Newscast

Today, we discuss the emergency EU summit taking place in Brussels.

Adam catches up with Europe editor Katya Adler about the discussions taking place about how the EU can bolster their defence spending, as well as supporting Ukraine in the face of uncertainty with the US. And Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse dials in to discuss how Zelensky is approaching the summit, and how Ukrainians are feeling a week on from the heated exchange in the Oval Office.

And Chris Mason drops in to discuss the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood taking on the independent Sentencing Council over new guidance which would make the ethnicity or faith of an offender a bigger factor when deciding whether to jail them.

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://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham

Today, we discuss the Chancellor Rachel Reeves looking at making spending cuts worth billions to the government’s welfare budget.

The Treasury will put the proposed cuts to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on Wednesday amid expectations the chancellor's financial headroom has disappeared. Adam is joined by economics editor Faisal Islam to unpack what we know about the proposed cuts, and the chancellor’s Spring Statement later this month.

And, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has spoken to the Nick Robinson in his first wide-ranging interview since leaving Downing Street. Nick and Adam unpack what Rishi had to say, including why he regrets the ‘Stop the Boats’ slogan, how he felt about a podcast questioning his Englishness and what his political philosophy boils down to.

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://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi and Anna Harris. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham

Today, we discuss President Zelensky saying that Ukraine is "ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership" to negotiate a peace deal.

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, we look at possible plans for a Franco-UK peace deal in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea of a partial month-long truce between Russia and Ukraine in a interview on Sunday. But the UK government has played down the idea as just a suggestion, and say that lots of proposals are still on the table. Meanwhile President Trump has criticised President Zelensky online again.

Adam and Chris are joined by Marion Solletty, POLITICO’s editor at large in France.

Plus, Israel have blocked the flow of aid into Gaza, after phase one of it’s ceasefire deal with Hamas expired on Saturday night without a plan for phase two agreed. Adam speaks to BBC World Affairs correspondent, Paul Adams to find out why a plan has yet to be agreed.

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, in this extra episode, Laura and Paddy get back together to talk after Laura met President Zelensky.

He told her, and a group of other journalists, that he is still "ready to sign" a US-Ukraine minerals deal after leaving the White House without it being agreed.

Laura explains what it was like to be in the room as he also explained he wants “the Ukrainian position to be heard."

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, we unpack Sir Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura about Donald Trump’s row with Volodymyr Zelensky, and Europe’s plan to make a Ukraine peace deal happen.

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Today, we look at how Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders are reacting to the row/pile on/slanging match between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Starmer called both men on Friday night to show support, and he’s hosting Zelensky at Downing Street ahead of a European leader summit on Sunday.

Laura and Paddy discuss the Prime Minister’s plans plus answer questions from listeners about the dispute.

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have clashed in an extraordinary exchange at the White House, with Trump telling the Ukrainian president to "make a deal or we're out"

James and Laura dissect what happened.

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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook and Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today we look at the much anticipated meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer.

Answering questions from journalists, the two men discussed; a state visit to the UK for the President, the future of the Chagos Islands, peace in Ukraine and free speech.

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, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have landed in Florida on a private jet from Bucharest, Romania.

The brothers were arrested in Romania three years ago and face trial on allegations of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering - all of which they deny. The charges haven’t been dropped, and they are expected to return at the end of March.

Why were they able to leave and will they ever return? James speaks to social media correspondent, Marianna Spring and correspondent Nick Thorpe, who speaks to us from Bucharest.

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.

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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1