The Republican National Convention this year was set against the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic, and protests over the shooting of a black man by a police officer in Wisconsin. So how did Donald Trump make his case for another four more years in office? Emily and Jon are joined by Republican strategist Ron Christie to get stuck into the key moments from the week. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Natalie Ktena, Frankie Tobi Assistant Editor: Emma Close
Aug 28, 2020•37 min
Joe Biden closed the Democratic National Convention calling for unity, telling voters ‘character and decency’ would be on the ballot come November. Jon, Anthony and Producer Morgan talk us through the key moments from the Dems this week - from Kamala Harris’ historic nomination, to Barack Obama’s unprecedented attack on Donald Trump. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Aug 21, 2020•36 min
Anthony and Jon discuss the unconventional Democratic National Convention with the Reverend Leah Daughtry, CEO of the DNC in 2008 and 2016. And as the US Postal Service boss suspends new policies that were decried as an attempt to sabotage the election, we try to get to the bottom of what is actually going on. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Aug 19, 2020•34 min
After months of speculation, Joe Biden has chosen California Senator Kamala Harris as his pick for VP. The Americast team assembles for an emergency episode, and Mayor of San Francisco and friend of Harris, London Breed, tells us why she thinks Biden made the right pick. Studio director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Morgan Gisholt Minard Editor: Dino Sofos
Aug 12, 2020•24 min
With 90 days to go until the election, how will Americans cast their ballots in the middle of a pandemic? We hear from ProPublica’s Jessica Huseman on why postal-voting is proving to be a controversial topic. And Jon and Anthony speak to Cassie Smedile, Deputy Communications Director for the Republican National Committee, about what message Donald Trump does want to send. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Frankie Tobi, Natalie Ktena, Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Aug 05, 2020•36 min
President Trump is again backing hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug with no proven effectiveness against Covid-19, but with the backing of a quack doctor who believes that women have sex with demons in their dreams. We also discuss why the Senate race is so fascinating this year, and how baseball is a microcosm of America. Studio director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Jul 29, 2020•33 min
Why did the president "wish her well"? President Trump restarted his coronavirus briefings and almost stuck to the script, apart from a rather surprising comment about Ghislaine Maxwell. And why federal agents are on the streets of Portland, and could soon be in Chicago. Also, why does the health of Ruth Bader Ginsburg matter to the election? Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Jul 22, 2020•34 min
It’s Joe Biden’s most important decision of the campaign: who will he pick as his potential vice president? We know it’s going to be a woman, we know he’ll announce soon, and we know some of the names in the frame. Emily, Jon and Anthony assess the people who could soon be a heartbeat away from the vice presidency, and talk to former Health Secretary and VP contender Kathleen Sebelius about the arduous vetting process. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos...
Jul 15, 2020•36 min
Trailing in the polls and with coronavirus cases topping three million, Donald Trump’s chances of re-election don’t look great at the moment. But with four months to go, we're joined by Steve Cortes from America First, a key figure in his re-election campaign. Plus could it be a case of “Yes We Kanye” in 2020? Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Jul 08, 2020•37 min
Four months until the election and lots to discuss. Trump’s poll numbers are falling, and coronavirus cases are rising. Americast is back. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Jul 01, 2020•41 min
On the night of the memorial service for George Floyd, Emily, Jon and Anthony are back to discuss the implications for America and the presidential race. Producers: Harriet Noble, Morgan Gisholt Minard, Nathalie Ktena and Seren Jones Assistant Editor: Emma Close Studio Director: Emma Crowe Editor: Dino Sofos
Jun 05, 2020•40 min
President Trump suggests scientists try researching the efficacy of putting disinfectant into the body to fight the virus. Emily, Jon and Adam are joined by Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University. Producer: Harriet Noble Assistant Editors: Emma Close and Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
Apr 25, 2020•26 min
The presidency in a pandemic. Emily, Jon and Anthony join the host of The Coronavirus Newscast, Adam Fleming, to discuss how the United States is dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. They're also joined by the longest serving Health Secretary in US history, Congresswoman Donna Shalala. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi and Alicia Burrell Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
Apr 10, 2020•36 min
All roads lead to coronavirus… but there is still some politics to talk about before we take break for a while. For more from Emily, Jon and Anthony, tune in to The Coronavirus Newscast on BBC Sounds, where they’ll be popping up. Editor: Dino Sofos
Mar 19, 2020•30 min
A week after Joe Biden surged into the front-runner position, the former vice-president wins big on Mini Super Tuesday, the day six states held primary contests. Maitlis, Sopes and The Zurch chew over the significance of the result and the impact Coronavirus is having on the presidential race. Editor: Dino Sofos Producer: Emma Close
Mar 11, 2020•29 min
In an emergency Americast, Maitlis and Sopes get together with Michelle Fleury, the BBC's New York Business Correspondent to talk about the fall in the stock market and what it could mean for the election. Producer: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Mar 09, 2020•18 min
In our first emergency Americast, Maitlis, Sopes and The Zurch mull over what Elizabeth Warren dropping out means for the Democratic presidential race. Editor: Dino Sofos
Mar 05, 2020•20 min
Maitlis, Sopes and The Zurch discuss Biden’s comeback and other highlights of the biggest night of primaries, Super Tuesday. With special guests Amy Dacey, former CEO of the Democratic National Committee, and the man who wrote speeches for George W. Bush, David Frum.
Mar 04, 2020•42 min
Who is Bernie Sanders? Maitlis, Sopes and The Zurch are joined by Congressman Peter Welch and Lord Wood to discuss the Democrat frontrunner. Plus our first Americast quiz: Who said it, Bernie or Jeremy Corbyn? Producers: Ione Wells, Cristina Criddle and Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 27, 2020•34 min
Sopes, Maitlis and The Zurch explain all that election terminology you've heard but probably don’t quite understand. It’s basically Duolingo for American politics. Producer: Emma Close and Ione Wells Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 19, 2020•43 min
It’s time to talk about Michael… Maitlis and Sopes are joined by Anthony ‘The Mooch’ Scaramucci, Margaret Talev from Axios and Huw Van Steenis, one of Bloomberg's business associates. Producers: Emma Close & Ione Wells Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 17, 2020•35 min
The Dems thrash it out at their New Hampshire primary, with Bernie Sanders coming out top, on a terrible night for former vice-president Joe Biden. Sopes and ‘the Zurch’ join the pod from their hotel room in New Hampshire and Maitlis is in a treehouse… don’t ask. Producers: Ione Wells and Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 12, 2020•34 min
Spoiler alert… President Trump has been acquitted in his impeachment trial. Who’d have thunk it? But there’s still a lot to talk about, including Mitt Romney crossing the aisle to convict his fellow Republican on the first charge of abuse of power. And Maitlis has an exclusive interview with one of the men who testified against the President, former US special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker. Producers: Emma Close and Haley Thomas Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 06, 2020•35 min
Long: 2000 miles, 24 hours, two cities and one podcast - and there are still no final results from the Iowa Caucuses. Good start… Producers: Ione Wells, Emma Close and Haley Thomas Editor: Dino Sofos
Feb 05, 2020•30 min
Your guide to the latest American news and politics.
Jan 29, 2020•3 min
