200 episodes

The authoritative 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.

Americast BBC Podcasts

    • Government
    • 4.4 • 79 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

The authoritative 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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Americanswers! Why has Trump predicted a "bloodbath"? How do people cross the US/Mexico border? And could Biden pardon his son?

    Americanswers! Why has Trump predicted a "bloodbath"? How do people cross the US/Mexico border? And could Biden pardon his son?

    Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!
    We’re joined once again by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.
    They sit down with Sarah and Anthony to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.
    This episode contains a reference to suicide which some listeners may find upsetting.
    HOSTS:
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
    GUESTS:
    • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security
    • Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman
    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, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 37 min
    Fentanyl: War on Drugs 2.0?

    Fentanyl: War on Drugs 2.0?

    Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug that can be prescribed by a doctor to treat severe pain. But like its predecessors, that drug has been illegally manufactured and sold by criminal gangs.
    The president has called the crisis an “American tragedy” but many angles to the epidemic lie elsewhere in China and Mexico.
    Ben Westhoff was the first journalist to enter a Chinese fentanyl lab posing as a buyer. He spoke with us about the origins of the epidemic, the scale of the problem for US towns and cities and the hope that exists for solutions to the crisis.
    If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast, please visit BBC Action Line to find information on organisations that can help. You can find it here: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline
    HOSTS:
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
    • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
    GUESTS:
    • Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.
    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, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 29 min
    Americanswers: Should Biden ditch Kamala? Who pays Trump’s legal fees? And what’s your favourite Bidenism?

    Americanswers: Should Biden ditch Kamala? Who pays Trump’s legal fees? And what’s your favourite Bidenism?

    We answer the biggest questions in the race for the White House...
    Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!
    In the first Monday edition of Americast, we’re joined by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.
    They sit down with Sarah and Justin to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.
    HOSTS:
    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    GUEST HOSTS:
    • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security in Trump administration
    • Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswoman
    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
    Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter all about the US election: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
    This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 33 min
    State of the Union: Biden's Pitch to the Nation

    State of the Union: Biden's Pitch to the Nation

    Under the close gaze of his critics - and millions of American voters - Joe Biden delivered arguably the most significant State of the Union address in recent times.
    The president chose to focus on his economic record, his plans to to fix America's immigration system and repeatedly took aim against Donald Trump.
    The Americast team chew over the president's speech with the help of Joe Biden's former speechwriter, Jeff Nussbaum, who told us what it's like to work with him and how you judge the success of a speech like the one Biden just delivered.
    HOSTS:
    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
    • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    GUEST:
    Jeff Nussbaum, former speechwriter for Joe Biden
    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.
    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, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 46 min
    Super Tuesday: Everything Points to Trump vs Biden

    Super Tuesday: Everything Points to Trump vs Biden

    Fifteen states voted on super Tuesday to decide who the nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties will be. Donald Trump didn’t quite get the clean sweep he hoped for, but will Nikki Haley’s Vermont win be enough to keep her in the race?
    The Americast team discuss the issues that mattered most to voters on Tuesday, namely immigration and the economy, and how the race has become a battle of the incumbents.
    HOSTS:
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
    • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
    • 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
    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
    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, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 28 min
    Trump: The Sequel? An Americast x Panorama Special

    Trump: The Sequel? An Americast x Panorama Special

    This afternoon the Supreme Court overturned a Colorado ruling that declared Donald Trump ineligible to run for President in the state.
    Justin and Marianna have been in the US to look at how despite legal, financial and polling challenges, he's on course for an epic election rematch with Joe Biden in November. Marianna’s also uncovered evidence of Trump supporters using AI to attract votes from African Americans.
    You can watch Panorama, Trump: The Sequel? here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001x0yl
    HOSTS:
    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
    • Marianna Spring, disinformation and 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
    Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
    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 Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
79 Ratings

79 Ratings

777jockey ,

Stop calling Emily by her surname

Stop calling her Matlis. Her name is Emily

aran man ,

Excellent coverage

Well done all

Subaaa120 ,

Unfollowed

Unfortunately in the run up to the 2024 election, Americast has become unlistenable. The both sideism is at this point laughable and irresponsible. Plus the presenters talk as if the podcast is political commentary at a remedial level. Issues are simplified and dumbed down and the explainers are not even current. There are other podcasts that examine American politics in a much more analytical way which don’t patronize the listener. Give this a miss.

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