Americast podcast

Americast

·

  BBC News  

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.

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.

 

#550

The battle for Texas… can Democrats win it back from Trump?

The midterm elections are underway - in the Republican stronghold of Texas at least. Early... more

Yesterday

31 MINS

31:45

Yesterday


#549

Trump's big, long, State of the Union speech

The Americast team assembles for a late evening/early morning special as President Trump d... more

25 Feb 2026

31 MINS

31:20

25 Feb 2026


#548

Americanswers... on 5Live! Why haven't more Americans faced charges over Epstein?

Fresh questions are emerging about the Jeffrey Epstein case, after the release of new mate... more

23 Feb 2026

30 MINS

30:20

23 Feb 2026


#547

Trump's Tariffs... Trump attacks the Supreme Court over tariff ban

Donald Trump has called the Supreme Court’s ruling blocking many of his sweeping tariffs ‘... more

20 Feb 2026

21 MINS

21:37

20 Feb 2026


#546

Who is Tucker Carlson and what does he tell us about the future of MAGA?

Who are the people shaping MAGA ideology in the US? Tucker Carlson’s story tells a larger ... more

20 Feb 2026

37 MINS

37:30

20 Feb 2026


#545

Everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s Board of Peace

President Trump described his Board of Peace as “the most consequential international orga... more

18 Feb 2026

31 MINS

31:40

18 Feb 2026


#544

Americanswers... on 5Live! Why did Pam Bondi, US Attorney General, lose her temper during Epstein Fi...

In fiery congressional hearings last week, US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the just... more

17 Feb 2026

31 MINS

31:47

17 Feb 2026


#543

Will the US Supreme Court stand up to Trump?

Will Donald Trump be legally allowed to proceed with key elements of his second term agend... more

13 Feb 2026

30 MINS

30:31

13 Feb 2026


#542

Has Jeff Bezos brought down the Washington Post?

The paper that contributed to the resignation of President Nixon over Watergate and the Vi... more

11 Feb 2026

27 MINS

27:37

11 Feb 2026


#541

Americanswers! Why is Trump so annoyed about Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a love letter to Latin culture, paying homage to hi... more

09 Feb 2026

38 MINS

38:47

09 Feb 2026


#540

Is Donald Trump going to cancel the midterm elections?

This week Donald Trump has doubled down on why he thinks power should be taken away from i... more

06 Feb 2026

31 MINS

31:31

06 Feb 2026


#539

Why are Bill and Hillary Clinton testifying over Epstein?

In one of the biggest US headlines to emerge from the latest Epstein files, former Preside... more

04 Feb 2026

30 MINS

30:08

04 Feb 2026


#538

Americanswers… On 5 Live! Do the new Epstein files "absolve" Trump?

The Department of Justice has said that their review process into files related to Jeffrey... more

02 Feb 2026

31 MINS

31:52

02 Feb 2026


#537

Can Trump really save the midterms for the Republicans?

Can Republicans win the midterm elections and keep control of both houses of Congress? It’... more

30 Jan 2026

34 MINS

34:41

30 Jan 2026


#536

Will Trump “de-escalate” Minneapolis tensions after Alex Pretti killing?

What does Donald Trump actually mean when he says his administration plans to “de-escalate... more

28 Jan 2026

33 MINS

33:30

28 Jan 2026


#535

Americanswers… On 5 Live! Another US citizen shot dead by ICE. What happens next?

After a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs federal agents, pr... more

26 Jan 2026

40 MINS

40:42

26 Jan 2026


#534

Are ICE immigration agents acting outside the law?

Donald Trump came into power with a promise to carry out the “largest mass deportation pro... more

23 Jan 2026

30 MINS

30:21

23 Jan 2026


#533

Have Trump and Europe reached a deal on Greenland?

What exactly is Donald Trump’s plan for Greenland? Donald Trump began on Wednesday by tel... more

22 Jan 2026

29 MINS

29:31

22 Jan 2026


#532

Americanswers… On 5 Live! Can Donald Trump be talked down over Greenland?

As we mark one year of Donald Trump back as president of the United States, we answer your... more

19 Jan 2026

32 MINS

32:50

19 Jan 2026


#531

Introducing The Global Story... what's really behind Trump's foreign policy?

How are Donald Trump’s ambitions in Venezuela and Greenland changing America’s place in th... more

18 Jan 2026

30 MINS

30:44

18 Jan 2026


#530

The Jan 6th Capitol riots five years on… Why America is still divided

Five years on from the Jan 6th Capitol riots in Washington DC, the narrative around what h... more

16 Jan 2026

25 MINS

25:47

16 Jan 2026


#529

Can Denmark convince Trump not to “conquer” Greenland?

There are two big stories on today’s episode. What happened when foreign ministers from De... more

15 Jan 2026

32 MINS

32:01

15 Jan 2026


#528

Americanswers... On 5 Live! What do Americans really think of Donald Trump?

Donald Trump won his second presidency on a promise to put “America First” and to “Make Am... more

12 Jan 2026

33 MINS

33:07

12 Jan 2026


#527

Can the US really rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry?

In the fallout of Nicolas Maduro’s dramatic capture from Venezuela to the US, Donald Trump... more

10 Jan 2026

26 MINS

26:28

10 Jan 2026


#526

The fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting

Protests have broken out in Minneapolis after a US immigration agent shot dead a 37-year-o... more

08 Jan 2026

29 MINS

29:05

08 Jan 2026


#525

How far will Trump go to seize Greenland?

Few in Washington took Donald Trump seriously when he first floated the idea of the US acq... more

07 Jan 2026

26 MINS

26:20

07 Jan 2026


#524

Americanswers... On 5 Live! Could Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro be found not guilty in a US court?

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro proclaimed "I am still president" and pleaded not guilty to dru... more

05 Jan 2026

29 MINS

29:55

05 Jan 2026


#523

Trump’s Venezuela takeover... everything you need to know

How did the US capture the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and how exactly will the US... more

04 Jan 2026

31 MINS

31:49

04 Jan 2026


#522

How did a YouTuber stop federal funding to Minnesota?

The Trump administration has frozen child care payments for the state of Minnesota after t... more

02 Jan 2026

29 MINS

29:02

02 Jan 2026


#521

What will be the biggest US stories of 2026?

The Americast team look ahead to what the big U.S. stories of 2026 are likely to be, and h... more

31 Dec 2025

28 MINS

28:09

31 Dec 2025