Episodes
Donald Trump has sat down with NBC's Meet the Press in his first broadcast network interview since winning November's election. The president-elect revealed a number of policy positions that the world can expect when he returns to office. Will one of them be an end to automatic citizenship for people born in the US?And, it’s now five days since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in a seemingly targeted attack in New York City. The brazen nature of his killing has shocked the US but also exposed deep resentments at inequities in US healthcare. Is it too far to suggest that s...
Key figures in Donald Trump’s transition team have suggested changing which journalists have access to the White House press briefing room, and who is allowed to put questions to Trump’s new administration. The influence of ‘new media’ platforms - streamers and podcasters - helped win the election for Trump, so could content-creators such as Joe Rogan be included? Also, how will Trump deal with the media in his second term? And how will the media deal with him this time? Sarah and Marianna are joined by Peter Hamby, Host of ‘Good Luck America’ on Snapchat, to discuss the future of the news...
It’s been one month since Kamala Harris lost the US presidential election and soul-searching within the Democratic Party has already begun as the party prepares for opposition.It’s not yet clear how Democrats intend to approach the next four years with Trump in office. Will they work with or against him? And how do they shape a new pitch to American voters?The fallout continues from Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter. Gavin Newsom is the most senior Democrat to publicly criticise the president’s decision, and now Donald Trump is arguing the case against him should be thrown out ...
In one of his final acts before leaving the White House, Joe Biden has taken the decision to pardon his son, Hunter, who was set to face sentencing this month on federal felony gun and tax convictions.In doing so he becomes the first president to issue a pardon for his son, which forgives any convictions for federal crimes. The president argued that despite his belief in the justice system, politics had “infected” this process and led to his son being treated differently. Donald Trump has called the decision an "abuse and miscarriage of justice".Where does the decision leave America’s justi...
This week the last federal criminal case against Donald Trump was dropped. It's a dramatic end to a year in which began with Trump facing nearly 100 criminal charges connected to the two federal cases and others.It was unprecedented legal territory for a former president, becoming the first to face a criminal trial and later conviction, in a case tied to a payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.With just under two months until he's back in office, is he likely to use the Justice Department to pursue his enemies, and will there be wholesale pardons for people convicted for the Jan...
Donald Trump has given the world an insight into what the economic vision for his second term might be, and it can be summarised in what he calls the “most beautiful word": tariffs. The president-elect says he will introduce 25% tariffs on goods coming from Canada and Mexico on day one of his presidency, and add an extra 10% on goods coming from China. Mexico and China have baulked at Trump's proposals, but are they a disguised bargaining chip on drugs and border policy?Justin, Marianna and Anthony convene to discuss, and are joined by a former senior economist at the White House during the...
Social media platform Bluesky has passed the 20 million user mark and its growing popularity has some listeners wondering if it will lead people towards their existing beliefs and away from political debate. Could its rise further polarise an already divided electorate?And it's just under two months until Donald Trump is inaugurated as president for a second time. We answer your questions on whether his supporters will descend upon Washington DC and whether Elon Musk is likely to foot the bill...HOSTS:• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Marianna Spring, Di...
RFK is seen as a controversial choice for Health Secretary, not least because he’s a vaccine sceptic who has also rallied against big pharmaceutical companies, but also because of his attitude to big pharma and medical research. Justin, Marianna and Sarah look in more detail at RFK’s record on public health, what his stance on vaccines means for Americans, and whether he’ll realistically be able to take on America’s big food companies. Also, will he definitely be confirmed - as Health Secretary - by the Senate? How does that process work?HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter
• Sarah S...
As Donald Trump’s list of appointments becomes longer and more controversial, there’s one area that seems set for drastic change: defence.The announcements come alongside Joe Biden’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles to fire into Russia, just months before Trump becomes commander in chief.We speak to Robert Wilkie, the man in charge of preparing Trump’s defence policy. He tells us what’s happening behind the scenes, how Trump could negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, and why he’s picked a Fox New presenter as his defence secretary. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 present...
