Episodes

  • The president has urged Benjamin Netenyahu to “take the win” after thwarting an attack from Iran. The question now is how Israel responds, and if Joe Biden has any influence over it. Christiane Amanpour, the British/Iranian chief international anchor for CNN, joins Americast to assess what could happen next.

    In Congress there’s a vote on a pivotal deal that would provide billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel, and introduce more sanctions for Iran. It could change the course of the conflicts but it could also cost Speaker Mike Johnson his job. We’re asking whether he can survive yet another MAGA rebellion.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent

    GUEST: • Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Anchor for CNN

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Catherine Fusillo, Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Donald Trump is no stranger to Megyn Kelly. The pair had a very public fallout in 2015 after the former Fox anchor questioned his temperament in a Republican Party debate.

    These days the pair are back on speaking terms, with Trump often choosing to do longer interviews with one of America’s most recognisable broadcasters.

    And on the day he became the first ever president to face a criminal trial, Megyn Kelly joins us to give her thoughts on how much the trial could affect the outcome of November’s election, the Democrat’s strategy to beat him, and whether we might see a televised debate between the candidates.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor

    GUEST: • Megyn Kelly, journalist and host of the Megyn Kelly Show 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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  • In a heavily-trailed announcement on Monday, Donald Trump released a video on his Truth Social platform to announce his position on abortion.

    Having been considered one of the most anti-abortion presidents in history, he has now said it is a matter for states to decide and later confirmed he would not sign a federal abortion ban.

    His stance has led to a backlash from senior Republicans, including his former vice president, Mike Pence. Could the backlash extend to the ballot box in November?

    HOSTS: • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUEST:• Lisa Lerer, political correspondent for The New York Times

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Natasha Mayo, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Orenthal James Simpson, known to the world as OJ, lived many lives. First as one of the greatest ever running backs in the history of the NFL, then as a Hollywood movie star.

    His fame skyrocketed, however, when he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The ensuing ‘trial of the century’ gripped and divided the nation.

    As the news broke, the team interrupted their normal recording to relive the shocking events of his life, trial, and acquittal. Anthony, who was then living in LA, recalls the backdrop of racial tension that underpinned the murder case that gripped the US.

    HOSTS: * Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent* 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 [email protected]* Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Americanswers is back!

    In the latest edition of Americanswers, Miles Taylor and Katie Hill join us once more to answer your questions.

    This week we look at some challenges from listeners about the evidence of social media’s polarising effect in the US, and whether we do enough to hear from Donald Trump’s supporters.

    We also look at the foreign policy record of the former president as we assess whether the US was safer under his watch.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

    GUESTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security• Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday for the first time since the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza this week. Netanyahu has called the incident an “unintended strike”, but the White House has said it’s ‘outraged’.

    Back home, US policy toward the Gaza war is causing problems for the president. A growing campaign of voters are using their ballot to protest Biden’s handling of the crisis.

    Jeremy Bowen joins us from Jerusalem to assess whether the US/Israel relationship has ever been this strained and we assess how Joe Biden can deal with the domestic ramifications of the war ahead of the 2024 election.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent • Katty Kay US Special Correspondent

    GUEST:• Jeremy Bowen, International 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • The Americast team have left the safety of the podcast studio for an old fashioned radio phone-in!5 Live listeners were given the opportunity on Wednesday to quiz all of our hosts on the issues that matter going into the 2024 presidential election.Nothing was off the table as we discussed issues ranging from voter attitudes towards Trump and Biden, whether 2024 will be America’s first ‘AI election’, or how the candidates could approach a stacked foreign policy inbox.HOSTS:Sarah Smith, North America editorJustin Webb, Radio 4 presenterMarianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondentAnthony 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 [email protected] Or use #Americast US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

  • As the election comes closer into view, potential candidates are lining up to be on the ticket with Donald Trump in 2024.

    After former Veep Mike Pence rules himself out, Americast assembles to answer FAQs about who makes the shortlist and why. Plus, what makes a good VP anyway? And what do they actually do?

    Find out in the latest Americast.

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • The city of Baltimore has woken up in shock this morning after a major bridge in the US city of Baltimore snapped and plunged into the Patapsco River.

    The city’s mayor has called the event an “unspeakable tragedy” and confirmed that construction workers were on the bridge when it collapsed.

    A state of emergency has been declared in Maryland while a huge search operation is under way for at least seven people.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

    GUESTS: • Dr Stergios Aristoteles, Head of Structures at the University of Birmingham• Justin Fenton, an investigative reporter at The Baltimore Banner• Tom Bateman, BBC State Department 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast

    This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!

