As Trump confirms he will leave the White House, Emily Jon and Anthony compare his testy press conference with the Bidens’ Thanksgiving message. Also, rumoured cabinet pick Heidi Heitkamp discusses Democrats and the rural vote. And we Americ-answer – is Trump going to pardon himself? Studio Director: Michael Regaard
Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena
Assistant Editor: Emma Close
Editor: Dino Sofos

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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.

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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.

Will the US send billions to Israel and Ukraine? And Christiane Amanpour is back!

Donald Trump is no stranger to Megyn Kelly. The pair had a very public fallout in 2015 after the former Fox anchor questioned his temperament in a Republican Party debate. These days the pair are back on speaking terms, with Trump often choosing to do longer interviews with one of America’s most recognisable broadcasters. And on the day he became the first ever president to face a criminal trial, Megyn Kelly joins us to give her thoughts on how much the trial could affect the outcome of November’s election, the Democrat’s strategy to beat him, and whether we might see a televised debate between the candidates. HOSTS: 
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter 
• Sarah Smith, North America editor GUEST: 
• Megyn Kelly, journalist and host of the Megyn Kelly Show podcast 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, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The kids’ table

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