Americast
by BBC News
Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Podcast episodes 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
Episodes
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Can Barack Obama still win votes for the Democrats?
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...
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We speak to Hasan Piker... Is he a liability for the dems?
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...
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Can Trump’s $400 million save Republicans at the midterms?
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...
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Americanswers! How far will Trump go in siding with Putin against Ukraine?
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...
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Are Latino voters turning on Trump?
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...
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Your US Midterm Election Guide (A Global News Podcast collab)
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...
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Americanswers! Will Trump really livestream a firing squad execution?
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…
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Are the Democrats heading for a midterms landslide?
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...
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Did Trump really say Iran could “take out” Los Angeles?
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…
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Americanswers…Will Christa Pike still face the death penalty after surviving two lethal injection doses?
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...
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Can the Democratic Socialists of America win over voters?
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…
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Do Republicans need to ditch Trump before the midterms?
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...
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Americanswers! Why don't the Democrats have a new leader yet?
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...
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Has Trump’s ban against the media backfired?
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...
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Did Trump's UN speech convince voters on Iran?
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,...
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Americanswers… Why has Denmark made a deal with Trump over Greenland?
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...
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US v China: The AI race
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...
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The Supreme Court stops Donald Trump changing voting rules... for now
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...
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Donald Trump the only regulation AI needs?
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…
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Will Trump’s $5,000 offer convince US voters?
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...
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Is 9/11 still shaping America?
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...
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why is Lindsay Clancy’s mistrial dividing America?
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...
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An insider's account of Trump's White House
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…
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Has Pete Hegseth lost control of the Pentagon?
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...
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Americanswers! Could Zohran Mamdani serve in a Democrat White House?
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...
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Are polls misleading Americans?
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...
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Canada tests the limits of Trump’s power
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...
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Americanswers! Are the US and Canada in an all-out trade war?
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…
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How will Trump’s former personal lawyer run the US justice department?
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...
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Who is Trump aide Natalie Harp… and why are Democrats targeting her?
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…
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Americanswers! Is Iran really trying to kill Trump, and why is he threatening to bomb Oman?
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...
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Is AOC ready to run for president?
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...
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Has Trump lost ‘Make America Healthy Again’ voters?
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,...
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Will Trump's new challenge to birthright citizenship work?
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...
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Why the Democrats may never be the same again
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,...
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What the Reflecting Pool tells us about Trump’s presidency
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...
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Can Trump save FIFA boss Gianni Infantino?
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...
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Introducing Top Comment... The vigilante streamers destroying reputations
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...
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The Democrats need to win Michigan… so why is it splitting the party?
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...
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Could a conspiracy theorist change the MAGA view on Ukraine?
One of Donald Trump’s favourite right wing influencers, Laura Loomer, had been a vocal critic of US support for Ukraine, but after a complete U-turn, we ask whether MAGA is softening on support for the country. We also discuss whether this is Loomer auditioning for a job in the president's team....
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Donald Trump serious about running for a third term?
Donald Trump joked at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that he would run for a “fourth term” as president before taking out a red hat with the words 'TRUMP 2028' on it. The event had been rescheduled after being cancelled by a shooting three months ago. The president said he respects “most”...
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The anti DEI MAGA activist Christopher Rufo
We’ve been speaking to perhaps the most prominent anti DEI MAGA activist, Christopher Rufo. He’s widely credited for convincing Donald Trump to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes within the government, and led the campaign which saw Harvard President Claudine Gay resign…
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Are the Republicans ready to win back Arizona?
Republicans hope they can win a number of crucial races in Arizona that could determine which party controls Congress in this year’s midterm elections. Arizona Republicans chose to nominate a number of Trump-backed candidates for November’s elections, putting the power of the president’s...
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Americanswers! Was the 2026 World Cup a success for Donald Trump?
The FIFA 2026 World Cup was not without controversy, but with the event now concluded, was it a success for the US and Donald Trump? The president has faced scrutiny over perceived interference in the tournament, but what has the legacy of the World Cup been for the US? Meanwhile, the US and...
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Will Trump's primetime speech help him challenge the midterm elections?
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
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ICE fatally shoot two men in Maine and Texas
In the space of one week, two men have been fatally shot by ICE agents in two different states. With limited footage of the incidents and suggestions that neither men were the initial targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, protesters are calling for investigations into their...
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Mitch McConnell breaks his silence, will it stop the conspiracy theories?
A photo of the US senator has gone viral, after he hadn’t been seen for weeks, with rumours mounting over his absence. Over the weekend, the republican Mitch McConnell posted a picture of himself in hospital with his wife, with a dated copy of the Washington Post. But will it stop the conspiracy...
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The battle for Charlie Kirk’s legacy
After Charlie Kirk’s death, will young people still vote Republican, and could the battle for his legacy cost Donald Trump crucial votes in this year’s midterm elections? This week marks the start of hearings which will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a murder case...
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How will Democrats fight Trump after dumping their candidate Graham Platner in Maine?
Top Democrats are urgently searching for a new senate candidate in Maine. Graham Platner, the former marine and oyster farmer, lost his party’s support after serious allegations of rape and sexual assault, which he denies. Winning Maine is pivotal to the Democrats’ chances of gaining back control...
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Trump explains why he called FIFA to reverse US player’s red card ban
Donald Trump explains his controversial intervention in the World Cup. Speaking in the Oval office, the US president confirmed he asked FIFA to review United States star striker Folarin Balogun's one-match red card suspension at the World Cup. It means the US will be able to play its top scorer...
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About this show
Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Podcast episodes 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
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