Today, we’re looking at what the government is doing to deal with overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales. It’s responding to an independent report into the issue by former justice secretary, David Gauke, who’s on the podcast. We’re also looking at a pay rise for the public sector, with teachers and doctors getting 4%. Health editor Hugh Pym and education editor Branwen Jeffreys talk it through. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Soun...
May 22, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at a U-turn from the government, after the Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ease cuts to winter fuel payments. More than 10 million pensioners lost out on the payments, worth up to £300, when the pension top-up became means-tested last year. Adam and Chris Mason discuss with Starmer’s former political director Luke Sullivan. Also, England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the STI gonorrhoea. Health and science correspondent Ja...
May 21, 2025•45 min
Today, we discuss the Foreign Secretary suspending trade negotiations with Israel over its “cruel and indefensible” blockade of Gaza. The UK, France and Canada previously said they’d “take further concrete actions” if Israel doesn’t stop its latest offensive and allow aid in, as Palestinians face more strikes and starvation. The BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen joins Adam in the studio. And after 28 years at the BBC, the legendary Jo Coburn is stepping down from presenting Politics Live. ...
May 20, 2025•35 min
Today, the UK and EU have come to a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and more. Adam and Chris, in true Brexitcast style, go through the detail as the Prime Minister says it is time to move on from “political fights” about Brexit. Plus, Adam sits down with Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, as she explains the benefits of the deal. They also discuss possible changes to ISAs, winter fuel and whether Elton John is off her music playlist. You can now listen to Newscast on a ...
May 19, 2025•41 min
Today, we’re looking at more details of what could be in a deal between the UK and the EU, set to be revealed tomorrow. Laura’s been talking to the lead negotiator from the UK side, the European relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. He says he’s pushing for UK passport holders to be able to use EU e-gates at airports, and that he’s "confident" about changes to lower food prices. Paddy’s been talking to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. And, Elton John has told Laura the government are handling a ...
May 18, 2025•29 min
Today we’re looking at what could be in a deal between the UK and European Union expected to be announced at a summit on Monday. Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Sam White is on to give an insight into what the PM really thinks about Europe. And, Eurovision expert Paddy tells Laura what to watch out for in the final on Saturday night. 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 ...
May 17, 2025•31 min
Today, the UK is in talks with other countries to set up overseas “return hubs” for failed asylum seekers. Adam and Chris are joined by Caitriona Perry chief presenter for BBC News and diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They also discuss the will they, won’t they of the last 24 hours over a meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky. 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 j...
May 16, 2025•29 min
Today, we look at talks between world leaders and their officials in Turkey, where a breakthrough on peace in Ukraine was hoped for. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the country's capital Ankara, but Russian President Vladimir Putin stayed away despite having proposed talks. Russia editor Steve Rosenberg joins to discuss what Putin’s thinking is, as does former MI6 officer Christopher Steele. And - positive news for the UK’s economy. It’s gre...
May 15, 2025•31 min
Today, what is President Trump achieving with his tour of the Middle East? On Wednesday President Trump met with the leaders of Syria and Qatar on his first major foreign trip as President. James is joined by the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale and BBC’s chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry to discuss Also, James and Alex explain today’s the announcement by the Justice Secretary today that prisons are at 99% capacity, and what the government say they are going to do to addr...
May 14, 2025•37 min
Today, we’re looking at a cyber attack on Marks and Spencer, which started three weeks ago. The retailer said today that some personal customer information has been taken. To understand what has been going on, James speaks to Joe Tidy, BBC’s cyber correspondent, and to Ciaran Martin, the founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre. Also, Donald Trump gave a speech in Riyadh where he announced the US-Saudi bond is ‘more powerful than ever’. They’ve signed a $142 billion arms de...
May 13, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at Labour’s plan to fix the UK’s ‘‘broken’’ migration system. James speaks to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to comb through the details including a degree-level requirement for overseas workers, ending automatic settlement after five years for most visas, and a tightening of English tests for all visa applicants. We also look at how the US and China came to a sudden agreement to slash their tariffs for 90 days. BBC’s economics editor Faisal Islam and BBC’s China correspondent Laura...
May 12, 2025•56 min
Today, we’re looking at what’s behind a change in position from the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who’s called for "direct talks" with Ukraine on 15 May. European leaders met in Kyiv to demand a 30-day ceasefire, and spoke with President Donald Trump, on Saturday. We also hear from the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who was on Laura’s show this morning, ahead of a week in which she’ll lay out plans to bring down net migration. There’s also an update on when a report into the grooming gangs sc...
May 11, 2025•31 min
Today, we look at the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. The US President Donald Trump announced the news to the world via social media and it was his secretary of state and vice president doing the mediation. International editor Jeremy Bowen joins Laura and Paddy to talk about how the agreement was reached. They also talk about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, where European leaders including UK PM Keir Starmer are meeting today. They’re asking Russia to stop attacks for 30 days f...
May 10, 2025•30 min
Today, the UK and US have both described the deal as a success - but who really benefits from their tariff agreement? Adam and Alex are joined by Dharshini David, BBC deputy economics editor and James Landale the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent to discuss the deal, and whether this has turned around a tricky week for the PM. 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 Newsca...
May 09, 2025•42 min
Today, Robert Prevost has become the first American Pope, and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Adam is joined by the BBC’s Religion editor Aleem Maqbool to talk through how the news broke from the Vatican, and what we know about Chicago-born Prevost who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there And, the UK and US have announced a tariff agreement. Tariffs have been removed from UK steel and aluminium, plus reduced on car exports. In exchange the UK has all...
