Americast

How did Donald Trump get close to Elon Musk? What is the story behind his relationship with Melania, and how did Trump get re-elected against all the odds?

Donald Trump is no stranger to the journalist Michael Wolff, whose latest book is his fourth on the current president. His book, All or Nothing, details the story of Trump’s comeback and and his relationships to the people who helped him do it.

Trump himself has called Wolff “fake news” and described the book as “junk.”

Justin spoke with the journalist and author about who is sources are, whether he spoke to Trump whilst writing this book, and why a staffer carries a printer on the golf course.

HOSTS:

* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

GUEST:

* Michael Wolff, journalist and author of “All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America”

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

The U.S. President is setting up a major showdown with America’s judicial system. Sarah and Justin pick apart claims that Donald Trump defied a court order by deporting more than 200 migrants to El Salvador, despite a judge ordering to be turned planes carrying the migrants to be turned back if they were already in the air.

Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Jennifer Rodgers gives her view on whether Trump has broken the court ruling, and whether America is facing a constitutional crisis.

HOSTS:

GUEST:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by George Dabby with Julia Webster, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Donald Trump says he and Vladimir Putin will hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday.

Sarah, Anthony, Justin and Marianna answer your questions on what they might say to each other.

And they return to the subject of egg prices after claims from Trump that they’re dropping.

And we find out why JD Vance has been wearing special socks.

This episode was made by Chris Flynn and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Democrats may be on the retreat politically but they're hoping to bounce back after an actual retreat this week in Leesburg, Virginia.

One of the speakers at the retreat political strategist (and friend of the podcast) James Carville, who's suggested Democrats should "play dead" and do nothing against Trump.

The Americast team unpack whether this approach could work, and Justin's been chatting to Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton, who thinks the party has lost touch with the country.

HOSTS:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Chris Flynn. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

The world is bracing itself as Donald Trump enacts his global tariffs. As the president begins to enforce them upon the rest of the world, the Americast team assemble to ask whether Trump’s bet on tariffs might be a bad deal for the US. How have the markets reacted, and does Trump actually care?

Plus, why has Donald Trump bought a Tesla even though he isn’t allowed to drive it?

HOSTS:

- Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of the US going into recession. Sarah, Anthony, Justin and Marianna answer your questions on how Trump’s trade war is impacting on stock markets and American voters. Plus, is the new Canadian PM, Mark Carney is escalating the war on tariffs?

Also, how could the Democrats be more effective as an opposition voice, and why have we seen an influx of memes about the Vice President JD Vance?

The Americast team joins Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer all of your questions.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

What do we know about President Trump’s long term strategy when it comes to dealing with Russia, and where does that leave America’s relationship with Europe and Ukraine?

Justin, Sarah and Anthony get an inside view from Celeste Wallander, one of Biden and Obama’s top security staffers who has been in meetings with Vladimir Putin.

How does the Russian leader behave during negotiations, and what advice does she have for the Trump administration?

We also look at what Trump’s reset of US/Russia relations means for Europe, and the war in Ukraine.

HOSTS:

GUEST:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Sarah and Anthony pick apart Donald Trump’s biggest speech since returning to the White House.

He delivered it 24 hours after announcing he was pausing aid to Ukraine, and on the same day tariffs came in on Mexico and Canada.

He was addressing a joint session of the US Congress, declaring “the American dream is unstoppable”.

It was the the longest presidential speech to Congress on record - lasting around an hour and 40 minutes and included details of a letter from President Zelensky, his desire to get Greenland “one way or another” and Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts.

And, a Democrat is kicked out.

HOSTS:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was James Piper. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Presidents Trump and Zelensky clashed on Friday night in a furious exchange at the White House, during which Trump accused the Ukrainian president of “gambling with World War III.”

The future of the world now seems more uncertain, and people naturally have a lot of questions.The team try to provide them as they join Matt Chorley for a special edition of their weekly Q&A.

Was the conflict manufactured by a Trump-friendly reporter? How has Congress reacted? Has the incident hurt Trump in the polls? All will be answered in today's edition of Americanswers

HOSTS:

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Our latest mini series is here and this time we're profiling some of the key players in Donald Trump's presidency, who are now running America.

We’re ending the series with Robert F Kennedy Jr., the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has been tasked with making America healthy again - an appointment which came as a surprise to some, given that he’s been accused of supporting the anti-vaccination movement and spreading misinformation.

Spurning a democratic dynasty and risking a family rift to embrace Trump’s administration, his aim now is to end the ‘chronic disease epidemic’. But who is he? And will Americans be any healthier with him in charge?

Marianna is joined by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times Health Correspondent and Clare Malone, Staff Writer at The New Yorker to find out who RFK Jr. really is and why he was appointed.

We also hear from Del Bigtree, who was RFK Jr.’s Communications Director during his brief Presidential run, who tells us he’s an ‘amazing guy’ who loves nature and walking barefoot.

HOSTS: Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent

GUESTS:

- Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times Health Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH:

This episode was made by Keiligh Baker and Chris Flynn with Marianna Brain, Catherine Fusillo and Joe McFadden. The technical producer was Phil Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd