Episodes
By popular demand the Americast team turn their focus on stories that have flown under the radar during the blanket coverage of the disorder in LA this week. Why has the US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior sacked all the members of a committee which makes recommendations on immunisations, and why is there some concern over his new picks? What does the election of two Democratic nominees for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia tell us about the future direction of the Democratic party? We look at why the Trump administration has lost in its efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil and Kilma...
Sarah and Anthony are joined by Miles Taylor to discuss events in LA and to ask whether the President is deliberately stoking protest for political ends. Miles was the Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security during Donald Trump’s first term but has since become a vocal critic. He talks about President Trump’s ambition to enact similar policies during his first stint in the White House; plans that were ultimately thwarted. With the President now unbound are we seeing the execution of Trump’s original plans for government?
And, Miles was the subject of a Trump administration E...
Donald Trump has defended his decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles despite criticism from Democrats and California officials. The US president says LA would have been "completely obliterated" otherwise and hits out at Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom, who says he's suing the Trump administration.
Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city to stop protests against immigration raids being carried out across Los Angeles, triggering a political row. Newsom, along with LA mayor Karen Bass, believed local police could handle the protests.
Justin and Anth...
How did one of the most powerful alliances in American politics blow up? The falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been playing out very publicly on social media, with back and forth insults and threats.
Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring, Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher unpack how the row intensified with Trump threatening to revoke Musk’s government contracts and Musk claiming without evidence that Trump appeared in the unreleased Epstein files. Musk also suggested that Trump should be impeached.
But why does a row between the world’s richest person and one of the most powerful...
The US president Donald Trump has imposed a full travel ban on 12 countries mainly in Africa and the Middle East, following through on a promise made in 2024 on the campaign trail. But why has the president chosen to implement the ban now, and how likely is it to survive a legal challenge?The ban includes Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia and Libya. But there’s also confusion as to why Egypt remains off the list despite the president citing the recent attack Colorado's Jewish community, which was allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national. There are also partial restrictions on seven other na...
Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is causing a rift with Elon Musk after the Tesla founder labelled it a "disgusting abomination". If passed, it would add trillions of dollars onto America’s deficit over the next decade. After the bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives it now faces an even tougher passage in the Senate after senior figures like Rand Paul and Ron Johnson called for spending cuts to go further.Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher assess why Elon Musk has such a problem with the bill and whether his criticism will embolden other Republicans to speak out. Could U.S....
Donald Trump founded Truth Social in 2022 after he was banned from major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. But is the president the sole user of his account, and are there any “tells” for when someone else has posted on his account?We also answer your questions about whether funding cuts in the latest instalment of Donald Trump’s war with Harvard could lead to a brain drain in the US.And, what next for DOGE after Elon Musk officially left the White House on Friday? Justin, Sarah and Marianna join Matt Chorley for another instalment of Americanswers…HOSTS:
• Matt Chorley, 5 L...
It’s been a chaotic day in the United States.This morning, we heard the news that a court in the US has blocked Donald Trump’s tariffs.Later this evening, we found out that Trump's tariff plan was temporarily reinstated while a court considers a White House appeal.In between that, we recorded an episode, exploring what all this could mean for the global trade war, Trump’s relationship with the courts, and what seems to be the final moments of Elon Musk’s and Trump’s courtship - as the tech mogul steps away from DOGE.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North Ame...
Elon Musk says he’s 'disappointed' by Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax bill, marking a break from the US president who he helped to win re-election in 2024.Today Matt Chorley is joined by the full Americast ensemble to discuss whether the Trump-Musk bromance is now over. They also explore how middle class Americans view Trump’s ongoing row with Harvard, and assess the most popular presidential dogs.HOSTS:
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Sarah Smith, North America editor
* Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
* Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior CorrespondentGE...
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa went to the White House in hope of a ‘reset’ with the USA on trade and asylum laws. What he got was a choreographed presentation from Donald Trump with allegations of a white genocide taking place in South Africa, with stark parallels to the infamous Zelensky meeting in the Oval Office.Justin, Anthony, and Sarah convene to check the fact on Trump’s assertions, and discuss why the confrontation might really be a message to his MAGA supporters.Plus, Justin speaks to Robyn Cunrow, former CNN correspondent in Johannesburg and host of the Searching for Am...
