Today, MPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill, in the biggest step so far in favour of the changing of the law. MPs vote to back a bill legalising assisted dying in England and Wales by 23 votes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch voted against. The bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives. The bill will now progress to the House of Lords where...
Jun 20, 2025•30 min
Today, what role could the UK play in the conflict between Israel and Iran? President Donald Trump will decide on whether the US gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks, the White House says. Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss; what the Prime Minister's options are if the US does directly attack Iran? How the conflict could impact prices in the UK? And, whether parliament would have a vote on any UK involvement? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart spe...
Jun 19, 2025•30 min
Today, Trump dismissed questions about US involvement in Iran, saying: "I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I want to do.” Adam is joined by Chief Presenter Caitriona Perry and BBC Persian Senior Reporter Siavash Ardalan to interperet Trump’s statements on the White House lawn, as well as Iran’s Supreme Leader threatening ‘irreparable harm’ if the US takes action. Also, what’s at stake for Russia if things continue to escalate in Iran? Steven Rosenberg calls in (literally) from St Pe...
Jun 18, 2025•37 min
Today, President Trump says he knows where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is but "we" won't kill him - "at least not for now". In a series of posts on social media, he went on to demand an 'unconditional surrender', as Iran and Israel fire missiles for a fifth day. Is regime change likely, or a goal of the US and Israel? Caitriona Perry -chief presenter for BBC News and Lyse Doucet chief international correspondent are both in the studio with Adam. You can now listen to Newscast on...
Jun 17, 2025•30 min
Today, a report into sexual abuse carried out by grooming gangs says there was a “collective failure to address questions about the ethnicity of grooming gangs”. The audit, led by Baroness Louise Casey, said the ethnicity of grooming gangs is shied away from and is still not recorded for two-thirds of perpetrators. Adam is joined by Alison Holt, social affairs editor and Judith Moritz, special correspondent. Plus, Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile strikes as world leaders gather for t...
Jun 16, 2025•33 min
Today, we look at the announcement that there will be full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. And as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, Laura, Paddy and Henry Zeffman, look at what the UK is doing in response. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ...
Jun 15, 2025•25 min
Today we’re looking at how Iran has retaliated to Israel’s strikes which targeted Iran's nuclear programme on Friday. The two countries have been exchanging fire. And, state media reports say Iran has warned the UK, US and France it will target their bases and ships in the region if they help stop the strikes on Israel. We look at how the world is reacting to the conflict. Shashank Joshi, The Economist’s defence editor joins Laura and Paddy to go through it all. You can now listen to Newscast on...
Jun 14, 2025•26 min
Today, Israel has carried out strikes in Iran targeting nuclear sites and military commanders in a major escalation of tensions. Israel say they targeted the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear programme, whilst also killing Hossein Salami, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Civilians, including children, were also among those killed, state media reported. In response the Israeli military said Iran launched about 100 drones towards Israel on Friday morning, with Israeli media reporting all the ...
Jun 13, 2025•21 min
Today, at least 200 people have been killed when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India. Adam speaks to BBC Correspondent Archana Shukla in Mumbai about the scenes in Ahmedabad, the news of one British passenger surviving the crash, and the official response to the crash. He is also joined by Ben Katz, Aviation Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, about the Boeing 787-8 Dreamline plane and how the crash will be investigated....
Jun 12, 2025•32 min
Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the government spending plans until the end of the decade. She says spending on the NHS will rise by 3% a year after inflation. And also confirmed £39bn for social and affordable housing, an end to "costly" asylum hotels by 2029, and an extension of the £3 bus fare cap in England to 2027. You an read the Spending Review here! https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6849171796e63bce58e4e705/E03349913_HMT_Spending_Review_June_2025_Elay.pdf You can now...
Jun 11, 2025•40 min
Today, the clash between Governor Newsom and President Trump escalates as LA protests enter day four. A defence official has told the BBC's US partner CBS that approximately 2,100 members of the California National Guard are now on location in the greater Los Angeles area, with 700 Marines also in and around the city. Newsom called it “the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president,” while Trump claimed LA “would be burning to the ground” without his intervention. Adam is joined by chief anchor...
Jun 10, 2025•39 min
Today, Labour confirms 75% of pensioners will keep their winter fuel payments, reversing a widely criticised policy. Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now be eligible. The payment, worth up to £300 to help with energy bills during the coldest months, was paid only to those on pension credit last year. Alex and Chris discuss the chain of events that have led to this moment, and what it says about the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Also, a yacht...
Jun 09, 2025•38 min
Today, we’re looking at what’s going on in the Treasury as the final decisions are being made ahead of the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday. The home secretary and deputy prime minister are both still in dispute with the department over the amount of cash they'll have to spend. Business editor Simon Jack and Paul Johnson, director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies join Laura to look at the numbers and the politics. And we look at Zia Yusuf’s return to Reform just two days after quitti...
Jun 08, 2025•33 min
Today we hear from the woman who was the UK’s only transgender judge. Laura speaks to Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from the job last year, about her challenge to overturn the Supreme Court unanimous ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. In an extended interview, Victoria talks about why she thinks she could succeed, and about the ruling’s consequences. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play...
Jun 07, 2025•43 min
How did one of the most powerful alliances in American politics blow up? The falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been playing out very publicly on social media, with back and forth insults and threats. Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring, Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher unpack how the row intensified with Trump threatening to revoke Musk’s government contracts and Musk claiming, without evidence, that Trump appeared in the unreleased Epstein files. Musk also suggested that Trump should b...
