Americanswers…on 5 Live! Could Andrew answer Epstein questions before Congress?

18 snips

Nov 3, 2025

The hosts delve into the elections in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey, analyzing upcoming mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's appeal and political stance. A fascinating discussion unfolds about potential congressional implications surrounding Prince Andrew and the Epstein files. Trump's recent comments about nuclear testing spark debate on the risks and public sentiment. They also explore shifting support for Trump within the Republican Party and examine polling trends revealing changing voter attitudes on various issues.

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INSIGHT

Mandani's Politics: Extreme In US, Normal In UK

Zohran Mamdani's democratic socialism reads as extreme in the US but would be mainstream left in the UK.
His platform (rent freeze, free buses, childcare) resonates because he clearly names 'tax the rich' to pay for it.

INSIGHT

Local Economic Focus Drives His Appeal

Mamdani's appeal in New York stems from laser focus on cost-of-living issues that hit younger and minority voters hardest.
His identity and background make him an easy target for national conservative attacks, but local voters prioritise the economy.

INSIGHT

Authentic Social Media Amplifies Campaigns

Mamdani has mastered authentic, simple social media messaging that cuts through to target audiences.
Marianna compares his online strategy to both Trump's and UK left figures who build personalities via direct content.

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Sarah, Anthony and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. The team look at a week of elections in New York, Virginia and New Jersey, how recent developments with the royal family could impact the release of the Epstein files in the US, and whether the president is serious about testing nuclear weapons for the first time since the 90s.

Plus, Democrat frontrunner Zohran Mamdani appears to be the favourite for this week’s NYC mayoral elections. But just how radical are Mamdani’s politics - and would he be received differently in the political scene in the UK?

And we look at new polling on Trump’s popularity with voters which has fallen in many areas.

HOSTS: * Sarah Smith, North America Editor * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent * Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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