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Americast

Latest episodes

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Apr 8, 2024 • 39min

Americanswers: Trump Diplomacy, NPR and How Do Algorithms REALLY work?

Former DHS Chief of Staff and a Former U.S. Representative answer listener queries about Trump's foreign policy, social media influence, and challenges of bridging political divides. Discussions include algorithms, media bias, and the impact of Trump's presidency on international stability.
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Apr 4, 2024 • 35min

Could the Israel-Gaza war cost Biden the election?

Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday for the first time since the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza this week. Netanyahu has called the incident an “unintended strike”, but the White House has said it’s ‘outraged’.Back home, US policy toward the Gaza war is causing problems for the president. A growing campaign of voters are using their ballot to protest Biden’s handling of the crisis.Jeremy Bowen joins us from Jerusalem to assess whether the US/Israel relationship has ever been this strained and we assess how Joe Biden can deal with the domestic ramifications of the war ahead of the 2024 election.HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent • Katty Kay US Special CorrespondentGUEST: • Jeremy Bowen, International EditorGET 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 Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Apr 1, 2024 • 38min

Americanswers: How vulnerable is Trump, does Biden have an image problem and will Russia interfere in the election?

The Americast team answers live questions on Trump's legal battles, voter biases, and foreign policy approaches. They discuss social media influence, deception, and potential interference in the election by Russia.
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Mar 28, 2024 • 39min

Vice, Vice, Baby: Who’ll Be Trump’s Running Mate?

As the election comes closer into view, potential candidates are lining up to be on the ticket with Donald Trump in 2024. After former Veep Mike Pence rules himself out, Americast assembles to answer FAQs about who makes the shortlist and why. Plus, what makes a good VP anyway? And what do they actually do? Find out in the latest Americast.HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America 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 Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Mar 26, 2024 • 25min

Major Baltimore Bridge Collapses

Dr Stergios Aristoteles, Head of Structural Engineering at a prominent university, discusses the tragic Baltimore bridge collapse. Topics include structural engineering aspects, aging infrastructure challenges, and the impact on the local community and economy. The podcast explores the urgency of investigating the causes of the collapse and the broader implications for American safety standards and infrastructure.
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Mar 25, 2024 • 22min

Americanswers! How algorithms shape us online, Russian interference in 2024, and should the US legalise fentanyl?

Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!We’re joined once again by special guest hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.They sit down with Sarah and Marianna to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.This episode contains a reference to drug overdose which some listeners may find upsetting.HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUESTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security • Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswomanGET 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 US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Mar 21, 2024 • 36min

Don Lemon on an Xtremely Awkward Elon Musk Interview

In an interview that ranged from content moderation on X to its chairman’s use of ketamine, Don Lemon sat down for an hour-long interview with one of the world’s most prominent entrepreneurs.The interview was meant to be the first in a series in collaboration with the platform, but the company posted that “after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”Justin and Marianna spoke with Don to get his thoughts on why the Tesla boss cut ties with him and the grapple for power between traditional and new media.HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUEST: Don Lemon, Host of the Don Lemon ShowGET 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 Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Mar 18, 2024 • 37min

Americanswers! Why has Trump predicted a "bloodbath"? How do people cross the US/Mexico border? And could Biden pardon his son?

Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!We’re joined once again by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman.They sit down with Sarah and Anthony to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.This episode contains a reference to suicide which some listeners may find upsetting.HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGUESTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security • Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswomanGET 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 US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Mar 14, 2024 • 30min

Fentanyl: War on Drugs 2.0?

Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug that can be prescribed by a doctor to treat severe pain. But like its predecessors, that drug has been illegally manufactured and sold by criminal gangs.The president has called the crisis an “American tragedy” but many angles to the epidemic lie elsewhere in China and Mexico. Ben Westhoff was the first journalist to enter a Chinese fentanyl lab posing as a buyer. He spoke with us about the origins of the epidemic, the scale of the problem for US towns and cities and the hope that exists for solutions to the crisis.If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast, please visit BBC Action Line to find information on organisations that can help. You can find it here: www.bbc.co.uk/actionlineHOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGUESTS: • Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.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 US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Mar 11, 2024 • 34min

Americanswers: Should Biden ditch Kamala? Who pays Trump’s legal fees? And what’s your favourite Bidenism?

We answer the biggest questions in the race for the White House...Americast is now publishing two episodes a week!In the first Monday edition of Americast, we’re joined by Special Guest Hosts Miles Taylor, Trump staffer turned whistleblower, and Katie Hill, former Democratic Congresswoman. They sit down with Sarah and Justin to go through some of the most commonly asked questions we get on Americast.HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editorGUEST HOSTS: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at Department for Homeland Security in Trump administration • Katie Hill, former Democratic congresswomanGET 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 Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter all about the US election: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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