Jun 06, 2025•30 min
The Spending Review looms large - with Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing some difficult choices in the upcoming Spending Review, which sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few years. Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss that and what next for Reform UK after Zia Yusuf quit as party Chairman. This episode was recorded on Thursday evening. 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 sm...
Jun 06, 2025•30 min
Today, Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chairman of Reform UK, posting on X: "I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time". What does that mean for Nigel Farage and the future of his party? Adam and Alex discuss. And former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt joins Adam to discuss his new book, Mel Stride distancing the Tories from Liz Truss’ Mini Budget and his reaction to the breaking news about Zia Yusuf's resignation. You can now listen to Newscast on...
Jun 05, 2025•41 min
Today, Rachel Reeves has announced a multi billion pound investment for transport projects across the country. The money will be spent on tram, train and bus projects in mayoral authorities across the Midlands, the North and the West Country. But how different is this to money previously announced under the last Conservative government? Adam is joined by the Mayor of the North East of England Kim McGuinness. Meanwhile, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed more people will get the winter fu...
Jun 04, 2025•41 min
Today, authorities start a new search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal, nearly two decades after her disappearance. On Monday, Portuguese police confirmed the search is taking place across 21 different plots of land between the resort where Madeleine went missing, and where the German investigators' prime suspect had been staying at the time. Adam speaks to BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford and Jane Hill, the 6 and 10 presenter who has covered the case extensively. And, Katya reunit...
Jun 03, 2025•35 min
Today, the Prime Minister says the UK military is moving to “war-fighting readiness”. The government is setting out the aims of its strategic defence review, or more simply how Britain should get ready for war. Starmer told the BBC that the world has changed and "if you want to deter conflict, then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict." Adam speaks to Chris, and goes over the details of the plan with co-author Dr Fiona Hill. Plus, James Waterhouse, the BBC’s Ukraine correspondent, ...
Jun 02, 2025•41 min
Today, we look at what Defence Secretary John Healey has called the UK’s “message to Moscow” as he announces investment in weapons and factories to make them. Laura, Paddy and Henry also talk about how much it’s going to cost, whether it’s affordable, and whether NATO thinks it’s enough. They also talk about Robert Jenrick, after a week of the justice secretary making headlines. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. ...
Jun 01, 2025•28 min
Today, we look at the future of defence for the UK, ahead of a major strategic defence review from the government. Defence Secretary John Healey has said there is "no doubt" that UK defence spending will rise to 3% of GDP by 2034. Sir Alex Younger, former head of MI6, joins Laura and Paddy to talk about where the threats are, and what it should be spent on. 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...
May 31, 2025•32 min
Today, Adam, Alex, James and Vicki discuss Keir Starmer’s attack on Nigel Farage saying he would “crash the economy”. And, in light of Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick filming himself confronting fare evaders on the London Underground, the team compare their most memorable political stunts. Plus, what does legal uncertainty around Trump’s tariffs mean for the UK-US trade agreement? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play N...
May 30, 2025•29 min
Today, we look at whether President Donald Trump will be allowed to continue with his tariffs plan. On Wednesday a court put them on hold, saying they’re beyond his power, then another court reinstated them pending an appeal. Adam is joined by chief presenter in the US, Caitríona Perry, Americast’s Justin Webb, and FT columnist Gillian Tett. And we find out the identity of the man who has been charged with multiple offences after a car hit fans attending Liverpool's Premier League victory celebr...
May 29, 2025•33 min
Today, we discuss the new aid distrubition model in Gaza and why the EU’s top diplomat has gone further in criticising Israeli strikes and aid distribution. The BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Adam in the studio to discuss the video footage of chaotic scenes at an aid distribution centre in Rafah. They discuss the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and vice president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas’ criticism of Israel. And there’s a fortnight to go unti...
May 28, 2025•34 min
Today, a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car crashed into fans during a parade to celebrate Liverpool’s title victory. The 53 year old from West Derby, in Liverpool, has also been arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs and dangerous driving offences. 50 people were treated in hospital after the incident - but police say those remaining in hospital are all in a stable condition. How was this able to happen? Adam speaks to BBC Breakfast presenter ...
May 27, 2025•24 min
Recorded live at Hay Festival, Adam and Alex look at whether President Trump has changed his mind about President Putin and how politician’s use statistics. Plus, Newscast continues trying to work out if the goverment’s change of policy on winter fuel allowance counts as a U-Turn. They are joined by Anne Applebaum, journalist, historian and author of Autocracy Inc, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter statistician and author of The Art of Uncertainty, and comedian and broadcaster Marcus Brigstocke....
May 26, 2025•55 min
Today we look at whether the government is about to row back on another policy - the two-child benefit cap. It prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third child, with a few exemptions. Speaking to Laura this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner refused to confirm whether it was going to be scrapped. Rayner also responded to a story in The Telegraph this week, after the paper got hold of a document that suggests she’s is at odds with the chancellor ...
May 25, 2025•28 min
Today, we look at whether this week’s winter fuel U-turn could lead to the government changing course on other spending cuts. Paddy’s taken to the streets of Camden to find out what the public think of their local MP, Keir Starmer. And we hear from some of the 18 year old Newscasters who have got in touch to tell us what they think about the current state of UK/EU relationship. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. I...
May 24, 2025•24 min
Today, the government are claiming credit for a fall in migration numbers - but should they? Adam and Chris are joined by economics editor Faisal Islam and political correspondent Leila Nathoo to discuss that + the controversial Chagos deal. 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 da...
May 23, 2025•30 min
