Things are moving so quickly, but it looks like the presidency is slipping away from Donald Trump. We'll be recording a proper episode with the whole gang later. Until then, here's a quick update from Sopes. It's a bit like Letter from America, but recorded on an iPhone in his flat, after very little sleep. Producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos
Nov 06, 2020•7 min
As Donald Trump prematurely declares victory, Emily, Jon, Anthony and Ron Christie discuss which paths to the White House are still in play. Also, will the swing states be decided in the Supreme Court? And our Texan Trump supporter Ryan returns to the podcast. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Natalie Ktena, Morgan Gisholt Minard, Caitlin Hanrahan Editor: Dino Sofos
Nov 04, 2020•30 min
What a night! Emily, Jon, Anthony and Nick Bryant get together to bring you the story of election night so far. We don’t have a winner, and it could be a long time until we do. We recorded this at midnight EST / 5am GMT. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Morgan Gisholt Minard, Caitlin Hanrahan Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Nov 04, 2020•37 min
As the candidates roll out the red carpet, Emily, Jon and Anthony explain how Lil Wayne, Bruce Springsteen and Nigel Farage are attempting to bring out the votes. Campaign insiders Guy Cecil and Jenna Ellis make their final pitches for their candidate to be President. And the team bring you Americast’s ultimate guide to election night. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 30, 2020•32 min
With less than a week until election day, Jon, Emily and Anthony consider the candidates’ final pitches to the American people. BBC News at Ten's Clive Myrie joins us from Arizona where he’s been reporting on coronavirus and race. And remember Heather, our undecided voter who we heard from after the first debate? She’s back, and she’s no longer undecided… Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena and Morgan Gisholt Minard Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 28, 2020•40 min
With record early voter turnout, Emily, Jon and Anthony discuss whether the candidates’ calm and focused performances will make a difference at the ballot. Also, one Texan tells us whether the night’s events have made him question his early vote. And how former President Barack Obama is trying to get inside Trump’s head. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 23, 2020•38 min
Donald Trump thinks the media should be talking about the content of Joe Biden’s son Hunter’s old laptop; we explain why they’re not. Plus with polls favouring Joe Biden, Emily, Jon and Anthony look at how Trump could beat the odds to a second term in the White House. And as the Democrats try to flip the Senate, we find out how sexting and the price of soybeans could shape the race. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 21, 2020•43 min
As Donald Trump and Joe Biden field voter questions at the same time on different TV networks, Emily, Jon and Anthony compare their performances. And we "Americanswer" why swing states are so swingy. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Natalies Ktena and Morgan Gisholt Minard Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 16, 2020•43 min
Just over a week after leaving hospital, President Trump returned to the campaign trail with a big rally in Florida. It's a crucial state, and in this episode we explain why it might decide the election, and hear from the voters who could swing it. Studio director: Wayne Moses Producers: Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena and Morgan Gisholt Minard Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 13, 2020•41 min
Jon, Emily and Anthony talk us through the flies, the highs and lows of the VP debate in Utah. And two undecided voters tell us if the candidates' sparring on race helped them make their pick. Studio director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 08, 2020•35 min
Emily, Jon and Anthony describe the scene as Donald Trump leaves hospital in a helicopter, takes off his mask and returns to the White House. Studio Director: Matt Howells Producer: Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 06, 2020•32 min
The president has been admitted to hospital. But how much confidence can we have in what we’re being told about his condition after evasive comments from President Trump's doctor? Studio Manager: Jack Graysmark Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 04, 2020•26 min
The president and his wife have tested positive for Covid. What does this mean for the election? Emily, Jon and Anthony gather for an emergency Americast. Producer: Harriet Noble Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Oct 02, 2020•27 min
After a tempestuous night in Cleveland we talk through the biggest moments of the first presidential debate. And we hear from undecided voters about whether the fiery exchanges swayed them at all. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena and Morgan Gisholt Minard Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Sep 30, 2020•35 min
The death of the US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is still dominating the conversation in Washington. Jon and Emily look at who could replace her and when. Also on the podcast, Democratic rising star Jamaal Bowman explains how he’ll challenge the status quo in Washington. And Californian Republican candidate Erin Cruz discusses why she won’t dismiss the QAnon conspiracy theorists. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Frankie Tobi, Natalie Ktena and Harriet Noble Assistant Editor:...
Sep 23, 2020•34 min
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice and icon of liberal America, has died at the age of 87. We sound the emergency klaxon and gather to discuss how she became a cult figure, and what her passing might mean for the election. Studio director: Michael Campbell Producers: Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham, Emma Close
Sep 19, 2020•38 min
With wildfires devastating the West Coast, we look at whether environmental issues will sway voters’ minds. As polls in Florida tighten, we deep dive into the diverse Hispanic vote. And how could the election affect post-Brexit trade negotiations between the US and the UK? Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close
Sep 16, 2020•32 min
Following allegations that Trump made derogatory comments against the military, Jon, Emily and Anthony discuss what this could mean for the veteran vote. And the BBC’s New York Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury explains how the post-covid economy may affect the election. On AmericAnswer.... what exactly happens if one of the candidates dies? Studio director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Sep 09, 2020•30 min
In an exclusive interview for BBC Newsnight, Maitlis speaks with the former UK ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, about the cables that led to his resignation. The ambassador quit last year after it emerged he described the US President's government as "dysfunctional", "inept" and "divided" in the private letters. Producer: Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Sep 08, 2020•32 min
Who do Americans trust to make them feel safer, and what difference could that make to November’s vote? With just over two months to go, Jon, Emily and Anthony discuss how much law and order will be an election issue. And why do so few Americans vote? Studio Director: Michael Regaard Producers: Harriet Noble and Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos
Sep 02, 2020•33 min
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