Americast cover art
Podcast · 207 episodes

Americast, page 4

by BBC News · English

Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. 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, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron. 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 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.

All episodes, page 4

Donald Trump gets on the phone... with SarahBBC Washington Bureau reporter Sarah Smith describes calling Donald Trump directly and what he said about the UK, NATO, the Iran war, energy policy, and the upcoming UK royal visit to the White…23 Apr 2026 · 25 min · 14 chapters
Democrats fight back against Trump in Virginia… and winDemocrats win Virginia’s special election to approve partisan redistricting that shifts about four U.S.22 Apr 2026 · 26 min · 10 chapters
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is insider trading corrupting Trump's White House?Q&A episode on US politics and foreign affairs, focusing on Iran/Strait of Hormuz attacks, alleged insider trading tied to Trump administration announcements, allegations of FBI director Kash Patel’s…20 Apr 2026 · 28 min · 13 chapters
Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?Maine’s Democratic Senate primary—whether Democrats can unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins—and what Plattner’s “anti-oligarchy” populism says about future Democratic strategy.17 Apr 2026 · 33 min · 17 chapters
Has Trump given up on the midterms?Whether Donald Trump is “giving up” on the midterms amid optimism about talks with Iran, and the political impact of gas prices and war pressure.15 Apr 2026 · 29 min · 13 chapters
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on IranAmeriCast (BBC) discusses Trump’s Iran posture (threatened Strait of Hormuz blockade and bombing language), a public clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo, and related U.S.13 Apr 2026 · 28 min · 13 chapters
Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?The episode examines whether U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pursuing an “ideological” and potentially religiously framed war against Iran, and how he has reshaped the Pentagon.10 Apr 2026 · 31 min · 18 chapters
Trump pulls back from the brink... but for how long?AmeriCast discusses Donald Trump’s sudden pullback from an apparent brink toward major strikes on Iran, and whether the resulting ceasefire/opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a real strategic success…8 Apr 2026 · 31 min · 11 chapters
Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?AmeriCast answers listener questions on US politics and international affairs. Topic 1: Venezuela and US influence.6 Apr 2026 · 33 min · 17 chapters
Are the Democrats ready to win back Congress?Whether Democrats can win back Congress in the 2026 midterms and what that means for the 2028 presidential race.3 Apr 2026 · 39 min · 15 chapters
Trump v Supreme Court: The battle over birthright citizenshipThe BBC AmeriCast episode explains the U.S. Supreme Court case over Donald Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship (citizenship for babies born on U.S.1 Apr 2026 · 35 min · 12 chapters
Americanswers! Why does Trump want to take Iran’s Kharg Island?The episode answers listener questions about Donald Trump’s threats to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal and what that could mean for negotiations, regional escalation, China, Israel, U.S.30 Mar 2026 · 32 min · 19 chapters
What is RFK doing to vaccines for children in America?A BBC AmeriCast episode on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposed changes to U.S. childhood vaccines, and a federal judge’s block of those changes.27 Mar 2026 · 29 min · 17 chapters
Will Trump succeed in changing the US voting system?Whether Donald Trump can succeed in changing US voting rules, via the “Save America Act,” and what the congressional and Supreme Court fights could mean for future elections.25 Mar 2026 · 24 min · 10 chapters
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Trump claims Iran wants to "make a deal" to end the warU.S.-Iran war diplomacy and U.S. domestic politics, sparked by Trump claiming Iran wants “to make a deal” to end the war; discussion of possible backchannel talks and who might broker them, plus how…23 Mar 2026 · 27 min · 14 chapters
Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AIA dispute between the Trump administration’s Department of Defense and AI company Anthropic over contract “red lines” for Claude, including autonomous lethal weapons and domestic mass surveillance.20 Mar 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Trump threatens TV networks over unpatriotic Iran coverageTrump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticize US media’s Iran-war coverage, including alleged “fake news” headlines and Pentagon press access; the FCC chair threatens license renewals for…18 Mar 2026 · 27 min · 13 chapters
Americanswers… on 5Live! Will Trump lose his MAGA base over Iran?The episode debates whether Donald Trump risks losing parts of his MAGA base over a US-led war involving Iran, and what this means for NATO, media freedom, and US politics.16 Mar 2026 · 37 min · 7 chapters
Is Cuba Trump’s next target after Iran?Whether Donald Trump’s administration will target Cuba next after Venezuela and Iran, and what “maximum pressure” could look like.13 Mar 2026 · 32 min · 16 chapters
Can Trump persuade Americans to ignore oil prices and back his war on Iran?The episode discusses whether President Trump can persuade Americans to accept a U.S.11 Mar 2026 · 28 min · 16 chapters
Americanswers… on 5Live! Why is Trump’s White House comparing the war in Iran to a video game?The hosts answer listener questions about Trump’s war in Iran, whether oil is a motive, the White House’s “video game” style war propaganda, Trump’s influence over allies (including Britain/Europe),…9 Mar 2026 · 40 min · 15 chapters
Trump's war with Iran: What we still don't knowThe episode examines the U.S. war on Iran under President Trump, focusing on what the administration claims about why it began, what success looks like, and what remains unknown—especially given…6 Mar 2026 · 32 min · 13 chapters
What did we learn about Epstein from the Clintons?The episode is a roundup of US news “under the radar,” plus a focus on Epstein.4 Mar 2026 · 38 min · 21 chapters
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Are Trump’s Iran strikes breaking the law?Debate on whether Trump’s Iran strikes break international law, how US casualties could affect US politics and midterms, and what the strategy is beyond the attacks.2 Mar 2026 · 35 min · 11 chapters