Episodes
More than 3 million homes and businesses in Florida have been left without power after Hurricane Milton tore through the center of the state. The Americast team have partnered with Newscast to bring you a special episode on the storm that arrived less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the Gulf Coast.Sarah is in Miami to survey the scale of the damage, and Justin, Marianna and Adam are in the studio to discuss Hurricane Milton’s potential impact on the upcoming election and the disinformation swirling online.HOSTS:
* Sarah Smith, North America editor
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 pre...
Americast is back on BBC Radio 5 Live! The whole team assembled to join Matt Chorley to answer your questions live on air. With almost four weeks until the election, Melania Trump has entered the campaign with the release of snippets from her upcoming memoir in which she forcefully defends abortion rights. Does this present a problem for her husband, as he tries to win over voters who are pro-choice? We unpack how Kamala Harris has changed the Democrat's social media strategy and how different it is covering an election in the US compared to the UK.And, a caller offers Justin a thoughtful g...
How important is the United States when it comes to resolving conflict in the Middle East, and how much power does the U.S. president really have in the region? With the election just weeks away, Justin and Sarah look at how the conflict might affect voters, and what it means for both Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns. CNN’s Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour joins Justin and Sarah, sharing her insights and contacts from the region.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America EditorGUEST:
• Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief Interna...
Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz have taken part in their first, and likely only, debate of the 2024 US election. There were heated moments discussing January 6th, one muted microphone, and lots of policy ground covered: foreign policy, immigration and abortion rights. Will Vance and Walz’s performances help or hurt Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Sumi joins Marianna and Anthony who analyse who said what, and how much it matters to the presidential race.HOSTS:
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent
•...
As expectation builds that an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon is imminent, we answer your questions on how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is likely to impact the upcoming US election. JD Vance says he has “learnt his lesson” when it comes to speaking on behalf of Donald Trump. Is he likely to play it safe in tomorrow’s debate with Tim Walz?And, the last presidential election had a turnout of 66.8%. What are Democrats and Republicans doing to win over the millions not taking part in US elections?HOSTS:
* Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent
* Sumi Somaskanda, BBC...
Meet Camille and ‘Wild Mother’. Both women love nature, animals, and the outdoors. Both women also believe the assassination attempts on Donald Trump were staged – but have very different political views. Why do people believe the things they do? And what role do social media sites – and their algorithms – play?In this series, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring travels to the United States to investigate the social media backdrop to the 2024 presidential election and explore the different ways in which what is happening online is influencing the campaign offli...
Latinos are the second-largest group of eligible voters in the US, making their influence in the presidential election potentially pivotal. Sarah is investigating their sway in Arizona - a state that could help decide the outcome of the race. Which party benefits the most from winning The Grand Canyon State? And is Donald Trump or Kamala Harris making more in-roads with Latino voters? Americast brings in Mike Madrid, a veteran Latino pollster and strategist. What are demographic trends telling us about how Latinos will vote, and do Democrats need to shift their messaging to connect with thi...
Republican Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor in North Carolina has been put in doubt after CNN published a report claiming he posted racist and explicit messages on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago.Does the scandal present a risk to Donald Trump of losing the crucial state in November?Plus, we answer your questions on the electoral college voting system.And, with October just around the corner, Anthony and Miles speculate on what could emerge as this election’s ‘October Surprise’…HOSTS:* Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
* Miles Taylor, former chie...
Why Do You Hate Me? USA x The Coming Storm x Americast. A special episode on how social media, and conspiracy theories, are directly impacting the U.S. election in a new way. Who are the Americans sharing their theories online, and what is the real world impact on the election and those people affected by it? Marianna shares insights with Justin from her reporting in the United States for her new BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds podcast Why Do You Hate Me USA, where she hears the views of two women from different backgrounds who believe Trump’s assassination was staged. She also investigates th...
