far mean for Democrats and Republicans, and just how bad a night could this turn out to be for the president? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was James Piper. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: http...

Midterms! Everything you need to know about US election night

27 min

When will we know the results and what are the key races to watch out for? Anthony and Justin give you the definitive guide to the US midterm elections, including the races and themes they think are important, and what they’ll be looking out for when results start coming in. In this episode, we talk exit polls, projected results, and timings for when we know who has won, and which party will take control of the US House of Representatives and Senate. What could Democrats actually do, and what would it mean for the rest of Donald Trump’s second presidential term? We also discuss the gubernatorial - governor - races taking place across the country and why they’re particularly significant. Plus, could more American states make it easier for their citizens to cast their votes? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, George Dabby, Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bb...

Midterms! A November surprise upsets Democrats in Michigan

24 min

A Democrat in Michigan has unexpectedly endorsed the Republican candidate, in the state’s crucial US senate contest. Will this stop the Democrats taking back the Senate? In this episode, Justin and Anthony are both in DC, and discuss why this defection is so significant and what it means for Democrats now, and in the 2028 presidential election. We also look at Donald Trump’s final pitch to voters in this US midterms campaign as he gives his final speeches in Kansas and Iowa. What did he say to his supporters? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni. The operations engineer was Khyree Gray. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Midterms! Are the Democrats about to take back the Senate?

33 min

With just days to go until the midterm elections, the Democrats believe they could flip as many as six seats in the Senate. What are the polls telling us with just days to go until the midterm elections, and could results still go in Donald Trump's favour? The Democrats have been trying to oust Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins for almost three decades. With the midterms days away, President Donald Trump’s unpopularity could see her finally removed. The Maine election has become a referendum on how voters view Senator Collins. Mainers are deciding if they continue to trust the woman who has climbed the ranks of the Republican party and brought millions of dollars of federal money to their state, or if they find her affiliation with Trump too much. Her contender, progressive Democrat Troy Jackson is a late entrant to the race, after his predecessor Graham Platner suspended his campaign following a series of scandals that included a woman accusing him of sexual assault. A former logger, his campaign has been marred after telling Collins to “shut up” during a debate. Meanwhile, Anthony’s spoken to veteran election analyst Carrie Dann, the Managing Editor of The Cook Political Report. She explains to us where she sees the tightest races, what is mattering most to voters, and who she thinks will win. HOSTS - Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GUEST - Carrie Dann, Managing Editor of the Cook Political Report GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: Join the Newscast Discord Server! - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Eleanor Harrison-Dengate and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new epi...

Can Musk and Trump stop Democrats winning Texas?

34 min

It's been three decades since Texas last sent a Democrat senator to Congress. Will anger towards Donald Trump mean it could finally happen again? With under a week to go until the midterm elections, Republicans and Democrats are making their last pitch to voters with Texans already breaking records for early voting numbers. Donald Trump was in the state on Tuesday to shore up support for his candidate, Ken Paxton, while Elon Musk has poured over $150 million into Paxton's campaign. Republicans believe they can win the state if the base turns out, while Democrats hope that James Talarico, a former teacher and devout Christian, can convince independents and Republicans who are unhappy with Donald Trump's war in Iran and the cost of living. Anthony's been in Texas to assess the final campaign pitches in his home state. Meanwhile, Sarah's been in Michigan to look at another crucial Senate race, and got the opportunity to speak with Democrat candidate Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed's public speaking and association with the Democratic Socialists of America has helped gather interest across the US, but will it help him win over the voters he really needs in Michigan? HOSTS - Sarah Smith, US North America Editor - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://w...

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Can Barack Obama still win votes for the Democrats?

30 min

Can a star appearance from Barack Obama convince voters to send a Democrat to the Senate in Michigan, and beyond? A clip from Obama’s appearance has gone viral after he took aim at Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom - saying the president had made the White House look like "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory". Despite the former president’s broad appeal across the US, how will it have gone down with voters in Michigan, some of whom were unhappy with comments he made in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Also rapper Nicki Minaj said US president Donald Trump has “changed the energy of the country" as she joined him at a Michigan rally to campaign for Republicans ahead of the nationwide midterm elections. Minaj has called herself Trump's "number one fan" despite criticising some of his policies in his first term. We also look at why Alaska’s senate race is being legally challenged by the Trump administration before the results are in, and why Pete Hegseth’s team are being accused of literally “dropping the ball”. Plus, Brazil's veteran left-wing president Lula has claimed a surprise victory in the country’s presidential election by defeating his right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro. Though the US president did not back Bolsonaro in the election, Lula’s victory is a check on Trump’s influence in Latin America. Is he starting to lose his grip on politics in the region? Justin, Marianna and Sumi are back with Matt Chorley to answer your questions on 5 Live. HOSTS - Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Sumi Somaskanda, Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Nik Sindle, Caroline Ferguson and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer i...

