Episodes
Republicans hope they can win a number of crucial races in Arizona that could determine which party controls Congress in this year’s midterm elections. Arizona Republicans chose to nominate a number of Trump-backed candidates for November’s elections, putting the power of the president’s endorsement to the test in the crucial swing state.At the top of the ticket is the race for the governor’s office where Republicans are optimistic their candidate, Andy Biggs, can beat incumbent Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs. Biggs supported Trump’s failed attempt to block certification of his 2020 elect...
The FIFA 2026 World Cup was not without controversy, but with the event now concluded, was it a success for the US and Donald Trump? The president has faced scrutiny over perceived interference in the tournament, but what has the legacy of the World Cup been for the US?
Meanwhile, the US and Iran have continued to exchange attacks over the weekend, with the Pentagon announcing on Sunday that a third member of the American military had died in attacks in Jordan and Iraq. Secretary of state Marco Rubio has said the US remains open to negotiations, but is America getting dragged into a so...
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
In the space of one week, two men have been fatally shot by ICE agents in two different states. With limited footage of the incidents and suggestions that neither men were the initial targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, protesters are calling for investigations into their deaths.The deaths of Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine - a 26-year-old Colombian national authorised to work in the US - and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston - a Mexican national who worked in the country as a builder for three decades - have sparked protests and calls for ICE to change how they operat...
A photo of the US senator has gone viral, after he hadn’t been seen for weeks, with rumours mounting over his absence. Over the weekend, the republican Mitch McConnell posted a picture of himself in hospital with his wife, with a dated copy of the Washington Post. But will it stop the conspiracy theories?
Also in today’s episode, Justin, Sumi and Anthony answer your questions about Senator Lindsay Graham whose death was announced over the weekend. We look at his changing relationship with Donald Trump, his infamous exchange over the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanagh, ...
After Charlie Kirk’s death, will young people still vote Republican, and could the battle for his legacy cost Donald Trump crucial votes in this year’s midterm elections?This week marks the start of hearings which will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a murder case against Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson. The hearings have once again highlighted Charlie Kirk’s influence on young people and the battle among some Republicans to secure his legacy.His death remains the subject of conspiracy theories among prominent far-right influencers such as Tucker Carlson an...
Top Democrats are urgently searching for a new senate candidate in Maine. Graham Platner, the former marine and oyster farmer, lost his party’s support after serious allegations of rape and sexual assault, which he denies. Winning Maine is pivotal to the Democrats’ chances of gaining back control of the Senate in this November’s midterm elections. Now the party is scrambling for alternative candidates, with questions around they type of candidate the party should choose, and how the Democrats will choose to fight Trump. Before these allegations emerged, Graham Platner was heralded as a non...
Donald Trump explains his controversial intervention in the World Cup. Speaking in the Oval office, the US president confirmed he asked FIFA to review United States star striker Folarin Balogun's one-match red card suspension at the World Cup. It means the US will be able to play its top scorer during tonight’s game against Belgium. Trump said football's world governing body "made the right decision", adding it would have left a "big stain" on the tournament had the ban been implemented and that “he didn’t think it was a foul”. What’s been the reaction to Trump’s comments and what does t...
How have 250 years of history shaped modern America? As historic July 4th celebrations take place across the country this weekend we ask how does modern America compare to the vision of the Founding Fathers in the 18th Century? What does it means to be an American citizen today and has that changed over time? Where does this all leave the American dream? In this episode, Justin and Anthony talk to the historian Heather Cox Graham who writes a daily Substack on American politics and society and has started a video project - 250 to 250 - to mark the historic landmark. Today, we are bombarded ...
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has removed restrictions on campaign spending. It opens a new wave of spending in the midterm elections after voting to remove restrictions on how much political parties may spend on candidates, potentially altering the dynamic of November’s midterms and the 2028 presidential election. Democrats were quick to criticise the judgement as a win for “billionaire donors and special interests” as figures show Republicans are massively outraising the Democrat Party. How will the ruling affect the future of US political campaigns?While Donald Trump celebrate...
SCOTUS overturns 90 years of legal precedent to expand US presidential power, handing Donald Trump a major victory. The court ruled President Donald Trump CAN fire the heads of independent agencies without cause. The justices struck down a nearly century-old precedent that has allowed Congress to protect the leaders of independent agencies from political influence. The court’s landmark decision is based on allowing President Trump to remove a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, Rebecca Slaughter, for policy reasons. She sued the government, but today’s decision effectivel...
