Americast

Americast

Download on the App Store
  • Ranking

    13th

    on Government

  • Favorites

    1,709

    Followers

  • Typical duration

    31 min

    per episode

  • If it hooks

    69%

    finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Americast episodes

  • Americanswers! Presidential Debate Special

    We answer your questions about the upcoming presidential debate.

    Including:

    - Their strategies

    - How they're preparing (and who's role playing Donald Trump for during Democrat rehearsals)
    - What the rules are

    HOSTS:

    * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

    * Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    29 min
  • Profile: Who is JD Vance?

    Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States. How did JD Vance, whose memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” about growing up in Ohio amidst alcoholism and drug addiction, become Trump’s VP pick for the White House? Once a fierce critic of Trump, publicly declaring himself a “never Trumper”, Anthony looks into what JD Vance stands for, and why he changed his mind about the former President. We also find out which song makes him cry, and how Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings influenced his career.

    HOST:

    • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUESTS:

    Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, staff writer at New York Magazine
    Ian Ward, reporter at Politico

    GET IN TOUCH:

    • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    • Or use #Americast

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    26 min
  • Can You Predict an Election?

    This week is all about predictions, polling and risk taking - what do current polls tell us about who might win the 2024 presidential race? We get a behind the scenes look at how statisticians make their predictions, and how accurate they are. Our guest Nate Silver developed a forecasting system which correctly predicted the outcome of the presidential election in 49 out of 50 states in 2008, and all 50 states in 2012. He also talks to Marianna and Sarah about his new book on risk - On the Edge - and his journey from professional poker playing to politics.

    HOSTS:

    Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor
    Marianna Spring, BBC Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent

    GUEST:

    Nate Silver, U.S. election forecaster and stastician. Founder of FiveThirtyEight and the Silver bulletin, and author of On The Edge.

    GET IN TOUCH:

    • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    • Or use #Americast

    This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Purvee Pattni, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer . 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

    The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    28 min
  • Americanswers! Do Harris/Trump actually need ANY policies?

    Following her first interview since entering the presidential race, where does Vice-President Kamala Harris stand on the issues that matter to Americans?

    And, is campaigning a family affair? We take a look at whether a single person could run for the White House, or whether a candidate could lose the race because of a media-shy partner.

    HOSTS:

    * Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor

    * Marianna Spring, BBC Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

    This episode was made by Ben Mundy with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    27 min
  • Profile: Who is Donald Trump? (Part 2… The Politician)

    Inside Trump’s White House

    LONG

    After one of the greatest political surprises in American political history, Donald Trump’s 2016 victory gave way to a controversial and consequential presidency.

    We look back on the four years that were defined by staff fallouts, COVID, and an attempted insurrection. Anthony is joined by two journalists who were in the room with Trump while he was changing American politics one decision at a time.

    Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States.

    HOST:

    * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GUESTS:

    * Meredith McGraw is a national political correspondent at Politico
    * Jonathan Karl is the Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    31 min
  • Profile: Who is Donald Trump? (Part 1… The Brand)

    Americast discovers how Donald Trump's business success came from creating a franchise out of his most valuable commodity: himself.

    Americast is profiling all the major candidates in the U.S. election - Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and JD Vance - look out for our special profile eps over the next few Sundays!

    HOST:

    * Sarah Smith, North America Editor

    GUESTS:

    * Marc Fisher, senior editor at the Washington Post and co-author of the biography ‘Trump Revealed’
    * Bill Pruitt, former Apprentice producer

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    34 min
  • How Pennsylvania Could Decide The Election

    In 2020 Joe Biden won this key swing state by fewer than 81,000 votes. In 2024, the path to the White House may be impossible for the Democrats unless they win over the people of Pennsylvania.

    And the Republican know it. Vance and Trump are both visiting this week.

    In this episode of Americast we investigate what makes Pennsylvania so important, and what makes its voters tick.

    Sarah and Sumi are joined by two people with their fingers on the pulse; a morning radio host and a political strategist on different sides of the aisle.

    HOSTS:

    - Sarah Smith, North America Editor

    - Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter

    GUESTS:

    - Mike Mikus local Democrat political advisor

    - RJ Harris WHP 580 radio morning presenter

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB

    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    31 min
  • Americanswers! More legal trouble for Trump... And why did RFK Jr drop out?

    US prosecutors have issued revised charges against Donald Trump for the former president's alleged attempts to interfere in the 2020 election after losing the contest. How do they differ from the charges he’s already facing?

    RFK Jr has officially dropped out of the race for the White House after a campaign which at one point saw him polling in double digits. How will his withdrawal affect the race?

    And, it’s been confirmed that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will do an interview with CNN this week. Why are Democrats nervous about Harris’s first interview as a presidential candidate?

    HOSTS:

    * Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent

    * Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter

    GET IN TOUCH:

    * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB

    * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    * Or use #Americast

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

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    19 min
  • Profile: Who is Tim Walz?

    Few people had heard of Governor Tim Walz when he was selected by Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States. The former teacher was chosen ahead of fierce competition, including an astronaut, and the governor of a key swing state - but why? Americast finds out how “Coach Walz” made his way onto the ticket.

    Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States.

    HOST:

    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

    GUESTS:

    • Leah Solo, Tim Walz’s former student and campaign manager
    • Briana Bierschbach, Politics Reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune

    GET IN TOUCH:

    • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    • Or use #Americast

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

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

    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.

    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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    20 min
  • Did Kamala Harris pull off the biggest speech of her life?

    Kamala Harris closed the DNC with a speech that she hopes will sway voters to the Democrats.

    The day began with speculation over whether she might be joined on stage by Taylor Swift or Beyoncé.

    In the end, Harris took to the stage alone and focused on her upbringing and a pitch to America’s middle class.

    The team assemble on the final night of the convention to analyse whether she did enough to win over the undecided.

    HOSTS:

    • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
    • Sarah Smith, North America editor
    • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

    GET IN TOUCH:

    • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
    • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
    • Or use #Americast

    This episode was made by George Dabby and Claire Betzer in Chicago, with Hatty Nash in London. 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 Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
    Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
    Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

    28 min

About Americast

From the publisher's feed

Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC.

Best of Americast

Ranked by our users in the last 21 days

More shows like Americast

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,624 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

520 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,050 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

287 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,486 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,104 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

220 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

107 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

690 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Radio 4

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

350 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

233 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by Significant Productions

Elis James and John Robins

321 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,219 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

21 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

72 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

708 Listeners

Ukrainecast by BBC News

Ukrainecast

367 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,041 Listeners

Politics Weekly America by The Guardian

Politics Weekly America

194 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

527 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,109 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

775 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Studios

Believe in Magic

628 Listeners

The News Agents - USA by Global

The News Agents - USA

391 Listeners

The Rest Is Money by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Money

188 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

385 Listeners

Miss Me? by Persephonica

Miss Me?

242 Listeners

Electoral Dysfunction by Sky News

Electoral Dysfunction

106 Listeners

Political Currency by Persephonica

Political Currency

157 Listeners

Radical by BBC Radio 4

Radical

30 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: US by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: US

2,281 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

58 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

74 Listeners

The Rest Is Classified by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Classified

1,124 Listeners

The History Bureau by BBC

The History Bureau

71 Listeners