Joe Biden is officially running again! The 80-year-old president has posted a video promising freedom for Americans and to finish the job. Jim Messina, who masterminded Barack Obamas re-election campaign, tells the Americast team that Democrats should be praying every night for Donald Trump to be their opponent, why he thinks it makes sense for Kamala Harris to stay on as vice president, and how Bidens team can make sure his age isnt the elephant in the room. Sarah visits a college baseball park...
Apr 25, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Scrolling through the biggest stories in America right now. With Fox News forced to defend its editorial standards, Donald Trump attacking pudding fingers Ron DeSantis and a conservative beer boycott spilling over, the Americast team take a few of this weeks most talked about topics and explain the context behind the clickbait. Whats been happening? Why does it matter? And why are we seeing so much of it all on social media? We also talk about the spate of shootings of people for tragically turn...
Apr 20, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden has been travelling up and down the island of Ireland, where hes promised to keep the peace but has also cracked some jokes down the pub with his distant cousins. Sarahs been following him and trying to find out why hes actually there. And a ruling from a Texas judge seeking to ban an abortion pill across America is being batted between various courts. Joyce Vance, who was a US attorney under Barack Obama, explains what can happen when the legal system gets personal and why it co...
Apr 13, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The multi-billionaire defended his ownership of Twitter in a last-minute interview live from the companys Silicon Valley HQ. This extra episode of Americast features his rollercoaster conversation with the BBCs James Clayton in full. It came out of an email exchange over the BBCs labelling on Twitter as "government-funded media" Musk replied himself and agreed to an interview "tonight". Asked about the mass layoffs of Twitter staff, misinformation on the platform and his unusual work habits, Mus...
Apr 12, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump pleads not guilty to criminal charges. The former (and aspiring future) president has been accused of falsifying business records after an investigation into hush money paid to a porn star. Sarah is back, dialling in from the middle of the media circus in Manhattan, as the team talk through Trumps historic day in court and answer Americaster questions about what comes next. HOSTS: Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter Sarah Smith, North America editor Marianna Spring, disinformation and so...
Apr 05, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump might be dominating the news again, but Nashville is still grieving after six people were murdered in the latest school shooting. The Tennessee tragedy was one of 130 mass shootings this year alone in America. For this extra episode, we return to the question we planned to bring you earlier this week: where does gun control go from here? We explore what would and wouldnt make a difference. And celebrity lawyer Ben Chew, who was Johnny Depps lead attorney last year in a defamation ca...
Apr 02, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump becomes the first ex-president to be charged with a crime. It comes after an investigation into hush money payments to a porn star. What did he do? What could this mean for US politics? And how are Americans reacting to the breaking news? The Americast team fire up their phones for an emergency episode as Trump shakes up politics again. HOSTS: Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter Katty Kay, US special correspondent Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent Anthony Zur...
Mar 30, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast America waits to find out if a former president will find himself in handcuffs. A close ally of Donald Trump joins the Americast team to explain why it could be a case of all publicity is good publicity. We go through the potted history of the Stormy Daniels scandal, break down how its playing out on social media, and look at what it means for Trumps campaign to win back the White House. And TikTok is on trial as its CEO testifies to Congress, where the apps security is being scrutinised. Can a ...
Mar 23, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sarah is on holiday so the BBC's US Special Correspondent Katty Kay steps into her breach on Americast, equipped with stories of Dr Anthony Fauci saving a guest at the prestigious Gridiron dinner. The team speak to Marianne Williamson, who found fame as Oprah Winfrey's 'spiritual advisor', and who now wants to usurp Joe Biden to become the Democratic nominee for President, despite newly-emerged allegations of bullying her staffers. There are other challenges for Biden this week, though - Mariann...
Mar 17, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Twitter insiders have told the BBC that the company is now much less able to protect users from trolling, state-co-ordinated disinformation and child sexual exploitation. Marianna takes the rest of the Americast team though her BBC Panorama investigation into how one of the worlds most influential social media platforms is being transformed by Elon Musk. And she describes how the Twitter CEO has responded to her online. Tech journalist and host of the ON podcast, Kara Swisher, also joins America...
Mar 09, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast America's conservative cable TV channel is being sued for airing false 2020 election fraud claims. And court documents suggest that Fox News anchors reported allegations that the vote was stolen from Donald Trump even though they knew they were false. The Washington Posts media critic Erik Wemple joins the team to talk through what's been happening in the case and a bombshell deposition from Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch. When Coronavirus first spread around the world, everyone wanted to know wh...
Mar 03, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast A busy week for President Biden! On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, he made a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet President Zelensky, pledging to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes". Biden then gave a speech in Poland to reaffirm America's commitment to Nato. Sarah was on the trip and shares her impressions, and the Americast team also talk to Assistant US Secretary of State Karen Donfried. In Kentucky, a Christian university campus went viral on TikTok after one of its church ser...
Feb 24, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast As a growing number of flying objects are shot down in US airspace, the Biden administration is still trying to explain just whats going on...and even fielding the odd question about aliens. Why are Americans so obsessed with extra-terrestrials? Meanwhile, on ground level, many are asking why national media took so long to start covering a major train derailment in Ohio that released hazardous chemicals into the air of a nearby village. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has been talking up his m...
