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Newscast

BBC Newswww.bbc.co.uk

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.

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.

Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer.

GET IN TOUCH: You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480 Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk Or use the hashtag #BBCNewscast

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Episodes

Israel-Gaza: One Million Told To Leave Home

The Israeli military has ordered around 1 million people in northern Gaza to move to the south within 24 hours. BBC documentary and podcast maker, Josh Baker is on the podcast from Jerusalem, to help explain the difficulties that civilians will have following that order. He also talks about the aftermath of attacks on civilians by Hamas. Yesterday, David Baddiel mentioned a group that helps maintain safety at synagogues and Jewish schools in the UK called the Community Security Trust, so we thou...

Oct 13, 202335 min

David Baddiel on Israel and Antisemitism

As Israel’s siege of Gaza continues, the UN has warned that Gaza is in a ‘dire situation’. Joining us in the studio is the writer and comedian, David Baddiel, who talks about what the past week has been like for British Jews. Following the end of their party conference, Pat McFadden, who’s in charge of Labour’s electoral strategy, also stops by to talk to us about the party’s game plan ahead of the next general election. And, Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson join Adam to talk about their latest epis...

Oct 12, 202336 min

Starmer Bets on the House

As the Labour Party Conference draws to a close, Chris joins Adam to discuss his interview with Sir Keir Starmer, in which the Labour leader reiterated his pledge to build 1.5 million homes. And the chair of the British Palestinian Committee, Dr Aimee Shalan, speaks to Adam about the situation in Gaza after Israel cut off its access to electricity. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was mad...

Oct 11, 202331 min

Labour Conference: Sir Glitter Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer sets out his plan for government at the Labour Party Conference. Adam is joined by Chris Mason to discuss the speech, where the Labour leader laid out promised a "decade of renewal under Labour” Adam also chats to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting. And, Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely speaks to Adam about the UK’s support for Israel and why she feels these attacks are comparable to the Holocaust. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl....

Oct 10, 202343 min

Israel-Gaza: The Siege

Adam is joined by chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and world affairs editor John Simpson to discuss the events in Israel, as Benjamin Netanyahu warns the country will use “enormous force” against Hamas. And as the world reacts to the events, Lyse and John focus on how the conflict will affect other countries in the Middle East, such as Lebanon and Iran. The essential background you need to understand the conflict can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-670399...

Oct 09, 202335 min

Israel-Gaza: Fear For Hostages Taken By Hamas

Hundreds of people have been killed and kidnapped as fighting in Israel and Gaza continues. The BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner is on to discuss what we know about the situation. And after Sir Keir Starmer’s Sunday morning interview, Victoria and Paddy chat to chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman about Labour’s ideas for the NHS and housing. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was hosted by Paddy O’Connell ...

Oct 08, 202327 min

Attack on Israel from Gaza

Paddy and Victoria catch up with international editor Jeremy Bowen as he heads to Israel to cover a major new crisis in the Middle East. And, on the eve of Labour conference, Lord Mandelson talks through how Sir Keir Starmer should now redefine himself. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today’s Newscast was presented by Paddy O'Connell and Victoria Derbyshire. It was made by Tom Smithard with Arsenii Sokolov. The senior news editors are Jo...

Oct 07, 202333 min

By-Election: Labour Day in Scotland

Starmer tells campaigners they "blew the doors off" in Friday's by-election. Adam is joined by Scotland editor, James Cook, and political scientist, Professor Sir John Curtice, to analyse the results in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. And, on its 10th birthday, the National Crime Agency’s director general, Graeme Biggar, is in the studio talking about illegal migration, organised crime, and fraud. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere. Today's N...

Oct 06, 202333 min

Rishi Sunak Puts Out Cigarettes

As the dust settles after Rishi Sunak’s conference speech, Adam and Chris focus on the fallout from the biggest talking points, including the prime minister’s plans to ban smoking for younger generations. They’re joined by doctor and TV presenter Alexander "Dr Xand" van Tulleken to hear the medical profession’s reaction and whether it’s true that there’s no safe level of smoking. And to help analyse the wider political context of the speech, we’re joined in the studio by former special adviser A...

Oct 05, 202337 min

Sunak ends Tory Conference (and HS2 to Manchester)

In his first Conservative conference speech as prime minister, Rishi Sunak confirms the Manchester leg of HS2 is to be scrapped. In its place, a range of new transport projects for the Midlands and the North are to be put forward. Aside from HS2, he also proposes raising the age that people can buy tobacco and cigarettes in England every year to create a "smoke-free generation.” Alongside the smoking changes, Sunak also wants to clamp down on vaping among children. He also announced a new educat...