    We’re joined once again by special guest hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.

    They sit down with Sarah and Marianna to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.

    This episode contains a reference to drug overdose which some listeners may find upsetting.

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

    GUESTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security• Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • In an interview that ranged from content moderation on X to its chairman’s use of ketamine, Don Lemon sat down for an hour-long interview with one of the world’s most prominent entrepreneurs.

    The interview was meant to be the first in a series in collaboration with the platform, but the company posted that “after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”

    Justin and Marianna spoke with Don to get his thoughts on why the Tesla boss cut ties with him and the grapple for power between traditional and new media.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

    GUEST: Don Lemon, Host of the Don Lemon Show

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!

    We’re joined once again by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.

    They sit down with Sarah and Anthony to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.

    This episode contains a reference to suicide which some listeners may find upsetting.

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUESTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security• Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug that can be prescribed by a doctor to treat severe pain. But like its predecessors, that drug has been illegally manufactured and sold by criminal gangs.

    The president has called the crisis an “American tragedy” but many angles to the epidemic lie elsewhere in China and Mexico.

    Ben Westhoff was the first journalist to enter a Chinese fentanyl lab posing as a buyer. He spoke with us about the origins of the epidemic, the scale of the problem for US towns and cities and the hope that exists for solutions to the crisis.

    If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast, please visit BBC Action Line to find information on organisations that can help. You can find it here: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUESTS: • Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • We answer the biggest questions in the race for the White House...

    Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!

    In the first Monday edition of Americast, we’re joined by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.

    They sit down with Sarah and Justin to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor

    GUEST HOSTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security in Trump administration• Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter all about the US election: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Under the close gaze of his critics - and millions of American voters - Joe Biden delivered arguably the most significant State of the Union address in recent times.

    The president chose to focus on his economic record, his plans to to fix America's immigration system and repeatedly took aim against Donald Trump.

    The Americast team chew over the president's speech with the help of Joe Biden's former speechwriter, Jeff Nussbaum, who told us what it's like to work with him and how you judge the success of a speech like the one Biden just delivered.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Sarah Smith, North America editor

    GUEST: Jeff Nussbaum, former speechwriter for Joe Biden

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • Fifteen states voted on super Tuesday to decide who the nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties will be. Donald Trump didn’t quite get the clean sweep he hoped for, but will Nikki Haley’s Vermont win be enough to keep her in the race?

    The Americast team discuss the issues that mattered most to voters on Tuesday, namely immigration and the economy, and how the race has become a battle of the incumbents.

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • This afternoon the Supreme Court overturned a Colorado ruling that declared Donald Trump ineligible to run for President in the state.

    Justin and Marianna have been in the US to look at how despite legal, financial and polling challenges, he's on course for an epic election rematch with Joe Biden in November. Marianna’s also uncovered evidence of Trump supporters using AI to attract votes from African Americans.

    You can watch Panorama, Trump: The Sequel? here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001x0yl

    HOSTS:• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

  • US Supreme Court justices are considering two cases from Florida and Texas which could fundamentally alter the future of online free speech.

    Meanwhile, in Alabama, the state’s top court ruling on IVF has cast doubt on the future of the treatment, as the debate over reproductive rights enters new territory.

    We unpack what’s going on, how the cases could affect the lives of Americans, and how they could influence the upcoming election.

    HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUEST: Mary Zeigler, legal historian, professor of law, and expert on the history, and politics of reproduction.

    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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by Chris Flynn, Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

  • Back on earth, Donald Trump’s legal troubles are mounting and the Republican presidential hopeful now faces debts of over half a billion dollars.

    We assess how the former president will try to pay off these debts and what effect it might have on his run for the White House.

    And on the evening that the US returned to the moon, Neil deGrasse Tyson - one of America’s most famous astrophysicists - talks to us about why commercial space ventures are in fashion and why people are struggling to know where to get their facts.

    HOSTS:

    • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

  • Love is in the air…or is it? Vladimir Putin expressed his preference for the next American president on Valentine’s Day - but critics suspect there might be more to his endorsement than meets the eye. His comments come in the wake of Donald Trump’s disparaging declaration against NATO and that Russia should “do whatever the hell they want” to countries that don't pay up.

    And after our emergency episode on Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, we respond to your questions about how, if at all, President Biden could be removed from office.

    HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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 [email protected]• Or use #Americast

    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

    US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

    This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.