The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth.
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest news, developments in politics in Westminster and beyond.
Newscast is hosted by trusted politics and news journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell.
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Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer.
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Today, the Metropolitan Police say they are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office after new files suggest Peter Mandelson sent government information to Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson seemingly forwarded internal emails sent and recieved while he was business secretary in 2009 from senior politicians to Epstein. Adam is joined by political correspondent Joe Pike in Westminster to discuss the latest allegations and senior royal correspondent Daniela Relph to discuss new revelation...
A second woman is alleging that she was sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following the release of more documentation from the Epstein files. The encounter allegedly occurred at the former prince's residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010. BBC News has asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment, but so far he has not responded to these accusations. Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss the story and what it could mean for victims. And John Bew, a professo...
Newscast examines the recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents, highlighting images related to Prince Andrew and the extensive network of influential figures mentioned. The episode explores the public and media's exhaustion with the saga, the impact on victims, and the lack of further prosecutions. It also unpacks new revelations concerning Lord Mandelson's partner and the financial influence Epstein wielded, alongside an update on the Gorton & Denton by-election and an 'Iran watch.'
Today, Keir Starmer continues his reset trip to China. Adam and Alex are joined by James Landale and Sarah Montague to discuss the geopolitical significance of the Prime Minister’s visit to China plus what’s actually been agreed for British businesses. Plus, is President Trump preparing another strike on Iran? And, Andy Burnham has spoken out about the briefing culture in Westminster. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newsc...
Today, Sir Keir Starmer has been meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first time a sitting British PM has visited China in eight years. Although a host of trade deals were announced, including visa free entry for UK travellers, there have been fewer agreements than expected from the trip. Adam is joined in studio by deputy economics editor, Darshini David to chat about what we know so far and China correspondent, Laura Bicker who explains how the visit has been received in China. Ch...
Today, Kemi Badenoch, gave a speech addressing Conservative defectors and detractors. Adam chats to Alex, in Westminster about how Kemi Badenoch’s speech accused her opponents of ‘psychodrama’, called defectors ‘drama queens’ and presented her vision for the future of the Conservative party. And we catch up with Chris in Beijing about what he’s seen and heard so far on his trip with the Prime Minister. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC So...
We’re only four weeks into the new year, but it feels like a year’s worth of news has happened already. So Radio 4 asked us to do a (very early) review of 2026 so far, and we thought we’d put it in your feed as a bonus episode. Adam and Henry are in the studio. Chris joins from home as he prepares in all sorts of ways for a trip to China with the Prime Minister. They chat through the fights of the left and right that have set the tone in the early part of year before chief international correspo...
Today, the chancellor has announced a package of support for pubs and music venues after the government was forced to U-turn on their plans to bump up business rates. BBC Business editor Simon Jack joins Adam to explain the measures, whilst political correspondent Joe Pike drops by to unpack the government’s other big announcement of the day - capping ground rents at £250 a year for leaseholders. Plus, the PM is on his way to Beijing. Ahead of his visit, Starmer said the UK cannot afford to igno...
Today, Adam and Chris discuss ex-Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman defecting to Reform. She’s the third sitting Tory MP to do so in the last eleven days. Also happening in Westminster — the Prime Minister has been defending the decision to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. It’s reported that 50 Labour MPs wrote to Keir Starmer to complain about the decision. And, a 37-year-old man — Alex Pretti — was shot dead in Minneapolis by Bor...
Today, Andy Burnham has said he is "disappointed" after being blocked from standing as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour's ruling body. As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour's national executive committee (NEC), after he applied to be a candidate on Saturday. But Labour said the party had decided to deny him permission to stand to "avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpa...
Today, members of the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) met to make a decision on whether or not to let Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham run for MP for Gorton and Denton in its upcoming by-election. We discuss who could vote which way and whether it could lead to Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing a leadership challenge after the May elections. Joe Pike, political correspondent, joins Paddy and Laura to chat it all through. After we originally published this podcast we got the news ...
Today, Andy Burnham has confirmed he is officially seeking permission to enter the running to become MP for Gorton and Denton in the upcoming by-election, opening the possibility for him to contest Keir Starmer’s leadership. However, Burnham has to get approval from Labour's ruling national executive committee, which Keir Starmer and some of his allies are on, before he can enter the race to be the party's candidate. Laura and Paddy are joined by Gemma Bolton from the committee to discuss why so...
Today, President Trump’s actions at Davos have caused a stir - but have they moved the dial on how other world leaders respond to the US President? The President used his two days at the World Economic Forum at Davos to set out his worldview in a wide-ranging speech, agree what he called a 'framework of future deal' over Greenland and hold an inauguration for his ‘Board of Peace’. Adam and Chris are joined by Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent, and Caitriona Perry, chief presenter fo...
Today, President Trump has wrapped up his second and final day at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The President held an inauguration for his new “Board of Peace” and met with Ukraine’s President Zelensky - which Zelensky said included agreeing post-war security guarantees for his country. BBC chief North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue and the Economist’s Shashank Joshi break it all down. And the former Labour Minister Andrew Gwynne confirmed his plans to retire on medical grounds trigg...
Today, Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum at Davos to confirm he wants ‘immediate negotiations’ to acquire Greenland but ‘won’t use force’. Adam is joined by Faisal Islam, who was in the room watching Trump speak, and Caitriona Perry in Washington to decode President Trump’s wide-ranging speech. 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. You can join our Newscast online commun...
