Americast

The Americast team are together in the studio in Washington DC for the first time as results in the midterms continue to come in.

In their second episode of the night the team look at where the wins are for both the Republicans and the Democrats. They also explore where it leaves Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump as they look ahead to the elections in 2024.

Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring.

Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62742687.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to 00443301239480

The Republicans look set to take control of the House of Representatives, but the battle for control of the Senate is on a knife-edge. Sarah, Anthony and Marianna get together in Washington to talk through what's been happening so far in the midterms and why it all matters.

Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring.

Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62742687.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to 00443301239480.

President Biden says there is no place for "political violence in America". His warning follows an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, last week. Within hours of that attack a series of unsubstantiated claims began circulating on social media contradicting official accounts of what had happened. Those misleading claims then went viral after being amplified by new Twitter chief Elon Musk.

The Americast team look at how the attack has led to the sharing of disinformation on social media and Justin and Sarah speak to author Josh Zeitz about the history of political violence in the US.

Donald Trump Jr. tweets about our 'undercover voters' and Marianna Spring, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation correspondent responds. And Anthony returns from Virginia to look at Biden’s record ahead of the midterms.

Find out more about our ‘undercover voters’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62742687

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +443301239480

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

There are less than two weeks to go to the midterms. The Americast team look at why Republicans have seized upon the issue of crime and what the Democrats are trying to do to counter that.

Professor of Criminology Charis Kubrin, talks the team through the perceived and real threat of crime in the US and the BBC’s

Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our ‘undercover voters’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62742687

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +443301239480

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall

The Americast team look at the threat that election deniers could pose to democracy if they are elected to office in the upcoming US midterms.

The team chat to Alabama Secretary of State and Republican John Merrill and the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media correspondent Marianna Spring examines whether election deniers are reaching voters through their social media accounts.

Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our Americast ‘undercover voters’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62742687

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 330 1239480

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

After claiming the 2012 shooting in Sandy Hook was a hoax, it’s a moment of reckoning for America’s conspiracy-theorist-in-chief Alex Jones as he is ordered to pay nearly $1bn in damages to the victim’s family members.

Americast explores the huge cultural and social stories that define the increasingly polarised political debate. The team report on a changing country with on-the-ground insights from right across America.

Today presenter Justin Webb and North America editor Sarah Smith join North America correspondent Anthony ‘The Zurch’ Zurcher. Each week on Americast, BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring will investigate the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.

The Americast team delve into how conspiracy theories evolve online and how misinformation is affecting US politics, with the help of our Undercover Voters and Barack Obama’s former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.

US Special Correspondent Katty Kay is back from her trip on Route 66 meeting voters ahead of the midterms.

President Joe Biden and Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis have put their political clashes on hold to show a united front over Hurricane Ian. The pair shook hands on the president’s visit to see the devastation left by the storm.

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 330 1239480

We’re racing towards the US midterms but don’t worry, the full Americast team is back together to get stuck into the key issues, characters and races, and which party might come out on top. With a little help from Cliff Young, pollster and President of US Public Affairs at Ipsos.

And Marianna updates us on what our Undercover Voters are being targeted with.

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 330 1239480

There is growing political tension in America over immigration.

States such as Florida, Texas and Arizona have sent thousands of migrants to cities like New York, Washington DC and the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. Sarah, Justin and Marianna look at how the row is playing out amongst voters and on social media.

Americast also profiles Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis who has been a key figure in the controversial tactic.

This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis.

The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 330 1239480

How is the US reacting?

From Truman to Biden, the Queen met thirteen of the fourteen US presidents who held office during her reign and left a lasting impression on the United States. Justin, Sarah and Marianna look at the reaction to her death and catch up with the BBC’s Chelsea Bailey in Washington DC, who has been speaking to some of the Queen’s biggest fans.

And after a five-year legal fight, an Ohio college will pay nearly $37 million to a local bakery that sued the school for libel following a 2016 shoplifting incident involving three Black students. Criminal defence lawyer Professor Jonathan Turley takes us through the case and wider implications of the ruling.

Americast is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Sam Bonham. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 330 1239480.