Americast Podcast
Insight and analysis on what's happening inside President Trump's White House. Episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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 [email protected] or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Episodes to download
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Can the US really rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry?
Friday
Trump says the US oil industry will be 'up and running' in Venezuela within 18 months.
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The fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting
Thursday
A US immigration agent shot dead Renee Good in the city of Minneapolis.
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How far will Trump go to seize Greenland?
Wednesday
The White House says acquiring Greenland is a “national security priority”
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Americanswers... On 5 Live! Could Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro be found not guilty in a US court?
Last Monday
Is Trump right when he says the US is running Venezuela now?
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Trump’s Venezuela takeover... everything you need to know
Last Sunday
The US president says America will “run” Venezuela
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How did a YouTuber stop federal funding to Minnesota?
Fri 2 Jan 2026
And can Zohran Mamdani keep up the momentum as New York mayor?
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What will be the biggest US stories of 2026?
Wed 31 Dec 2025
Our predictions go into a new 2026 time capsule!
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Americanswers! What’s happening in Trump’s battle with universities?
Mon 29 Dec 2025
We answer your questions on the future of US universities.
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Were our 2025 predictions right?
Christmas Eve 2025
The Americast team open the annual end-of-year time capsule.
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Americanswers! What did we learn from the latest Epstein files?
Mon 22 Dec 2025
And why did some files briefly disappear from the justice department website?
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Can Trump convince voters on the US economy?
Fri 19 Dec 2025
The president makes a primetime address to the nation.
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Has Trump’s chief of staff revealed White House secrets?
Fri 19 Dec 2025
Susie Wiles hits back at Vanity Fair after giving rare interviews
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The Americast Awards 2025… on 5 Live!
Mon 15 Dec 2025
What were the biggest moments of the year for America?
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How far will Trump go in his 'war' with Venezuela?
Fri 12 Dec 2025
The Trump administration defends its seizure of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast
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Does Trump have a plan to reform healthcare in America?
Wed 10 Dec 2025
And the president has doubled down on his criticism of Europe.
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Americanswers... On 5 Live! Has Trump just made the US/Europe breakup official?
Mon 8 Dec 2025
The Trump administration warns European is facing “civilisational erasure”
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Is Trump giving the FIFA World Cup a MAGA makeover?
Fri 5 Dec 2025
What’s behind Trump’s relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino?
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Did Donald Trump fall asleep at a cabinet meeting?
Wed 3 Dec 2025
And why is Pete Hegseth blaming the “fog of war”?
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Americanswers… On 5 Live! Why has the US been accused of war crimes off the Venezuelan coast?
Mon 1 Dec 2025
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has called the claims “fake news”
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The Donald Trump v Zohran Mamdani Show
Fri 28 Nov 2025
How long can the US president and next mayor of New York continue to get on?
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Has Trump's retribution campaign been derailed (for now)?
Wed 26 Nov 2025
The president's political foes have their criminal cases dismissed
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! What’s really going on with Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine?
Mon 24 Nov 2025
The US president has urged Zelensky to accept a controversial ceasefire deal
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Marjorie Taylor Greene v Donald Trump
Fri 21 Nov 2025
Join Americast for insights and analysis on what's happening inside Trump's White House.
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Will Trump delay releasing the Epstein Files?
Wed 19 Nov 2025
US Congress unanimously votes to release files on Jeffrey Epstein.
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Has Donald Trump changed his mind on the Epstein Files?
Mon 17 Nov 2025
Donald Trump has urged House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein Files.
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Are cracks showing inside Trump’s MAGA movement?
Fri 14 Nov 2025
The growing questions from Republicans on how Trump is running the country
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Trump vs the BBC…what happens next?
Wed 12 Nov 2025
And the US president is mentioned in new Epstein emails
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Americanswers on 5 Live! Why is Donald Trump threatening to sue the BBC for $1 billion?
Mon 10 Nov 2025
And how will the U.S. government shutdown end?
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The Democrats are back… but will it last?
Fri 7 Nov 2025
Republicans suffered losses in key elections on Tuesday night.
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Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race
Wed 5 Nov 2025
And the Democrats have also won governor races in Virginia and New Jersey