Today, the UK Government has defended its decision to hand over the Chagos Islands after Donald Trump called the deal “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY!” on Truth Social. Adam and Chris put the president’s comments to Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and ask whether Keir Starmer’s relationship with Donald Trump is being tested by his social media posts. And, we hear Darren Jones’ vision for reforming the civil service, including a digital state and changing following a speech he gav...
President Trump has said he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of peace” after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His comments came via text message to the Prime Minister of Norway after he threatened eight European countries with new tariffs over their position on Greenland. The president said that while peace would "always be predominant" he "can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America." Adam and Chris are joined by Katya in Brussels and Caitr...
Today we look at President Donald Trump’s plans to impose further tariffs on European countries, including the UK, because of their oppostition to the US taking over Greenland. As well as the UK, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. They would come into force on 1 February, but could later rise to 25% - and would last until a deal was reached. Laura and Paddy are joined by chief politial correspondent Henry Zeffman and ...
Today, we hear from Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life in 2017. An inquest found social media content contributed "more than minimally" to Molly’s death. Since then Ian has campaigned for greater safety online. So why is Ian opposed to a ban for under 16s? Laura and Paddy in the Newscast studio to discuss the arguments for and against, and why there seems to be increasing support for the idea in British politics. We also look at what’s happened in Australia, which introduced a b...
Adam and Laura are joined by BBC political correspondent Joe Pike to break down Laura’s interview with Robert Jenrick. They discuss why he says he picked country over party and if his move could unite the right or divide it further. 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. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emaili...
Laura speaks to Reform’s newest MP, Robert Jenrick, in his first full interview after he was sacked by the Conservatives and hired by Reform just over 24 hours ago. 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. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. Ne...
In the 2000th episode of Newscast, Adam and Chris return for second helpings as Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform is confirmed. Following his dramatic sacking via social media this morning, Jenrick appeared on stage with Reform leader Nigel Farage this afternoon to announce that he was joining the party. Farage told reporters that although they had been negotiating the possibility of Jenrick joining Reform - the deal wasn’t done until Kemi Badenoch made her move this morning. You can now list...
Kemi Badenoch has sensationally sacked shadow minister Robert Jenrick claiming he was secretly plotting to defect from the party in a way that was “as damaging as possible”. Reform has refused to confirm if Jenrick was planning to defect, although party leader Nigel Farage has said he ‘might’ buy him a sympathy pint. While Labour and the Lib Dems have been quick off the mark to take advantage of the political unrest by creating memes. Adam and Laura are joined from Westminster by Henry Zeffman a...
Today, Adam is joined by Henry Zeffman and home affairs commentator Danny Shaw to discuss the findings of a report that stopped Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa league match last November. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the report shows there was a "failure of leadership" at the top of West Midlands Police. We also discuss why has Keir Starmer decided to change his plans to implement a mandatory digital ID and how Labour MPs are reacting to mounting government u-turns. You can ...
Today President Trump has urged Iranians to keep protesting, saying that “help is on its way.” News agencies and BBC journalists are reporting that the death toll after anti-government protests is now in its thousands, as the state-imposed internet blackout continues. But what does President Trump mean and what’s next for Iran? Adam is joined by BBC World and BBC Persian senior reporter, Siavash Ardalan and BBC News Chief Presenter, Caitríona Perry. Plus, Caitríona and Adam also look ahead to to...
Today Chris and Adam are down in City Hall to speak to the mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan. He defended London against claims by critics like President Trump and Nigel Farage that the city in unsafe, and pointed to the falling murder rate as proof of a positive counter narrative. Plus he welcomed Ofcom’s new investigation into X and said “we need proper guardrails” to protect people online. He also spoke Europe and supported closer alignment with the customs union, and said “we've got to look at...
The podcast analyzes Peter Mandelson's first interview since his sacking, detailing his defense regarding Jeffrey Epstein, his refusal to apologize for their continued friendship, and the fierce political and public backlash, including from Ruth Davidson. The discussion shifts to Mandelson's insights on Trump's foreign policy and Europe's need for a stronger defense posture. Later, the episode examines Kemi Badenoch's political resurgence and her bold proposal to ban social media for under-16s, exploring the policy's implications, the building pressure for tech regulation, and the potential for future Conservative-Reform pacts, introducing the concept of 'Block Britain' in the evolving UK political landscape.
Since Peter Mandelson's sacking as US ambassador over his links to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, he's remained silent, until now. In this extended version of this first and exclusive interview, Laura's questions him over Trump, Epstein, and what Number 10 really knew. Laura, Paddy, and Henry will be in your feed with analysis later as normal.
Today, Laura and Paddy speak to Sir Lawrence Freedman, historian, and Professor of War Studies at King's College London, to help us understand what’s happening in Iran, as well as the huge foreign news stories of recent times. There’s possible regime change in Iran, where protests continue and authorities issued coordinated warnings to protesters. A doctor and medic at two hospitals told the BBC their facilities were overwhelmed with injuries. Donald Trump has warned the regime not to kill prote...
Today marks the thirteenth consecutive day of widespread anti-government protests in Iran. Iran's top security body has warned that the Iranian judiciary and security forces will show "no leniency towards saboteurs", amid internet blackouts. Adam is joined in the Newscast studio by BBC chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, to discuss the context and history of the unrest in Iran, plus President Trump’s warnings to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his response. Also in the studio is New State...
