Americast
Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week it provides audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories defining America. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the North America editor, Sarah Smith, and others. It also specializes in social media, with Marianna Spring bringing updates from the BBC's Undercover Voters investigation. Episodes are published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Episodes
The anti DEI MAGA activist Christopher Rufo
We’ve been speaking to perhaps the most prominent anti DEI MAGA activist, Christopher Rufo. He’s widely credited for convincing Donald Trump to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes within the government, and led the campaign which saw Harvard President Claudine Gay resign from her post in 2024.He's a controversial figure who has who has spearheaded the right-wing movement aga
Are the Republicans ready to win back Arizona?
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 offi
Americanswers! Was the 2026 World Cup a success for Donald Trump?
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
Will Trump's primetime speech help him challenge the midterm elections?
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
ICE fatally shoot two men in Maine and Texas
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 wor
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Mitch McConnell breaks his silence, will it stop the conspiracy theories?
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 Lind
The battle for Charlie Kirk’s legacy
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 infl
How will Democrats fight Trump after dumping their candidate Graham Platner in Maine?
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 candi
Trump explains why he called FIFA to reverse US player’s red card ban
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 deci
After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream?
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
Have Republicans been given a major midterms boost by the Supreme Court?
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 “billionair
Has the Supreme Court just made Trump the most powerful president in history?
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
How can Democrats persuade more voters to like them? (with Ben Rhodes, Obama’s former senior advisor)
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.
Can Trump convince Republicans he’s won the war on Iran?
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
Americanswers… Why has JD Vance changed his mind about Trump's intelligence?
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 epi
Elon Musk the trillionaire... does the global economy need him to succeed?
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
Jill Biden reveals how she really felt about Joe Biden’s health whilst he was president
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 th
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Trump still fit for the job on his 80th birthday?
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
The battle in rural America against AI data centres
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 comp
The Democrats fight back Trump-style in Maine… but have they messed up?
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 Plat
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why did Trump walk out of his TV interview with Meet The Press?
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 furt
The most expensive World Cup ever? (With Football Daily, part 3)
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 commenta
Will War Overshadow the World Cup? (With Football Daily, part 2)
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 commenta
Will this be the Donald Trump World Cup? (With Football Daily, part 1)
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 commenta
Why Democrats think they can win back Iowa from Trump
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 do
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Is the Trump administration checking tourists' social media?
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 th
Does the US need new laws to protect elections?
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 a
Are the Democrats ready to win in Texas?
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 political fight for American men
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
Will Trump invade Cuba?
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 an
Trump gets “forever” immunity on his past tax affairs
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 b
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Has Zohran Mamdani achieved a miracle in New York?
NYC’s new mayor says his new budget will save the city billions without having to cut key services. In a social media post, Zohran Mamdani told New Yorkers his administration “uncovered a $12 billion budget deficit. Today, I’m proud to say we brought it down to zero. We didn’t close the gap on the backs of working people.”But beyond the headlines, how accurate is this, and what do New Yorkers say
Why Democrats are panicking about losing California
It’s the world’s fourth largest economy, with over 40 million people and home to some of the world’s most powerful tech companies. So why aren’t the Democratic party’s biggest names queuing up for a chance to run California?Voting has started in a primary to decide who will run to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Democrats have been scrambling after its frontrunner, Rep Eric Swalwell dropped out fol
Does Trump need China to end the war in Iran?
It’s Donald Trump vs President Xi, as the US president is on his first China visit in nearly a decade. A fragile truce exists after both countries came close to a fully blown trade war last year, and now the U.S may need China to help end the war in Iran.As ever, Donald Trump is hoping a positive personal relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping will help broker a number of trade deals, and
Americanswers! Vance vs Rubio… who will take over from Trump in 2028?
