Americast
BBC News
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 correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.
As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.
The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron.
Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on the World Service. Oh, and by the way, 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.
Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
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 correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.
As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.
The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron.
Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on the World Service. Oh, and by the way, 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.
Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 11, 2024 • 42min
Can Anyone Stop Trump in Iowa?
Anthony Blinken, former United States Permanent Representative to NATO, joins the hosts to discuss brokering peace in the Middle East amid attacks by Houthi rebels. They also explore the significance of the Iowa caucus, America's foreign policy in the Middle East, the impact of disinformation on Taiwan's elections, and the communication breakdown between the Pentagon and White House.
Jan 4, 2024 • 40min
The Epstein Files: Former US Presidents Named
Former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are named in court papers regarding their connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The team discusses the revelations and the story's impact on social media. Additionally, the controversy surrounding Harvard University president Claudine Gay's resignation is explored. The chapter also discusses the primary system in the US and the exclusion of Donald Trump from state ballots.
Dec 28, 2023 • 32min
A Merry Cast: Past, Present and Future of US Politics
Heather Cox Richardson, historian and author, joins Americast to discuss the past, present, and future of US politics. They delve into the impact of the January 6th attack on American democracy, the power of social media bosses, Taylor Swift's storytelling, and the upcoming event in Iowa.
Dec 21, 2023 • 33min
Colorado Kicks Trump Off the Ballot
The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Trump cannot run for president in the state. The Trump team has called the decision “completely flawed” and will appeal to the US Supreme Court. But will this lead other states to follow suit? The Americast team brings in a constitutional expert – Kermit Roosevelt III – to dive into the 14th amendment and what could happen next. HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST:
• Kermit Roosevelt III, author and constitutional scholarGET 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 and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Matthew Dean. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Dec 14, 2023 • 43min
Beto on the Border: Ex Presidential Candidate on the US Immigration Crisis
In a week dominated by legal cases, the team takes you into the virtual Americast courtroom to dissect the various trials involving Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani.Sarah’s back from her trip to the US/Mexico border and tells us how it relates to a funding deadlock in Congress for support to Ukraine. One person who lives on that border is former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. He dials in to chat about how the deadlock can be broken and enters his own predictions into the Americast time capsule…HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST:
• Beto O’Rourke, Former Democrat presidential candidate 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 Alix Pickles, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Dec 8, 2023 • 45min
Donald Trump: Dictator in Chief?
Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas, discusses Trump's comments about being a dictator on 'day one'. The team also examines university leaders' failure to address the call for genocide of Jewish people. The hosts discuss Frasier, backlash for supporting Trump, and Nikki Haley's surge in the polls.
Dec 1, 2023 • 39min
Rachel Maddow on Kissinger, Trump and Misinformation
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died at the age of 100.The team take a world tour of the polarising statesman’s legacy with his biographer.MSNBC host Rachel Maddow talks about Trump, misinformation and charting the rise of fascism in the US in her new book.And, what does New York Congressman George Santos have to say about efforts to expel him from the US House of Representatives? HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUESTS:
• Rachel Maddow, broadcaster and author
• Thomas Schwartz, US historianGET 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 Alix Pickles, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Maia Davies. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Nov 23, 2023 • 31min
Sam Altman: A Silicon Valley Soap Opera
Happy Thanksgiving Americasters!
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman is returning as boss just days after he was fired by the board.
The team talk about the whole story: who he is, and who’s winning the AI arms race, with New York Times tech journalist Mike Isaac.
And – the lives of two turkeys, ‘Liberty and ‘Bell’, have been saved after they received a pardoning from Joe Biden in time for Thanksgiving.
A former White House chef reveals the favourite foods of past presidents.
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GUESTS:
• Mike Isaac, New York Times tech journalist
• John Moeller, former White House chef
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 Chris Flynn with Alix Pickles, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Nov 17, 2023 • 40min
US x China: Friends Reunited?
Sarah didn’t quite make it to dinner with Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit, but we spoke to someone who did, an old friend he met in 1985 at a potluck in Muscatine, Iowa.Back in the present, the Chinese president has held talks with Joe Biden for the first time in over a year. What came from the meeting and where has it landed US/China relations?
And, Gen Z and Millennials will make up half of the electorate when it comes to the 2024 presidential election. The Americast team looks at the political power of social media with Gen Z TikTok influencers Harry Sisson and Isabel Brown.
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GUESTS:
• Harry Sisson, TikTok influencer
• Isabel Brown, TikTok influencer
• Sarah Lande, Iowa resident and friend of Xi Jinping
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 Alix Pickles, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The series producer is George Dabby. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Nov 10, 2023 • 34min
Trump’s Poll Position
As votes from Election Day 2023 were tallied up this week, wins for Democrats may have given a preview into next year’s presidential election. But new polls seem to point towards a rocky road to re-election for President Joe Biden. It’s not all good news for Trump, though. He and his children took the stand in New York, giving evidence in the civil fraud case brought against him. How might these problems play out as the 2024 presidential elections near? Expert pollster and political analyst Amy Walter joins the team to make sense of it all.HOSTS:
Sarah Smith, North America editor
Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGUEST(S):
Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief of The Cook Political ReportGET 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 #AmericastFind out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
