219 episodes
Americast BBC Podcasts
-
- News
-
-
4.5 • 2.3K Ratings
-
The authoritative twice-weekly US news and politics podcast from BBC News, Americast investigates the social and cultural issues that define America today.
Is Joe Biden too old to win another go in the White House? What does Donald Trump’s latest criminal charge mean for the Republican campaign? And why have issues such as LGBT rights, global warming and the war effort in Ukraine become so divisive across the US political spectrum? From foreign policy to pop culture, Americast keeps you up to date and in the know about the stories that matter with on-the-ground insights from right across the US.
Americast is hosted by trusted journalists including the BBC’s North America editor Sarah Smith, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, presenter Justin Webb, and disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring. Joined by special guests each week such as former chief medical adviser to the president, Dr Anthony Fauci, former FBI director James Comey, CNN anchor and author Jake Tapper, Succession actress J Smith-Cameron, and Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire from podcast RedHanded, they look at America through an international lens, trying to make sense of the increasingly polarised political debate.
Each week on Americast, Marianna Spring also brings listeners the latest update on BBC Undercover Voters, the award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. Marianna has created undercover voters – multiple social media accounts belonging to different characters who sit across the US political divide. By tracking the content that is pushed at each of them, this investigation will cover a turbulent time for US politics with speculation over a Trump bid for the presidency and Biden facing domestic and international challenges.
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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
-
Americanswers! VP picks, Nikki Haley's back, and could Trump do three terms?
Americanswers is back and this week we take a look at presidential term limits. Joe Biden once said he wanted to be viewed as a “bridge” to the next generation in 2020. But did he ever commit to one term in office?
Meanwhile, Donald Trump once praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for getting rid of their two-term limits. The team assesses whether Trump would have the ability to follow suit.
And, social media algorithms are powerful. How do you leave your own echo chamber in an election year?
HOSTS:
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GUEST:
• Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security
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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. -
Trump Trial Week 3… Stormy Daniels Takes The Stand
The former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trial in New York is in its third week, where he’s accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
He’s pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels.
Sarah and Anthony are joined by the BBC’s US reporter, Kayla Epstein - who’s been in court every day - to hear what happened when Ms Daniels herself took the stand, and court artist Jane Rosenberg reveals how she creates those incredibly candid sketches from the trial.
HOSTS:
* Sarah Smith, North America editor
* Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GUEST:
* Kayla Epstein, BBC’s U.S. reporter covering the trial
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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
* 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 Keiligh Baker. The producer was Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. -
Keeping up with the Kennedys: RFK Jr’s run for the White House
JFK’s nephew is taking on Biden and Trump as an independent. He’s a big outsider but his high polling numbers are worrying the main parties, who fear that his bi-partisan policies could steal votes.
Sarah, Anthony and Marianna talk about who RFK Jr is, why he’s running, and if he lives up to his reputation as one of America’s most famous conspiracy theorists. And they get to the bottom of how he came to have a dead worm in his brain.
HOSTS:
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• 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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgommery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. -
Americanswers! Kristi Noem’s dog, ‘Momala’, and presidential immunity
Americanswers is back and we take a deep dive into Joe Biden’s TikTok account and the type of content his campaign is prioritising to win over young voters.
A vice presidential hopeful has revealed she killed her dog due to behavioural issues. Will the admission end her chances of being Donald Trump’s running mate?
And, Kamala Harris has been given a new nickname by a daytime television host. Who is the White House hoping she can win over on the campaign trail?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & 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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomeryl. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. -
Trump Trial Week 2… The Surprise Witness
Former US President Donald Trump’s trial in New York is in its second week, where he’s accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
He’s pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels.
Americast is launching a new mini series to break down what’s happening in the courtroom over the six-week criminal trial.
Sarah and Anthony are joined by the BBC’s US reporter, Kayla Epstein - who’s been in court every day - to hear what happened when an unexpected witness took the stand, what Trump said about the judge, and discuss what could happen next…
HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GUEST:
• Kayla Epstein, National Reporter, BBC News
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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 Keiligh Baker and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. -
Back on campus: Biden condemns 'violent' protestors
Response to student protests across the US have escalated to violence this week, with students clashing, and arrests now exceeding 1,000.
We hear from students and BBC colleagues from across the States.
And the Americast team speaks to Niall Ferguson, historian and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, about how universities are responding to protests.
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent
GUEST:
• Niall Ferguson, historian and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University
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 Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 and Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgommery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Customer Reviews
America Street
Strange name, neither Main St or Wall St
Used to be better
As an avid follower of US politics this used to be my first port of call every time new episodes dropped, but it’s losing credibility now. There are better pods out there covering this angle.
My main feedback would be to Marianna: PLEASE stop giggling!! It’s so annoying.
I love the experience and gravitas that Anthony and Sarah bring. Wish we could bin off Marianna and the repetitive undercover voters and get back to engaging discussion.
Annoying
Surely the the story that needs covering is Trumps interview with Time in which he proposes that it might be ok for states to keep tabs on pregnant women?