A viral video of Marco Rubio has sparked speculation over who might take over the Republican party in 2028. Whilst president Trump muses over his successor, reportedly asking his advisors whether they prefer “JD or Marco”, Anthony and Justin weigh up how both potential candidates might perform in a 2028 presidential run. Could Trump anoint a successor? And is it the Vice President, JD Vance’s to
Trump takes his revenge on disloyal Republicans
The US president is going after his fellow Republicans in Kentucky and Indiana.
Donald Trump is getting involved in key state primaries - often in cases where US presidents don’t intervene - urging voters to stay away and not vote for candidates who Trump regards as his political enemies. From Indiana to Kentucky, Louisiana and beyond, Anthony and Justin look at how Trump’s MAGA Republican part
Is Donald Trump close to finishing his war with Iran?
What is really going on beyond the rhetoric? We unpick the mixed messages from the Trump administration with the war on Iran. It started with the president unveiling “Project Freedom”, a US operation to help vessels trapped in the Gulf to safely escape through the Strait of Hormuz. But less than 48 hours later, that plan was put on hold, with President Trump threatening “higher intensity” bombing
Americanswers… LIVE at Castfest! Who could lead the Democrats into 2028?
Sarah’s recent phone call with Donald Trump told us more about the president’s thoughts on the war with Iran, as well as his relationship with the UK and NATO allies, but what’s he like when he’s away from TV cameras?In this special live edition of Americanswers recorded at Maida Vale Studios in London as part of Castfest, the entire Americast team assemble on stage to answer your questions. As we
Will ICE agents stay away from the 2026 World Cup?
Controversy continues to surround the build-up to the 2026 World Cup after reports emerged that Trump officials had asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the tournament, and that some fans would have to pay more than $100 for a 30-minute journey to games in New Jersey.The pushback from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is in response to what she described as a $48 million safety bill for fans
LIVE at Castfest! How popular is Donald Trump?
Why aren’t Democrats more popular, given the president’s low approval ratings in significant areas such as the economy? And what do Americans really think of Donald Trump?
In this special episode of Americast, recorded live at Maida Vale studios in London for Castfest (celebrating some of the BBC’s best loved news podcasts) we look at recent polling for both Donald Trump, and the Democrats. Why
Why is Donald Trump calling for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired... again?
The fallout continues from the shooting at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner with Donald Trump using the incident to argue the case for his new White House ballroom, and to apply pressure on Disney to take action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The comedian made a joke days before the shooting incident on his show in which he said Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow”. But
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Could Trump have been evacuated from the shooting more quickly?
Conspiracy theories are swirling, and in this episode we answer your questions about the shooting - targeting the president and top figures from his administration - at the White House correspondents dinner in Washington DC.Justin and Anthony join Matt Chorley from 5 Live, where we also discuss questions around whether the US Secret Service should have evacuated President Trump more quickly, and w
Who is Trump’s “would-be assassin”… were there security failings at DC shooting?
The US president says the gunman who stormed a security perimeter at the White House correspondents’ dinner had written a “manifesto”.
Investigators are continuing to examine a possible motive for the attack which appeared to be aimed at the president and his top aides.
In this episode, Justin and Sarah talk to the BBC‘s state department correspondent Tom Bateman who was at the dinner and was i
Donald Trump gets on the phone... with Sarah
What happened when Americast’s Sarah Smith cold called the US president? In this episode, Sarah and Anthony thoroughly unpack her phone call with Donald Trump, how she planned the interview…and also, she tells us what happened when the US president unexpectedly called her back. Listen to what Donald Trump told Sarah about next week’s state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla, and how he thi
Democrats fight back against Trump in Virginia… and win
A small election in Virginia looks set to have a major impact on Donald Trump’s power, and the capacity to derail the rest of the president’s second term in office.Overnight, voters in Virginia approved a measure to redraw the state’s political map in favour of the Democrats, who now stand to gain as many as four additional seats in November’s midterms. Given Trump’s thin majority in the House of
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is insider trading corrupting Trump's White House?
BBC News investigates claims that traders have been betting millions of dollars just before president Trump makes major announcements over Iran. Some of the biggest movements have been in oil trades. Sarah, Justin, Anthony and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5Live to answer your questions on what this means for the Trump administration and whether the US president is likely to investigate the clai
Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?
