x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Americast

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

news politics

All Episodes

49:09

Goodbye, Joe: Biden’s Legacy (Part 2)

Americast ·

2025/01/18

Joe Biden has given his final address setting out the list of achievements that he would like to define his four years in the White House. Sarah and Anthony unpack at the 46th president’s domestic successes and failures. They’re joined by his former senior advisor, and friend, Anita Dunn. She tells us what the president is really like behind closed doors, how he’ll be remembered, and whether he was just too old for the job.This episode was made by George Dabby, with Rufus Gray, Claire Betzer and

en

40:32

Goodbye, Joe: Biden's Legacy (Part 1)

Americast ·

2025/01/16

President Biden’s final week in the Oval Office coincided with an historic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Both he and President-Elect Donald Trump were quick to claim credit for the deal, with Biden beginning his farewell address by highlighting his administration’s part in the negotiations. What does the deal say about Joe Biden’s role in the war between Israel and Hamas, did he make America stronger globally, and how did his presidency influence the war in Ukraine? Sarah and Anthony

en

32:42

Is time up for TikTok in the US?

Americast ·

2025/01/15

TikTok’s future in the US lies in the hands of the Supreme Court, as the justices consider whether the app should be banned over alleged national security concerns. Despite support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, the looming ban is unpopular among many everyday Americans - and incoming president Donald Trump. Sarah, Marianna and Anthony unpick the politics behind the ban and the players who may step in to prevent TikTok shutting its US operation. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America

en

33:44

Americanswers...on 5 Live! What will President Trump...

Americast ·

2025/01/13

Three wildfires are still burning in the Los Angeles area and the death toll has risen to 24 as the LA mayor says 'urgent preparations' being made for strong winds. With nearly 100,000 people under evacuation orders and thousands of properties damaged or destroyed, does the US need to rethink the way it builds its homes?And, President Donald Trump was sentenced on Friday to an "unconditional discharge" in his hush-money criminal trial, meaning he will face no prison time, probation or fine. He will

en

36:39

Mark Zuckerberg sends Trump a friend request

Americast ·

2025/01/10

Social media giant Meta says it will abandon independent fact-checking practices on Facebook and Instagram. Is the new policy an attempt to improve relations with Donald Trump before he takes office later this month? And what does the switch-up mean for the spread of misinformation on Meta’s platforms? Meanwhile, Los Angeles is grappling with the most destructive fires in the city’s history - and the response has already transformed into a political lightning rod. Also, Justin and Sarah are joined

en

34:45

Will Trump really take Canada and Greenland?

Americast ·

2025/01/08

It was a press conference intended to showcase investment from a Dubai-based firm in new US data centres, but its focus quickly switched to what the incoming president might do when it comes to America’s closest neighbours. Fielding questions from reporters, Donald Trump refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal. While he appeared to rule out the possibility when it came to Canada, Trump did say he would use “economic force” to annex Canada and described

en

26:18

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Has Trump caused the...

Americast ·

2025/01/06

On Monday the Senate certified the results of the 2024 election, the first time it has done so since the January 6 riots in Washington DC four years ago. President Biden vowed there would be no repeat of the violence on that day, so what is security looking like on Capitol Hill?And, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party. His popularity has plummeted among voters, with polls suggesting his party are on course for a

en

29:52

The New Orleans Attack

Americast ·

2025/01/02

New Orleans is mourning the loss of at least 14 people after a pick-up truck drove into a crowd of people in the city’s French Quarter in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Justin, Anthony and Marianna explain what we know so far and how both Joe Biden and the incoming president, Donald Trump, have responded to the attack.HOSTS: •⁠ ⁠Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter •⁠ ⁠Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent •⁠ ⁠Anthony Zurcher, North America CorrespondentGET IN TOUCH: •⁠

en

29:26

A year closes… And a time capsule opens

Americast ·

2024/12/31

On a fateful Thursday evening in November 2023 - to mark a year to go until the election - Justin, Sarah, Marianna and Anthony made predictions for our very own Americast time capsule. Not to be opened until after Americans had gone to the polls in 2024. Who accurately predicted which presidential candidate would drop out of the race, and who said one of the candidates would undergo a health scare? Which issues did we think would dominate the election and why?In this episode we open the time

en

35:34

Jimmy Carter, former US president, dies

Americast ·

2024/12/29

Former US President Jimmy Carter has died aged 100. The 39th U.S. President and Nobel prize winner lived longer than any president in history. He celebrated his 100th birthday in October 2024.How did a peanut farmer from the Deep South and Georgia Governor become president? Justin speaks to Jonathan Alter, author of His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life. From brokering peace in the Middle East, to famously promising the American people he would never lie, Carter served as president from 1977 to

en

23:20

What to X-pect from Elon Musk in 2025

Americast ·

2024/12/27

Over the course of 2024, X has changed from what Elon Musk once described as a “digital town square,” to a platform that seems to reward users with more extreme political views. Marianna focuses on individual X users who have shot to prominence, and are emblematic of the changes and their consequences. What makes some X users particularly successful, why does it matter, and what are the implications for other platforms? We also look at Elon Musk’s role, and what his game plan could be in 2025

en

32:28

A-Merry-Cast (The Q&A)