We speak to Hasan Piker... Is he a liability for the dems?

47 min

Are Hasan Piker’s controversial views a help or a hindrance for the Democrats this midterms? He’s arguably America’s most high-profile left-wing influencer but he’s not loved by all Democrats. He made his name streaming on Twitch and helped propel Abdul El-Sayed as the Democrat candidate in Michigan for the state’s all important Senate seat. Justin’s been speaking to Hasan Piker about comments he’s made in the past which are now being used by Republicans on the campaign trail. And with less than two weeks to go, the race for the state’s open seat is close, and could help decide who controls the US Senate. Sarah’s there and joins Justin and Marianna to discuss the final debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates in Michigan, and whether Democrats can win back voters who backed Donald Trump in 2024. HOSTS - Sarah Smith, US North America Editor - Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GUEST: - Hasan Piker, political commentator and streamer GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Jonathan Greer. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you...

Can Trump’s $400 million save Republicans at the midterms?

26 min

With early voting already underway across several states in America, Republicans have just two weeks to land their closing arguments. The US president says he will be spending over $400 million on Republican candidates by election day, but what is the strategy and will the money be enough to turn around low poll ratings in key states? In this episode, Justin and Anthony look at what early voting numbers can and can’t tell us about turnout and enthusiasm, and what’s going on behind the scenes within the Republican party. Trump has been holding rallies in states he won comfortably in 2024. One of them is Kansas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in almost a century. Now Republicans are fighting to hold the seat. Trump says he has spent, or will spend, more than $400 million by Election Day. His super PAC is also running a wave of Facebook and Instagram ads urging Republicans to vote early. How much difference can that money make? Plus, the controversial attack ad in Ohio’s race for governor featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother, made by the campaign of her Republican rival, Vivek Ramaswamy. Do personal attacks like this work? US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 - now twice weekly for the midterms! HOSTS: • Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter • Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes l...

Americanswers! How far will Trump go in siding with Putin against Ukraine?

32 min

What happens to Donald Trump’s power if the Democrats take back Congress in the midterms? With just over two weeks to go, Sarah, Anthony and Marianna are back with Matt Chorley to answer your questions. What would a Democratic House and Senate mean for the president? Could they try to impeach him for a third time? And why are the Republicans diverting campaign money into races that should be safe? They also look at how Trump was able to waive new sanctions on Russia, even though Congress had recently passed them with bipartisan support. And how do Americans feel about his approach to Putin and Ukraine? Plus, the sudden exit of White House press secretary Katie Zacharia. She’s now taken the record from Anthony Scaramucci for the shortest time in a top White House job. HOSTS - Sarah Smith, US North America Editor - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See link...

Are Latino voters turning on Trump?

37 min

Latino voters could decide which party controls Congress after November’s midterm elections. Two years ago, 48% of them voted for Donald Trump, a record for a Republican presidential candidate. But with fuel prices still high, and his immigration crackdown affecting families who have lived in the US for a long time, is that support slipping away? Justin and Anthony discuss the campaign in Texas, where the Senate race is becoming a fight to win over Latino voters. Trump has mocked the Democratic candidate James Talarico for being vegan (though he isn’t), and Talarico has thrown down the gauntlet, challenging his Republican rival Ken Paxton to a TV debate on Fox News. Justin then talks to Mike Madrid and Chuck Rocha, the Republican and Democratic strategists behind The Latino Vote podcast. They say Latino voters are angry, mostly about the economy. Mike argues that they are drifting away from both parties rather than switching sides, and that Trump’s immigration enforcement has backfired on the Republicans. Chuck, who works for the Talarico campaign, warns Democrats against complacency: Latino voters turning against Trump might not translate into lasting support for the party. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter • Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent GUESTS: • Mike Madrid, Author of “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy” • Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist and adviser to the James Talarico campaign GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by Emma Close with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can n...

Your US Midterm Election Guide (A Global News Podcast collab)

30 min

What happens if Donald Trump loses the midterms, and why does this election matter for Republicans and Democrats? In this episode, Anthony and Sumi de-jargon and explain some of the basics in this November’s election, unpicking key terms such as ‘gerrymandering’, super PACs, dark money, stump speeches, and what it really means to be an ‘informed voter’. We’re joined by Celia Hatton from the Global News Podcast, with questions from around the world. HOSTS: • Celia Hatton, Global News Podcast presenter • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Emma Close and Helena Burke with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Americanswers! Will Trump really livestream a firing squad execution?

