BBC NewsGovernment, News, Politics
BBC NewsGovernment, News, Politics

About

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


  • Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on Iran
    The US president insults the pope and depicts himself as Jesus
  • Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?
    Why has Hegseth fired top generals from the military?
  • Trump pulls back from the brink... but for how long?
    Trump’s threat to “wipe out” Iran has divided Republicans.
  • Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?
    And what’s been happening in Venezuela since Nicolas Maduro’s capture?
  • Are the Democrats ready to win back Congress?
    We speak to Obama's former adviser about the party’s chances in the midterms
  • Trump v Supreme Court: The battle over birthright citizenship
    The case could affect the legal status of millions of Americans.
  • Americanswers! Why does Trump want to take Iran’s Kharg Island?
    The president has threatened to escalate the war if a deal is not “shortly reached”
  • What is RFK doing to vaccines for children in America?
    Trump’s Health Secretary hits a major setback to “Make America Healthy Again”
  • Will Trump succeed in changing the US voting system?
    And why have ICE agents been deployed to US airports?
  • Americanswers… on 5 Live! Trump claims Iran wants to "make a deal" to end the war
    Iran denies talks with the US to stop the war as ‘fake news’
  • Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AI
    AI company Anthropic labelled a national security risk after saying "No" to the Pentagon
  • Trump threatens TV networks over unpatriotic Iran coverage
    And why has top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned?
  • Americanswers… on 5Live! Will Trump lose his MAGA base over Iran?
    And should the US have been better prepared over the Strait of Hormuz?
  • Is Cuba Trump’s next target after Iran?
    The US president threatens Cuba with a “friendly takeover”
  • Can Trump persuade Americans to ignore oil prices and back his war on Iran?
    Or has the president lost his grip on the narrative?
  • Americanswers… on 5Live! Why is Trump’s White House comparing the war in Iran to a video game?
    And how much is the war in Iran motivated by oil?
  • Trump's war with Iran: What we still don't know
    Insights and analysis on what is happening inside Trump's White House
  • What did we learn about Epstein from the Clintons?
    Plus, the other US news stories going under the radar since war with Iran
  • Americanswers… on 5 Live! Are Trump’s Iran strikes breaking the law?
    And Defence Sec Pete Hegseth says “no stupid rules of engagement” in Iran
  • Trump's Iran Gamble... What is the US president up to?
    And will Trump's Republican MAGA base support his strikes on Iran?