Feb 17, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast What clues were there in President Joe Bidens State of the Union speech that suggest he's considering a run for a second presidential term? The Americast team take a look at what was in it and how his performance has gone down. The US president is already back on the road, but not all Democrats are keen for him to run again. The activist Norman Solomon explains why some on the left of the party would rather Biden stepped aside. And ahead of Super Bowl Sunday we find out what it takes to put toge...
Feb 09, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast After shocking video footage was released of the 29-year-old African-American being beaten to death by five black police officers in Memphis, we ask what might stop police brutality in the US. Sarah and her BBC colleague Chelsea Bailey share insights from their reporting trips to Memphis. And we also ask retired African-American LAPD Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey what should be done differently. With Donald Trump revving up his presidential campaign in South Carolina, the Americast team discusses the t...
Feb 03, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lies, lies and more lies. We chat to Republican and newspaper publisher Grant Lally who's known George Santos for years. Why were the concerns he raised about the freshman congressman ignored? And what's behind Americas long-term weight issues? Public health policy advocate, Rhea Farberman, talks obesity. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anth...
Jan 26, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast As America approaches 50 years since the Supreme Court made abortion access a constitutional right, the Americast team investigates how the country has changed since that ruling was overturned last June. As many states make abortion illegal, other sanctuary states are encouraging women to cross state-lines for abortions. Dr Anne Udall, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood in Oregon, tells us how her state and organisation are doing that. From one anniversary to another as America celebrated t...
Jan 20, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast A special counsel has been appointed to investigate President Joe Biden after aides found classified documents at his private office and home. The Americast team explains what we know so far, why this spells trouble for the president, and the comparisons between this story and the discovery of hundreds of classified documents at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. President Biden has also been trying to get his immigration policy in order as his administration's approach faces criticism from both ...
Jan 13, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The House of Representatives tries (and so far fails) to elect a Speaker. The US House of Representatives has been in deadlock for days after the new Republican majority failed to elect their leading contender Kevin McCarthy as the new Speaker. Americast chats to one of the Republicans voting against him, Representative Ralph Norman, about why they think McCarthy isnt the man for the job. And the team goes over the key findings from the conclusion of the Jan 6 committees inquiry with one of the ...
Jan 05, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast The online discussion continues... Since Americast spoke to Dr Anthony Fauci, he has been the subject of Elon Musk tweets. And thats not all Musk has been up to! The team speaks to a former member of Twitters now disbanded Trust and Safety Council about what Musk is doing to online safety. And, as basketball star Brittney Griner is exchanged for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, a former White House insider takes us through the growing phenomenon of "hostage diplomacy". Americast is presented b...
Dec 14, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Americast speaks to the doctor who has served seven US presidents about the US coronavirus response, clashes with Donald Trump and his family being targeted by trolls. And the team discusses the president's troubled, son Hunter Biden. Just what is on THAT laptop? Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "under...
Dec 08, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast As more states legalise marijuana, the team explore how America's relationship with the drug has changed. They interview a drug historian and a former adviser to Clinton, Bush Jnr and Obama on drug policy. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-ca...
Dec 01, 2022•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast The blue tick, Silicon Valley sackings and Donald Trump. What impact is all this having on America? A former content moderator at the company, who was fired by Musk, helps us answer that question. And while many say Twitter is going off-the-rails, we talk through the US railroads. Whats working for them and what isnt? Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America corre...
Nov 23, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The former US President says he will "save" the US by once again running for the White House. One of his advisers, Jason Miller, takes us through his plans. Americast is presented by North America editor, Sarah Smith, Today host, Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent, Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374 Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with ...
Nov 16, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the midterm results continue to come in, the Americast team are back together in Washington DC taking a closer look at the rivalry between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. And long-time Republican donor for the Trump campaign Dan K Eberhart tells the team why he thinks the party should move in a different direction following the midterms. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinfor...
Nov 10, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Americast team are together in the studio in Washington DC for the first time as results in the midterms continue to come in. In their second episode of the night the team look at where the wins are for both the Republicans and the Democrats. They also explore where it leaves Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump as they look ahead to the elections in 2024. Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and the BBC's Socia...
Nov 09, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Republicans look set to take control of the House of Representatives, but the battle for control of the Senate is on a knife-edge. Sarah, Anthony and Marianna get together in Washington to talk through what's been happening so far in the midterms and why it all matters. Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: ...
Nov 09, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden says there is no place for "political violence in America". His warning follows an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, last week. Within hours of that attack a series of unsubstantiated claims began circulating on social media contradicting official accounts of what had happened. Those misleading claims then went viral after being amplified by new Twitter chief Elon Musk. The Americast team look at how the attack has led to the ...
Nov 03, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are less than two weeks to go to the midterms. The Americast team look at why Republicans have seized upon the issue of crime and what the Democrats are trying to do to counter that. Professor of Criminology Charis Kubrin, talks the team through the perceived and real threat of crime in the US and the BBCs Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring, looks at how our undercover voters are being targeted ahead of election day. Americast is presented by North America editor...
Oct 28, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Americast team look at the threat that election deniers could pose to democracy if they are elected to office in the upcoming US midterms. The team chat to Alabama Secretary of State and Republican John Merrill and the BBCs Disinformation and Social Media correspondent Marianna Spring examines whether election deniers are reaching voters through their social media accounts. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb and North America correspondent...
Oct 20, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