29 min

How has US defence secretary Pete Hegseth justified the decision to livestream the execution of former US soldier, Nidal Hassan by firing squad at the Fort Hood military base - where he killed 13 unarmed US soldiers - in 2009? Justin, Sarah, Anthony and Marianna are back with Matt Chorley to answer your questions on the case and whether Hegseth’s plan will actually go ahead after public scepticism by vice president JD Vance. President Trump is reportedly weighing up the decision, with other Republicans also voicing concerns. And, Donald Trump has announced a deal to buy diesel from Russia and called for Ukraine to elect a new leader to replace Zelensky. The deal has sparked outrage from many US allies and highlights the need for Republicans to lower the price of diesel ahead of the midterm elections. Will the deal finally cause mainstream Republicans to break with the president? Plus, the “energy ceasefire” that Trump announced over the weekend between Russia and Ukraine already appears broken after Russian strikes on Ukrainian power plants. The deal has sparked online conspiracy theories surrounding data centres and so-called Russian bot farms. How does it relate to the upcoming midterm elections? HOSTS - Sarah Smith, US North America Editor - Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If yo...

Are the Democrats heading for a midterms landslide?

39 min

How confident should Democrats be about surprise new polling which puts them ahead in deep Republican territory? In states such as Kansas which haven’t elected a Democratic senator since 1932, Democrat candidates are doing well - why is that, and how much can we trust the polls? The party’s hope for a blue wave in this year’s midterm elections rest on their ability to flip four Republican seats in the Senate. While the polls suggest the Democrats are ahead in Texas, Alaska and Ohio, the picture is more complicated in Democratic states like Maine and Michigan, which many believe the party must hold on to if they’re to reclaim control of Congress. Sarah and Justin unpack the latest polls and what it tell us about Democrat and Republican strategy before we speak to the Democratic strategist and pollster John Anzalone. He’s currently working on Roy Cooper’s Senate campaign in North Carolina and most recently served on Joe Biden’s successful 2020 campaign. He tell us why Democrats should be cautious about hopes for a blue wave in November and the issues candidates need to focus on in the run-up to polling day. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor • Justin Webb, BBC Radio 4 Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americas...

Did Trump really say Iran could “take out” Los Angeles?

25 min

The president has started a war of words with California Governor Gavin Newsom after saying that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. Trump made the comments during his midterms campaign tour, telling the audience it would be “very small price to pay” in the war. Newsom has responded by calling the comments “deranged and dangerous”. And Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has re-iterated his plans to remove “beirdos” and “weirdos” from the US military, in an ongoing campaign against DEI initiatives. In a speech to service members at a military base in Virginia he told them “the ideological clowns are out, the patriotic cowboys are in”. Anthony and Sumi discuss Hegseth’s idea of masculinity in the army, why he is calling for routine testosterone screening of soldiers, and where calls for his impeachment over his handling of the war with Iran stand. HOSTS: • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our...

Americanswers…Will Christa Pike still face the death penalty after surviving two lethal injection doses?

37 min

How has the botched execution of a woman convicted of murder in Tennessee 30 years ago prompted a debate about the death penalty in the US? Marianna, Sumi and Anthony answer your questions on the case of Christa Pike, which has led to the resignation of Tennessee's prisons chief. Also, why has a rape allegation at Cornell University become one of America's biggest stories, with New York Attorney General Letitia James now investigating and Governor Kathy Hochul promising to close a legal loophole? There are also questions around the culture of fraternity parties at US universities and whether it’s possible to ban or change how they’re run. The team also discuss why, with weeks to go before midterm elections, Donald Trump began his 32-day campaign tour in red states, and why he is now urging Republicans to vote by mail? And why are Republican senators still investigating Jack Smith, the former special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Trump? HOSTS - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes l...

Can the Democratic Socialists of America win over voters?

32 min

Abolish ICE? Abolish borders, No prisons? The co-chair of the DSA speaks to us about what the party really stands for and whether they can persuade undecided Americans to vote for them. The Democratic Socialists of America can count some of the country’s most high-profile politicians in its ranks, such as Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Until recently, the organisation had only a few thousand members and sat on the fringes of US politics. But since the rise of Donald Trump and opponents like Bernie Sanders, the DSA has grown into a nationwide force that’s turning the Democratic Party on its head as it prepares to choose a new leader for the party ahead of the 2028 presidential election. In today’s episode, Justin speaks to the DSA’s national co-chair Ashik Siddique about their vision for the country, including on housing, healthcare as well as Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. What do they really stand for, and could they one day end up taking over the Democratic Party? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GUEST: • Ashik Siddique, National co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Emma Close, George Dabby and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family o...

Do Republicans need to ditch Trump before the midterms?

29 min

Is Donald Trump now more of an electoral hindrance than a help, even in his home state of Florida, where one candidate has talked down his links with the US president. In this episode, we hear Anthony’s reporting from Florida where the race to replace Ron DeSantis as governor won’t be an easy win for Republicans. Byron Donalds is looking to become Florida's first African American governor. He has Trump's endorsement and is a loyal MAGA supporter of the president, but in recent weeks, he’s played down his association with the president on his campaign website. He isn’t the only Republican candidate to do so. What does that tell us about how Republicans are messaging in this state, and beyond? Sarah and Anthony also discuss the issues most important to Republican voters with five weeks go to before November’s midterm elections, and where early voting has already started. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we...

