There are some chunky virus figures out. We look at the effect of the vaccine rollout and the return of schools with our Health Correspondent James Gallagher. We also chat with Jamie L. Manson, the President of Catholics for Choice, and the first LGBTQ person to lead a Catholic organisation in the United States on the Pope’s approach to same-sex marriage – and what she hopes will change. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe
Producers: Natalie Ktena, Daniel Wittenberg, Georgia Coan and Ben Weisz
Episode Editor: Rick Kelsey
Assistant Editor: Emma Close
Editor: Dino Sofos

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The UK’s flagship daily news podcast from the BBC, Newscast dives into the day’s big stories so you’re never out of your depth.
 
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you’re ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond, what the cost of living means for the money in your pocket and the impact of climate change.
 
Can Rishi Sunak turn the Conservatives fortunes around? Will Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party win the next general election? Newscast will give you all the best insights from BBC News so you’re across all the day’s top stories. 
 
Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. Joined by special guests, including Lyse Doucet, Katya Adler, Marianna Spring, John Simpson and Victoria Derbyshire among others. In this election year, Newscast will track all the developments from Westminster - as well as following all the big developments around the world, from the race to the White House, to the war in Ukraine. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer
 
GET IN TOUCH:
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or us #Newscast Newscast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Newscast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Americast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Newscast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

News

Today, we look at Rishi Sunak’s promise to spend billions more on defence. Sunak said UK military spending would rise to 2.5% of national income by 2030. The prime minister was in Poland to pledge £500 million in extra support for Ukraine, but claimed the extra money for defence would put the UK’s defence industry "on a war footing". Adam is joined by former armed forces minister, James Heappey MP. And, the day after the government’s Rwanda policy passed through Parliament, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Tom Symonds has been speaking to migrants in northern France who are preparing to cross the Channel to get to the UK.  And, the BBC’s Africa correspondent Barbara Plett Usher has been to see where the migrants will stay when they arrive in Rwanda. 
 
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 Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper and Sam McLaren. The technical producers were Gareth Jones and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Sunak Goes on the Defensive

Today we look at the Safety of Rwanda bill, which passed through parliament tonight after a back and forth with the Lords.
 
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says it will allow his government to put asylum seekers on flights in “10-12 weeks”.
 
Chris joins Adam to discuss how we got here, and what happens next.
 
And presenter Huw Edwards has resigned from the BBC on “medical advice from his doctors”. He has been off air since last July, after reports were published which claimed he paid a young person for explicit images. Adam speaks to culture & media editor, Katie Razzall.
 
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 Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Joe Wilkinson and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The government’s Rwanda policy takes off

Today, we look at the US Congress approving $61 billion of funding for Ukraine.  
 
Laura and Paddy are joined by the political editor of BBC Newsnight Nick Watt to help unpick the day’s top stories.
 
Paddy’s been speaking to the former Director-General of the Defence think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, Michael Clarke, about the significance of the US military aid package for Ukraine.
 
And the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho was on Laura’s show defending the government’s approach to climate change.
 
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. Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham

The Art of the US/Ukraine Aid Deal

Today we look at the apologies made by the Met Police after threatening to arrest an anti-Semitism charity leader for being near a pro-Palestine march. Gideon Falter, the Campaign Against Antisemitism chief executive was told by police his presence was causing a "breach of peace", in a video posted online. Laura and Paddy speak to former Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Zoe Billingham about policing protests and the pressures on the police. And Laura’s spoken to the outgoing Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, Chris Stark  who says Rishi Sunak has “set us back” on climate change.  Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Frank McWeeny. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Stark Climate Change Warning for Government

Today, we look at the mystery surrounding an apparent Israeli strike on Iran. Two US officials told the BBC's US partner CBS News that an Israeli missile struck Iran overnight. The Israeli government has not officially commented. Meanwhile Iran have downplayed reports of an attack. What is going on? Adam is joined by the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, James Landale.  And, what political jargon leaves you confused? BBC Audiences have released an internal report on which political terms people hear about on the news but struggle to understand. To explain all Adam is joined by the BBC’s deputy political editor, Vicki Young.
 
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 Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Josh Jenkins and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Chris Gray, The senior news editor is Sam Bonham

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