Why has an oyster fisherman from Maine - criticised for having a Nazi tattoo - become a frontrunner for the Democrats, and one of their best hopes to help take back the US Senate in this year’s midterm elections? The north eastern state of Maine has become integral for Democrats as they look to unseat Republican senator Susan Collins, and elect their first Democrat senator in decades. But it also
Has Trump given up on the midterms?
Donald Trump is losing public support over the war in Iran, but how much does the president care? He said in a recent interview with Fox News that gas prices may be “a little bit higher” but has downplayed fears that high prices could cost Republicans at the midterm elections. With the U.S naval blockade in full swing - and Iran threatening to stop shipping in the Gulf in retaliation - the preside
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on Iran
President Trump has become entangled in a very public row with Pope Leo XIV, who has been critical of the US war with Iran. The US president has slammed the pope for being “weak” on crime and “terrible” at foreign policy, whilst also posting a picture of himself as Jesus (this post has been taken down from social media since we recorded the episode). Sarah, Anthony and Marianna join Matt Chorley
Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?
Why has Hegseth fired top generals from the military, and how does he use religion to justify America’s war aims? We look at the frontman for the US war in Iran, the former Fox News host, Pete Hegseth. A key feature of his Pentagon press briefings are his religious rhetoric, which may reveal the motivation behind his reforms of the U.S. military. Despite only narrowly making it through the confir
Trump pulls back from the brink... but for how long?
Donald Trump’s MAGA base - and the Republican party - are divided over his threats to wipe out an entire civilisation. In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Sarah unpack how we got from Trump’s annihilistic threats to the start of a two week ceasefire and new claims from the US president, that Iran will stop enriching uranium. With both sides claiming victory, what are Donald Trump’s options now
Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?
Since it began last month, the Iran War has dominated global headlines and deflected attention away from other important stories happening across the U.S. In today’s Americanswers, the team join up to discuss stories playing out under the radar.For example, is the U.S. still targeting strikes against alleged boats off the coast of Venezuela, and who will fill the country’s power vacuum now that Ni
Are the Democrats ready to win back Congress?
Excitement has been building among some Democrats after the party won a special election in Florida last week in a district that includes Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach. This win, along with several others recently, suggests the party may have the momentum heading into November’s midterm elections, when they’ll be looking to reclaim control of the House, and possibly even the Senate.
Trump v Supreme Court: The battle over birthright citizenship
It was an historic day in the Supreme Court on Wednesday as it began hearing arguments on Donald Trump’s effort to ban birthright citizenship. The president began his second term in office by signing an executive order to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily, an order which has now made its way to the highest court in the l
Americanswers! Why does Trump want to take Iran’s Kharg Island?
Donald Trump has said the US will “conclude” its war in Iran by “blowing up and completely obliterating” key assets in the country, including Kharg Island - Iran’s key oil export terminal - if a deal is not reached. He also suggested in a social media post that “great progress” had been made with Iran’s “new” regime. The president’s rhetoric has raised fears that the war could still escalate and t
What is RFK doing to vaccines for children in America?
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from making big changes to vaccines for children in the United States. It is a blow to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy - RFK Jr - a longtime vaccine sceptic who was given free rein by Donald Trump to “go wild with health”.Since taking office a year ago, Kennedy has sought to slash the number of recommended shots for children from 1
Will Trump succeed in changing the US voting system?
Should voters be required to prove they are US citizens and show photo ID before being allowed to cast their ballots?Donald Trump is pushing for these changes and more in the SAVE (Save America Act) telling Republican lawmakers he’s “not going to sign anything until this is approved."In this episode, Justin and Anthony look at the politics of the SAVE act. Would it make voting harder and who woul
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Trump claims Iran wants to "make a deal" to end the war
Donald Trump has told reporters there have been talks between the US and Iran in which the two sides had “major points of agreement” and both wanted “to make a deal”. The US president says his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner talked to Iran on Sunday and that discussions would continue on Monday.
