Americast Podcast
Weekly insight and analysis on what's happening inside President Trump's White House.
Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the ѿý.
Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the ѿý, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now.
The podcast is hosted by trusted ѿý journalists including the ѿý’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, ѿý Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the ѿý’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and ѿý 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 ѿý’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 ѿý 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 ѿýland 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.
Episodes to download
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Americanswers… On 5 Live! Can Donald Trump stop the war between Israel and Iran?
Mon 16 Jun 2025
And which world leaders will the US President take advice from?
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Why has RFK Jr sacked an entire US vaccine safety committee?
Fri 13 Jun 2025
Plus, beyond Trump… the news stories overshadowed by the new US president.
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Did Donald Trump deliberately provoke the LA protests?
Wed 11 Jun 2025
Will protests spread to more American cities?
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Why has Donald Trump sent the National Guard to protests in LA?
Mon 9 Jun 2025
The California governor says it’s unnecessary and illegal.
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Elon Musk says Donald Trump is "in the Epstein files”
Fri 6 Jun 2025
The big public bust up between the tech billionaire and US president
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Why has Trump imposed a new travel ban and who’s on the list?
Thu 5 Jun 2025
The US president says it applies to 12 countries that are “out of control”
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Elon Musk trashes Donald Trump's big tax bill
Wed 4 Jun 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill is dividing Republicans
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Who controls Donald Trump's Truth Social account?
Mon 2 Jun 2025
The president uses it prolifically.
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Is the Trump-Musk bromance now over?
Wed 28 May 2025
The tech titan has publicly disagreed with the president
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Why did Trump ambush the South African president?
Fri 23 May 2025
Cyril Ramaphosa kept his cool despite the onslaught
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How will Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' change America?
Wed 21 May 2025
But will House Republicans defy Trump?
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Americanswers! Why is Biden’s cancer diagnosis prompting new questions?
Mon 19 May 2025
MAGA Republicans spread new rumours about his health while in office
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We speak to CNN's Jake Tapper on the “cover-up” behind Joe Biden’s decline
Sun 18 May 2025
New claims of who was involved at the White House, and when it started
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What is RFK doing for the health of Americans?
Fri 16 May 2025
As the US Health Secretary defends his cuts to Congress, we look at his agenda
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Is Trump's free plane a gift too far for Republicans?
Fri 16 May 2025
And what does it say about the new US approach to the Middle East?
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Introducing... Diddy On Trial
Tue 13 May 2025
The first day of rap mogul P Diddy's trial: jurors shown video of assault
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Has China won its trade war with Trump?
Mon 12 May 2025
And why are Gen Z obsessed with the new American pope?
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We Speak To Prof Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Laureate) On The UK/US Trade Deal…
Fri 9 May 2025
...why he thinks the UK has made a mistake and what it means for the world.
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Who’s the real winner from the UK’s trade deal with the US?
Fri 9 May 2025
And what does it mean for tariffs, American beef and steel?
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Americanswers... on 5 Live! Are the US and Canada friends again?
Wed 7 May 2025
And will Trump really reopen the Alcatraz prison?
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100 Days of Trump (Part 5)… Has He Redefined What It Means To Be President?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
How Trump has enlarged the power of the US presidency.
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100 Days of Trump (Part 4)… Has Elon Musk Changed Government Forever?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
The Americast team discuss large-scale cuts to federal government by Elon Musk’s Doge.
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100 Days of Trump (Part 3)… Who Is Welcome in America, Now?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
Who is being forced out by Trump’s deportations and how?
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100 Days of Trump (Part 2)… What Has He Done to the US Economy?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
We assess Trump’s plan to ‘make America wealthy again’.
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100 Days of Trump (Part 1)… Is Trump winning his war on woke?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
How America’s biggest companies are scrapping diversity schemes
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is the Trump/Zelensky relationship back on track?
Mon 28 Apr 2025
And is the US any closer to brokering a ceasefire deal in Ukraine?
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Signal chats, leaks, and sackings... What's going on in the Pentagon?
Thu 24 Apr 2025
And is the defence secretary in trouble?