Americast
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 disinformation and social media 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 the World Service. Oh, and by the way, 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 special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. 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.
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Episodes
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Are Trump’s Iran strikes breaking the law?
Monday, 2 March 2026
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defence Secretary has defended the US/Israeli war with Iran, refuting concerns from the “fake news” media that the conflict would lead to an “endless war” and making clear there would be “no stupid rules of engagement” or “politically-correct wars”. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, making his first public comments from the White House, told his audience the US has the “capability to go far longer”, whilst also projecting a four-five week mission. In this episode, Justin and Anthony join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your many questions about the war - including is there a...
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Trump's Iran Gamble... What is the US president up to?
Sunday, 1 March 2026
In the biggest political gamble of his presidency so far, Donald Trump has defended his decision for the United States to bomb Iran - alongside Israel - as a “noble” mission to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and says military operations are “ahead of schedule”. The US president announced the start of the war on Saturday via an 8 minute video on his social media platform, Truth Social, from his Mar a Lago home in Florida. In this episode Sarah and Justin unpack Trump’s announcement, his justification and aims for the war, and look back at US political involvement in the Middle E...
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The battle for Texas: Can Democrats win it back from Trump?
Friday, 27 February 2026
The midterm elections are underway in the Republican stronghold of Texas. Early voting has begun in the primaries and Democrats are hopeful they could win a Texas senate seat for the first time in over 30 years. The election will have national consequences - Texas is one of America’s political power centres and Republicans from here have dominated the national agenda from immigration, to the courts, to reshaping electoral districts. Taking back Texas could help Democrats take back the House, the Senate, and check Trump’s executive power in a way they have so far been unable to do in his sec...
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Trump's big, long, State of the Union speech
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
The Americast team assembles for a late evening/early morning special as President Trump delivers the longest State of the Union address ever. On the agenda was a full-throated defence of the administration’s record, hailing a "turnaround for the ages,” whilst playing down the Supreme Court's ruling against his signature tariff policy (with the judges themselves in the crowd).Despite the speech lasting nearly two hours, there was little to suggest a change of course from Trump’s favourite taking points. He focused on the economy, immigration, the Democrats…. And the US men’s olympic hockey...
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Americanswers... on 5Live! Why haven't more Americans faced charges over Epstein?
Monday, 23 February 2026
Fresh questions are emerging about the Jeffrey Epstein case, after the release of new material and renewed scrutiny over why more Americans have not faced charges linked to him. Sarah, Marianna and Anthony join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions including who, if anyone, could still be held accountable in the US.And with tensions rising between Iran and the US, Trump says he is considering military options while insisting diplomacy remains on the table. Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Saturday that Trump was "curious" about Iran's position after he had warned of a limited milita...
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Trump's Tariffs... Trump attacks the Supreme Court over tariff ban
Friday, 20 February 2026
Donald Trump has called the Supreme Court’s ruling blocking many of his sweeping tariffs ‘deeply disappointing’ and has announced a new 10 per cent tariff on global imports.Justin, Sarah and Anthony jumped into action following the President’s press conference to unpack the day’s drama: starting with the US Supreme Court decision to block global tariffs and ending with the President’s withering attack on some of the justices for their decision. The president spoke a few hours after the US Supreme court struck down the legal justification for a large portion of Trump's sweeping global tariff...
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Who is Tucker Carlson and what does he tell us about the future of MAGA?
Friday, 20 February 2026
Who are the people shaping MAGA ideology in the US? Tucker Carlson’s story tells a larger one about just how much conservative media has changed in the United States, and the direction of conservatism itself. Jason Zengerle, New Yorker staff writer and author of ‘Hated by All the Right People’, joins us to map Tucker Carlson’s trajectory from centre-right talk show host to one of the most prominent figures in the MAGA movement, with the ear of the president and a knack for gauging the mood of the base. Anthony and Justin discuss Carlson and the future of the conservative movement, as well a...