Oct 04, 202330 min

Is Rishi Sunak Being Overshadowed?

After intense speculation on the future of HS2, the BBC understands the prime minister is to announce the scrapping of HS2 from West Midlands to Manchester in his closing conference speech on Wednesday. Chris joins Adam to reflect on his interview earlier in the day with Rishi Sunak. As the Conservative Party Conference draws to a close, Henry Zeffman, the BBC's chief political correspondent, sits down with Adam to assess another busy day for the party. And as Adam continues to work his way arou...

Oct 03, 202337 min

Tory Conference Derailed By HS2

On the day of the chancellor’s speech, everyone’s talking about a train line. West Midlands Tory mayor Andy Street has said Rishi Sunak would be "cancelling the future" if he "gives up" on the Manchester leg of HS2. Adam and Chris are there for his impromptu press conference. Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands joins to react to that, as well as what Jeremy Hunt and Liz Truss had to say today. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's N...

Oct 02, 202335 min

The Rishi Sunak Interview

Analysis of Laura’s sit down with the PM. Paddy’s presenting with her, and they’re joined by chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman. They talk about refusals in the interview to commit to HS2 in full, as well as tax cuts before the next election, and how it all looks together with Sunak’s attempts to be seen as being on the front foot. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Con...

Oct 01, 202327 min

Will The Rishi Rebrand Work?

Can the PM win over voters as the ‘change candidate’? Laura and Paddy discuss. And Newscasters have been getting in touch about 'State of Chaos’ - Laura’s show about the political turmoil in the May/Johnson/Truss years. She answers some of them, and talks about what putting the programme together was like. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today’s Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn wi...

Sep 30, 202324 min

U K Economy?

The Chancellor will be addressing the Conservative party conference on Monday to set out his economic vision - but what health is the UK economy in? Faisal Islam and Dharshini David have been reporting on economic affairs around the UK and how consumers are coping. Joined by Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, they discuss all aspects of the economy from infrastructure, to energy, to robots. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl...

Sep 29, 202331 min

Breaking GB News: Ofcom Investigates

The media regulator Ofcom has announced it will investigate the Dan Wootton Tonight show on GB News after a sexism row sparked 7,300 complaints. Adam and Chris sit down with GB News presenter Nana Akua to discuss the last 24 hours and the nature of impartiality rules. Also, Asa Bennett, a former adviser to Liz Truss, joins us to discuss what it was like writing a conference speech for the former prime minister ahead of the Conservative Party Conference. He sits alongside former transport secreta...

Sep 28, 202335 min

Breaking GB News: The Ava-Santina Interview

“It’s made me feel disgusting, it’s made me feel vile". Political correspondent at PoliticsJoe Ava-Santina speaks about the comments made about her by GB News presenter Laurence Fox. He and Dan Wootton have both been suspended by the broadcaster. And, the UK's largest untapped oil field has been approved by regulators. Adam speaks to the country manager for Equinor Alex Grant, one of the main stakeholders and Scotland Editor James Cook. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://ti...

Sep 27, 202337 min

The Ed Davey Train: Lib Dem Conference

Sir Ed Davey launches an all-out attack on the Conservative government’s record on the NHS as he closes the Liberal Democrat party conference. Chris Mason gives his analysis and Adam quizzes Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine on the finer details of her party’s policies. And does the 1951 Refugee Convention need updating? Suella Braverman thinks so. Adam is joined by the Labour Peer, Lord Dubs, to discuss the Home Secretary’s speech on migration. You can join our Newscast online community here: https:...

Sep 26, 202340 min

Why Are The Police Putting Down Their Guns?

Soldiers were put on standby after hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers stepped back from firearms duties after an officer was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba last September. Home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds talks us through a dramatic day for the Met alongside Harriet Wistrich, the lawyer who represented the family of Jean Charles de Menezes after he was killed by police in 2005. And what next for HS2? Adam is joined by the BBC’s transport correspondent, Katy Austin, alongside M...

Sep 25, 202333 min

Are Government Putting the Brakes on HS2?