Over the weekend, President Biden authorised Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia. Is this his last-ditch effort to help before Trump takes over?Also, Trump’s cabinet picks continue to draw criticism. The Americast team discuss how the president-elect is making his decisions, and whether he’s actually interested in governing once his team is in place.And what do Americans mean by the middle class?HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
• Matt Chorley, 5Live presenterGET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online...
The involvement of Donald Trump’s close-knit family defined his first term in the White House. Eight years later, his circle of advisers appears to have expanded, welcoming a cadre of media personalities and influencers. Who’s in Trump’s orbit now? Which of his family members are raising their profiles, and who is taking a step out of the spotlight? Sarah and Marianna examine who has the president-elect’s ear with Trump biographer Marc Fisher.HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations CorrespondentGUEST:
• Marc Fisher, Associate editor at The...
President-elect Donald Trump has spent the week since his election picking out his cabinet members and closest advisors who will help him through his second term. Sarah, Marianna and Anthony give you the latest on who’s been nominated so far.Among them is Elon Musk, who has been tipped to run the new Department of Government Efficiency. But what does that mean, exactly?And, this afternoon Trump met with President Biden in the White House for a transition meeting, which was partly drowned out by the sound of a fireplace. HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North Ame...
BBC News - Join Justin, Sarah and Marianna as they answer your questions live with Matt Chorley from 5Live. In today’s episode, the Americast team discuss questions which include: at why the polling didn’t more accurately predict Trump’s win, whether the media got it wrong, whether everyone will accept the election result and, how might President Biden help Ukraine before he leaves office?HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent
• Matt Chorley, 5Live presenterGET IN TOUCH:
• Join our on...
We look back at how Trump ran the United States during his 2016 presidency. In an administration defined by “building the wall”, North Korea, COVID, and an attempted insurrection. Anthony is joined by two journalists who were in the room with Trump while he was changing American politics one decision at a time.This episode was first aired during the election campaign, as Americast profiled all the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Look out for Part 1: Trump the Brand, which looks at his rise as a politician and celebrity.HOST:
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGUE...
Americast looks back at how Donald Trump succeeded in business by creating a franchise out of his most valuable commodity: himself. Sarah hears from a former Apprentice producer, who gives us a behind the scenes insight into why Trump was picked for the TV series, and how it was integral in building his image as a successful businessman.
This episode was first aired during the election campaign, as Americast profiled all the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Look out for Part 2: Trump the politician! HOST:
• Sarah Smith, Radio 4 presenterGUESTS:
• Marc Fisher, senior edit...
As Republicans celebrate Donald Trump’s historic sweep of the US election, Democrats are left reckoning with how Kamala Harris failed to mobilize support. Americast gets together for an election inquest to examine what went right and wrong. Is Joe Biden to blame for Harris’ loss? Or did something else cause the VP to underperform with the voters she needed to win? Was Trump’s straight-forward messaging a winning strategy? Or has there been a fundamental shift among American voters that goes beyond politics? HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anth...
Joe Biden has promised a peaceful transition of power after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. He's also called on Americans to "turn down the temperature" after a fractious campaign that has divided voters. Will public figures who have been openly critical of Donald Trump feel safe when he takes office again?And, a listener challenges whether Americast and other parts of the media really foresaw Donald Trump's return to the White House as a genuine possibility. Marianna explains his appeal to the "manosphere" which exists outside of traditional media.HOS...
Donald Trump has become the 47th, as well as the 45th President. But the question is this: what will actually change when his new term begins? The team assemble to separate the fact from fiction - will he really declassify the JFK files and end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office?And Kamala Harris has conceded the election. Justin was on the ground and reports back on what the mood was like in the losing camp. HOSTS:
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Sarah Smith, North America Editor
* Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
* Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Co...
Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election.He's already delivered a victory speech in Florida in front of his supporters where he hailed a "magnificent victory" as leaders from around the globe have begun sending their congratulations to Trump.On a stunning night for the Republican Party, they also took back control of the Senate and are leading in the House of Representatives, although several races are still undecided.How did Trump achieve such a huge victory, and where does this leave the Democratic Party?HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Sm...
The US presidential election is not yet decided but the race is tilting towards Donald Trump. North Carolina and Georgia were two states that the Democrats were eyeing up in their bid to make Kamala Harris the first female president in US history.But with those states now out of play, the Harris campaign is pinning its hopes on winning the "blue wall" states and the crucial state of Pennsylvania, which Fox News has already declared for the former president.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna S...
