Americast Podcast
Weekly insight and analysis on what's happening inside President Trump's White House.
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.
Episodes to download
-
Why did Trump ambush the South African president?
Tomorrow
Cyril Ramaphosa kept his cool despite the onslaught
-
How will Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' change America?
Yesterday
But will House Republicans defy Trump?
-
Americanswers! Why is Biden’s cancer diagnosis prompting new questions?
Monday
MAGA Republicans spread new rumours about his health while in office
-
We speak to CNN's Jake Tapper on the “cover-up” behind Joe Biden’s decline
Sunday
New claims of who was involved at the White House, and when it started
-
What is RFK doing for the health of Americans?
Last Friday
As the US Health Secretary defends his cuts to Congress, we look at his agenda
-
Is Trump's free plane a gift too far for Republicans?
Last Friday
And what does it say about the new US approach to the Middle East?
-
Introducing... Diddy On Trial
Tue 13 May 2025
The first day of rap mogul P Diddy's trial: jurors shown video of assault
-
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Has China won its trade war with Trump?
Mon 12 May 2025
And why are Gen Z obsessed with the new American pope?
-
We Speak To Prof Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Laureate) On The UK/US Trade Deal…
Fri 9 May 2025
...why he thinks the UK has made a mistake and what it means for the world.
-
Who’s the real winner from the UK’s trade deal with the US?
Fri 9 May 2025
And what does it mean for tariffs, American beef and steel?
-
-
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Are the US and Canada friends again?
Wed 7 May 2025
And will Trump really reopen the Alcatraz prison?
-
-
100 Days of Trump (Part 5)… Has He Redefined What It Means To Be President?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
How Trump has enlarged the power of the US presidency.
-
100 Days of Trump (Part 4)… Has Elon Musk Changed Government Forever?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
The Americast team discuss large-scale cuts to federal government by Elon Musk’s Doge.
-
100 Days of Trump (Part 3)… Who Is Welcome in America, Now?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
Who is being forced out by Trump’s deportations and how?
-
100 Days of Trump (Part 2)… What Has He Done to the US Economy?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
We assess Trump’s plan to ‘make America wealthy again’.
-
100 Days of Trump (Part 1)… Is Trump winning his war on woke?—100 Days of Donald Trump
Tue 29 Apr 2025
How America’s biggest companies are scrapping diversity schemes
-
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is the Trump/Zelensky relationship back on track?
Mon 28 Apr 2025
And is the US any closer to brokering a ceasefire deal in Ukraine?
-
Signal chats, leaks, and sackings... What's going on in the Pentagon?
Thu 24 Apr 2025
And is the defence secretary in trouble?
-
Americanswers…on 5 Live! Is Elon Musk being forced out of the White House?
Wed 23 Apr 2025
And will Trump try to influence the election of the next Pope?
-
How the ‘world’s coolest dictator’ is helping Trump
Thu 17 Apr 2025
El Salvador’s president has become a key White House ally
-
-
Americanswers! Does Trump want to bring back the man his administration mistakenly deported?
Mon 14 Apr 2025
And are the tech bros rattled by Meta’s anti-trust trial?
-
Trump's Tariffs... Chaos or a cunning plan?
Fri 11 Apr 2025
People were getting ‘yippy’ according to the president…
-
-
Americanswers! Which news stories are being overshadowed by Trump's tariffs?
Mon 7 Apr 2025
Measles, mass protests and mega-jails
-
-
-
Americanswers…on 5 Live! Could Trump run for a third term?
Mon 31 Mar 2025
And why is Elon Musk handing out $1 million dollar cheques to voters?