May 08, 2025•34 min
Today, we’re looking at the conflict between India and Pakistan. On Tuesday night, India launched missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Adam talks to the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen and Journalist Arunoday Mukharji about what’s happening, how Pakistan is reacting, and whether things could get worse. Americast’s Justin Webb also joins for a behind-the-scenes look at Joe Biden’s first interview since leaving the White House with the person who did it… the Today p...
May 07, 2025•48 min
Today, after three years of on-off negotiations the UK and India have agreed a “landmark” trade deal. Will it make goods cheaper for people in the UK? What does it mean for the number of Indian students coming to the UK? And, does this change the UK’s approach to President Trump’s tariffs? Adam and Chris are joined by Faisal to discuss. Also, Adam is joined by Professor Dame Jenny Harries as she steps down as head of the UK Health Security Agency. Adam asks her about; how prepared we are for fut...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min
On this episode of Old Newscast, we look at the consequences for the world of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Adam is joined by world affairs editor John Simpson, as well as historian and author of Beyond the Wall, Katja Hoyer. 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/m3YPUGv9 New episodes released every day. If you're in t...
May 05, 2025•36 min
On this episode of Old Newscast, we look at what led to, and what happened on the day of, the fall of the Berlin wall. Adam is joined by world affairs editor John Simpson, as well as historian and author of Beyond the Wall, Katja Hoyer. 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/m3YPUGv9 New episodes released every day. If...
May 05, 2025•44 min
Today, we look at how the political parties are reacting to this week’s local election results. The Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke to both Laura and Paddy to give the Labour view. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, the Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf were all on Laura’s Sunday show. We also look at what party staffers are saying behind the scenes and how Zia Yusuf earned the cash that he’s funding his party with. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart spea...
May 04, 2025•31 min
Today, we look at the local election results in full. Reform now have well over 600 councillors. Party leader Nigel Farage said the victory over Labour and the Conservatives was “unprecedented”. The Liberal Democrats are also celebrating after successful election results. The party increased their number of councillors, with its leader Ed Davey saying they are now “the part of Middle England”. Pollster Luke Tryl joins Paddy and Laura. And we’ll have all the latest reaction from Prince Harry’s bo...
May 03, 2025•34 min
Today, Reform have won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes - one of the closest parliamentary elections ever. Sarah Pochin overturned Labour's large majority to become Reform's fifth MP after a recount. Elsewhere, Reform wins its first mayoral election in Greater Lincolnshire, and Labour narrowly holds three mayoral races in North Tyneside, the West of England, and Doncaster - with Reform second in all three. This is still an emerging picture, with plenty more results to come. A...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Today, we look at what’s in the deal struck between the United States and Ukraine that will give Washington access to some of the war-torn country's natural resources. International editor Jeremy Bowen also explains what it could mean for the conflict. And the Football Association has banned transgender women from playing in women’s matches in England. Legal correspondent Dominic Casciani and sports journalist Jane Dougall put the decision into context. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart ...
May 01, 2025•45 min
Today, the long-anticipated minerals deal may be about to be signed by the US and Ukraine. Adam speaks to BBC chief presenter Caitriona Perry and BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale about why an agreement is back on the agenda. We also discuss President Trump's cabinet meeting where he blamed former president Biden for “bad numbers” after a report found the US economy has shrunk by 0.3% since January, the first time since 2022. And, has the government been challenged on its climate change...
Apr 30, 2025•31 min
Today, we react to Mark Carney pulling off a surprise victory in the Canadian election as leader of the Liberal Party. Adam is joined by chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and host of CBC News daily news podcast Front Burner Jayme Poisson to discuss how Carney, who has never held political office, has managed to win the election despite the Conservatives leading in nationwide polls for over a year before Donald Trump was elected as US president. Also, economics editor Faisal Islam spe...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min
Today, Spain and Portugal have been hit by large power cuts. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says the cause is still unknown. Adam is joined by Rachel Morison, Energy Editor at Bloomberg, and Professor Keith Bell, Professor of Future Power systems at the University of Strathclyde, to discuss what we know - and what we don’t - about the huge power outages on the Iberian peninsula. Plus, what is the UK energy grid’s plan for if something similar were to happen here? And the Kremlin has an...
Apr 28, 2025•34 min
Today we look at what politicians are saying on camera and behind the scenes about the local elections coming up on Thursday. Laura, Paddy, and Henry discuss whether it could be a good week for all the parties apart from Labour and the Conservatives. And there’s talk of a future coalition between Reform and the Conservative Party. 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...
Apr 27, 2025•28 min
Today, we discuss the pictures coming from The Vatican of President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump meeting in St Peter’s Basilica before Pope Francis’ funeral. Laura and Paddy discuss whether it could be an important moment as discussions about an end to the war in Ukraine continue. 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://dis...
Apr 26, 2025•22 min
Today, we’re looking ahead to local elections taking place in England on Thursday 1 May. Adam and Chris are joined by friends of the podcast Matt Chorley and Professor Jane Green, Director of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre at the University of Oxford, to discuss the upcoming local elections, and tips for interpreting the results. 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 jo...
Apr 25, 2025•33 min
Today, we discuss whether the EU and UK are about to do a deal on a youth visa scheme. Labour has previously said it has "no plans" for such a scheme, which would make it easier for young people to study and work abroad. But today, the government is no longer ruling it out ahead of a bit summit next month. Adam and Chris discuss the possible “reset” And, tensions are rising between India and Pakistan following an attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir. Adam speaks to Shruti Menon, Senior Journa...
Apr 24, 2025•30 min
