Today, Sir Keir Starmer is en route to Washington for his first White House meeting with President Donald Trump. James speaks to Chris about what the Prime Minister will be hoping to achieve, what the potential pitfalls are and why it’s so significant. Plus, the government’s climate watchdog released a new report today looking at what the UK needs to do to reach its net zero target by 2050. James is joined by the chief executive of the Climate Change Committee Emma Pinchbeck and the BBC’s climat...
Feb 26, 2025•36 min
Today, we look at the news that the UK will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. The surprise announcement from Sir Keir Starmer comes ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump later this week. The increase will come at the expense of the UK’s foreign aid budget which will be cut by 0.2%. James and Alex explain how it will work. Plus, James and Alex are joined by the former CEO of Music UK and political advisor Jamie Njoku-Goodwin and composer Max Richter to discuss the go...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min
Today, we look at French president Emmanuel Macron’s meeting with US president Donald Trump on the future of Ukraine. Speaking with reporters at the White House, Trump said Russian president Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end the war. James and Alex are joined by the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY New episodes released every day. If you'r...
Feb 24, 2025•32 min
Today, we look at the projected election results from Germany. The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU)/CSU party will be the largest party in the next German parliament with 30% of the vote and will look to form a coalition government, though not with the party that looks to have come second, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). That’s because of a pact among the parties further to the centre not to work with those who they view as too extreme. Europe editor Katya Adler gives her take...
Feb 23, 2025•33 min
Addressing the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow today, Sir Keir Starmer said "peace only comes with strength” and said the UK must spend more on defence. But how far is he prepared to go to protect Ukraine when he goes to Washington next week? Laura, Paddy and Joe discuss what tools the UK government has at its disposal to negotiate or flatter Donald Trump ahead of their hugely significant meeting. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC S...
Feb 23, 2025•26 min
Sir Keir Starmer is preparing for a trip to Washington on Thursday that he hopes will move Donald Trump away from a quick deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and get European allies back at the negotiating table. The prime minister will have to walk a diplomatic tightrope in order to avoid the crossfire between Washington and Kyiv and repair transatlantic relationships. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It...
Feb 22, 2025•37 min
The past week has seen international diplomacy turned upside down as the US began talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The decision to exclude Ukraine - and Europe - from these talks led to an emergency summit in which European countries sought to establish some influence over the process. But with the US and Ukrainian presidents embroiled in a dispute that led to President Trump calling President Zelensky a “dictator”, is their relationship beyond repair? And will Ukraine have any say o...
Feb 21, 2025•32 min
Today, we discuss Germany’s upcoming elections. With concerns about immigration and the economy dominating, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could increase their seat share in the Bundestag. But can they get power? Adam speaks to BBC Europe editor, Katya Adler, and German historian and author, Katja Hoyer. And, Ukrainian President Zelensky and the US Chief Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg are holding talks in Kyiv, but a scheduled press conference with the two of them was cancelled. Mar...
Feb 20, 2025•32 min
Today, we look at what looks like an increasingly hostile relationship between President Trump and President Zelensky. In a press conference on Monday evening, US President Donald Trump has appeared to accuse Ukraine of being responsible for the war with Russia. In response President Zelensky has accused Trump of living in “disinformation space”. Adam is joined in the studio by the former armed forces minister, and Conservative MP, James Heappey for an in depth interview on the state of the nego...
Feb 19, 2025•47 min
Today, Russia and the US hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia, but a noticeable absentee was any representative of Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have agreed to appoint teams to start negotiating the end of the war in Ukraine after talks in Saudi Arabia. Speaking after, Lavrov said his country wouldn’t accept peacekeeping forces from Nato countries in Ukraine. Are relations between Russia and the US thawing? And are we on the brink of a deal? We ...