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Everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s Board of Peace
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
President Trump described his Board of Peace as “the most consequential international organisation ever.” The Board, which Donald Trump heads in perpetuity, is having its inaugural meeting in Washington, DC, on Thursday February 19. Sarah and Anthony convene to tell you everything you know ahead of the meeting: lay out exactly what the Board is, what it does, who its members are, and crucially: what Donald Trump wants to get out of it.Plus, a handful of prominent Democrats appeared at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend with the message that Donald Trump would only be around for a...
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Americanswers... on 5Live! Why did Pam Bondi, US Attorney General, lose her temper during Epstein Files questioning?
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
In fiery congressional hearings last week, US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the justice department's handling of the Epstein files. Several of Epstein's victims watched heated exchanges as Bondi faced a range of questions, including whether the files were sufficiently redacted, Trump’s role, Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison treatment and whether the Attorney General had met with victims. Justin, Marianna, Sarah and Anthony also discuss the difficulties for survivors of Epstein’s abuse in obtaining successful prosecutions and self identifying perpetrators. Plus, why have Bill and Hillary Cl...
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Will the US Supreme Court stand up to Trump?
Friday, 13 February 2026
Will Donald Trump be legally allowed to proceed with key elements of his second term agenda - such as imposing global trade tariffs, ending birthright citizenship and the right to sack heads of independent agencies? As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of major policies from the Trump administration, we look at whether the court will stand up to Donald Trump, or further expand the power of the US presidency? Justin and Anthony are joined by Kate Shaw, former Supreme Court clerk, and Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School. We look at how SCOT...
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Has Jeff Bezos brought down the Washington Post?
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
The paper that contributed to the resignation of President Nixon over Watergate and the Vietnam war is now having to rethink its future. The Washington Post’s owner - Amazon boss Jeff Bezos - has announced mass layoffs at the newspaper, which will fundamentally change how it covers the news. When Bezos bought the paper in 2013, he reassured staff about a “new golden era for the Washington Post”, and later adopted a new slogan for the Washington Post “Democracy Dies in Darkness”. Justin and Anthony discuss why the cuts have happened and what the wider impact may be on US media. With Bezo...
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Americanswers! Why is Trump so annoyed about Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?
Monday, 9 February 2026
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a love letter to Latin culture, paying homage to his birthplace Puerto Rico and making history as the first Super Bowl performance performed entirely in Spanish. He was joined onstage by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin for what is regularly the most-watched event on US TV. But Donald Trump wasn’t a fan. In a Truth Social post after the show he called it "absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!". But what did US viewers think? Plus, the White House has taken down a racist Truth Social video aimed at Barack and Michelle Obama, depicting them as apes. Tru...
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Is Donald Trump going to cancel the midterm elections?
Friday, 6 February 2026
This week Donald Trump has doubled down on why he thinks power should be taken away from individual states when it comes to running elections. Instead, he says federal government should be running elections - contrary to the U.S. constitution - claiming there is too much corruption from “crooked” blue Democrat states. In this episode, Justin and Anthony unpack what the president is proposing, and look at other ways Republicans could disrupt this year’s midterms. Also, is there a way Trump may be able to effectively cancel or stop the midterms from happening at all?Plus, what are the Dem...
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Why are Bill and Hillary Clinton testifying over Epstein?
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
In one of the biggest US headlines to emerge from the latest Epstein files, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah, Anthony, and Marianna explain why they are testifying, having previously dismissed legal summons issued to them, saying they had already submitted sworn statements covering the "limited information" they had on Epstein. Bill Clinton denies knowledge of Epstein‘s crimes during his association with him.We also look at whether this represents a...
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Americanswers… On 5 Live! Do the new Epstein files "absolve" Trump?
Monday, 2 February 2026
The Department of Justice has said that their review process into files related to Jeffrey Epstein is over, after a new tranche was released on Friday. Donald Trump says the lack of evidence in this batch absolves him of any guilt, while survivors and Democrats say there are still unanswered questions and unseen documents. Justin, Sarah, Marianna and Anthony discuss where this leaves the president and his MAGA base. Also, what does it mean for Epstein's victims, particularly as many victims’ names have been published by the US DoJ for the first time without permission. We also answer you...