More politicians refuse to commit to plans for the rail link. Paddy is joined by Victoria Derbyshire who has been hosting Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Rachel Johnson, journalist and broadcaster, joins them in the studio fresh from sitting on Victoria’s panel and Henry Zeffman, BBC chief political correspondent, analyses the details of this morning’s interviews. Victoria’s been speaking to Grant Shapps, defence secretary and former transport secretary, about HS2. And Paddy has spoken to Sir Vinc...

Sep 24, 202325 min

What REALLY Happens at Party Conferences?

Paddy is joined by Salma Shah, former Conservative adviser, and Marie Le Conte, political journalist, to discuss party conference season which begins today. What happens at a conference? Who are party conferences for? And is this all about ‘electioneering’? They also discuss the latest policy announcements from the government, the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats. And Newscasters send in their thoughts on political slogans. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.c...

Sep 23, 202329 min

​​Labournomics: Ask Reeves

​​The shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is in the studio. ​​ ​​She promises to hand more power to the UK economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), discusses Sir Keir Starmer’s comments on common ground with the EU, and tells Adam where Labour is on HS2. ​​ ​​You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere. ​​ ​​Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Joe Wilkinson and Keiligh Baker. The technical...

Sep 22, 202330 min

The Murdoch Succession

Rupert Murdoch has stepped aside as chairman of Fox and News Corp. Adam and Chris are joined by former editor of The Sun, Kelvin MacKenzie, PoliticsJOE’s Ava Santina and former Boris Johnson adviser Cleo Watson to discuss what this means for the media landscape. And COP26 President Sir Alok Sharma dials in from the UN Climate Action Summit in New York to give his thoughts on Rishi Sunak’s pivot on net zero plans. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommun...

Sep 21, 202332 min

Climate (Policy) Change

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pushes back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030 to 2035 and extends the transition from gas boilers to heat pumps. Adam is joined by Chris Mason, Faisal Islam and the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. And the BBC’s Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent, Marianna Spring, pops by to chat about her documentary looking at how the TikTok algorithm can create frenzies. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tiny...

Sep 20, 202339 min

Sunak Tightens His Green Belt

Rishi Sunak could weaken some of the government's key green commitments in a major policy shift. Chris joins Adam from Westminster to discuss what the prime minister might do and what it means for net zero. And a public inquiry has found detainees at Brook House migrant removal centre were subjected to degrading treatment and unnecessary pain. Callum Tulley, a former Brook House officer and whistleblower, now BBC journalist, gives us his reaction to the inquiry’s report. If you, or someone you k...

Sep 19, 202333 min

The Investigation into Russell Brand

How did Channel 4’s Dispatches & The Sunday Times put the Russell Brand investigation together? Adam is joined by Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs at Channel 4 and Alistair Jackson, investigations editor of Dispatches. And Liz Truss is back on the political stage, urging the Prime Minister to cut taxes a year after her Downing Street exit. The BBC’s Chris Mason and Faisal Islam give us their take on her speech. If you, or someone you know, need help after hearing about some o...

Sep 18, 202336 min

The Russell Brand Allegations

Paddy’s been talking to Rosamund Urwin, the journalist who led The Sunday Times investigation into allegations against comedian Russell Brand. And Laura’s been talking to the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly about it. He says the entertainment industry has questions to answer. They discuss what those questions might be, and the work that’s gone into publishing the story. Also in the studio is the Telegraph’s political editor Ben Riley-Smith, who’s been uncovering details of what was going on beh...

Sep 17, 202326 min

Inside Labour's Election Strategy

What’s Labour’s plan to win the next election? Laura and Paddy discuss the opposition’s plan to attract votes, as they make immigration and crime their subjects of the moment. They also talk about accusations against comedian and actor Russell Brand of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in The Times and on Channel 4’s Dispatches, which he denies. And a former Network Rail director in the North of England is on to talk about whether HS2 will make it as far as Manchester, and why it’s cost ...

Sep 16, 202324 min

XL Bully Dogs Banned

Marianna Spring sits in for Adam. Rishi Sunak has pledged to ban American bully XL dogs, following a spate of attacks. Marianna is joined by the BBC’s Navtej Johal, who’s been following the story all week and a has spoken to a young victim. Dog law specialist Trevor Cooper is also on. And thousands of people are still missing in the city of Derna in north-east Libya, after two dams burst. The death toll could reach 20,000. We speak to Ayat Mneina, a Libyan writer and researcher whose family are ...

Sep 15, 202326 min
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