Is Donald Trump’s phone his most powerful tool in office? From announcing ceasefires and trade deals to commenting on military actions like the recent strikes on Iran, Trump has used social media -especially his platform, Truth Social- as a direct line to the public. But what does this say about his presidency? And who's really behind those late-night posts? On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann Jr dive into the “social media presidency” of Donald Trump. They als...
Jun 27, 2025•25 min
Donald Trump will decide if the US gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks. Trump made waves – and charmed voters – by promising an ‘America First’ foreign policy. With the Middle East on the brink, what that means is up for debate. On this episode of The President’s Path, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann Jr. break down the complexities of Trump’s approach to Iran and the challenges it poses for US foreign policy. Every weekend, The Presi...
Jun 21, 2025•25 min
Washington DC is hosting a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The event falls on the same day as President Trump's 79th birthday. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann Jr explore how the Trump administration is reshaping the US military with a deployment to quell unrest in Los Angeles, a big parade and changes to budgets and recruitment. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key ...
Jun 13, 2025•25 min
Donald Trump has signed a ban on travel to the US from 12 countries, citing national security risks. There are also seven additional countries whose nationals will face partial travel restrictions. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann Jr. explore how the travel ban reflects Trump’s broader approach to immigration and national security. They also discuss the latest phone call between Trump and Vladimir Putin, analysing its potential implications for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ev...
Jun 06, 2025•25 min
As part of his wider crackdown on higher education, US President Donald Trump has moved to ban Harvard from enrolling international students, accusing the school of not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus. Harvard filed a lawsuit in response, and a judge has halted Trump's ban for now. On this episode of The President’s Path, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann Jr. unpack Trump's move against one of America's most prestigious universities. Plus, they also take a closer...
May 31, 2025•25 min
In an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, Donald Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa with video over discredited claims of a white genocide in South Africa. In this episode, the BBC’s Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann discuss how Trump handles meetings with foreign leaders visiting the Oval Office. They also examine the relationship between the Trump administration and the media. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in W...
May 23, 2025•25 min
US President Donald Trump has visited the Gulf on his first major diplomatic tour since returning to the White House. Caitríona Perry, Bernd Debusmann, and CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe discuss the significance of his trip. They also explore why President Putin skipped peace talks in Turkey between Moscow and Kyiv. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to...
May 17, 2025•25 min
Fewer people are crossing the US-Mexico border under President Trump. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about his immigration crackdown. Plus, Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what’s happening in US politics and what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House and on Capitol Hill. If you'd like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]. Producer: Aisling Taylor. Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
May 10, 2025•25 min
President Trump has ousted his national security advisor Mike Waltz. He had been under pressure since last month, when he inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal group chat where senior Trump officials were discussing military plans to strike Yemen. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann examine the implications of this decision and what it signals for the Trump administration. Plus, concerns about the US economy. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what’s happening in US...
May 03, 2025•26 min
President Trump has been in office for nearly 100 days. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann discuss what voters think of his administration so far. Plus, we explore potential tariff and trade deals. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what’s happening in US politics and what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House and on Capitol Hill. If you'd like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]. Producer: Aisling Taylor. Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas....
Apr 25, 2025•25 min
Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann are joined by Politico's Jack Blanchard to discuss the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case and Trump's meeting with El Salvador's president. While Republicans frame immigration as a winning issue, Democrats focus on the economy, with AOC and Bernie Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" tour drawing huge crowds in red states. Producers: John Ringer and Jack Maclaren Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Apr 19, 2025•24 min
President Trump's tariff policy has led to confusion on Capitol Hill, and in the markets. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, are the Democrats trying to take a new approach to tackling Trump?
Apr 11, 2025•27 min
Presidents Trump’s tariffs trigger the steepest US stocks drop since 2020. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, Democrat Cory Booker’s record-breaking filibuster.
Apr 04, 2025•28 min
A journalist ended up in a top secret US military group chat. How did that happen? And how is Washington reacting? BBC's Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about Signalgate. Plus, a look at the other executive orders signed by President Trump this week. Producers: Aisling Taylor and Peter Goffin Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Mar 29, 2025•27 min
Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his representatives have been following through on promises to slash federal spending. Their latest target is public media, and this week fierce Trump-loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene led a hearing demanding that the bosses of NPR and PBS justify their government funding. Public broadcasting has been a longtime bugbear for many conservatives, who say it is tainted by a liberal bias. So, as pressure mounts, can these organisations sur...
Mar 28, 2025•27 min
Malcolm and Simone Collins hope to have 10 children to help avoid what they see as a pending demographic collapse. They tell Lucy Hockings that as pronatalists they want to promote the dangers of falling fertility rates and encourage other people to have more children. Whereas many people might see their lifestyle as extreme, pronatalism seems to be gaining support at the heart of the Trump administration. But some people worry that some pronatalist practices cross the line into eugenics and tha...
Mar 27, 2025•30 min
The baby boomer generation has become the richest in history. In recent years there has been some degree of animosity between the boomer generation and their younger millennial counterparts. The millennial generation have been much less well off than their parents and are often stereotyped as living beyond their means. But this could all be about to change. Now younger people are expected to inherit billions from their parents. It’s expected to be the largest transfer of wealth in human history....