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Can Trump really save the midterms for the Republicans?
Friday, 30 January 2026
Can Republicans win the midterm elections and keep control of both houses of Congress? It’s the biggest political event of the year, and this week Donald Trump kicked off the Republican’s campaign in Iowa, telling voters the odds are against him, but Republicans “need to win”. The president’s chief of staff says this is just the start, and Trump will be campaigning for the midterms as if it were a presidential race because he’s good at driving voter turnout. In this episode, Sarah and Anthony discuss why the midterm elections matter, what the stakes are, and Republican chances of winning...
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Will Trump “de-escalate” Minneapolis tensions after Alex Pretti killing?
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
What does Donald Trump actually mean when he says his administration plans to “de-escalate a little” in Minneapolis? On Tuesday Democratic Rep Ihan Omar was attacked at a local event in the city and protests are continuing following Saturday’s shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Video evidence contradicts claims by Trump administration officials immediately after Pretti’s killing that he was a “domestic terrorist”, planning a “massacre” and “brandishing” a weapon. In this episode, Sarah, Anthony and Marianna discuss the president’s controversial response to th...
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Americanswers… On 5 Live! Another US citizen shot dead by ICE. What happens next?
Monday, 26 January 2026
After a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs federal agents, pressure is growing on the Trump administration to hold a full inquiry into what happened. On Saturday, 37 year old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot during an altercation with federal immigration agents. In this episode, the Americast team unpack widely circulated video footage which directly contradicts the Trump administration’s version of events. How big a moment is this for Donald Trump’s second term, and how will it impact on the president’s promise to enact the widest deportatio...
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Are ICE immigration agents acting outside the law?
Friday, 23 January 2026
Donald Trump came into power with a promise to carry out the “largest mass deportation programme in history”. One year on, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids in US cities are one of biggest political issues dividing America right now, with questions over how ICE agents are behaving and who they are targeting. In this episode, Anthony, Marianna and Justin look at whether ICE agents are going beyond their remit, and is public opinion starting to turn against the president? We focus on Minneapolis after the killing of 37 year old Renee Nicole Good two weeks ago, who was shot dea...
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Have Trump and Europe reached a deal on Greenland?
Thursday, 22 January 2026
What exactly is Donald Trump’s plan for Greenland? Donald Trump began on Wednesday by telling world leaders in more detail why the United States needs to acquire Greenland. He ruled out the use of force and made fresh claims on why Greenland needs to be owned by the United States, deriding European leaders and NATO. But by the end of the day the president announced he no longer plans to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his ambitions for the US to acquire Greenland. In a social media post, Trump said his decision followed a "very productive meeting" with Nato Secretary General ...
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Americanswers… On 5 Live! Can Donald Trump be talked down over Greenland?
Monday, 19 January 2026
As we mark one year of Donald Trump back as president of the United States, we answer your questions with Matt Chorley on 5 Live. We start with Greenland, and ask whether the president can be talked down from his threats to impose further tariffs on countries who oppose his takeover plan. What’s been the response of Republicans, and who has the biggest influence on Trump when it comes to foreign policy? Also, the US president reportedly sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, saying Trump no longer feels ‘an obligation to think purely of Peace’ after they awarded the N...
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Introducing The Global Story... what's really behind Trump's foreign policy?
Sunday, 18 January 2026
How are Donald Trump’s ambitions in Venezuela and Greenland changing America’s place in the world? President Trump’s key adviser Stephen Miller has said that we are living in a world “that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power” - so where has that philosophy come from?All this week, we are teaming up with our sister podcasts to explore how power and influence around the world is shifting. We exploring who is in a sphere of influence and who is being controlled by one.Today, we speak to Anthony Zurcher, co-host of Americast and the BBC’s North America ...