America through the looking glass - enter a world where nothing is as it seems.As America heads into a presidential election, Gabriel Gatehouse dives back into the labyrinthine rabbit warren of American conspiracy culture.Whilst liberals across the world worry about a possible return of Donald Trump, millions of Americans are convinced that their democracy has already been highjacked - by a sinister Deep State cabal. How did this happen? And who is behind it?Gabriel meets a January 6 rioter running for office who sees his detention as political imprisonment and goes on the trail of a Califo...
After a second assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, Americast hears from a former Secret Service agent on what goes into protecting a secret service agent, particularly on a golf course.
Sarah, Justin and Marianna are joined by Bill Gage, who helped protect President George W. Bush and President Obama. They discuss what went wrong, what secret service agents hide in their golf bags, and he also picks out out some of his most memorable experiences on the job. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation &...
The FBI has confirmed it is treating the incident involving a would-be attacker on Sunday as "an attempted assassination" against Donald Trump. We answer your questions on the fallout from another dramatic event in the campaign. Is political violence becoming normalised in the US?And, a controversial right-wing conspiracy theorist was spotted on board Trump's plane for the presidential debate in Philadelphia before joining him at an event the following day. Who is Laura Loomer, and why are some Republicans concerned she could cost Trump the election?HOSTS: * Marianna Spring, Disinformation ...
Former President Donald Trump was rushed to safety on Sunday after what the FBI called an apparent assassination attempt at Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach. The incident comes almost exactly two months after a shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left Trump wounded. Anthony and Sarah - reporting from Florida - answer key questions around what we know so far, who the suspected gunman is, and how it might impact the election. HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: ht...
The self-proclaimed ‘Childless Cat Lady’ Taylor Swift has endorsed Kamala Harris… but what difference is it likely to make, in terms of persuading the undecideds, and getting new voters registered? We also look back at the history behind celebrity endorsements from Frank Sinatra’s backing of JFK to Bruce Springsteen and Ronald Reagan, what motivates a star to back a politician? When does an endorsement backfire? Justin, Sarah and Marianna speak to Tyler Foggatt, a senior editor at The New Yorker magazine. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Maria...
And why is "THEY'RE THE EATING DOGS" trending on X?Kamala Harris and Donald Trump meet for the first time on a debate stage in Philadelphia, sparring over key issues and exchanging deep personal attacks. The momentous meeting was marked by question dodging, finger pointing… and pet-eating!The Americast Team analyses the night from the heart of the action. Who will go viral after tonight? Did Trump stick to his messaging? And how big a deal is Taylor Swift's support?HOSTS:
* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Sarah Smith, North America editor
* Marianna Spring, Disinformation & social medi...
We answer your questions about the upcoming presidential debate.Including:- Their strategies
- How they're preparing (and who's role playing Donald Trump for during Democrat rehearsals)
- What the rules areHOSTS:* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
* Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief PresenterGET 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 #AmericastUS Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155This episode w...
Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States. How did JD Vance, whose memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” about growing up in Ohio amidst alcoholism and drug addiction, become Trump’s VP pick for the White House? Once a fierce critic of Trump, publicly declaring himself a “never Trumper”, Anthony looks into what JD Vance stands for, and why he changed his mind about the former President. We also find out which song makes him cry, and how Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings influenced his career.HOST:
• Anthony Zurcher, North Am...
This week is all about predictions, polling and risk taking - what do current polls tell us about who might win the 2024 presidential race? We get a behind the scenes look at how statisticians make their predictions, and how accurate they are. Our guest Nate Silver developed a forecasting system which correctly predicted the outcome of the presidential election in 49 out of 50 states in 2008, and all 50 states in 2012. He also talks to Marianna and Sarah about his new book on risk - On the Edge - and his journey from professional poker playing to politics.HOSTS:
Sarah Smith, BBC North Ameri...
Following her first interview since entering the presidential race, where does Vice-President Kamala Harris stand on the issues that matter to Americans?And, is campaigning a family affair? We take a look at whether a single person could run for the White House, or whether a candidate could lose the race because of a media-shy partner.HOSTS:* Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor
* Marianna Spring, BBC Disinformation & Social Media CorrespondentGET 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 ...