Mar 26, 2025•23 min
London Heathrow saw all its flights cancelled on Friday after a fire at a local power supply station. The news led to rampant speculation online – rumours of foreign interference, accusations against executives, and angry questions about who was to blame. So why wasn’t there a contingency plan to keep such an essential transport hub running? Caitríona Perry is joined by Theo Leggett, the BBC’s international business correspondent, to discuss Heathrow’s temporary closure and what it says about th...
Mar 25, 2025•20 min
How sounds could be damaging your health. Long-term exposure to the noises of everyday city life has been linked to higher levels of stress, diabetes and heart disease. On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC’s health and science correspondent James Gallagher about life in two of the world’s loudest cities – Barcelona in Spain and Dhaka in Bangladesh. And James puts his own body to the test, to find out how it responds to the most annoying sounds. The Global Story brings you tr...
Mar 24, 2025•27 min
This week, Donald Trump and his team are continuing the immigration squeeze. When 238 Venezuelans were deported from the US, a federal judge ordered the planes be stopped and turned around. The administration decided to proceed, setting up a fraught legal battle between the Trump team and the federal courts. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer insight and analysis on another whirlwind week in Washington DC. Producers: Richard Moran and Aisling Taylor Sound engineer: Mike R...
Mar 22, 2025•27 min
The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested on Wednesday on corruption and terror charges he insists are politically motivated. Considered the leading candidate to face Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the next election, Mr Imamoglu's eligibility had been thrown into doubt after his university degree was annulled earlier this week. His detention is being compared to President Erdogan's own arrest when he was Istanbul mayor more than a quarter of a century ago - a moment widely s...
Mar 21, 2025•26 min
We spend around a third of our lives sleeping. But many people struggle with insomnia or have difficulty staying asleep, and research shows that bad sleep can increase the risk of multiple health conditions. How harmful is bad sleep to our health? And what can we do about it? Jonny Dymond speaks with Professor Russell Foster, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford, and author and sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan about how people can get enough slee...
Mar 20, 2025•26 min
On Tuesday night, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that combat against Hamas in Gaza had resumed in full force. This followed several hours of early morning air strikes targeting Gaza, which killed more than 400 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict so far. Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC’s Jon Donnison, who witnessed the strikes from the Israeli border town of Sderot. He helps us to understand this latest escal...
Mar 19, 2025•26 min
The Russian leader has been mulling a 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by the US, ahead of talks with Donald Trump on Tuesday. Will Vladimir Putin accept a temporary pause in fighting, let alone a long-term deal? What are the pressures that could sway him toward peace, or cause him to drag out the war in Ukraine? On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to journalist Owen Matthews, author of the book “Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin’s War”. The Global Story brings you trusted ins...
Mar 18, 2025•26 min
Argentina’s football star Diego Maradona is once again back in the spotlight as a long-delayed trial examining the circumstances around his death gets underway in Buenos Aires. When Diego Maradona died in 2020, Argentinians took to the streets, united in both grief and in the celebration of a soccer legend. But it didn’t take long before suspicions around his death started to circulate. In today’s episode, we look at the trial involving his medical team and ask why Maradona’s legacy is still so ...
Mar 17, 2025•26 min
This week President Trump's promises of tariffs became a reality, with universal levies on aluminium and steel imports becoming a reality. The EU responded with their own tariffs on items from bourbon to jeans and the mayor of Ontario threatened to turn of electricity supplies to the US. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer insight and analysis on another whirlwind week in Washington DC. Producer: Aisling Taylor Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Richard Fenton-...
Mar 15, 2025•27 min
Over the past decade fentanyl use has spiked, leading to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. Most of the deadly drug enters the US via its border with Mexico, concealed deep within vehicles and even hidden inside food packages. The Trump administration has previously accused the Mexican government of colluding with the drug cartels. He’s now hoping that the threat of import tariffs on Mexico will stem the flow of the deadly drug into the US. The Mexican government has responded to ...
Mar 14, 2025•28 min
How did Saudi Arabia come to host leaders from the US, Russia and Ukraine for peace talks? Just a few years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was publicly identified as the man who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As a result, he was referred to as a pariah by former President Joe Biden. So, how did MBS go from pariah to peacemaker? Jonny Dymond speaks to journalist Jonathan Rugman, producer of the BBC documentary 'The Kingdom' about the li...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min
The former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte oversaw a bloody war on drugs that left tens of thousands of people dead, but he remains extremely popular with many in the Philippines, who say he cleaned up their country. On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC's Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head about Duterte’s years in power, and why the current government in ...
Mar 12, 2025•26 min
When Syria's Bashar al-Assad was toppled in a lightning offensive in December, his successor Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to unite a broken country. Barely three months on, a surge in fighting between pro-Assad gunmen and transitional government security forces has reportedly left hundreds of civilians dead and exposed the enduring divides in Syrian society. As al-Sharaa vows a national dialogue will continue, has his grand vision for Syria already fallen at the first hurdle? Jonny Dymond is joined ...
Mar 11, 2025•26 min
