Americast BBC Podcasts

Arguments are taking place inside (and outside) the courtroom.
Former US President Donald Trump’s trial in New York is in its sixth week, where he’s accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
After hearing closing arguments from the prosecutors and defence, jurors in Donald Trump's historic criminal trial will begin their deliberations. The 12 New Yorkers must reach a unanimous verdict.
As always, there’s been drama outside the courtroom. The actor Robert De Niro has been speaking out against Donald Trump, much to the chagrin of the former President’s followers in Manhattan.
HOST:
* Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GUESTS:
* Kayla Epstein, BBC reporter covering the trial in New York
* Madeline Halpert, BBC reporter covering the trial in New York
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 Tim Walklate with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Last week, Donald and Melania Trump attended Barron Trump's high school graduation ceremony in West Palm Beach, Florida. Melania has been largely absent so far from the campaign trail. Is that likely to change in the coming months?
Americasters have also been in touch about candidates who could run in the 2028 presidential election. Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez likely to be one of them?
Plus, we answer your request for travel recommendations during the presidential election…
HOSTS:
* 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 George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Former US President Donald Trump’s trial in New York is in its sixth 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.
This week, there was a moment of chaos when Justice Merchan ordered the jury out of the courtroom to admonish defence witness Bob Costello for his conduct on the stand.
Sarah and Anthony, alongside the BBC’s US reporter, Kayla Epstein, take a look at Costello’s evidence, and when we could expect a verdict on the historic trial.
HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
• Kayla Epstein, BBC reporter covering the trial in New York
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 Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

With both candidates gearing up for the first presidential debate and national party conventions, the Americast team takes a step back to look at where the race stands now.
Justin Webb and Sarah Smith give their analysis on recent polling and ask whether the Biden camp should be worried, and how polls could influence the next six months.
Also, the Trump campaign reposted a video this week which referenced a “unified reich.” Marianna Spring looks into where this video came from and why it matters that staffers are posting videos that they did not make themselves.
HOSTS:
* Sarah Smith, North America Editor
* 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 Purvee Pattni with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The team regroup to make more predictions about possible candidates for the Democrats and Republicans in 2028. We also take stock of foreign influence operations ahead of the upcoming US election. What has the US learnt since the last election?
Plus, Ivanka Trump played an influential role in her father’s first administration, but she’s since disappeared from the public eye. Could she reappear in Trump’s next White House?
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 Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Donald Trump’s former lawyer takes the stand.
Former US President Donald Trump’s trial in New York is in its fourth 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.
This week, the man at the centre of those allegations - Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and right hand man - took the stand. 
Anthony Zurcher, alongside the BBC’s US reporters, Kayla Epstein and Madeline Halpert, take a detailed look at Cohen’s evidence, and they also discuss why high ranking Republicans have been speaking outside the court in New York and why it could affect the Vice Presidential nomination.  
 
HOSTS: 
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
 
GUESTS: 
• Kayla Epstein, BBC reporter covering the trial in New York
• Madeline Halpert, BBC  reporter covering the trial in New York
 
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 Purvee Pattni with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.