Americanswers! Why don't the Democrats have a new leader yet?

28 min

Ahead of November’s midterm elections, are we any closer to knowing who might lead the Democrats into the 2028 presidential election? Americanswers is back answering your questions and this week we’re looking ahead at a number of important issues at this year’s midterms. The Democrats might fancy their chances to take back the House – and possibly even the Senate – but public opinion still looks unfavourably at the party’s leadership, so why doesn’t it have a new leader yet, and will this hurt them at the polls? And, Donald Trump’s meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping earned warm words and plenty of photo opportunities, but did the two leaders agree anything of substance, and will it be enough to convince other world leaders that the two superpowers are really prepared to tackle major issues like artificial intelligence and Russian aggression towards NATO allies? Plus, Donald Trump is reportedly considering a ban on US diesel exports as American consumers face record average prices of more than $6 per gallon. The president hopes it could lower prices ahead of the midterms but it could raise prices around the world. Would it actually make fuel cheaper for US consumers? HOSTS: - Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US...

Has Trump’s ban against the media backfired?

34 min

The US president has lost his court battle with CNN, Politico and MS NOW in the latest battle between Donald Trump and the media. What did the judge say and what happens next? At the end of the last week Donald Trump banned three news outlets - CNN, Politico and MS Now - from reporting inside the White House. But the ban has been overturned - for now - in an emergency hearing by a federal judge, who ordered the banned journalists’ press credentials be immediately reinstated for 14 days. It’s still not entirely clear what prompted Donald Trump to punish the outlets although it’s been reported that it may have been prompted by negative coverage he was shown by his aide, Natalie Harp. In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Marianna speak to former CNN correspondent, anchor and bureau chief Frank Sesno, who is now a Journalism professor at The George Washington School of Media and Public Affairs. The latest row comes at a difficult moment for the president who’s fighting historically low approval ratings and an unpopular war in Iran. It’s yet to be seen what the president will do next after the judgement or if it’s a sign of growing pressure ahead of November’s midterm elections. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GUEST: Frank Sesno, former White House Correspondent, anchor and Washington Bureau Chief for CNN. Director of Strategic Initiatives at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Nik Sindle and Keiligh Baker. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode,...

Did Trump's UN speech convince voters on Iran?

21 min

Americast is in New York as Donald Trump tells world leaders he could “annihilate” Iran, whilst also - behind the scenes - talking up the progress of peace talks between Iran and the United States. Sumi and Anthony unpack the US president’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, discussing whether the speech was aimed more at his domestic audience than world leaders. With just over six weeks from midterm elections and record low approval ratings, is Donald Trump now more isolated amongst world leaders than at any other point in his presidency? We discuss how much influence the US president really has behind the scenes at the UN. Also, why did the Cuban delegation walk out, and what made Anthony’s jaw “hit the floor” when Trump talked about Venezuela? There is also a new agreement with Denmark and Greenland that puts more American troops on the island. Has Trump got what he wanted, or given up on annexing it? HOSTS: • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading thi...

Americanswers… Why has Denmark made a deal with Trump over Greenland?

34 min

What do we know about Denmark’s new deal with the US president over Greenland, and has Donald Trump actually got what he wants out of it? Sarah, Anthony and Marianna answer your questions in today’s episode. The team also look at whether Donald Trump is legally allowed to kick out media organisations he doesn’t like from the White House? The US president has withdrawn White House press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico, citing fake news. But does this decision go against the US constitution? There are also questions over Trump’s new ideas to place snipers on top of his new arch in Washington DC, a shooting by ICE agents in Texas, and what is happening with the former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro since his capture and arrest? HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Chris Flynn, Josh McMinn and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our ot...

US v China: The AI race

38 min

We speak to a US-China tech expert who served under presidents Biden and Trump about America’s race with China to develop Artificial Intelligence. Does he agree with president Trump’s statement “whoever wins AI wins”, and what does “winning” look like? Justin, Marianna and Anthony discuss Donald Trump’s rejection of any regulation for Artificial Intelligence, and whether this is in line with public opinion in the United States. The team also talk about Congress, and how Republicans are reacting to Donald Trump’s most outspoken comments yet on AI. Plus, could Democrats be making the issue more central to their campaigning ahead of this November’s midterm elections? It’s an issue which has also united progressive Democrat senator Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon - what was their message to voters? Our guest this week is Chris McGuire, a US-China technology expert with the Council on Foreign Relations. He’s a former senior adviser at the State Department for Trump in both his first and second terms, and previously served as Deputy Senior Director for Technology and National Security at the National Security Council from 2022 to 2024 under president Biden. Presenter: Marianna Spring, BBC Social Media Investigations correspondent, Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent and Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter Get in touch: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast Producer: Emma Close with George Dabby, Josh McMinn and Nik Sindle Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Series producer is Purvee Pattni Editor: Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Un...

