Americast

In one of its most pivotal decisions of the year, the top US court has ruled that American presidents can have absolute immunity for ‘official’ acts. But what does that mean exactly? How far could the leader of the free world push the definition of a presidential duty?

Sarah and Anthony have been combing through the opinion, and call in constitutional law expert Alison LaCroix to help them understand all the details - from the practical to the farcical. Does the ruling impact Donald Trump’s other legal cases? Could Joe Biden order Trump’s assassination and claim immunity?

Elsewhere in the world of politics, some Democrats have started to publicly call for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Plus, Sarah sat down with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, on plans to contest the 2024 presidential election if the Democrats win.

After last week’s presidential debate, Justin and Marianna discuss whether President Biden is likely to step down – or be forced to stand down – as the Democratic nominee. Who might replace him? Or if he stays, what are his chances of winning the election against Donald Trump? Justin and Marianna also answer questions on how the media covered Trump’s performance in the debate, and why many of his false claims were not fact checked.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in their first presidential debate

The testy showdown was marked by personal attacks and a stumbling Biden performance. The Americast Team reacts to the policies debated as well as each candidate’s performance.

Sarah and Anthony join us from the Spin Room after the debate, where they talk about the Democrats’ mood and how the Trump team is reacting.

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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 Purvee Pattni and Catherine Fusillo. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham

More questions, more answers: Anthony and Miles disect how Democrats in the deep south lost the working class vote.

The team tackle who Trump’s current VP pick might be, and respond to the most asked question in the Americast inbox: whether if it’s too late for Trump or Biden to drop out of the race.

We also find out how politics is breaking up American families, and whether Western allies fear the return of Donald Trump.

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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 Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump will face off next week in the first presidential debate of the 2024 U.S. election season. Questions are swirling about how prepared both candidates are before they meet each other at the podium once again.

Sarah and Justin sit down with Mike Murphy, a veteran Republican strategist who has prepared many Republican candidates for debate, to break down what we can expect from the rematch. Can Biden calm concerns about the economy? Can Trump swat away attacks about his criminal conviction? What should Americasters be watching out for?

The showdown could be the most momentous debate of both men’s political careers.

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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 Purvee Pattni with Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Justin gets grilled by the Americasters on why he didn’t correct an interviewee who referred to Donald Trump as “President”... And why he refers to the world wide HQ of Americast as being in “London, England”.

He and Sarah also tackle precinct issues like how Trump and Keir Starmer would interact if elected this year, and whether he could run for a third term, and how a President builds his cabinet. We also hear from a caller who wants to know what happened to the political centre ground in the United States.

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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 Rufus Gray. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three charges in his federal gun trial, becoming the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be criminally convicted. Prosecutors said Biden lied about his drug use when he bought a handgun in 2018. Sarah Smith - who has just returned from Delaware where the trial took place - and Justin Webb unpack the evidence and the consequences for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign.

Also, Justin and Sarah speak to Jill Biden’s former Press Secretary, Michael LaRosa on how the case will be affecting Joe Biden’s inner circle. Could the U.S. president pardon his son?

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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 Purvee Pattni with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Sarah Smith is reunited with the Zurch! She’s back from her holiday, and returns to a very full inbox of Ameriquestions to answer.

They include queries on whether the U.S. would ever elect a President who isn’t a Christian, and why politicians “approve this message” at their end of their campaign adverts?

And we speak to Americaster Joanna, who wants to know whether Americans harbour desires for their own monarchy.

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- Sarah Smith, North America editor

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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 Rufus Gray with Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Donald Trump has been speaking out after being convicted last week on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. His team say they will continue to appeal, but on what grounds, and how likely are they to overturn the verdicts? Justin and Anthony hear directly from the Trump campaign, and also put forward questions from Americast listeners. Sentencing takes place on July 11th.

Also, what happened in Hunter Biden’s criminal trial which got underway in Delaware this week?

Black Americans could be the deciding vote this election year. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are making their case to court black voters, but are their messages breaking through? Justin sits down with Charlamagne Tha God, one of the most influential radio broadcasters in the US whose show has become a campaign stop for presidential candidates. As the author of the new title ‘Get Honest or Die Lying,’ Charlamagne gets straight to the point on how both Biden and Trump are losing support.