Today, Adam and Henry discuss Starmer’s announcement to abolish NHS England, which handles the day to day running of the health service and has been described by the government as the “world’s largest quango”. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is also on to talk about the plans and what they mean for healthcare in the UK. 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 on...
Mar 13, 2025•31 min
Today, we look at responses and retaliations to President Trump’s universal tariffs on steel and aluminium. Adam is joined by Caitríona Perry, Chief Presenter BBC News in Washington, and Dharshini David, chief economics correspondent to discuss retaliatory tariffs from the EU and Canada, as well as Keir Starmer’s response. Plus, Russia is “studying” the proposed plan for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. Chris Steele, former head of the Russia Desk at MI6, discusses how the Kremlin will approach ...
Mar 12, 2025•37 min
Today, we look at Ukraine saying it is ready to accept a US proposal for an initial 30-day ceasefire. The decision comes after US and Ukrainian officials met in Saudi Arabia for talks. Washington will also immediately restore intelligence sharing and “security assistance” to Ukraine. Adam is joined by Lord Kim Darroch - Former British Ambassador to the US and Former UK National Security. Plus, President Trump has ordered 50% tariffs on Canadian steel. It comes after the worst day of 2025 for US ...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min
Today, we look at the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, who has vowed to win a trade war with President Trump. Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, will become the next Prime Minister of Canada after winning his party’s leadership contest. Carney will be sworn in, in the coming days and has vowed to win the trade war with US President Donald Trump. Adam speaks to Chris Giles, Economics Commentator at the FT and Jayme Poisson host of CBC’s Front Burner podcast. And, A...
Mar 10, 2025•34 min
Today, we hear from Ukrainians as their leader gets ready for another big week of peace talks and diplomacy. Laura, Paddy and Henry also discuss government plans to overhaul the civil service. Plus, they assess Reform UK’s “infighting” following the suspension of an MP. 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://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY N...
Mar 09, 2025•26 min
Today, Laura and Paddy answer your questions about the war in Ukraine, President Trump’s tactics, and the possibilities of a peace deal. We also discuss Keir Starmer’s approach to global politics, and whether his "statesman-like" appearances on the global stage have helped him back home. You can now listen to Newscast on your 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://...
Mar 08, 2025•30 min
Today, Adam, Chris, Caitríona and James discuss if Sir Keir Starmer’s strategy for President Trump is working? Plus, can the Prime Minister reconcile his international agenda with his domestic one?” 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://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and C...
Mar 07, 2025•30 min
Today, we discuss the emergency EU summit taking place in Brussels. Adam catches up with Europe editor Katya Adler about the discussions taking place about how the EU can bolster their defence spending, as well as supporting Ukraine in the face of uncertainty with the US. And Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse dials in to discuss how Zelensky is approaching the summit, and how Ukrainians are feeling a week on from the heated exchange in the Oval Office. And Chris Mason drops in to discuss th...
Mar 06, 2025•35 min
Today, we discuss the Chancellor Rachel Reeves looking at making spending cuts worth billions to the government’s welfare budget. The Treasury will put the proposed cuts to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on Wednesday amid expectations the chancellor's financial headroom has disappeared. Adam is joined by economics editor Faisal Islam to unpack what we know about the proposed cuts, and the chancellor’s Spring Statement later this month. And, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has spoke...
Mar 05, 2025•41 min
Today, we discuss President Zelensky saying that Ukraine is "ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership" to negotiate a peace deal. This comes after the US announced it would pause military aid to Ukraine, which has caused alarm across Europe. Adam speaks to the BBC’s chief presenter, Caitriona Perry and BBC international editor, Jeremy Bowen. And, the US and European stock markets fell after President Trump's 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico began. Canadian PM Justin T...
Mar 04, 2025•40 min
Today, we look at possible plans for a Franco-UK peace deal in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea of a partial month-long truce between Russia and Ukraine in a interview on Sunday. But the UK government has played down the idea as just a suggestion, and say that lots of proposals are still on the table. Meanwhile President Trump has criticised President Zelensky online again. Adam and Chris are joined by Marion Solletty, POLITICO’s editor at large in France. Plus, Israel ...
Mar 03, 2025•37 min
Today, in this extra episode, Laura and Paddy get back together to talk after Laura met President Zelensky. He told her, and a group of other journalists, that he is still "ready to sign" a US-Ukraine minerals deal after leaving the White House without it being agreed. Laura explains what it was like to be in the room as he also explained he wants “the Ukrainian position to be heard." You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newsc...
Mar 02, 2025•17 min
Today, we unpack Sir Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura about Donald Trump’s row with Volodymyr Zelensky, and Europe’s plan to make a Ukraine peace deal happen. 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://discord.gg/NbuxWnmY New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC,...
Mar 02, 2025•42 min
Today, we look at how Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders are reacting to the row/pile on/slanging match between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Starmer called both men on Friday night to show support, and he’s hosting Zelensky at Downing Street ahead of a European leader summit on Sunday. Laura and Paddy discuss the Prime Minister’s plans plus answer questions from listeners about the dispute. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just ...
Mar 01, 2025•28 min
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have clashed in an extraordinary exchange at the White House, with Trump telling the Ukrainian president to "make a deal or we're out" James and Laura dissect what happened. 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...
Feb 28, 2025•30 min
Today we look at the much anticipated meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer. Answering questions from journalists, the two men discussed; a state visit to the UK for the President, the future of the Chagos Islands, peace in Ukraine and free 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 community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastco...
Feb 27, 2025•41 min
Today, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have landed in Florida on a private jet from Bucharest, Romania. The brothers were arrested in Romania three years ago and face trial on allegations of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering - all of which they deny. The charges haven’t been dropped, and they are expected to return at the end of March. Why were they able to leave and will they ever return? James speaks to social media correspondent, Marianna Spring and correspondent Nick Thorpe, ...
Feb 27, 2025•25 min
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
