Newscast

Today, the King has arrived to meet President Trump for the US state visit. His arrival comes as security concerns are heightened after a shooting during the White House correspondents dinner on Saturday.

The visit is also happening at a time when the Prime Minister is having trouble at home. Sir Keir Starmer is set to face a vote by MPs on whether there should be an inquiry over his claims about the vetting of Lord Mandelson.

What’s in store for the King and can the trip help ‘repair’ relations between the US and the UK, and Starmer’s image at home?

Adam is joined by political correspondent Joe Pike, chief North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue and royal reporter Sean Coughlan.

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New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Recorded live at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, Adam, Chris and Henry get grilled by the audience at Castfest.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Adam Fleming, Chris Mason and Henry Zeffman. It was made by Anna Harris with Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Matilda Macari. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Laura and Paddy talk about another incident where a gunman tried to enter an event attended by US President Donald Trump.

A secret service agent’s bulletproof vest saved him from more serious injury, after he was shot.

The president was quickly escorted to safety by the Secret Service, but questions have been raised about how he got so close, and about what it means for the King’s US visit next week.

To help Laura and Paddy answer them, former British ambassador to the United States, Lord Kim Darroch is in the studio.

And Paddy also talks to the BBC’s chief North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue, who was in the room when the gunman was.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Ben Carter. The social producer was Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was James Piper. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at a report that suggests the US could review its position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands.

An internal Pentagon email reported by Reuters suggested the US was considering options to punish Nato allies it believed had failed to support its war on Iran.

The options discussed also included seeking Spain's suspension from Nato over its opposition to the war. BBC News has not been able to review the email.

In this special episode, five of the Newscast gang are together for a special programme from the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios in London as part of Cast Fest.

Adam, Chris, Laura, Paddy, and Henry also discuss whether the King’s visit to the US next week could smooth things over.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg, Paddy O’Connell and Henry Zeffman. It was made by Chris Flynn with Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The technical producer was Robbie Hayward. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Adam, Alex, James and Felicity look at the latest stories from the UK elections campaign trail.

Why are public services at the top of the campaign agenda?

What will it mean for Westminster if nationalist parties sweep the board?

And why is Eluned Morgan explaining how to vote for her though the medium of canned cocktails?

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, Adam and Chris look back and assess how much danger Keir Starmer is in after another week of the Peter Mandelson saga?

They are joined by Lara Spirit, deputy political editor of The Sunday Times and former civil servant Helen MacNamara who served as the deputy cabinet secretary.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, Keir Starmer has sent a "real chill throughout the civil service." That’s according to a senior union official following his decision to sack the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins.

James and Chris are joined by Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, Catherine Haddon, to discuss the recent turbulence in the relationship between the government and the Civil Service over the appointment of Peter Mandelson and whats next for the institution.

And, economics editor Faisal also joins us to discuss why the inflation rate has increased 3.3% in March.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

Today, Olly Robbins the sacked former Foreign Office chief, says number 10 had a “dismissive” attitude to the vetting of Lord Mandelson.

Robbins told MPs when he took over the role there was "already a very very strong expectation" from No 10 that Mandelson "needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible". Downing Street has denied showing a "dismissive" approach to the vetting, and says Robbins made an "error of judgement".

So where does this leave the Prime Minister? Adam and Chris discuss.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, the Prime Minister has faced questions from MPs over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, despite failing security vetting.

Sir Keir Starmer accused officials in the Foreign Office of deliberately and repeatedly withholding the fact Lord Mandelson initially failed security vetting for the role. Giving a statement to MPs, the prime minister said if he had known, he would not have gone ahead with the appointment. Adam and Chris discuss where this leaves Starmer.

And, on a day where the status of US-Iran ceasefire talks are unclear Adam speaks to chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet from Tehran.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Today, Adam joined Laura and Paddy to chew over the latest news from Iran, Scotland, and Downing Street. Ahead of the Prime Minister’s appearance in parliament, they discuss what we’ve learned today about what Sir Keir Starmer knew, or did not know, about the Lord Mandelson’s vetting by the foreign office. Laura spoke to cabinet minister Liz Kendall, who backed the PM and said that Starmer would have blocked the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador had he known he failed security vetting.

Elsewhere, negotiations continue between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. But is it actually currently open or closed? Has the ceasefire been breached? And what happens next? Paddy has been putting those questions to Lyse Doucet in Tehran.

Plus, Laura has been in Scotland speaking to voters and the party leaders about how those issues and others will affect which way voters go in the May elections.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd