Today, President Trump outlined the objectives of Operation Epic Fury saying he took the “last best chance” to hit Iran. The president said the objectives of the operation in Iran are "clear", including "destroying Iran's missile capabilities", "annihilating their Navy" and preventing them from ever having a nuclear weapon. Adam is joined by Jane Corbin, Panorama Film Maker, Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent and Caitriona Perry Chief Anchor BBC News Washington You can now listen to ...
Mar 02, 2026•34 min
Today, we look at the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by US-Israeli attacks on Saturday. US President Donald Trump released a statement late in the evening saying he was targeted via intelligence and tracking systems. International editor Jeremy Bowen joins Laura and Paddy to discuss how it happened, what it means for the future of Iran and the region, and how the rest of the world is reacting. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want t...
Mar 01, 2026•33 min
Today, we look at US and Israeli attacks on Iran. US president Donald Trump has described ongoing "major combat operations" and called for Iranian government forces to lay down their arms. Iranian forces say they have struck a US naval base in Bahrain and across the region in response. Earlier, Israel's defence minister said Israel had launched a "pre-emptive attack" against Iran, with explosions heard across the country. Chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, just back from Iran, joins ...
Feb 28, 2026•44 min
Today, the Green party have won the Gorton and Denton by-election with nearly 41% of the votes, beating Reform into second place and Labour third. In Newscast by-election tradition, this episode was livestreamed on Friday morning. Adam and Chris are joined by BBC political correspondent Joe Pike and pollster Luke Tryl to discuss the results and what it means for the UK as a whole. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”...
Feb 27, 2026•39 min
Today, we discuss the indirect US-Iran talks happening in Geneva. The talks are happening against a backdrop of increased tensions between the two countries, with the US sending what Trump calls an ‘armada’ to the region. President Trump has threatened to strike Iran if a nuclear deal isn’t agreed during the talks. We also discuss President Trump’s State of the Union speech, happening a time where many Americans are feeling frustrated about the cost of living, and off the back of the supreme cou...
Feb 26, 2026•34 min
Today, the Metropolitan Police apologised to the Commons Speaker for "inadvertently revealing information" relating to Lord Mandelson's arrest on Monday. Sir Lindsay Hoyle addressed the House of Commons before Prime Minister’s Questions to confirm he had passed information to the Metropolitan Police suggesting the peer could be a flight risk. Lord Mandelson’s lawyers say he had agreed to an interview next month, and the decision to take him into custody was prompted by a "baseless" suggestion he...
Feb 25, 2026•30 min
Today, Adam and Chris speak to the deputy prime minister David Lammy about his justice reforms. He acknowledged the court backlog will continue to rise and may be at the same level as it is today at the next general election despite the government’s planned reforms. He also said that Labour would be “out on their bums” if they haven’t delivered the change the public want by the time of the next election. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC ...
Feb 24, 2026•30 min
Today, Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former British ambassador to the US has been under investigation over allegations he shared market-sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a minister. He has not commented publicly since the Metropolitan Police launched their investigation earlier this month, but the BBC understands his position has consistently been that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was ...
Feb 23, 2026•40 min
Today, we discuss a report in the Sunday Telegraph that Gordon Brown has demanded a police investigation into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used taxpayer-funded jets and RAF bases to meet the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former PM says he’s sent a five-page memorandum to the Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex Thames Valley and other UK police constabularies. Laura and Paddy are joined by Henry Zeffman to discuss why he’s turned investigator, what it means for the Royal Family, and whether rule...
Feb 22, 2026•34 min
This is Laura’s full exclusive interview with former prime minister Boris Johnson and his chief of the defence staff Tony Radakin. They reflect on four years of war in Ukraine; their attempts to prevent it, their efforts to support Ukraine and their hopes for the future. We’ll also have a normal Sunday edition of Newscast in you feeds very shortly.
Feb 22, 2026•28 min
Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by Gary O'Donoghue, Chief North America correspondent to discuss the US Supreme Court’s ruling to block President Donald Trump’s global tariffs. Is this the beginning of the end of his tariffs, what’s Trump doing now, and what does it mean for where power lies in the US? Laura has interviewed former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Tony Radakin ahead of the four-year anniversary of the beginning of the full scale invasion...
Feb 21, 2026•35 min
Today Adam, Alex Forsyth, Joe Pike and pollster Luke Tryl look back at the week in Westminster; starting with Thursday morning's news that the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. Plus, they discuss the appointment of Antonia Romeo to the role of cabinet secretary and our first look at Reform UK’s new economic policy. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play N...
Feb 20, 2026•41 min
Today, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested and is in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. King Charles says he "learned with the deepest concern" of Andrew's arrest, adding "the law must take its course" - Prince William and Catherine are understood to support the statement. Andrew, who turns 66 today, has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein; he has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment on the specific allegations in relation to the release ...
Feb 19, 2026•37 min
Today, Robert Jenrick used his first speech as Reform’s pick for chancellor to try to convince businesses and economists that he would be sensible with their money. He said it would reintroduce the two-child benefit cap in full, in a shift away from scrapping the limit. He also said the party plans to keep UK's budget watchdog The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). So we thought it would be a good time to explore exactly what Reform’s plan for the economy was, and ask is it really that radi...
Feb 18, 2026•39 min
Today, we look at why young people are bearing the brunt as unemployment hits its highest rate for nearly five years. Adam and Alex are joined by BBC business editor Simon Jack to unpack some of the factors driving the trend. Plus Alex updates us on Nigel Farage appointing Reform UK’s new top team, which he is calling his ‘shadow cabinet’. Alex explains what the appointments might tell us about how Reform is operating. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, jus...
Feb 17, 2026•34 min
Today, the government is considering accelerating planned increases to defence spending. The news comes after the PM dropped some heavy hints that he was ready to spend more on defence during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Katya Adler and James Landale drop by to explain how America is trying to rewrite the global order… and get Europe to sign on and Joe Pike explains why spending more on defence is never politically straightforward. Plus, Joe and Adam discuss the gove...
Feb 16, 2026•31 min
Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by correspondent Joe Pike to go through the biggest stories of the day. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for a stronger, bolder Europe, and deeper links between the UK and the EU. He told world leadersat the Munich Security Conference “we are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more,” and Europe “must be ready to fight”. We also look at a story about a think tank, Labour Together, which helped labour win in the General Election. They are accused of...
Feb 15, 2026•30 min
Today, Laura and Paddy speak to Victoria Derbyshire about her exclusive UK interview with Gisèle Pelicot, the woman at the centre of France's largest rape trial. She told Victoria she was "crushed by horror" on discovering that, for years, her husband had repeatedly drugged her unconscious and invited dozens of men to rape her. Victoria spoke to her about how she waived her legal right to anonymity, opening up the trial to the public and the media in order for “the shame to shift to the other si...
Feb 14, 2026•34 min
Today, we’re looking back on a tumultuous week for the Prime Minister. James and Chris are joined by Tim Shipman, political editor of The Spectator, and Professor Jane Green, Director of Nuffield Politics Research Centre and President of the British Polling Council. They discuss the Prime Minister’s moment of ‘peril’, what we’ve learned about Keir Starmer’s leadership and… which surprising celebrity ended up on the shortlist to become US ambassador. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart spea...
Feb 13, 2026•31 min
Billionaire and Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has apologised to those who were offended by his comment that “the UK has been colonised by immigrants”. He said this to a journalist at a business summit in Belgium earlier this week. Sir Keir Starmer, who condemned Sir Jim’s comments has said that he was right to apologise for causing offence. While the businessman was also criticised by Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, and other opposition parties and footballing groups, Re...
Feb 12, 2026•40 min
Today, Keir Starmer was given a grilling at Prime Minister’s Questions about his decision to award a peerage to Lord Doyle. Chris unpacks PMQs and the latest revelations with Alex and James, as well as an intervention from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling for police to interview Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Plus the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins the podcast from Iran as the country marks the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. You can now listen to Ne...
Feb 11, 2026•34 min
Today, Keir Starmer says that he will "never walk away from the country that I love” after surviving a turbulent 24 hours that saw the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar call for him to step down. Speaking to the BBC, his energy secretary Ed Miliband said the Labour Party had "looked over the precipice” and decided to back their leader leading to a rallying of support from the cabinet and other senior party figures. So, the Prime Minister is in the clear for now, but is he truly safe? Alex and J...
Feb 10, 2026•45 min
Today, Keir Starmer has addressed his MPs and seems to have rallied some support after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for him to quit. In a press conference in Glasgow, Sarwar emphasised his concerns for Scotland ahead of the May elections, and told reporters “the leadership in Downing Street has to change". The move prompted statements supporting the prime minister from cabinet ministers and other key labour figures including potential rivals Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting. The PM h...
Feb 09, 2026•35 min
Right after we published our last episode the news that Morgan McSweeney had quit as the Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff broke. So Paddy and political correspondent Joe Pike got back in the studio and got Laura up on the phone to chat through why he says he’s gone, who he is, what a chief of staff does, and who could replace him. We also look at what it means for the prime minister, and why cabinet member Pat McFadden didn’t even see this coming. You can now listen to Newscast on a ...
Feb 08, 2026•26 min
Today, we look at the choices facing Prime Minister Keir Starmer now the Mandelson scandal has left him weaker. Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett has told Paddy that Starmer should sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden has told Laura that Starmer should stay in the job. And the Fire Brigades Union has been the first organisation of its kind to say there needs to me a new leader. Laura, Paddy, and political correspondent Joe Pike look at the arguments ...
Feb 08, 2026•32 min
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the BBC the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer is "serious" and suggested he may have been "too slow to do the right things" concerning Lord Mandelson. He also defended him as "a man of integrity" who "wants to do the right things". He spoke to the Today programme on Radio 4 in his first interview since the latest Epstein files seemed to show Lord Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout by the EU to save the ailing Euro in 2010. Anothe...
Feb 07, 2026•30 min
Today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces further questions about his judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, and there is a darkening mood among Labour MPs. Adam, Chris, Alex Forsyth and Daniela Relph discuss how the continuing revelations from the Epstein Files have created challenges for both the Royal Family and the government; and the different approaches taken by the King and the prime minister. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just...
Feb 06, 2026•32 min
Today, the Prime Minister has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and “believing his lies”. Adam is joined by Henry in Westminster with Ailbhe Rea from the New Statesman and Luke Sullivan, Keir Starmer’s former political director to break down where the Mandelson affair leaves the Prime Minister. 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...
Feb 05, 2026•39 min
Today, MPs voted to release documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador following a six-hour long debate. Adam and Chris unpack how Keir Starmer spoke about Mandelson at Prime Minister’s Questions, Kemi Badenoch’s line of questioning about who knew what when and the volume of questions swirling about the Prime Minister’s judgement. Plus, Laura has been following Reform UK for a new documentary. She chats about what she learned about the party’s track record in local government ...
Feb 04, 2026•47 min
Today, the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson after new files released seemed to suggest he had passed sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords following the latest revelations, though he retains the right to use the title of Lord. The government say they are moving to draft legislation that will strip him of his title and the opposition are expected to try and force the government to rele...
Feb 03, 2026•39 min
