logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
34m 41s

Welcome to the Kamala Harris presidentia...

BBC News
About this episode

In one single day, since Joe Biden announced he was stepping down as the Democrat’s nominee, VP Kamala Harris has raised over $150 million for her presidential campaign. She has also gained the endorsements of a large number of Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and the Clintons.

But how realistic are her chances of winning against Donald Trump and how should the Democrats be shaping her campaign? Steve Israel, a former chair of the Democrat’s Congressional Campaign Committee - who has plenty of experience when it comes to big campaigns - joins Sarah, Anthony and Justin to discuss.

Also, why is Kamala Harris associated with coconut trees? Why does she get blamed for the border crisis by Republicans? We unpack the 5 most important things to know about Kamala, from coconut trees to her record on the border.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GUEST: Steve Israel, former Democrat congressman and former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

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 Purvee Pattni and Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Up next
Yesterday
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Chicago really a ‘war zone’?
Donald Trump’s mission to target Democrat-led cities has expanded to Illinois after the Texan National Guard arrived on Tuesday at an army base near Chicago. Troops were sent with the blessing of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, prompting a furious response from Illinois Governor JB P ... Show More
28m 30s
Oct 6
Why is Trump blowing up Venezuelan "drug boats"?
In today’s episode, we look at some of the stories “under the radar”, away from the main news headlines in the United States. Why is the Trump administration blowing up boats which it says are carrying drugs from Venezuela to the United States? Donald Trump has described the late ... Show More
32m 22s
Oct 2
Will the Democrats’ shutdown gamble pay off?
The US federal government has shut down for the first time since 2018, and with it the suspension of all non-essential services and the threat of mass firings among federal workers. The shutdown comes after Congress failed to reach an agreement on future spending plans, leading t ... Show More
36m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Did Kamala Harris seize her moment at the DNC?
Kamala Harris pledged a "new way forward" for America as she formally accepted the Democratic party nomination for president at the DNC in Chicago.She makes history as the first black and Asian-American woman to lead a party's presidential ticket.But did the American people actua ... Show More
39m 36s
Jul 2024
The Kamala Harris Campaign Kicks Off
Democratic party leaders and donors are rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as their presumptive presidential nominee. Harris finds herself in her second campaign for the presidency, but this one is in an entirely new context. So how did we get here? Astead Herndon is a ... Show More
25m 34s
Jul 2024
Donations, Diversity and Dirty campaigns: The presidential campaign heats up
Kamala Harris has received the backing of Nancy Pelosi, George Clooney and Beyonce to name but three. She's found a million new small figure donors and got the female power of Silicon Valley behind her. Meanwhile, Trump is having to think about how the campaign has changed overni ... Show More
32m 5s
Feb 2025
Where Are the Democrats?
How is the Democratic Party navigating the dominance of President Trump — and reckoning with the reality that more and more voters have been souring on its message?The Times journalists Michael Barbaro, Shane Goldmacher, Reid J. Epstein and Annie Karni discuss the state of the De ... Show More
32m 7s
Jan 2025
Friday Roundup: More Hearings And Trump's First Two Weeks In Office
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for intelligence chief, had their hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they be confirmed? Then, a look back at President Trump's first two weeks in office. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, j ... Show More
26m 38s
Dec 2024
Marianne Williamson on the Democratic Party & the 2024 Election | The Don Lemon Show
Don sits down with author, activist, and two-time presidential candidate, Marianne Williamson. Williamson is currently running to be the next Democratic National Committee Chair, and she shares her vision for the Democratic Party. Where did dems go wrong in the presidential elect ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2025
Dems Face Pressure To Fight Trump
Democrats lost the Senate and the White House in November's elections. Now as a minority party, their representatives — and their voters — are trying to figure out what to do next, and how to provide a roadblock to President Trump's ambitions. This episode: political corresponden ... Show More
12m 33s
Jan 2025
How America went MAHA
RFK Jr. adviser Calley Means explains why so many Americans are suspicious of food and pharma companies, and what the HHS secretary nominee plans to do about it if he's confirmed.This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Av ... Show More
25m 9s
Feb 2025
Congressional Republicans OK With Shifting Power Dynamics
Congress is supposed to hold the power of the purse. So what do Republicans in Congress think about what appears to be President Trump and Elon Musk's "cut first, ask later" approach? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and c ... Show More
14m 48s
Jun 2024
The Biggest Political Divide Is Not Left vs. Right
The biggest divide in our politics isn’t between Democrats and Republicans, or even left and right. It’s between people who follow politics closely, and those who pay almost no attention to it. If you’re in the former camp — and if you’re reading this, you probably are — the latt ... Show More
1h 10m