Feb 18, 2025•34 min
Today, we ask what a peace deal for Ukraine might look like, as European leaders gather in Paris for an emergency summit. Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK was "ready and willing to put troops on the ground", while President Trump is expected to be meeting President Putin in Saudi Arabia “very soon”. Adam is joined by our Europe editor, Katya Adler and Lord Kim Darroch, former UK Ambassador to Washington. We also speak to Joe Pike, political investigations correspondent and James Landale, diploma...
Feb 17, 2025•33 min
Today, Victoria and Paddy are joined by Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt to discuss the latest developments between the UK, US and EU. The UK government has set out a road map to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP, as Starmer seeks to build a “bridge” between Trump and Europe. An emergency summit is being planned by Europe‘s leaders, as the US and Russia prepare for separate peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you w...
Feb 16, 2025•27 min
Today, Paddy and Adam are joined by Lyse Doucet to discuss developments on the global stage at the Munich Security Conference. JD Vance shocked delegates with an attack on Europe and the UK, who he accused of neglecting their values and ignoring the issue of migration and free speech. Plus, Hamas has released three Israeli hostages in return for over 300 Palestinian prisoners as the Gaza ceasefire holds in the balance. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, jus...
Feb 15, 2025•28 min
Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Caitríona Perry and James Landale discuss if the war in Ukraine might be about to end. And, what Donald Trump’s intervention means for Ukraine, Russia, and the rest of Europe. And the UK economy unexpectedly grew in the final months of 2024 but the figures also indicated living standards last year were slightly lower than in 2023 on average. 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...
Feb 14, 2025•30 min
Today, we look at President Donald Trump’s claim that there’s a “good possibility” that the Ukraine war could be about to end. He spoke to Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during separate phone calls. Chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and Russia editor Steve Rosenberg talk through what we know. Chris is on to talk about stories regarding the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s CV, and her expenses when she was working for a bank in a previous job. And, the CE...
Feb 13, 2025•38 min
Today, we look at a BBC investigation which has revealed that MI5 lied three times in court to protect one of its own violent, neo-Nazi agents. As it was defending its handling of their agent who had attacked his girlfriend with a machete, MI5 lied to three courts when they said they had stuck to its policy of not confirming or denying their agents’ identities. They had actually given information about this agent to BBC investigations correspondent Daniel De Simone as they tried to persuade him ...
Feb 12, 2025•29 min
Today, we look at the commissioner of the Met police Sir Mark Rowley saying they have been left in a “hopeless position” after a High Court ruling. The High Court today ruled the force could not dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance. The ruling has huge implications for the ability of police chiefs to sack officers and is a major blow to Sir Mark's pledge to root out people who he says should not be in the force. Adam is joined by Sima Kotecha, Senior UK correspondent and former c...
Feb 11, 2025•32 min
Today, we look at President Trump’s announcement that he will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. He made the announcement to reporters aboard Air Force One after becoming the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl, where he and Taylor Swift got mixed reactions from the crowd. Adam and Chris talk about the implications of the tariffs for the UK and the rest of the world with Sumi Somaskanda, BBC News chief presenter in Washington. And we look at the late...
Feb 10, 2025•30 min
Today, we look at the latest Government minister to be forced to leave their role. Health minister Andrew Gwynne has been sacked after a newspaper revealed he sent a string of offensive and abusive WhatsApp messages. Gwynne said on X that he was sorry for any offence caused by the "badly misjudged" comments. Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss. Meanwhile, the deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner spoke to Laura about accusations she was “aggressive” during a Grenfell Tower demolition meeting. You can n...
Feb 09, 2025•29 min
Today, listen in full to an exclusive group interview for BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg with the four British families suing TikTok for the alleged wrongful deaths of their children. The parents believe their children died after taking part in a viral trend that circulated on the video-sharing platform in 2022. TikTok says it prohibits dangerous content and challenges. It has blocked searches for videos and hashtags related to the particular challenge the children's parents say is linke...