The Supreme Court stops Donald Trump changing voting rules... for now

29 min

The US president has lashed out at the US Supreme Court for blocking his plans to end the right for all Americans to vote by mail in elections. But will Donald Trump find a different way to get around the ruling before this November’s midterm elections? Back in March, the president signed an executive order that ended the right for all US citizens to vote by email. He’s long argued that the move would help combat electoral fraud, despite cases of fraud being rare. The court’s decision is not, however, the end of the story and the Trump administration may return to the case with a renewed effort to block mail-in ballots ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel has not ruled out sending FBI agents to election polling sites in November, raising alarm among some Democrats that the White House is seeking to assert greater control over the coming elections. Sarah and Anthony assess how big a setback this is for Donald Trump, whether the US president might find other ways to influence this November’s midterms and whether the case undermines the credibility of the US election system. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is...

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Donald Trump the only regulation AI needs?

31 min

The president is pushing back against calls from tech bosses to slow down the development of artificial intelligence. After claiming “whoever wins AI, wins” can Trump convince voters that greater regulation isn’t needed? And will Republican senator Mitch McConnell reappear as the senate reconvenes this week? The 84 year old has been absent after months of illness and, as conspiracy theories surrounding his wellbeing grow, he is facing mounting pressure to say whether he will return to his duties or resign. Plus, what’s on the president's hand-picked Air Force One playlist? Justin, Sarah and Sumi join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Emma Close and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Jonathan Greer. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.b...

Will Trump’s $5,000 offer convince US voters?

34 min

President Trump made the pledge at the Republicans' first ever midterm convention, promising every adult American a $5,000 payment if his party wins both chambers of Congress in November. Sarah, who was in the arena in Dallas watching Trump’s speech, and Justin look at whether this is a serious policy or a desperate measure. The payment would cost over a trillion dollars, no detail has been given on how it would work, and federal law restricts payments made in connection with how people vote. JD Vance has suggested it could be paid for by revenue raised from trade tariffs. Trump told supporters to pretend he was on the ballot himself, and said he would campaign in every close race. But with his approval ratings at historic lows, an unpopular war with Iran, and some Republicans on the ballot this year choosing to stay away from the convention, is he now more of a hindrance than a help to his own party? And a year on from the killing of Charlie Kirk, Justin and Sarah discuss his legacy on the American right, and ask whether anyone has emerged to take his place. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. The battle for Charlie Kirk’s legacy - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8lzb If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worl...

Is 9/11 still shaping America?

38 min

The journalist Peter Bergen also talks to us about meeting Osama Bin Laden before 9/11, and what happened during that interview. In this episode, Justin, Sumi and Marianna discuss America twenty five years on from 9/11 and to what extent it still shapes the United States, despite millions of Americans today having no lived experience of the attacks. We also look at the politics, as families who lost loved ones in the attacks have petitioned New York mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary ceremony. More than 100,000 people have signed the petition, objecting to specific members of the mayor’s team. Is this the biggest test yet of Mamdani’s standing in New York City? Peter Bergen, a national security analyst for CNN who produced the first television interview with Osama Bin Laden in 1997 joins us to give his reflections, and details how the interview came about. His latest book, All the Presidents' Wars, charts the quarter century of conflict that followed the attacks. He is also donating an archive of 150,000 documents on the rise of al-Qaeda to Georgetown University. He reflects on the legacy of 9/11 and argues that America, not Bin Laden, created the quagmire that came after. And he explains why the alleged mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, is still awaiting trial at Guantanamo Bay, more than 20 years after his arrest. HOSTS: • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter GUEST: • Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we pub...

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why is Lindsay Clancy’s mistrial dividing America?

22 min

And will Trump’s attempts to limit mail-in voting at the US Supreme Court succeed? The US president has made an urgent appeal, trying to change the rules over who can and can’t vote by mail before this November’s midterm elections, despite ballot papers being posted out in several states. In this episode, Sarah, Sumi and Marianna are answering your questions with Matt Chorley from 5 Live. We look at why Lindsay Clancy’s mistrial has become over-run with conspiracy theories, and what is likely to happen next. Clancy has admitted killing her three children, in one of America’s biggest murder trials, widely covered on US television and social media platforms. Plus, what credentials does Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner have when it comes to being a peace envoy, after his meetings with Presidents Zelensky and Putin this weekend? And how seriously should we take Trump’s proposals for a new Space Force uniform, with many people comparing the designs to those worn by Nazi SS officers. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that make...