Donald Trump's ‘one big beautiful bill’ looks set to be his defining piece of legislation for his second term, if he can get it through Congress. It’s an enormous bill which covers everything from the future of Medicaid, the taxes Americans pay, to border spending and national defence. But not all Republicans are on board and the president may face a fight to pass the bill by his Memorial Day deadline.Justin, Sarah and Anthony unpack how the bill could change peoples’ lives in America, and whether Trump will have to make concessions to hardliners in his party. HOSTS:
- Justin Webb, Radi...
Anthony, Marianna and Justin discuss Joe Biden’s announcement that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They also talk about the political reaction, including US Vice President JD Vance who says Biden and his staff should have been more transparent about the former president’s health whilst in office.
They also analyse some MAGA rumours over whether Joe Biden hid his cancer diagnosis, and what this means for the Democratic hopefuls of the future.Plus, the team unpack the backlash to the former FBI Director James Comey’s picture of seashells on a beach - a post that Homeland Sec...
The fallout from Joe Biden’s failed presidential campaign continues with a new book that accuses senior White House figures of covering up the former president’s “physical deterioration”. The author, Jake Tapper - who co-authors the book with Alex Thompson of Axios - claims Biden did not recognise George Clooney at a fundraiser last June hosted by the Hollywood star and that at one stage of the campaign, aides discussed putting him in a wheelchair.A spokesperson for Joe Biden said "evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity" and maintained the Democrat had been "a very effective...
Testifying in front of Congress is often a bruising process for lawmakers, and Wednesday’s hearing was no exception for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who faced questions on cuts to his department, his stance on vaccines and a measles outbreak in the United States.But with Donald Trump’s second term in full swing, just how far has the former presidential candidate got in his quest to ‘Make America Healthy Again?’Justin and Marianna chat with Sheryl Gay Stolberg who covers health policy for the New York Times to find out how he’s trying to transform America’s health and why not every...
It’s Donald Trump’s first major trip in his second term as president and he’s chosen to visit the Gulf in a four-day whirlwind tour. He began in Saudi Arabia for a friendly meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among other issues he agreed to lift sanctions on Syria and struck a number of trade deals, marking a big shift in relations between the two nations since Joe Biden’s presidency.But the trip threatens to be overshadowed by the fallout from Qatar’s gift of a free luxury jumbo jet. The president has defended the gift and said he would be a “stupid person” to turn it down...
On the first day of Diddy’s trial, jurors have watched a video showing him assaulting his former long-time partner, the singer Cassie.The prosecution’s first witness, a former hotel security guard, says he was called on the night the CCTV video was filmed to help a "woman in distress", where he found Cassie sitting in the corner covering her face.Both the prosecution and defence gave their opening statements. The prosecution say Combs' behaviour was "coercive and criminal" and that he "had the power to ruin" his alleged victims’ lives. The defence argues that while Diddy might have engaged ...
Donald Trump says the US has achieved a “total reset” in relations with China after both countries agreed to reduce tariffs on each other's goods for 90 days. Today Matt Chorley is joined by the full Americast ensemble to discuss whether this really marks the end of the trade war between the two nations. The team also assess the world’s reaction to the newly elected ‘woke’ pope across social media, and whether his stance on deportation will result in a head-to-head with Trump. And why might Qatar gift a 747 jet to the president?HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North A...
As more details of the trade deal between the UK and United States emerge, we get a view from the Novel prize winning economist and author, Professor Joseph Stiglitz. He explains to Justin why the deal is a mistake for the UK, why China has a better strategy against President Trump’s tariffs, and how the UK’s deal adversely affects the rest of the world.
Professor Stiglitz is a former Chief Economist at the World Bank, a former chair of the U.S. President’s Economic Council, and his most recent book The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society unpicks what real economic freedom me...
At a press conference inside the Oval Office on Thursday, Donald Trump - with the British PM Keir Starmer on the phone - announced changes to tariffs which included steel, aluminium and car exports. In return, the UK government made concessions on imports of ethanol and American beef, with Keir Starmer calling it a ‘fantastic, historic day’. Justin and Anthony unpack the politics behind the deal, asking who is the real winner? With accusations that the UK has caved in too easily to American demands on beef and ethanol, what does today’s announcement mean for the U.S. economy and its trade ...