However, the Fars news agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutiona
Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AI
Away from the war in Iran, the Pentagon is engaged in another battle, with Anthropic and its AI chatbot Claude. After awarding the company a contract potentially worth $200 million last year to integrate their artificial intelligence into the Department of Defence’s classified systems, that relationship has ended with a lawsuit and a threat which puts the future of Anthropic in jeopardy. Anthropi
Trump threatens TV networks over unpatriotic Iran coverage
Donald Trump’s fight with US media has entered a new chapter since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. The president has taken issue with Wall Street Journal reporting on an Iranian attack against US tankers in Saudi Arabia, while going as far to accuse the “Fake News Media” of working with Iran to circulate AI-generated videos of the USS Abraham Lincoln in flames. Until now the president ha
Americanswers… on 5Live! Will Trump lose his MAGA base over Iran?
How serious is the growing split within Trump’s MAGA base, as prominent Republican commentators and influencers criticise why the US started a war with Iran, and how long it might go on for. Also, might Trump voters turn on the president who told them ‘no more wars’ and ‘America First’? Justin, Sarah and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. They also look at pressure fr
Is Cuba Trump’s next target after Iran?
President Trump has renewed his threat of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the island is in deep trouble and that the Cuban government is desperate to make a deal. In this episode, Justin and Anthony look at how seriously we should we be taking these threats, and look into the talks taking place between the US and Cuba. Pressure on Cuba has been building since the capture of Venezuela’s Nic
Can Trump persuade Americans to ignore oil prices and back his war on Iran?
Does Donald Trump actually have a plan for the war in Iran? Eleven days on from the start of the conflict - with rising oil prices, and worries over oil supplies - the president’s narrative has shifted, branding the war “very complete”, while also signalling that ”we're going to go further.” Can he persuade Americans to back him? However, the decision to withdraw from Iran is not as straightforwa
Americanswers… on 5Live! Why is Trump’s White House comparing the war in Iran to a video game?
The US-Israel war with Iran has continued into a second week, with America’s allies still scrambling to respond. Oil prices are dominating the headlines with the cost of a barrel exceeding $100 for the first time since 2022.In this episode, Justin, Marianna and Anthony join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions about the war, including whether Europe still needs to cooperate with the Whi
Trump's war with Iran: What we still don't know
Saturday marks one week of the US-Israel war on Iran. In that time, we have heard shifting stories and opposing justifications from the Trump administration on why military action was taken. BBC North America editor Sarah Smith and BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher discuss the changing narratives, and look at the many questions that remain unanswered. This includes, examining what do
What did we learn about Epstein from the Clintons?
In this episode, Justin and Anthony look at other news stories happening in the United States, away from the US-Israel war with Iran. Anthony is in Dallas, Texas, for the first big primary elections of this year’s midterms, where Democrats have now chosen rising star James Talarico to be their candidate. It’s been over thirty years since a Democrat in Texas has won a US senate seat, so what does T
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Are Trump’s Iran strikes breaking the law?
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defence Secretary has defended the US/Israeli war with Iran, refuting concerns from the “fake news” media that the conflict would lead to an “endless war” and making clear there would be “no stupid rules of engagement” or “politically-correct wars”.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, making his first public comments from the White House, told his audience the US has the “capability t
Trump's Iran Gamble... What is the US president up to?
In the biggest political gamble of his presidency so far, Donald Trump has defended his decision for the United States to bomb Iran - alongside Israel - as a “noble” mission to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and says military operations are “ahead of schedule”. The US president announced the start of the war on Saturday via an 8 minute video on his social media platform, Truth Social,
The battle for Texas: Can Democrats win it back from Trump?
