Protests are taking place in Minneapolis after a woman was fatally shot by a US ICE agent. Accounts of what exactly happened are conflicting, with the Trump Administration citing self-defence whilst law makers in the city and state of Minnesota are calling it a brazen act of force. Adam is joined by BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher, and BBC North America reporter, Madeline Halpert, who is on the ground and at the scene in Minneapolis. In studio is BBC business editor Simon Jack, ...
Jan 08, 2026•28 min
Today, the US has seized two oil tankers — one Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic and another ship in the Caribbean. Both vessels have links to Venezuela. The UK supported US efforts to seize the Russian-flagged ship, which is accused of breaking US sanctions by shipping Iranian oil. What do we know so far and is this the closest Russia and the US have been to confrontation since the Cold War? Adam is joined by BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen and Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior m...
Jan 07, 2026•37 min
Today, Adam and Chris discuss the latest agreement between the Coalition of the Willing and the US to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire with Russia. The talks in Paris saw the UK and France agree to put troops on the ground "in the event of a peace deal". Plus we look at why President Trump has his sights set on Greenland and whether he really might annex the island. Adam is joined by the Economist’s defence editor Shashank Joshi and Dr Gabr...
Jan 06, 2026•39 min
Today, the seized President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has appeared in a New York court charged with narco-terrorism. As Maduro pled not guilty he told the court he was a “decent man” and “still the president of his country”. The highly televised spectacle of the Venezuelan leader being transferred to the court came as the UN security council held an emergency meeting across the city and President Trump reiterated his interest in annexing Greenland in the name of American national security. Ad...
Jan 05, 2026•35 min
Today, we look at who’s in power now in Venezuela, after President Donald Trump said the US will ‘run’ the country. Maduro's Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has been named interim president, who Trump says is talking to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman is also in the studio to talk through Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura in which he reacted to the news from South America, as well as his future and the UK’s relationship with the EU. ...
Jan 04, 2026•34 min
As the new year begins, Laura's had a long chat with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There's speculation about his future, but he says he'll see out the year in the job. The interview was recorded on Saturday, as the news about President Nicolás Maduro's capture was breaking. Laura also asks Starmer if he's is supportive of Donald Trump's actions. And, how does he see the UK's future relationship with the EU? This is the interview in full. There's a regular episode of Newscast on the way later ...
Jan 04, 2026•46 min
Today, the United States dropped bombs on Venezuela and captured its president, before Donald Trump announced that the US will “run” the country until “safe transition can take place”. He also said US oil companies will fix Venezuela's "broken infrastructure" and "start making money for the country". Chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Laura and Paddy to talk through how and why Trump took the action. They also discuss what could happen next, and what it means for the rest of the...
Jan 03, 2026•33 min
Today, we look at how Donald Trump won the Republican nomination to be President in 2016 (Part 2). Adam is joined by chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry, and Anthony Zurcher from Americast. In part 2 they discuss the unique approach Donald Trump took to the debates? Why the likes of Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio failed to shine? And, why the late attempt by a Republican grandee to stop Trump failed? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say...
Jan 02, 2026•38 min
Today, we look at how Donald Trump won the Republican nomination to be President in 2016 (Part 1). Adam is joined by chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry, and Anthony Zurcher from Americast. In part 1 they discuss whether a speech by Barack Obama convinced Trump to run? Who his main competition would be? And, what made his campaign so different? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart sp...
Dec 31, 2025•29 min
In Part Two of this Old Newscast, we pick up with Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign trail. Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn entered the leadership contest with many doubting he would win the necessary 35 nominations from Labour MPs to make it on to the ballot. Three months later, on the 12th September 2015, he was elected as leader with almost 60% of the vote. Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn of the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Jane Merrick and Nick Watt, to rev...
