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Check latest episodes from Americast podcast

America Shoots For the Moon Again: Houston, We Have Neil deGrasse Tyson

2024/02/22

Back on earth, Donald Trump’s legal troubles are mounting and the Republican presidential hopeful now faces debts of over half a billion dollars. We assess how the former president will try to pay off these debts and what effect it might have on his run for the White House. And on the evening that the US returned to the moon, Neil deGrasse Tyson - one of America’s most famous astrophysicists - talks to us about why commercial space ventures are in fashion and why people are struggling to know where to get their facts. 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 Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Putin Says Vote For Joe!

2024/02/15

Love is in the air…or is it? Vladimir Putin expressed his preference for the next American president on Valentine’s Day - but critics suspect there might be more to his endorsement than meets the eye. His comments come in the wake of Donald Trump’s disparaging declaration against NATO and that Russia should “do whatever the hell they want” to countries that don't pay up. And after our emergency episode on Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, we respond to your questions about how, if at all, President Biden could be removed from office. 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 Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Global Story: Could Taylor Swift swing the US election?

2024/02/10

Our colleagues on The Global Story made this episode on a subject we know is close to many Americaster's hearts. So we thought we'd put it in your feeds. It's presented by Europe editor Katya Adler. To look at Taylor Swift's potential political sway, she's joined by North America business correspondent Erin Delmore. Subscribe to The Global Story by searching for The Global Story on BBC Sounds. 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 podcast was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

‘An Elderly Man with Poor Memory’: Biden’s Age Old Problem

2024/02/09

A bombshell report from Special Counsel Robert Hur has raised serious questions about President Joe Biden's memory, which the White House has been quick to rebuff. The report criticised the president for retaining classified information but rejected prosecution, arguing that Biden would likely present himself at trial as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory". Americast dissects the details of this breaking story with Sarah Baxter, Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting and a former US correspondent. And as Tucker Carlson becomes the first Western journalist to sit down one-on-one with Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine, Justin and Anthony give their instant reaction to the interview as it drops. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Sarah Baxter, Director of Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting 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, Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

America looks set for Trump v Biden

2024/02/02

The Americast team pore over the New Hampshire results after an evening in which Donald Trump looks to have the Republican nomination all but sewn up. Nikki Haley says she's a fighter and that the race "is far from over" but is there really a route back from here? Earlier in the evening, Sarah caught up with former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who told us why he thought Trump’s various indictments have helped him in the polls so far. And, Ron DeSantis officially suspended his campaign before the New Hampshire primary. What next for him? We answer your questions about the Florida governor. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Sean Spicer, Former White House Press Secretary under Donald Trump 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Madeleine Drury and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Christiane Amanpour on Biden's Iran Dilemma

2024/01/31

The world waits to see how the United States will retaliate to a drone strike that killed three American troops in Jordan, after an Iran-backed militia group claimed responsibility for the attack. Christiane Amanpour, the Iranian-British Chief International Anchor for CNN, is our star guest this week. We hear why Joe Biden now walks a tightrope between avoiding escalation in the Middle East, and projecting strength at home - all while Donald Trump looks on from the campaign trail. Also on the podcast, Marianna tells us about her new BBC Radio 4 podcast series called 'Why Do You Hate Me?' She’s been speaking to a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in American history, who ended up believing online conspiracy theories that the entire event was a government plot. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Anchor for CNN 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 Listen to 'Why Do You Hate Me?' on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0h46gmn This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Rufus Gray, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

America looks set for Trump v Biden

2024/01/24

Donald wins... and then lashes out at Nikki Haley. The Americast team pore over the New Hampshire results after an evening in which Donald Trump looks to have the Republican nomination all but sewn up. Nikki Haley says she's a fighter and that the race "is far from over" but is there really a route back from here? Earlier in the evening, Sarah caught up with former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who told us why he thought Trump’s various indictments have helped him in the polls so far. And, Ron DeSantis officially suspended his campaign before the New Hampshire primary. What next for him? We answer your questions about the Florida governor. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Sean Spicer, Former White House Press Secretary under Donald Trump 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Madeleine Drury and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Election Trail: From Iowa to New Hampshire