In his first interview since leaving the White House, Joe Biden accused the Trump administration of "modern-day appeasement" in pressuring Ukraine to give up territory to Russia. He also spoke about his ill-fated presidential campaign last year that saw him eventually drop out the race against Donald Trump, saying it "wouldn't have mattered" if he had dropped out of the race earlier. The White House said that Joe Biden was a "complete disgrace" in response to the interview.It's unusual for former presidents to speak about their successors, so why has Biden chosen to speak now, and what were...
Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, made a high-stakes visit to the White House on Tuesday in his first meeting with Donald Trump since winning the election in Canada. How will their relationship affect the future of Canada with Trump still hoping to turn the country into the ’51st state’?And, Donald Trump has pledged to reopen the notorious Alcatraz prison. It was originally shut down in 1963 and has since operated as a successful tourist site in San Francisco. Is the president serious about the plans?Americanswers is back on 5 Live to answer your questions…HOSTS:
* Matt Chorley, 5 L...
As Donald Trump surpasses 100 days in office for the second time, new polls suggest he might not be quite as popular as he claims. Justin, Sarah, and Anthony get together to discuss why the president could be losing support with some Americans and, crucially, whether he cares.HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH:
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This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States. “…in the USA we do no have kings, we do not have dictators we have a constitution, and the rule of law, and we’re going to make damn sure Donald Trump and his administration follow the law”Critics like Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes say Trump has defied the U.S. constitution, others say he’s restricted free speech and silenced oppositional voices. Trump says it’s what the American people voted for… In our final episode, how has ...
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States.
In our fourth episode, Matt Chorley joins Justin and Marianna to discuss large scale cuts to federal government by Elon Musk’s DOGE, and look at the impact of those cuts.
They also talk about what a modern America should be paying for - both at home and abroad - and why some people think Trump is actually a democrat when it comes to big government spending. HOSTS:
• Matt Chorley, Radio 5 Live presenter
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 prese...
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States.
In this third episode, Matt Chorley joins Sarah and Anthony to discuss Trump’s plans to deport migrants on a large scale, how he is circumventing the courts, and revoking hundreds of student visas.
We ask who has been allowed to stay in Trump’s America, and who is being forced out?HOSTS:
• Matt Chorley, Radio 5 Live presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America CorrespondentGET IN TOUCH:
• Join our ...
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States. In this second episode, Matt Chorley joins Justin and Sarah to discuss how the American economy has fared during Trump’s 100 days in office. What have been the impacts of tariffs on U.S. businesses, under his plan to put ‘America First’?
Are we witnessing the economic liberation of America? Or this is a tipping point for the US and global markets? HOSTS:
• Matt Chorley, Radio 5 Live presenter
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sa...
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States. In this first episode, Matt Chorley joins Justin and Marianna to discuss Trump’s declaration that America will be “WOKE no longer…whether you are a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer or an air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender.”
We look at why private companies have dismantled their diversity and equity programmes, particularly as they were implemented to counter inst...
After the two leaders were reunited at Pope Francis’s funeral over the weekend, the Americast inbox has been filled with correspondence on whether Trump and Zelensky really have reconciled - and if it could bring a peace deal with Russia any closer.Marianna and Sarah get together with Matt Chorley to answer your questions live on the radio. As well as the war in Ukraine, they discuss the 7-year sentence given to George Santos - the former congressman who is, of course, well known to long term listeners of this podcast via our semi-regular feature, ‘Santos watch’.Plus - has the White House b...
There’s trouble in the Pentagon - again! Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump have dismissed new reports that the defence secretary sent details of confidential military plans to his wife, brother, and personal lawyer on Signal. They both criticised journalists at the annual White House Easter event between egg related activities, but reports keep coming about unrest at the top of the defence department. Justin, Marianna, and Anthony discuss whether Hegseth will survive or not and whether the accusations could start also damaging Trump’s reputation.Plus, have we found the oldest Americast listener...
Elon Musk says he’s stepping back from his role at DOGE and refocusing on Tesla after the electric car firm reported a huge drop in profit and sales for the start of this year. We look at whether he could be on his way out completely.Donald Trump meanwhile says he’ll be attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome this weekend. The late Pope was an outspoken critic of Trump’s policies during the president’s first term. Will Trump try and influence the appointment of his successor?Americanswers is back on 5 Live to answer your questions…HOSTS:
• Matt Chorley, 5 Live Presenter
• Justin Webb...