An insider's account of Trump's White House

35 min

The reporter Jonathan Swan gained unprecedented access to the inner workings of Donald Trump’s White House in the first year of his second administration. Who were the main characters fighting for the president’s attention? How were decisions made in the Oval Office? And how was the decision taken to go to war with Iran? On today’s episode, Sumi sits down with Jonathan to talk about the reporting he did alongside Maggie Haberman for their book ‘Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump’. The president says the book is “mostly made up” but that has not stopped inquiries inside the White House as to how Swan and Haberman were able to gain such close access to operations. From the early days of Trump’s presidency inside Mar-a-Lago to his relationship with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, we assess the key relationships within Trump’s top team and the differences between senior figures like JD Vance and Marco Rubio. HOSTS: * Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter * Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent GUEST: * Jonathan Swan, Co-author of “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump” GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The...

Has Pete Hegseth lost control of the Pentagon?

30 min

Why is the US military losing its senior leaders? In the latest in a series of high-profile departures inside the Pentagon, America’s top civilian official Dan Driscoll has resigned as Army Secretary having been appointed 18 months ago by Donald Trump to help end the Ukraine war and modernise US forces. In this episode, Anthony and Sumi discuss the significance of the resignation and the real reasons behind it. Driscoll’s departure comes after Pete Hegseth has fired or forced out senior officers across nearly every service, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Navy’s top admiral and the Army chief of staff. But six months into the Iran war, the Pentagon is dealing with fewer senior leaders, few munitions and further questions about the way in which Hegseth is running operations. Meanwhile, there are also concerns about morale. USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with nearly 5,000 personnel aboard, is finally due to dock in Pattaya, Thailand, after a record 250 days at sea without a port stop. There’s been scrutiny of conditions on the carrier after members of Congress raised concerns about conditions on the ship and mental stress among the crew. It’s the largest number of US personnel to visit Pattaya since the fall of Saigon in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. HOSTS: • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, ju...

Americanswers! Could Zohran Mamdani serve in a Democrat White House?

28 min

Americanswers is back for a bank holiday special and this week we're answering the questions you've always wanted to ask on American politics! For example, Zohran Mamdani can't run for president of the United States as he was born in Uganda, but could he take up a cabinet position in a future Democrat administration? Is there a precedent for such a move, and would he even want it? Another Americaster wants to know if we see any similarities between Donald Trump and former president Lyndon B. Johnson. LBJ grew up in Anthony's home state of Texas and, unlike Trump, rose to the presidency after positions in Congress and two years as vice president. Despite the obvious differences, both men were considered outsiders in American politics. Do they share anything else in common? Plus, is money still as important as ever when running for president? The Democratic Party is being outspent by Republicans ahead of the midterm elections but that doesn't mean the candidates themselves are strapped for cash. Has social media changed the game when it comes to political campaigning? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-6...

Are polls misleading Americans?

31 min

In several primary elections so far, polling has been wrong. So much so that a candidate in the Wisconsin Democratic primary dropped out because another candidate so high in the polls. The only problem - the ‘clear winner’ lost. Whether polls mislead American voters has been an active question since 2016, when predictions were that Donald Trump would lose the presidential race. But as voters look toward the midterms, we ask when they do and don’t help. Does the media oversell them? And do they play too big of a role in shaping political narratives? Joining Anthony and Sumi to discuss is Stephen Hawkins, the Global Director of Research at More in Common. HOSTS: • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GUEST: • Stephen Hawkins, Global Director of Research, More in Common GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Chris Flynn, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/s...

Canada tests the limits of Trump’s power

35 min

The trade war between the US and Canada has escalated after Canadian prime minister Mark Carney walked away from negotiations to cut a new trade deal with the US and declared up to 50% retaliatory tariffs on hundreds of American goods. Sumi and Anthony discuss how America’s once closest ally is fighting back, and if it could become a political problem for Trump as the midterms approach. And we mark the passing of musical legend Dolly Parton who has died at the age of 80. With a reputation defined by her quick quips and deep kindness, she had fans from across the political divide, leading an Americaster to ask what would have happened if she’d ever run for president? HOSTS: * Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent * Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co....

Americanswers! Are the US and Canada in an all-out trade war?

30 min

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says "we cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked,” after trade negotiations with the US broke down over the weekend. Donald Trump has announced 50% tariffs on Canadian cars and steel — though not until January 1st, leaving four months of negotiating room and a set of midterm elections in between. Can the two countries work out a deal? And why is this round of tariffs different from the previous round that the Supreme Court struck down? And as US national debt passed $40 trillion, roughly doubled since Trump’s first term, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried and failed to intervene in the bond market. What realistic options are left for Donald Trump to intervene? Plus Trump's suggestion that "the ultimate intervention is our military," and whether AI-driven growth is a way out or just another thing crowding out government borrowing. Justin, Anthony and Marianna answer your questions and discuss googlies, sticky wickets and what ‘coming out of left field’ really means. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Beth Ashmead. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast...

