About this show
Americast is a news podcast from BBC News. On Apple Podcasts it ranks #28 in Europe (as of 2026-10-26). By country in Europe: UK #34, Ireland #62.
Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Podcast episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Watch on iPlayer here: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy .
Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now.
The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s social media investigation correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.
As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.
The team is also joined by special guests each week.
Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on BBC Radio 4 and every Saturday on the BBC World Service. Oh, and you can now watch us on YouTube and on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy .
Also, you can listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from our friends, including BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Ch
Where it charts
Latest episode
2026-10-2347 min
We speak to Hasan Piker... Is he a liability for the dems?
Are Hasan Piker’s controversial views a help or a hindrance for the Democrats this midterms? He’s arguably America’s most high-profile left-wing influencer but he’s not loved by all Democrats. He made his name streaming on Twitch and helped propel Abdul El-Sa…
Recent episodes
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- 2026-10-1530 minYour US Midterm Election Guide (A Global News Podcast collab)What happens if Donald Trump loses the midterms, and why does this election matter for Republicans and Democrats? In this episode, Anthony and Sumi d…
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- 2026-10-0939 minAre the Democrats heading for a midterms landslide?How confident should Democrats be about surprise new polling which puts them ahead in deep Republican territory? In states such as Kansas which haven…
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- 2026-10-0637 minAmericanswers…Will Christa Pike still face the death penalty after surviving two lethal injection doses?How has the botched execution of a woman convicted of murder in Tennessee 30 years ago prompted a debate about the death penalty in the US? Marianna…
- 2026-10-0232 minCan the Democratic Socialists of America win over voters?Abolish ICE? Abolish borders, No prisons? The co-chair of the DSA speaks to us about what the party really stands for and whether they can persuade u…
- 2026-10-0129 minDo Republicans need to ditch Trump before the midterms?Is Donald Trump now more of an electoral hindrance than a help, even in his home state of Florida, where one candidate has talked down his links with…
- 2026-09-2928 minAmericanswers! Why don't the Democrats have a new leader yet?Ahead of November’s midterm elections, are we any closer to knowing who might lead the Democrats into the 2028 presidential election? Americanswers i…