Dec 30, 2025•34 min
Today’s Old Newscast is travelling all the way back to 2015: it’s the morning after the general election, and Ed Miliband resigns as leader of the Labour party. Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn entered the leadership contest with many doubting he would win the necessary 35 nominations from Labour MPs to make it on to the ballot. Three months later, on the 12th September 2015, he was elected as leader with almost 60% of the vote. Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn...
Dec 29, 2025•31 min
Adam, Chris, Laura and Paddy go through the biggest stories of 2025 with the help of economics editor Faisal Islam and international editor Jeremy Bowen. They also reveal what it was like to be on the inside as they happened, and discuss how Keir Starmer will reflect on his first full year as prime minister, how Donald Trump's tariffs reshaped the world's economy, and how a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached. And we look at where the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Zack Polanski...
Dec 24, 2025•52 min
Today, the US department of justice has released the largest amount of so-called “Epstein files” so far - but what exactly is in the latest batch? Among the latest files is an email from someone called ‘A’ from ‘Balmoral’ asking Ghislaine Maxwell for ‘inappropriate friends’. Adam is joined by Sumi Somaskanda, the BBC's Chief News Presenter in Washington D.C. Plus, the Government has watered down their inheritance tax plan for farms. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds says the government has “li...
Dec 23, 2025•25 min
Today, Adam is joined by Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell to reflect on her first few weeks in the role and what lies ahead for the Labour government in 2026. The pair also discuss Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s new comments on the UK’s relationship with the EU, his leadership ambitions, and the importance of the party sticking together and showing a united front. Plus, how will Labour take on the political challenge represented by the Reform party and Nigel Farage next year? And, crucially,...
Dec 22, 2025•32 min
Today, we’re bringing you some of the best bits from Newscast’s 25-hour Podcast-A-Thon! Back in November, Adam was challenged by Pudsey Bear to record a 25-hour long episode of Newscast in aid of Children In Need. Members of the Newscast family dropped by throughout the day and night to cheer Adam on. Including when Laura and Paddy met Pudsey, voice coaching with Chris and a midnight snack session with Lyse Doucet chatting about how she spends her down time with her family in Canada. You can joi...
Dec 21, 2025•39 min
Today, we’re bringing you some of the best bits from Newscast’s 25-hour Podcast-A-Thon! Back in November, Adam was challenged by Pudsey Bear to record a 25-hour long episode of Newscast in aid of Children In Need. Keeping Adam company were many friends of the podcast including paranormal podcasters Danny Robins and Tristan Redman, satirist Armando Iannucci, The Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti and Lisa Costello delivering a masterclass in the Shipping Forecast! You can join our Newscast online...
Dec 20, 2025•28 min
Today, Chris is joined by Ailbhe Rea from the New Statesman and Tim Shipman from the Spectator to review the year in politics and hazard a guess at what to expect in 2026. They discuss a shaky year for Keir Starmer’s leadership, the (almost) welfare rebellion and the rise of the “funky fringe”. Plus what can this year tell us about next years local elections? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most sma...
Dec 19, 2025•36 min
Today, the Bank of England has cut interest rates to the lowest level since early 2023. Chancellor Rachel Reeves calls it "good news for families with mortgages and businesses with loans" - but says there's "more to do". Meanwhile, the Bank now expects no economic growth at the end of this year. Faisal is with Tristan in the studio to talk it through. And, tension is still building between the US and Venezuela. President Donald Trump has ordered "a total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned ...
Dec 18, 2025•34 min
Today, the UK government announced it is set to rejoin the Erasmus study scheme. Victoria is joined Joe Pike to discuss - and they speak to Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for EU relations about whether it’s worth the £570m cost. Plus, Andrea Egan becomes the new secretary general of the UK’s biggest union - Unison. We explain what that could mean for the Labour party and Keir Starmer’s leadership. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds t...
Dec 17, 2025•25 min
Today, the government has ordered an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics. The government say this is in response to what it called the “shocking” case of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales. Gill was jailed in November, after admitting to taking bribes for pro-Russian interviews and speeches when he was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Announcing the review, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the government must "learn the lessons" ...
