

Americast
BBC News
Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC.
Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now.
The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.
As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.
The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron.
Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on the World Service. Oh, and by the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now.
The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.
As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media.
The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron.
Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on the World Service. Oh, and by the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2020 • 34min
Berning Down the House
Who is Bernie Sanders? Maitlis, Sopes and The Zurch are joined by Congressman Peter Welch and Lord Wood to discuss the Democrat frontrunner. Plus our first Americast quiz: Who said it, Bernie or Jeremy Corbyn?Producers: Ione Wells, Cristina Criddle and Emma Close
Editor: Dino Sofos

Feb 19, 2020 • 43min
The A-Z of the US Election
Sopes, Maitlis and The Zurch explain all that election terminology you've heard but probably don’t quite understand. It’s basically Duolingo for American politics.Producer: Emma Close and Ione Wells
Editor: Dino Sofos

Feb 17, 2020 • 35min
Who is Michael Bloomberg?
It’s time to talk about Michael… Maitlis and Sopes are joined by Anthony ‘The Mooch’ Scaramucci, Margaret Talev from Axios and Huw Van Steenis, one of Bloomberg's business associates.Producers: Emma Close & Ione Wells
Editor: Dino Sofos

Feb 12, 2020 • 34min
Crashing the Party
The Dems thrash it out at their New Hampshire primary, with Bernie Sanders coming out top, on a terrible night for former vice-president Joe Biden.
Sopes and ‘the Zurch’ join the pod from their hotel room in New Hampshire and Maitlis is in a treehouse… don’t ask. Producers: Ione Wells and Emma Close
Editor: Dino Sofos

Feb 6, 2020 • 35min
Not Guilty
Spoiler alert… President Trump has been acquitted in his impeachment trial. Who’d have thunk it? But there’s still a lot to talk about, including Mitt Romney crossing the aisle to convict his fellow Republican on the first charge of abuse of power. And Maitlis has an exclusive interview with one of the men who testified against the President, former US special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker.Producers: Emma Close and Haley Thomas
Editor: Dino Sofos

Feb 5, 2020 • 30min
Raucous Caucus
Long: 2000 miles, 24 hours, two cities and one podcast - and there are still no final results from the Iowa Caucuses. Good start…Producers: Ione Wells, Emma Close and Haley Thomas
Editor: Dino Sofos

Jan 29, 2020 • 3min
Welcome to Americast!
Your guide to the latest American news and politics.


