Charting music's part in US politics, from 1970s disco to 'Rich Men North of Richmond', which has become a surprise No.1 hit. What does this country song, claimed by conservatives, tell us about American society? The Americast team talk to the BBC's 'Professor of Pop', Paul Gambaccini, about protest music in the States. And what happens when musicians refuse to be used by politicians? Karen Willis, manager of The Village People and the wife of its lead singer, tells us about the YMCA group's cease and desist letter against Donald Trump. HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUESTS:
• Karen Willis, manager of 'The Village People'
• Paul Gambaccini, Radio 2 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans and the editor was Damon Rose. BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS:
19:16 – Karen Willis
28:18 – Paul Gambaccini

Pop Save America

The authoritative twice-weekly US news and politics podcast from BBC News, Americast investigates the social and cultural issues that define America today. Is Joe Biden too old to win another go in the White House? What does Donald Trump’s latest criminal charge mean for the Republican campaign? And why have issues such as LGBT rights, global warming and the war effort in Ukraine become so divisive across the US political spectrum? From foreign policy to pop culture, Americast keeps you up to date and in the know about the stories that matter with on-the-ground insights from right across the US. Americast is hosted by trusted journalists including the BBC’s North America editor Sarah Smith, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, presenter Justin Webb, and disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring. Joined by special guests each week such as former chief medical adviser to the president, Dr Anthony Fauci, former FBI director James Comey, CNN anchor and author Jake Tapper, Succession actress J Smith-Cameron, and Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire from podcast RedHanded, they look at America through an international lens, trying to make sense of the increasingly polarised political debate. Each week on Americast, Marianna Spring also brings listeners the latest update on BBC Undercover Voters, the award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. Marianna has created undercover voters – multiple social media accounts belonging to different characters who sit across the US political divide. By tracking the content that is pushed at each of them, this investigation will cover a turbulent time for US politics with speculation over a Trump bid for the presidency and Biden facing domestic and international challenges. 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

News

Politics

Government

Following the start of Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York, we answer your questions on how Joe Biden could handle his main challenger’s legal woes. And, Democrats are worried about the threat posed by Robert F Kennedy's Jr's run for office. But could Kennedy's campaign also be a threat to Donald Trump? We assess his chances and take look at another less conventional third-party candidate. HOST: 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor GUEST:
• Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Americanswers! RFK Jr, pardoning Trump, and why is Biden talking about cannibals?

Former US President Donald Trump’s trial in New York began this week, where he’s accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. He’s pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels. Americast is launching a new mini series to break down what’s happening in the courtroom over the six-week criminal trial. Sarah and Anthony are joined by the BBC’s US reporter, Kayla Epstein - who’s been in court every day - to take a look at the key players, reveal the main takeaways from this week and discuss what could happen next… HOSTS: 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GUEST: 
• Kayla Epstein  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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 Keiligh Baker and Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Trump Trial Week 1... Inside the Court

Hundreds of students have been arrested across the United States as they protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Sarah is at Columbia University in New York City, one of many colleges where students are protesting, but where some Jewish students say they feel threatened by the actions of demonstrators. And Marianna takes a look at how social media, and TikTok in particular, are shaping how a new generation of voters are engaging with politics through the lens of the war in the Middle East. HOSTS: 
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Americast on campus: Students protest over Gaza

In the latest edition of Americanswers, we get down to basics at the start of Donald Trump’s first criminal trial.  Who are the jurors selected to decide Trump’s fate? Who protects them? And how are they being targeted online? Today’s opening statements mark the first criminal trial against a president in US history, as Trump stands accused of trying to cover up hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before he won the 2016 election. HOSTS: 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter 
• Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent
• 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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 with Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Trump Trial Day 1... Americanswers!

The president has urged Benjamin Netenyahu to “take the win” after thwarting an attack from Iran. The question now is how Israel responds, and if Joe Biden has any influence over it. Christiane Amanpour, the British/Iranian chief international anchor for CNN, joins Americast to assess what could happen next. In Congress there’s a vote on a pivotal deal that would provide billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel, and introduce more sanctions for Iran. It could change the course of the conflicts but it could also cost Speaker Mike Johnson his job. We’re asking whether he can survive yet another MAGA rebellion. HOSTS: 
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor
• Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent  GUEST: 
• Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Anchor for CNN 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
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• 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, Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Pop Save America

Download our free app to listen on your phone