What should Democrats be doing when it comes to challenging Donald Trump, and in particular, why are Democrat politicians struggling to connect with voters? In this episode, Ben Rhodes joins Americast and gives Justin his current view on the Democrats (and whether they should avoid lecturing voters) plus, why Republicans have been more successful at getting their message out in the digital sphere. What are they doing more effectively than the Democrats?Ben Rhodes was a speech writer and Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama and is now the co-host of the popular Pod Save the W...
The US is lifting its decades-long sanctions on Iran, without guarantees against its nuclear programme. We hear from Republican senators usually loyal to Donald Trump who are critical of Trump’s claims that America has won the war, and that Iran is “on the ropes”.
In this episode, Sarah and Anthony look at how the US president is trying to convince Republicans and US voters, that it’s the right decision to allow Iran to make billions of dollars from selling oil, and that the regime won’t use it on their military or nuclear programme. Will this work on senate Republicans, where a measure...
The US Vice President has been justifying his changing view of Donald Trump’s IQ. JD Vance says Donald Trump is probably the most intelligent
president the US has ever had. But how does he defend changing his opinion, after admitting that he didn’t think Trump was “a smart person” back in 2016? And how intelligent is the US president? Sarah, Justin and Marianna answer your questions in today’s episode. These include what’s gone wrong with Trump’s reflecting pool makeover in DC? It’s gone from a shade of blue chosen by Trump at great expense to green. How much is the algae ridden water reall...
The US economy backs Elon Musk’s vision for sending people to Mars, the moon and beyond with SpaceX. Elon Musk’s rocket, telecommunications and artificial intelligence company SpaceX has listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange with a value of $2.2 trillion; making him the world’s first trillionaire in the process. Other AI companies, including Open AI and Anthropic have plans to follow suit but what does that mean for the US economy and global financial stability?
In this episode, Justin speaks to Ryan Mac - an investigative technology reporter for the New York Times who has extensive experien...
Former First Lady Jill Biden says she wants to “set the record straight” on how she felt about her husband’s health during that infamous debate that ended his 2024 presidential bid. Why is she speaking out now, and what does it mean for the Democrats, particularly in the run up to this November’s midterm elections? In this episode of Americast we go under the radar, looking at stories away from the main news headlines. As well as the Bidens, we also discuss why this World Cup might be the best PR machine for Donald Trump’s America. Social media videos show international fans united in th...
Donald Trump became the second oldest president in US history on Sunday, at 80 years old. And to celebrate the milestone he hosted a UFC cage fight on the White House lawn. Justin, Anthony and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to discuss how the UFC Freedom 250 event was received in the US. Was it a money trap or a celebration of all things America? Did Trump really fall asleep for part of the event and does that say anything about his ability to do the job? Also, what does Trump’s deal over Iran actually mean - and is it any different from the situation pre-war? The president called the...
The world’s largest data centre (62sq miles) has been approved in Utah, but there is growing opposition towards the project. At twice the size of Manhattan with promises to create thousands of jobs, we look at the bi partisan opposition against it.
In this episode, Justin and Anthony discuss the enormous buildings being built across rural America, to house the huge amounts of data that A.I companies work with. Tech bosses say the centres are essential to the growth of Artificial Intelligence. Also, for many of these companies, now valued at billions of dollars, their stock price is bas...
There are new allegations against Graham Platner, the confirmed Democratic senate candidate in Maine. The small north eastern state which borders Canada is at the centre of a fierce debate within the Democratic party. Have they picked the right candidate for a profoundly important election in Maine, which will be integral to Democrats’ chances of winning back control of the US Senate?Graham Platner, the Democrat’s new candidate, is facing multiple allegations and scandals around his conduct and behaviour, particularly around women. He says he’s been unfairly targeted, and that everyone h...
The US president was being questioned in Wisconsin when he walked out - what happened and why has the clip gone viral? In this episode, Anthony, Marianna and Sumi answer your questions with Matt Chorley on 5 Live. We also look at whether the president has lost control of the Iran War. Last week, some Republicans joined Democrats to pass a measure in Congress seeking to halt Trump from taking further military action amid growing opposition to the war. Meanwhile, with renewed tit-for-tat strikes from both Iran and Israel, Donald Trump is insisting that he’s close to a deal to end the conflic...