Americast ·

2024/12/23

The team go through your questions for the last time this year.How bid would the Watergate scandal be if it happened now? Should Supreme Court justices be elected? And are the British presenters developing American accents…We’ll get into all this and more on a very festive episode of Americast. HOSTS: * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Marianna Spring, Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent * Anthony Zurcher, North America CorrespondentGET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community:

en

26:22

Why has Elon Musk been pushing for a government...

Americast ·

2024/12/19

The US could face a government shutdown at midnight on Saturday, and Elon Musk is pushing for it.President-elect Donald Trump followed his calls to reject a bill that would have kept the government funded through March.Without it, some public services could be put of hold…So what’s it all about and how serious would it be? Justin, Anthony and Marianna explain.Plus, Walker Watch returns!HOSTS:- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter - Marianna Spring, Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent - Anthony

en

25:38

Why has ABC News given Donald Trump $15 million?

Americast ·

2024/12/18

Donald Trump has achieved a legal victory after ABC News announced that it was paying Trump $15 million and legal fees to settle a defamation lawsuit related to remarks made in March by morning news presenter George Stephanopoulos.Following the settlement Trump said he intends to pursue further lawsuits against “dishonest” media, including the Des Moines Register newspaper for "brazen election interference" over a poll published days before the 2024 presidential election.Could ABC’s decision to

en

26:56

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Where has Kamala Harris gone?

Americast ·

2024/12/16

It’s been over a month since Democrats lost the election, and questions linger over the future of the party. One prominent member who has stayed quiet in recent weeks is vice president Kamala Harris. Is she plotting to run again in 2028? Or does she have her eyes on the California governor’s mansion? And, mystery continues to swirl after nearly a month of drone sightings over New Jersey and other states. Officials have not provided any definitive answers to what they are, only saying that they are

en

31:30

Why is the internet obsessed with a suspected CEO...

Americast ·

2024/12/13

Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday after a days-long, multi-state manhunt following the suspected murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO, Brian Thompson.It’s led to a debate about the health system in America and also prompted anonymous donors to chip in thousands of dollars towards Mangione's defence through online fundraisers.Sarah, Anthony and Marianna assess the reaction to the case, and why the case is dividing the public. This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Catherine

en

27:35

What will Trump do about Syria?

Americast ·

2024/12/11

As Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria fell over the weekend, president-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” But how will American interests in the Middle East develop under a second Trump term? And will it get in the way of the ‘America First’ agenda that helped take him to the White House?The team assess how Trump might respond when he takes office in January, after Justin spoke with John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN and former National Security Advisor under

en

33:46

Americanswers... on 5 Live! What will Trump do on his...

Americast ·

2024/12/09

Donald Trump has sat down with NBC's Meet the Press in his first broadcast network interview since winning November's election. The president-elect revealed a number of policy positions that the world can expect when he returns to office. Will one of them be an end to automatic citizenship for people born in the US?And, it’s now five days since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in a seemingly targeted attack in New York City. The brazen nature of his killing has shocked the US but

en

28:00

Donald Trump vs the media...Round 2!

Americast ·

2024/12/06

Key figures in Donald Trump’s transition team have suggested changing which journalists have access to the White House press briefing room, and who is allowed to put questions to Trump’s new administration. The influence of ‘new media’ platforms - streamers and podcasters - helped win the election for Trump, so could content-creators such as Joe Rogan be included? Also, how will Trump deal with the media in his second term? And how will the media deal with him this time? Sarah and Marianna are

en

32:41

Where do the Democrats go from here?

Americast ·

2024/12/04

It’s been one month since Kamala Harris lost the US presidential election and soul-searching within the Democratic Party has already begun as the party prepares for opposition.It’s not yet clear how Democrats intend to approach the next four years with Trump in office. Will they work with or against him? And how do they shape a new pitch to American voters?The fallout continues from Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter. Gavin Newsom is the most senior Democrat to publicly criticise the

en

534 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci