Americast

Lawmakers summon Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify about ties to Jeffrey Epstein and why they initially resisted. The conversation probes political motives, potential precedents for questioning presidents, and risks of feeding conspiracy theories. Reporters sift legal files, missing records and reputational fallout as social media and partisan bases react to each new disclosure.

They unpack the newly released tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files and what it might mean for legal accountability. They flag which high profile names appear and why millions of pages still leave questions. They cover celebrity interventions at the Grammys and a threatened lawsuit involving Trevor Noah. They explore how quilters and craftivists are joining political protests in unexpected ways.

Bryan Lanza, former senior advisor to Donald Trump, brings campaign strategy perspective. He debates whether nonstop Trump campaigning can drive turnout. Short takes on immigration enforcement, economic messaging and battleground House and Senate targets. The conversation focuses on political tactics, voter turnout and whether Republicans can flip the midterms.

What does Donald Trump actually mean when he says his administration plans to “de-escalate a little” in Minneapolis? On Tuesday Democratic Rep Ihan Omar was attacked at a local event in the city and protests are continuing following Saturday’s shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Video evidence contradicts claims by Trump administration officials immediately after Pretti’s killing that he was a “domestic terrorist”, planning a “massacre” and “brandishing” a weapon. In this episode, Sarah, Anthony and Marianna discuss the president’s controversial response to the attack on Democrat Ihan Omar, and whether Trump can actually de-escalate tensions when thousands of ICE agents remain in Minnesota.HOSTS:- Sarah Smith, North America Editor - Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior 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 #AmericastThis episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Kris Jalowiecki and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. 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.US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

After a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs federal agents, pressure is growing on the Trump administration to hold a full inquiry into what happened. On Saturday, 37 year old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot during an altercation with federal immigration agents. In this episode, the Americast team unpack widely circulated video footage which directly contradicts the Trump administration’s version of events. How big a moment is this for Donald Trump’s second term, and how will it impact on the president’s promise to enact the widest deportation programme in American history?Also in this episode, we answer your questions - along with 5 Live’s Matt Chorley - on Trump’s apology to UK service personnel who were part of NATO’s Afghanistan deployment, the president’s health and why he’s fallen out again with the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over China. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations correspondent • Matt Chorley, 5 Live 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 #AmericastThis episode was made by Rufus Gray, Grace Reeve and Kris Jalowiecki The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.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.US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

John Sandweg, former Acting Director of ICE and homeland security lawyer, outlines recruitment, training and policy shifts at the agency. He discusses shorter training, rapid hiring of ex-police and entry-level recruits. He highlights redeployment from investigations to street raids and concerns about use-of-force, oversight and culture changes driving current enforcement tactics.

What does Donald Trump really want from Greenland? The hosts dissect his recent speech at Davos, where he touts defense strategies and tries to win over European leaders. They dive into his abrupt reversal on tariff threats after a meeting with NATO's secretary general. The discussion also covers the implications of Trump's transactional approach for Greenland's residents and NATO relations. Plus, they explore the possibility of U.S. bases as a compromise and how this could reshape alliances in the Arctic.

The discussion kicks off with Trump's Greenland adventure and his looming tariff threats. Republicans navigate tricky waters, balancing loyalty with the risk of backlash. A controversial letter to Norway reveals Trump's feelings on peace and his Nobel ambitions. Insight into Iran shows a surprising restraint amid turmoil. Plus, the panel dives into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bold health promises and Trump's notorious diet. It's a rollercoaster of politics and unexpected twists in policy that keeps listeners engaged!

Explore how Trump's foreign policy ambitions in Venezuela and Greenland are reshaping America's global standing. The hosts discuss whether his actions align with an imperial-style approach, questioning the shift from idealism to economic nationalism. Delve into the historical roots of U.S. foreign policy and the implications of the Monroe Doctrine. Insights on how recent U.S. actions might signal a broader sphere of influence and the risks of military overreach are also examined, making for a compelling analysis of power dynamics.

Five years after the Capitol riots, the divisions in American politics remain stark. A new Republican-led panel aims to reshape the narrative surrounding January 6, countering previous investigations. Social media's role in polarizing opinions is significant, as public sentiment among Republicans shifts. Language around the rioters also evolves, impacting perceptions. The debate over whether this messaging is sincere or strategic continues, along with concerns over how politicization affects shared memories of that day.