How will Trump’s former personal lawyer run the US justice department?

28 min

Attorney General Todd Blanche won’t pledge to act “independently” from the White House during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press. Trump’s former personal attorney said no attorney general should ever “pledge” to act independently from the White House, but assured the public that the president would never ask to do “something illegal”. Blanche’s comments have sparked a debate over the extent to which the justice department should be free from White House control. This comes at a time when Blanche was criticised for helping set up an “anti weaponisation fund” to compensate people who Trump claims were unfairly targeted by the previous Biden administration, such as Jan 6th rioters. There are also fears among Epstein survivors that Blanche - who was criticised for interviewing Ghislane Maxwell in prison - could affect their pursuit of justice. And, a major legal case brought by 29 US states against Meta has begun, which could affect the way social media companies operate in the future. The states involved claim that Meta - which owns Facebook and Instagram - violated federal and state privacy laws for children and are seeking billions of dollars in damages as well as changes to user experience. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Sumi Somaskanda, BBC News Chief Presenter • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Ameri...

Who is Trump aide Natalie Harp… and why are Democrats targeting her?

29 min

Will Donald Trump be forever dogged by his war with Iran and could it come to define his legacy? And, who is Donald Trump’s executive assistant Natalie Harp, and why are Democrats suddenly talking about her? A speech by Georgia senator John Ossoff has caught attention after he accused the president of not wanting “to do the job” and instead “travel with Natalie” on Air Force One. It’s thrust Trump’s aide into the spotlight and prompted an angry response from the White House. Why has Ossoff’s comments caused such a strong reaction within the White House, and what does it tell us about the pressure the president is under? Meanwhile, the US president seems unable to shake off the conflict in Iran, and after threatening US allies Oman and South Korea this week, is this part of a wider strategy, or is Trump actually unraveling? The US president famously told the conservative influencer Tucker Carlson before the war started that everything will be OK “because it always is”. But with his popularity ratings at an all time low, and midterm elections approaching, there are real concerns that Iran will continue to consume Donald Trump, and his presidency. In this episode, Sarah and Justin also ask whether there a wider strategy for dealing with the conflict, and how can Donald Trump now extricate America from the war he started. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If...

Americanswers! Is Iran really trying to kill Trump, and why is he threatening to bomb Oman?

27 min

Why was Donald Trump smuggled off Air Force One following a NATO summit in Turkey at the end of last week, and how credible is the president’s claim that he is Iran’s “number one target”? On this week’s Americanswers, Justin, Sarah and Marianna look at the ruse which led White House reporters to believe that Donald Trump was aboard Air Force One before discovering that he had been secretly hidden inside a catering truck to be transported to a military aircraft. The story has raised questions about how much danger those on board the plane were exposed to and the right of journalists to know the president’s whereabouts. The story has also raised conspiracy theories - pushed by Iranian officials - that it’s led to the resignation of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who has confirmed she’ll be leaving her role at the end of the month. Leavitt has said she’s leaving in order to spend more time with her two children while the president has called her “one of his most trusted aides”. Who are the contenders to take on the vacancy and is there more to her resignation than first appears? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.b...

Is AOC ready to run for president?

35 min

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez laying the groundwork for a run for president in 2028? And would the Democrats really pick her as a nominee? This week AOC has been back making headlines with comments over freezing her eggs, distancing herself from the so-called “woke 1” era of Democratic politics and hinting at a future run for the White House. Speculation of a future presidential run has raised a debate over whether the U.S is ready to vote for a left-wing candidate in the next presidential election and whether the party can shake off previous policies that have been unpopular with voters. Despite the success of the Democratic Socialists of America in recent primary races, the group suffered a setback this week in Wisconsin when its primary candidate, Francesca Hong, lost to centrist candidate David Crowley in the race for state governor. Could AOC be a unifying figure within the party, or will voters be reluctant to let her shrug off comments she’s made in the past? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Jack Maclaren with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes...

Has Trump lost ‘Make America Healthy Again’ voters?

28 min

Why does Donald Trump want to limit childhood vaccines, and does it risk alienating voters in key districts ahead of the midterm elections? On Monday, Donald Trump signed a new executive order from the Oval Office that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and also recommends splitting the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots. He criticized vaccines for children that were “the size of a soda bottle” alongside his health secretary, RFK Jr, whose supporters helped Donald Trump win back the White House on the back of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement. The president has long cast doubt on the safety of MMR vaccines despite the fact multiple studies have found no connection between the shots and autism. Medical experts have criticised the new order and said it could reduce vaccination rates and expose children to harmful diseases. Anthony, Marianna and Sarah look at the reasons why discredited claims on the MMR vaccine have been given new life by parts of the MAHA movement and whether Monday’s executive order is an attempt by the White House to win back voters who have been disappointed by other areas of the president’s healthcare agenda. But with some advisers within Donald Trump’s team concerned that vaccine skepticism could cost them votes in key districts, how much of a risk is Donald Trump taking over childhood vaccines? HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscri...