What is the current state of the race as voters in the United States go into election day? When can we expect a result? Which swing states will declare first, and what should we be reading into early results? Justin, Marianna, Sarah and Anthony are all in the U.S. with their insight and analysis, plus what they’ll each be looking out for on election night itself.
Plus, election night snacks - what is Sarah scared to try? HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations...
The 2024 presidential election is nearly here and as America gets ready to head to voting booths up and down the country, the team offer their advice on timings, key states to watch out for, and when you can head to bed.And Justin, Marianna and Sarah submit their choices for Americast's election day bingo card...This episode has been updated since it was originally uploaded.HOSTS:* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Sarah Smith, North America Editor
* Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations CorrespondentGET IN TOUCH:* Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
* Send us a m...
The gang talk through two surprises in 24 hours in the election race. New polling suggests that Kamala Harris will win in Iowa - a state Trump won by nearly 10 points in the last two elections.But polling is only an indication… they discuss what we can conclude from the result.Plus, Harris appeared on popular late night comedy show Saturday Night Live. Could it help her in the battle for the undecided voter? Talking of undecideds.. Marianna has been investigating how they’re being targeted by social media platforms. HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presen...
Marianna and Justin are street side in the Pop-Up Podcast Studio answering your questions. HOSTS:
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations CorrespondentGET 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 #AmericastThis episode was made by Purvee Pattni in Pennsylvania. 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 ...
Welcome to another day on the road with the Americast pop-up studio!Justin and Marianna are trick-or-treating in Philadelphia, a crucial area in the key state of Pennsylvania. They're speaking to voters on their doorsteps about how they’re feeling ahead of 5 November, which is now just five days away…They discuss whether people are concerned about the fallout after election day, their trust in the election process, and why some voters are pinning their hopes on a second Trump term. HOSTS:
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations CorrespondentGET IN TOU...
The row over who said who is garbage refuses to go away, and it's starting to stink. It started as a controversial joke at a Trump rally, but the word has now become a problem for the Democrats too.Sarah and Anthony go through the story from the start and discuss whether it’s another ‘basket of deplorables’ moment.HOSTS:- Sarah Smith, North America Editor
- Anthony Zurcher, North America CorrespondentGET 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 #AmericastThis ep...
The 2024 presidential election could hinge on the state of Pennsylvania, with polls currently indicating that the crucial swing state is locked in a dead heat. On the next stage of our pop-up podcast studio, Justin and Marianna travel to Philadelphia to speak to three first-time Democratic voters who are planning to vote for Kamala Harris.Sitting down in a family home, we chat to them about their reaction to Joe Biden’s intervention in the campaign, whether they’d consider voting for a third-party in the campaign and what they believe Harris needs to do between now and November 5th.HOSTS:
•...
Kamala Harris attracted a huge crowd in DC for one of her final speeches of campaign.But the event’s been overshadowed - at least in part - by a gaffe from Joe Biden that’s caused another row about garbage.Sarah’s there for the speech.And, Marianna’s been speaking to users on X who share content that includes election misinformation, AI-generated images and unfounded conspiracy theories, who say they are being paid "thousands of dollars" by the social media site.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
• Sarah Smith, North America...
With just one week to go until the U.S. presidential election, Americast roleplays as campaign managers for the Trump and Harris teams. Justin, Sarah and Marianna look at how they should be handling the last days of their campaigns, who should they be targeting, where should they go, and what their key messages should be in the last stretch before polling day.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
• Sarah Smith, North America EditorGET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or ...
The Trump team has distanced itself from Hinchcliffe’s remarks which he made at the Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday. That hasn’t stopped one of the world’s top Latin celebrities, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, from endorsing Kamala Harris as president. Is this an opportunity for Kamala Harris to gain momentum with the 36 million Hispanic voters eligible to vote this year?We hear from a caller who wants to know why there’s been less discussion lately of Donald Trump’s various criminal cases……and after Beyoncé turned up at a Kamala Harris rally over the weekend, Matt wants to know the b...