After claiming the 2012 shooting in Sandy Hook was a hoax, its a moment of reckoning for Americas conspiracy-theorist-in-chief Alex Jones as he is ordered to pay nearly $1bn in damages to the victims family members. Americast explores the huge cultural and social stories that define the increasingly polarised political debate. The team report on a changing country with on-the-ground insights from right across America. Today presenter Justin Webb and North America editor Sarah Smith join North Am...
Oct 13, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Americast team delve into how conspiracy theories evolve online and how misinformation is affecting US politics, with the help of our Undercover Voters and Barack Obamas former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. US Special Correspondent Katty Kay is back from her trip on Route 66 meeting voters ahead of the midterms. President Joe Biden and Floridas Republican governor Ron DeSantis have put their political clashes on hold to show a united front over Hurricane Ian. The pair shook ha...
Oct 05, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Were racing towards the US midterms but dont worry, the full Americast team is back together to get stuck into the key issues, characters and races, and which party might come out on top. With a little help from Cliff Young, pollster and President of US Public Affairs at Ipsos. And Marianna updates us on what our Undercover Voters are being targeted with. This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior new...
Sep 28, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast There is growing political tension in America over immigration. States such as Florida, Texas and Arizona have sent thousands of migrants to cities like New York, Washington DC and the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. Sarah, Justin and Marianna look at how the row is playing out amongst voters and on social media. Americast also profiles Floridas Governor Ron DeSantis who has been a key figure in the controversial tactic. This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. T...
Sep 21, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast How is the US reacting? From Truman to Biden, the Queen met thirteen of the fourteen US presidents who held office during her reign and left a lasting impression on the United States. Justin, Sarah and Marianna look at the reaction to her death and catch up with the BBCs Chelsea Bailey in Washington DC, who has been speaking to some of the Queens biggest fans. And after a five-year legal fight, an Ohio college will pay nearly $37 million to a local bakery that sued the school for libel following...
Sep 14, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Legendary environmental activist talks Americas contaminated water supply. The entire population of Jackson, Mississippi lost access to safe running water after excessive rainfall and flooding. But its not the first time theres been issues with the citys water supply, or the first case of contaminated drinking water in the US. Justin and Sarah speak to environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who won a case over safe drinking water in California, before being portrayed on film by Julia Roberts. T...
Sep 07, 2022•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump, some top secret documents and the FBI. Welcome to episode one of the new-look Americast! Classified documents stored at former President's Florida home were likely concealed as part of an effort to obstruct an FBI investigation, says the US Department of Justice officials. Justin, Sarah and the Zurch chat to former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa, about how attempts to retrieve the documents went down and what could happen next. And Marianna introduces our undercover voters America...
Aug 31, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're back! With Justin Webb, Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring and (of course) the Zurch. Join us every Wednesday for all the latest news and gossip from America.
Aug 30, 2022•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast A message to Americasters from the Zurch.
Mar 16, 2022•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Biden imposes sanctions on Russia over beginning of invasion Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul joins Emily, Jon and Anthony to discuss whether President Biden could have done anything differently. And former homeland security aide to Donald Trump, Miles Taylor explains why he isnt surprised classified information was found at the former president's home in Mar-a-Lago. He also addresses the claims that Trump clogged up the White House toilets with flushed paper Americast is made by...
Feb 23, 2022•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prince Andrew has settled the civil sex assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre. Hes agreed to make a substantial donation to her charity in support of victims rights. Randy Zelin, a New York attorney, joins Emily, Jon and Anthony to discuss what we know and what we will probably never know about the deal. Americast was made by Alison Gee and Phil Marzouk. The technical director is Emma Crowe and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
Feb 15, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The American medias been full of stories about Boris Johnson so why is the US fascinated with the British prime minister? Mark Landler from the New York Times says there are plenty of similarities with Donald Trump, but also some significant differences. Mike Pence has made it very clear he disagrees with his former boss: President Trump is wrong, he said. I had no right to overturn the election. Olivia Troye, who was the vice-presidents homeland security adviser, thinks hes paving the way to ru...
Feb 09, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Canadian truckers protest over vaccine regulations, Emily, Jon and Anthony take a look at what it means for the US and whether demonstrations could spread there too. Also, CNN journalists Marshall Cohen and Zachary Cohen talk us through their investigation into the fake electors scheme that tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. The January 6 committee has now subpoenaed 14 people in connection with it. And now that Supreme Court Judge Stephen Breyer has announced hes retiri...
Feb 01, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the Ukraine crisis escalates, we hear why Kyiv is so important to Moscow. Retired Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who testified before Congress about the Trump-Ukraine scandal, explains why he thinks Biden has a much better understanding of Putin than Trump ever had. Also, the hot mic moment that caught Biden off guard, Anthony tries to take over the podcast with a filibuster, and we answer an A-level students question about Mike Pence and a steaming pile of horse poo. Americast is made by Estelle ...
Jan 27, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Biden defends his first year of presidency in a rare press conference, but his comment about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine is what gets Emily and Jon scratching their heads. They speak to Elaine Kamarck, a former staffer to Vice-President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton, now with the Brookings Institution. She thinks Biden said more than he should have. Meanwhile, Anthony is travelling with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Ukraine, as the US makes a last ditch attempt at fin...
Jan 20, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast A New York judge has ruled the civil sex assault case against the Duke of York can go ahead. Emily, Jon and Anthony explain why Prince Andrews lawyers argued it should be dismissed and why the court disagreed. The team also listen back to key moments from Emilys interview with the prince in 2019. And Randy Zelin a professor and attorney in New York - explains why theres no good option left for the prince. Americast is made by Estelle Doyle and Phil Marzouk. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and...