2024/01/18

Hot on the heels of the Iowa caucus, Republican candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis prepare for the next primary showdown in New Hampshire. Sarah and Justin unpack if it could prove to be a tougher test for Trump and a way back into the race for the other candidates. And, why are the Democrats infighting after Biden’s idea to bump the state from its prized primary calendar slot? HOSTS: Sarah Smith, North America editor Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Madeleine Drury, Maia Davies and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Trump Wins Iowa Landslide

2024/01/16

The 2024 presidential election is officially underway. Americast hits the road for a record breaking caucus. Destination? Des Moines, Iowa. It’s not only the coldest caucus ever seen in Iowa, but it’s also the biggest landslide for a Republican nominee. The question is whether it’s enough to bury his main rivals Ron Desantis and Nikki Haley for good, or whether the runners up are still even in the running at all. The gang chew through the numbers with the famed pollster Frank Luntz, and Sarah gets a peek into the Trump family business by speaking to the former President’s son, Eric. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Eric Trump, Son of President Donald Trump • Frank Luntz, Political strategist and pollster 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Darren Wardrobe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Can Anyone Stop Trump in Iowa?

2024/01/11

With the Iowa caucus just days away, Chris Christie drops out of the 2024 presidential race. Can anyone stop Donald Trump? The team takes a look at why Iowa dominates the political conversation every four years. Anthony Blinken is once again in the Middle East to broker peace in the region amid a barrage of attacks by Houthi rebels against Red Sea shipping. And on Saturday Taiwan heads to the polls for its presidential elections in a vote that could shape the future of relations between the US and China. With the help of Ivo Daalder, former US Ambassador to NATO, the team takes you inside the Americast Situation Room to monitor the biggest challenges the US faces around the world. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUEST: • Ivo Daalder, Former United States Permanent Representative to NATO 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Epstein Files: Former US Presidents Named

2024/01/04

High-profile associates of Jeffrey Epstein named in US court papers. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are among the people named in US court papers detailing connections of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The team assesses what we know so far, what’s to come, and how the story has played out on social media. And after weeks of controversy, Claudine Gay has stepped down as president of Harvard University following her comments on anti-Semitism. We speak to the reporter who got the scoop on the plagiarism story about why he thinks she had no choice but to step down. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Aaron Sibarium, Reporter at The Washington Free Beacon 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Rufus Gray, Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

A Merry Cast: Past, Present and Future of US Politics

2023/12/28

Americast reimagines the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, to understand the changing landscape of American politics. They are joined by Heather Cox Richardson, historian and author of the hugely popular newsletter "Letters from an American", who helps guide them through the past, the present and the future of the United States on this special Christmas edition. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Heather Cox Richardson, author 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. This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Ricky Wayne Wisecup III 2024/02/16

Best I’ve heard

As a 23 year old conservative American, American media has seemed too biased for me recently. Love how this program actively critiques both parties wh...

BibliophileG 2024/02/19

Used to enjoy

I used to enjoy this podcast until I learned about the subtle influence of certain foreign propaganda (and using a trusted brand!!). I observed how o...

yenooc2 2024/02/16

Too many sloppy errors

In a podcast criticizing Biden for uncaught errors, one Americast pundit said Obama when he meant Biden, and another pundit said Biden when she meant ...

PleaseIn4me 2024/01/17

Iowa

Good and interesting coverage of the Iowa vote. Thanks

saperlo 2024/02/09

Liberal Snobs Whining and Opining

This podcast has been trying to set itself out as a credible news source; which is something that takes a genuinely bi-partisan position to achieve. B...

Refd 3422 2023/10/01

British perspective of American politics

Really enjoy listening to this podcast. The hosts are seasoned BBC journalists with a lot of knowledge of American politics. Each week they cover the ...

Bill Leader 2023/05/20

Excellent news and opinion podcast

Nice to hear the Brits view of America. The pod covers areas that are not often addressed by media here in the states. I look forward to each episode.

Caarrina 2023/09/16

Not informed

I feel the host doesn’t give any pushback to guests when they’re obviously spreading falsehoods. It makes it seem like the host doesn’t know what’s re...

Nardwuar Sr. 2023/09/10

State funded liberal media

They defended Prince Andrew before the dumb general masses were aware of the story. They covered for Jimmy Seville who was raping special needs kids i...

earthlingdave 2023/08/06

Mere punditry…

Too many journalists have fallen into the laziness of punditry, both in how they discuss politics and how they train the audience to think of themselv...

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