Feb 09, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at what a potential peace deal in Ukraine could look like. President Trump says he’ll “probably” meet President Zelensky next week, amid reports that America’s blueprint for peace in Ukraine is set to be unveiled in the coming days. What could a plan look like? And, will President Zelensky back it? Paddy and Laura are joined by the BBC’s Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse. And, TikTok is being sued by the parents of four British teenagers who believe their children died after ...
Feb 08, 2025•28 min
Today, we go back to where it all began - Brexitcast. Adam, Laura, Chris and Faisal reunite in the BBC Radio Theatre in front of a live audience to discuss the past and future of Brexit. Could another outcome have been possible? Could Theresa May have survived Brexit as PM? And, is the Brexit debate starting to heat up again? 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 News...
Feb 07, 2025•29 min
Today we look at what Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch had to say to Chris in the past 24 hours. Keir Starmer has announced plans to make it easier to build nuclear power stations in England and Wales, whilst Kemi Badenoch was interviewed about her new policy pledge to block benefits for migrants settling in the UK. And Adam and Chris are joined by health and science correspondent James Gallagher as recorded in front of a live studio audience for Newscast’s 5th birthday. Newscast brings you daily ...
Feb 06, 2025•36 min
Today we look at what Donald Trump means when he says he wants to own Gaza. Adam, Chris, Paddy and Laura speak to international editor Jeremy Bowen, who goes through the reaction from across the world and what the consequences of the comments are. Everyone’s together in the BBC Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House on Newscast’s 5th birthday. They also talk about the amount of money the UK may have pay as it hands over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. You can now listen to Newsc...
Feb 05, 2025•28 min
Today, we look at what could be the start of a trade war between the US and China. After postponing tariffs on Canada and Mexico, President Trump has introduced a 10% tax on all goods imports from China. Early this morning Beijing announced it would impose a retaliatory 10% levy, albeit on fewer products. Adam is joined by Laura Bicker, the BBC’s China Correspondent and Cindy Yu from the Spectator’s Chinese Whispers podcast. Plus, Adam speaks to journalist Ben Westhoff about the fentanyl crisis ...
Feb 04, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at Sir Keir Starmer being the first UK Prime Minister to join a gathering of EU leaders since Brexit. Meanwhile, President Trump has unveiled his much promised tariffs. Starmer says the trip is part of what he calls a “reset” between the UK and European Union. It comes as President Trump says the US will “definitely” impose trade tariffs on the EU. This follows Trump imposing tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China this weekend - only for the tariffs on Mexico to be reversed. Adam and...
Feb 03, 2025•38 min
Today, we look at a new book about what went on behind the scenes during Labour’s rise to power. Journalists and authors of Get In, Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire, join Laura and Paddy to explain how the party went from a crushing defeat in 2019 to a decisive victory in 2024 - and all the pitfalls and schemes that played out along the way. Plus, Laura and Paddy discuss the global reaction to Donald Trump following through on his campaign pledge to hit Canada, Mexico and China with tariff ri...
Feb 02, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at the challenges facing Labour’s plans for welfare reform. After the chancellor Rachel Reeves set her sights on a “fundamental” reform of the system, Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss what that could mean for health and disability benefits and why cost cutting reforms could cause trouble within the Labour party. Plus, five years on from the UK’s departure from the European Union we look at what’s actually changed and why for some people the Brexit deal still isn’t done. You can now ...
Feb 01, 2025•30 min
Today, Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss whether Lord Mandelson will be approved as Ambassador to the US, a disagreement in the shadow cabinet and whether Rachel Reeves’ plans for growth will work. 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest politica...
Jan 31, 2025•29 min
Today, we discuss Home Office plans to tackle migrant smuggling gangs. The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Chris the changes would mean the government endangering lives at sea is to be a new criminal offence. He and Adam are joined by home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani. And, RFK Jr, President Trump’s pick for health secretary has been questioned by senators about his views on vaccines before a vote on his selection. Social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring goes thro...
Jan 30, 2025•35 min