The midterm elections are underway in the Republican stronghold of Texas. Early voting has begun in the primaries and Democrats are hopeful they could win a Texas senate seat for the first time in over 30 years. The election will have national consequences - Texas is one of America’s political power centres and Republicans from here have dominated the national agenda from immigration, to the court
Trump's big, long, State of the Union speech
The Americast team assembles for a late evening/early morning special as President Trump delivers the longest State of the Union address ever. On the agenda was a full-throated defence of the administration’s record, hailing a "turnaround for the ages,” whilst playing down the Supreme Court's ruling against his signature tariff policy (with the judges themselves in the crowd).Despite the speech la
Americanswers... on 5Live! Why haven't more Americans faced charges over Epstein?
Fresh questions are emerging about the Jeffrey Epstein case, after the release of new material and renewed scrutiny over why more Americans have not faced charges linked to him. Sarah, Marianna and Anthony join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions including who, if anyone, could still be held accountable in the US.And with tensions rising between Iran and the US, Trump says he is consid
Trump's Tariffs... Trump attacks the Supreme Court over tariff ban
Donald Trump has called the Supreme Court’s ruling blocking many of his sweeping tariffs ‘deeply disappointing’ and has announced a new 10 per cent tariff on global imports.Justin, Sarah and Anthony jumped into action following the President’s press conference to unpack the day’s drama: starting with the US Supreme Court decision to block global tariffs and ending with the President’s withering at
Who is Tucker Carlson and what does he tell us about the future of MAGA?
Who are the people shaping MAGA ideology in the US? Tucker Carlson’s story tells a larger one about just how much conservative media has changed in the United States, and the direction of conservatism itself. Jason Zengerle, New Yorker staff writer and author of ‘Hated by All the Right People’, joins us to map Tucker Carlson’s trajectory from centre-right talk show host to one of the most prominen
Everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s Board of Peace
President Trump described his Board of Peace as “the most consequential international organisation ever.” The Board, which Donald Trump heads in perpetuity, is having its inaugural meeting in Washington, DC, on Thursday February 19. Sarah and Anthony convene to tell you everything you know ahead of the meeting: lay out exactly what the Board is, what it does, who its members are, and crucially: wh
Americanswers... on 5Live! Why did Pam Bondi, US Attorney General, lose her temper during Epstein Files questioning?
In fiery congressional hearings last week, US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the justice department's handling of the Epstein files. Several of Epstein's victims watched heated exchanges as Bondi faced a range of questions, including whether the files were sufficiently redacted, Trump’s role, Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison treatment and whether the Attorney General had met with victims. Justin, M
Will the US Supreme Court stand up to Trump?
Will Donald Trump be legally allowed to proceed with key elements of his second term agenda - such as imposing global trade tariffs, ending birthright citizenship and the right to sack heads of independent agencies? As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of major policies from the Trump administration, we look at whether the court will stand up to Donald Trump, or further expand the
Has Jeff Bezos brought down the Washington Post?
The paper that contributed to the resignation of President Nixon over Watergate and the Vietnam war is now having to rethink its future. The Washington Post’s owner - Amazon boss Jeff Bezos - has announced mass layoffs at the newspaper, which will fundamentally change how it covers the news. When Bezos bought the paper in 2013, he reassured staff about a “new golden era for the Washington Post”,
Americanswers! Why is Trump so annoyed about Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a love letter to Latin culture, paying homage to his birthplace Puerto Rico and making history as the first Super Bowl performance performed entirely in Spanish. He was joined onstage by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin for what is regularly the most-watched event on US TV. But Donald Trump wasn’t a fan. In a Truth Social post after the show he called it "absolutel
Is Donald Trump going to cancel the midterm elections?
This week Donald Trump has doubled down on why he thinks power should be taken away from individual states when it comes to running elections. Instead, he says federal government should be running elections - contrary to the U.S. constitution - claiming there is too much corruption from “crooked” blue Democrat states.
In this episode, Justin and Anthony unpack what the president is proposing, a
Why are Bill and Hillary Clinton testifying over Epstein?
In one of the biggest US headlines to emerge from the latest Epstein files, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah, Anthony, and Marianna explain why they are testifying, having previously dismissed legal summons issued to them, saying they had already submitted
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