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The Jan 6th Capitol riots five years on… Why America is still divided
Friday, 16 January 2026
Five years on from the Jan 6th Capitol riots in Washington DC, the narrative around what happened that day continues to shift and cause division within America. In Congress, a new Republican-led House panel the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6th 2021 held its first hearing this week. Republicans say it’s needed because the previous committee, led by Democrat Nancy Pelosi was a “sham from the start”, finding Trump responsible for inciting the riots. But Democrats continue to blame Donald Trump, accusing the US president of pardoning hundreds...
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Can Denmark convince Trump not to “conquer” Greenland?
Thursday, 15 January 2026
There are two big stories on today’s episode. What happened when foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House? We discuss their “frank” talks and “fundamental disagreements”. Plus, the world’s top central banker Jerome Powell has hit back at the US president in an unprecedented video statement on social media. It follows the Trump administration opening a criminal investigation against Jerome Powell, chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Over the past year the president has insulted Powell publicly, cr...
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Americanswers... On 5 Live! What do Americans really think of Donald Trump?
Monday, 12 January 2026
Donald Trump won his second presidency on a promise to put “America First” and to “Make America Great Again”. But with his recent action against Venezuela, and ambitions to acquire Greenland and strike Iran - in the midst of a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis - how much support does Trump really have? Justin, Sarah and Marianna discuss whether Trump Is losing popularity with those who voted for him in 2024. The team also - along with Matt Chorley from 5 Live - look at the upcoming aftermath of a 37 year old American citizen in Minneapolis. Plus, Sarah went viral with a question she p...
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Can the US really rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry?
Saturday, 10 January 2026
In the fallout of Nicolas Maduro’s dramatic capture from Venezuela to the US, Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to obtain Venezuelan oil, which he says is integral for keeping prices low in America.He’s also pledged to have the US oil industry operating in Venezuela within 18 months and that there would be huge private-sector investments into the country. Reports suggest representatives from major US petroleum companies are due to meet the Trump administration this week.Not everyone is convinced by the president’s plans. Some analysts told the BBC it could take tens of billions ...
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The fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting
Thursday, 8 January 2026
Protests have broken out in Minneapolis after a US immigration agent shot dead a 37-year-old woman in the city. Videos posted on social media show the moment of the shooting, in which ICE agents approach a car in the middle of a residential street. As it attempts to drive off, one of the agents points his gun at the driver and at least two shots are heard. With the Trump administration characterising the incident as “domestic terrorism”, alleging Renee Good had “harassed” officers all day prior to the shooting, the mayor of Minneapolis has labelled this account “bullshit” and called on immi...
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How far will Trump go to seize Greenland?
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Few in Washington took Donald Trump seriously when he first floated the idea of the US acquiring Greenland during his first term as president. Even last year when JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr (the US president’s eldest son) made whistle stop visits to the semi-autonomous island, most observers viewed the trips as an example of the administration’s efforts to troll the international community.But less than a week since Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was seized, Donald Trump and the senior people around him, are now repeating US intentions to acquire Greenland and are not ruling out usin...
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Americanswers... On 5 Live! Could Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro be found not guilty in a US court?
Monday, 5 January 2026
Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro proclaimed "I am still president" and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges as he appeared in court in New York for the first time. In this episode, we answer your questions, which include looking at the evidence against Maduro, and whether it’s possible a court could find him not guilty. We also answer your questions on who is really running Venezuela now? President Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio seem to have differing answers to that question. Plus, will Trump now be emboldened to take over Greenland, after his latest comment...
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Trump’s Venezuela takeover... everything you need to know
Sunday, 4 January 2026
How did the US capture the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and how exactly will the US “run the country” until there is a “proper transition of power”? In this episode, Anthony and Justin unpack an extraordinary weekend, with more details on exactly how the US military were able to storm Maduro’s home, and what kind of intelligence the CIA had. They also look at what could happen next in Venezuela. Donald Trump says his Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will help run the country. What can we learn by looking at historical precedence in Iraq? Trump also sai...
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