Inside Trump’s White HouseLONG
After one of the greatest political surprises in American political history, Donald Trump’s 2016 victory gave way to a controversial and consequential presidency. We look back on the four years that were defined by staff fallouts, COVID, and an attempted insurrection. Anthony is joined by two journalists who were in the room with Trump while he was changing American politics one decision at a time.Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States.HOST:
* Anthony Zurcher, North America co...
Americast discovers how Donald Trump's business success came from creating a franchise out of his most valuable commodity: himself.Americast is profiling all the major candidates in the U.S. election - Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and JD Vance - look out for our special profile eps over the next few Sundays!HOST:
* Sarah Smith, North America EditorGUESTS:
* Marc Fisher, senior editor at the Washington Post and co-author of the biography ‘Trump Revealed’
* Bill Pruitt, former Apprentice producerGET IN TOUCH:
* Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
* Send us a m...
In 2020 Joe Biden won this key swing state by fewer than 81,000 votes. In 2024, the path to the White House may be impossible for the Democrats unless they win over the people of Pennsylvania.And the Republican know it. Vance and Trump are both visiting this week.In this episode of Americast we investigate what makes Pennsylvania so important, and what makes its voters tick. Sarah and Sumi are joined by two people with their fingers on the pulse; a morning radio host and a political strategist on different sides of the aisle.HOSTS:- Sarah Smith, North America Editor
- Sumi Somaskanda, BBC C...
US prosecutors have issued revised charges against Donald Trump for the former president's alleged attempts to interfere in the 2020 election after losing the contest. How do they differ from the charges he’s already facing?RFK Jr has officially dropped out of the race for the White House after a campaign which at one point saw him polling in double digits. How will his withdrawal affect the race?And, it’s been confirmed that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will do an interview with CNN this week. Why are Democrats nervous about Harris’s first interview as a presidential candidate?HOSTS:* Marian...
Few people had heard of Governor Tim Walz when he was selected by Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States. The former teacher was chosen ahead of fierce competition, including an astronaut, and the governor of a key swing state - but why? Americast finds out how “Coach Walz” made his way onto the ticket.Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States. HOST:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenterGUESTS:
• Leah Solo, Tim Walz’s former student and campaign manager
• Briana Bie...
Kamala Harris closed the DNC with a speech that she hopes will sway voters to the Democrats. The day began with speculation over whether she might be joined on stage by Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. In the end, Harris took to the stage alone and focused on her upbringing and a pitch to America’s middle class.The team assemble on the final night of the convention to analyse whether she did enough to win over the undecided.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://di...
Sarah, Justin and Anthony are at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Tim Walz and Bill Clinton have been sharing a stage with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGET 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 This episode was made by George Dabby and Claire Betzer in Chicago, with Hatty ...
Sarah, Justin and Anthony are at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Barack and Michelle Obama have been speaking.The gang unpack the speeches, which also included endorsements of Kamala Harris, innuendos, and classic Obama themes.Plus, a rousing musical appearance from rapper Lil Jon.HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGET 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
•...
The Democratic National Convention is officially underway. The president began his long goodbye from American politics with an address to the nation in which he sought to remind Americans of his achievements in office., at times angry and visibly emotional. And before that there was a speech from former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who used her time at the podium to say that it's time for Kamala Harris to break the 'glass ceiling'.Sarah, Justin and Anthony are all together in Chicago to chat through a defining week in Kamala Harris’s bid to defeat Donald Trump to the White House....
A collab with our friends at BBC Radio 5 Live.HOSTS:
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Tony Livesey, 5 Live presenterGET 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 Radio 5 Live and the Americast team. ...
How much do we know about the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States? What are their backgrounds, and what do they stand for?
Americast kicks off its first profile series with Vice President Kamala Harris part 1.
Justin explores her early rise in the state of California as a prosecutor and senator, to her journey towards becoming VP. What’s the connection between Toni Morrison and Kamala Harris? Why did she drop out of the 2020 race before a single ballot was cast?
Americast is profiling all the major candidates in the U.S. elect...