Jan 13, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast A year after the Capitol riot, the people who were there tell us its still dividing America today. US Democratic Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett calls it an attempted coup and says the country is in an ideological civil war. Fiona Hill a former advisor to Donald Trump says the way many Republicans have responded reminds her of Soviet disinformation campaigns. And Gabriel Montalvo, from the New York Young Republican Club, explains most people who went to the rally in Washington that day were peacef...
Jan 07, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast The committee investigating the assault on the Capitol have seen text messages urging White House staff to get the president to stop the riot. Donald Trump Jr and Fox News hosts were among those who messaged Mark Meadows, Trumps then chief of staff. Emily, Jon and Anthony pick over who said what, and when. Governor Gavin Newsom says he plans to copy Texass tactics on abortion laws to stop the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons in his state of California. But can his plan actually work? Pr...
Dec 15, 2021•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dont do it. The parents of the suspect in a school shooting in Michigan have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Former NRA lobbyist Richard Feldman tells us why he thinks the Democrats should ditch the anti-gun rhetoric if they genuinely want gun reform. As Republican Congressman Devin Nunes resigns to become CEO of Trumps new social media firm, journalist Dan Alexander explains why he feels that same company is a frightening proposition for many investors. Will Biden succeed in impleme...
Dec 08, 2021•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast The case that could radically change abortion laws in the US
Dec 01, 2021•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily, Jon and Anthony discuss who Brandon is and why Americans are chanting his name. Also, three white men have been found guilty of murdering a black jogger, Ahmaud Arbery, in Georgia. We hear testimony from the trial and reaction from his family. And after another high-profile trial, politicians have been offering internships to Kyle Rittenhouse - the young man acquitted of murdering two white men during a protest in 2020. For some, hes become an icon for the right to armed self-defence. Ame...
Nov 24, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast A judges God Bless the USA ringtone raised eyebrows when it went off in the Rittenhouse murder trial. And as the jury deliberates its verdict, Washington Post reporter Kim Bellware describes how this court case is the most acrimonious she has ever covered. Also, as a defiant Steve Bannon surrenders himself to the FBI, former Republican Congressman Doug Collins tells us why he thinks the Department of Justice has become Bidens political arm. And Emily shares her memories of an evening with Trumps...
Nov 17, 2021•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Big Birds been tweeting about his Covid jab but Senator Cruz isnt impressed, calling the post government propaganda for your 5-year-old. Also, its officially infrastructure week again. Congressman Andy Levin tells us why he changed his mind and voted for the bill on Friday. And journalist Dan Alexander joins us for a SPAC-tacular explanation of how Donald Trump plans to finance his new social media platform. Todays Americast was made by Estelle Doyle and Phil Marzouk. The studio director is Emma...
Nov 10, 2021•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Virginia elects a new governor, Emily, Jon and Anthony get back together to ask why things went so wrong for the Democrats and so right for the Republicans. Theyre joined by J. Miles Coleman of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, and former Republican congresswoman for Virginia, Barbara Comstock. There are anecdotes from President Bidens European trip and candy from Air Force One too. Todays Americast was made by Estelle Doyle and Phil Marzouk. The studio director was Emma Crowe. ...
Nov 03, 2021•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maitlis and Sopes return for an emergency episode to mark the end of America's decades long 'forever war'. We talk to US Airforce veteran Veronica Hoyer to ask if it was all for nothing? And the former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, P. Michael McKinley tells us he is being contacted by former friends and colleagues appealing for rescue as Taliban forces enter Kabul. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Caitlin Hanrahan and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos...
Aug 17, 2021•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're signing off for a while, Americasters. Thanks for your company and your support. We'll be back next year to bring you all the build up to the midterm elections. So here's our last episode for now. As someone once said, "Have a good life. We will see you soon". While you're here, please could you vote for Americast at the British Podcast Awards! www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote This episode was made by our wonderful producers, Caitlin Hanrahan and Natalie Ktena. It was mixed beautifully by...
Jul 02, 2021•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast The truth is out there... or at least it's about to be. Former Blink 182 frontman and UFO hunter Tom DeLonge speaks to Emily, Jon and Anthony ahead of the highly anticipated unclassified Pentagon report on UFOs. And with the Democrats' Voting Rights bill blocked, we discuss how the fight is far from over for Biden. Also, Slate Editor and Americast favourite Dahlia Lithwick tells us everything we need to know about Supreme Court Season and that conservative supermajority. Studio Director: Emma Cr...
Jun 23, 2021•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're behind the scenes at the Swiss Chateau where Biden and Putin meet for their first talks but did they see eye to eye? Emily, Jon and Anthony discuss if the US-Russia relationship can go from rock bottom to recovery. Also, following a testing week for Vice President Harris, we ask her former Communications Director Gil Duran whether we're witnessing a President in the making. And he doesnt want to go on about it but Sopes had to give up his seat at the pub for a VERY special guest... Studio ...
Jun 16, 2021•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Joe Biden touches down in the UK for his first foreign trip, the G7 summit of world leaders in Carbis Bay, Jon speaks exclusively to the presidents national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, about how the US will protect the Good Friday agreement and its interests around the world, as well as its rivalry with China and Russia. Back in Washington DC, we hear how one Democratic senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, is causing a political impasse thats paralysing his own party. Studio Director...
Jun 09, 2021•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ben Rhodes, the ex-White House deputy national security adviser and confidante to President Obama, comes on to talk about the global rise of authoritarianism and how American foreign policy helped shape what he calls the the 9/11 generation. And theres a sensational comeback for one of the most influential men in Washington. Not Jon Sopel, another beauty (hes still in London.) But Donald Trump, is preparing to hold the first post-presidential rally. We hear from POLITICOs White House insider Ani...
Jun 02, 2021•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