Americanswers... on 5 Live! Will Trump's new challenge to birthright citizenship work?

40 min

Donald Trump isn’t giving up on his plans to limit birthright citizenship in the US, despite the Supreme Court striking down his previous attempt. He says his administration is making ‘adjustments’, and has issues two new executive orders to combat so-called ‘birth tourism’ and limit the criteria for becoming an American citizen. But what exactly is his new strategy? And a federal appeals court has ordered Trump to stop construction on his $400m White House ballroom, saying he can’t proceed without approval from Congress. Is this the end of the project? The team also unpack the BBC’s interview with Hunter Biden and his comments about his father, former President Joe Biden. Does he think he made a mistake in pardoning him? And what’s the current state of his health? Sarah, Justin and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Jack Maclaren, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefu...

Why the Democrats may never be the same again

35 min

Could Abdul El-Sayed’s left-wing victory in Michigan cause the Democrat party to split? Democrats are contemplating whether its left-wing candidates are capable of beating Trump-backed Republicans in the midterms and beyond. El-Sayed was not backed by many senior figures in the Democratic party, and has already been labelled a communist and the most radical candidate ever by Republicans. What does it also mean for Democrats who want to unify ahead of the midterms but are wary of alienating its base - including working-class and Jewish voters? Particularly as the Democrats remain unpopular in national US polls. despite the need for change after the 2024 presidential election. Plus, Justin and Sarah are joined by Mike Murphy, the prominent Republican strategist who shares his thoughts with us on how the party should respond to the rise of progressive candidates in this year’s election cycle, and the future of the Republican party after Trump. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor GUEST: • Mike Murphy, Republican political strategist and co-host of the Hacks on Tap podcast GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Bob Howard and Beth Ashmead. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes...

What the Reflecting Pool tells us about Trump’s presidency

24 min

Why has one of Washington DC’s most famous landmarks become symbolic of the Trump presidency? The renovation and subsequent damage to the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC gives an insight into Donald Trump’s second term as president and the team that surrounds him. For months the president has claimed that vandalism was responsible for damage to the monument he wanted restored in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations. But at the end of last week, Jeanine Pirro, the federal prosecutor he selected for Washington DC, dropped charges against four people - including US Olympian David Hearn - who were accused of damaging the pool’s lining and blamed “flawed” construction for the damage. Trump accused Pirro of “folding like an umbrella”, but her decision to go against the president’s version of events has raised questions over where Trump is getting his information, and whether his top allies are now less willing to give him the news he wants to hear. Sarah and Anthony discuss the wider significance of the Reflecting Pool story and also what changes can be expected if Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, is appointed as head of the Justice Department. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with BethanAshmead. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for...

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Can Trump save FIFA boss Gianni Infantino?

35 min

Will the US president intervene to help Gianni Infantino who is facing calls to step down as head of FIFA, football’s world governing body? In this episode, Marianna, Anthony and Justin join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. We also discuss why Republicans are targeting Trump’s former Chief Medical Adviser, Anthony Fauci, who was the public face of the US fight against Covid, and how Fauci is responding after being questioned in Congress. Plus, can the Democrats salvage their senate race in Maine with a new candidate, Troy Jackson, after Graham Platner’s campaign imploded following rape allegations? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent • Matt Chorley, 5 Live Presenter GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm R...

Introducing Top Comment... The vigilante streamers destroying reputations

30 min

From chasing pickpockets to unmasking predators, vigilantism has become one of the biggest trends on social media. On this episode Matt and Marianna discuss how the age of streaming has added a new layer of risk to content like this, with the potential for devastating consequences including reputational damage and even legal repercussions. Also this week, as national media fangirls over Andy Burnham's TikTok persona, we ask what the new prime minister is doing right online. Is social media now the ultimate test of a politician's authenticity, and could cosying up to influencers set a dangerous precedent in terms of transparency and accountability for those in positions of power. Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is topcomment@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Democrats need to win Michigan… so why is it splitting the party?

33 min

The Democrats almost certainly need to win the Senate race in Michigan if they are to take control of Congress in November’s midterm elections but picking a candidate is exposing a stark choice for the party. Next week party members in the state will decide between a left wing candidate backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and a centrist candidate backed by establishment Democrats like Gretchen Whitmer. It's opened up a debate about whether the success of other progressive candidates like Zohran Mamdani could be replicated across the country as the Democrats build a strategy to take on the Republicans at the midterms and beyond. Just how important is the race in Michigan for the Democrats, and will the outcome have an outsized role in deciding how they approach the 2028 presidential election? HOSTS: - Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC News chief presenter GET IN TOUCH: - Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Email Americast@bbc.co.uk - Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ben Andews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p...

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