Dec 16, 2025•37 min
Today, doctors in England have decided to strike for 5 days this week despite a new offer from the government. The British Medical Association said 83% of its members had voted to continue with the walkout in an online poll over the weekend, with a turnout of 65%. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "gutted" by the result, describing it as "irresponsible" given the rising pressure from flu. The BMA argues that, despite previous pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than...
Dec 15, 2025•32 min
Today, Laura, Paddy and Henry speak about the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to set up specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force in England and Wales by 2029. We also discuss her ambitions as conversations about Keir Starmer’s future continue. And as it’s the last time Laura, Paddy and Henry get together in 2025, the team have a look forward to 2026 to predict what they think the biggest stories of next year might be. You can now listen to Newscast on a...
Dec 14, 2025•32 min
Today, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written in the Guardian Newspaper urging members of the British Medical Association to rethink planned strikes. Possible strikes coincide with flu-related illnesses and hospitalisations at a higher rate than usual for this time of year, which have led to worries that a strike would lead to problems for the NHS. Also, Laura has spoken to the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. Since the Supreme Court...
Dec 13, 2025•27 min
Today, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting has given a very broad and far reaching interview to the New Statesman which some are seeing as an attack on Starmer’s leadership. Adam, Chris, Faisal and Alex discuss this, as well as the on going pressure on the PM. Plus, the team also pick out something we should be looking out for in 2026 in politics. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. ...
Dec 12, 2025•30 min
Today, the number of people in hospital with the flu has risen by more than half this week. Doctors say an earlier start to the flu season plus an unexpected mutation in this years primary strain has led to a lower rate of immunity amongst the general public for this time of year. BBC health editor Hugh Pym and Doctor Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist from the UK Health Security Agency breakdown the data. Plus, US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in an esca...
Dec 11, 2025•40 min
Today, Sir Keir Starmer and Danish leader Mette Frederiksen published a joint article arguing for urgent modernisation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which has an impact on how a country can tackle illegal migration. David Lammy is in Strasbourg with European counterparts, beginning negotiations to change how the continent’s main human rights treaty is interpreted by judges, following political pressure from right wing parties who are calling for a complete withdrawal from th...
Dec 10, 2025•32 min
Today, a report into almost £11 billion of Covid scheme fraud has found that most of it is beyond recovery. Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe said that a lack of accountability, bad quality data and poor contracting during the pandemic had led to £10.9 billion being lost to fraud or error. Simon Jack joins Adam to explain where the money’s gone and what, if anything, the government can do to recover it. Plus Baroness Amos, who is leading a review into maternity care in England, has sa...
Dec 09, 2025•32 min
Today, we discuss President Trump’s new vision for global security, one that is creating a lot of criticism in Europe. The 33-page document called the National Security Strategy suggests Europe is facing "civilisational erasure" and does not cast Russia as a threat to the US. Russia says the strategy is “largely consistent” with their vision. Security correspondent Frank Gardner and former UK ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch join Adam to discuss what this means for Europe. Plus, we discuss ...
Dec 08, 2025•39 min
Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by Joe Pike to look at government plans to offer young people on benefits taxpayer funded jobs in areas such as construction and hospitality. The goal is to tackle rising unemployment, with over 900,000 young people on Universal Credit looking for work. Plus, the team discuss Zarah Sultana’s interview with Laura on the bumpy establishment of Your Party as well as the latest defection from the tories to Reform. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. I...
Dec 07, 2025•41 min
Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan to discuss the future of the entertainment industry after Netflix agreed to buy the film and streaming businesses of Warner Bros Discovery for $72 billion. But with regulators and rivals still waiting in the wings, it might just be the start of the saga. And one of the biggest controversies in Eurovision history has been in the news. Four countries (Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland) have pulled out over Israel's c...
Dec 06, 2025•30 min