We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the tournament? And why are tickets so expensive?We tell you everything you need to know about what’s going on off the pitch.Adam Fleming joins from Newscast and 5 Live football commentary legend John Murray is on from Football Daily.In this episode we look at what the US-Iran war means for Iran’s team and what strict Visa laws mean for players and fans.Listen to Newscast here: ht...
We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the tournament? And why are tickets so expensive?We tell you everything you need to know about what’s going on off the pitch.Adam Fleming joins from Newscast and 5 Live football commentary legend John Murray is on from Football Daily.In this episode we look at what the US-Iran war means for Iran’s team and what strict Visa laws mean for players and fans.Listen to Newscast here: ht...
We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the tournament? And why are tickets so expensive?We tell you everything you need to know about what’s going on off the pitch.Adam Fleming joins from Newscast and 5 Live football commentary legend John Murray is on from Football Daily.In this episode we look at why the US, Canada, and Mexico were picked as hosts, and who’s benefiting from the Trump-Infantino bromance.Listen to News...
Could Democrats flip Iowa from the Republicans? It’s a state Trump has won three times and Republicans have dominated for more than a decade. The last senate race the Democrats won there was Barack Obama’s victory in 2008, before he went on to win the presidential nomination. But now, overnight primary results from Iowa are leaving Democrats feeling optimistic. Justin, Sarah and Anthony break down the key races, including a well-funded, gun-owning Democratic gubernatorial candidate who is appealing to voters across party lines, versus a Republican outsider who won without Trump’s endorsem...
Why have artists pulled out of a festival celebrating America's 250th birthday in Washington DC ? The Great American State Fair is planned on the National Mall between 25th June and 10th July but artists such as Young MC, the Commodores and country singer Martina McBride expressed concern at the political nature of the event and cancelled their appearances. President Trump has subsequently said that he might give a headline speech instead so what hope now for a celebration of national unity?In this episode, Justin, Sarah and Marianna answer your questions with Matt Chorley on 5 Live. They t...
US presidents have always told lies. Richard Nixon famously lied to Congress over his knowledge of the Watergate scandal while Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives after declaring that he did not have “sexual relations” with Monica Lewinsky. How much does the American public care about politicians lying and could a new law stop it from happening?In today’s Americast, Justin and Sarah speak to a former federal prosecutor who wants to hold politicians accountable if their lies damage democracy. Andrew Weissman played a major role in former FBI director Robert Mueller’s i...
The Senate race for Texas could decide which party controls Congress in November’s midterm elections, and some Democrats think the state could be theirs for the first time since 1988. It follows Tuesday’s Republican primary in Texas that ousted the state’s long-serving senator, John Cornyn, in favour of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a controversial figure who was backed by Donald Trump after the president accused Cornyn of disloyalty.In today’s episode, Sarah and Anthony assess whether Trump’s backing for Ken Paxton reflects a growing disconnect between the president and his base, and ...
There was a gender divide in the US in 2024 and one of the criticisms of the failed Democrat presidential campaign was that they appealed to women and largely ignored men. So, with the midterms coming up, and the 2028 battle lines being drawn, how much is are political conversations going to centre around who can attract the male vote? Justin’s been talking to a man who’s been thinking about that very question. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent GUEST:
• Scott Galloway, New York University professor, author, and podcasterGE...
What is President Trump’s plan for the future of Cuba? His oil blockade has crippled the island’s economy and could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. He has indicted former President Raul Castro for murder and put sanctions on Cuba’s military leaders, but what might be his next steps? Is he thinking about using the Venezuela playbook and snatching the 94 year old leader?In this episode, Sarah and Anthony discuss what Trump’s options are in Cuba and whether military action is feasible and likely.We also hear from Carlos Cubelo - a former Republican Congressman from Florida who is the son o...
US tax authorities will be barred from pursuing claims against Donald Trump, some members of his family and the Trump organisation. This pledge is part of an extraordinary new settlement, announced yesterday, between the US president and the US Department of Justice. In this episode, Sarah and Anthony look at the implications of the deal, which includes the creation of a fund worth almost £1.8 billion for victims of alleged “lawfare”, aswell as supporters of the president who claim to have been unfairly prosecuted.
Also this week, Donald Trump has continued his purge of those he sees a...