logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
28 m

Did Kamala Harris pull off the biggest s...

BBC News
About this episode

Kamala Harris closed the DNC with a speech that she hopes will sway voters to the Democrats.

The day began with speculation over whether she might be joined on stage by Taylor Swift or Beyoncé.

In the end, Harris took to the stage alone and focused on her upbringing and a pitch to America’s middle class.

The team assemble on the final night of the convention to analyse whether she did enough to win over the undecided.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • 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

This episode was made by George Dabby and Claire Betzer in Chicago, with Hatty Nash in London. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

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.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

Up next
Yesterday
Jeffrey Epstein is causing a Trump-MAGA rift
Donald Trump is under pressure from sections of his MAGA-supporting base after a Justice Department memo released on Monday said there was no 'client list' related to the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein Files argue ... Show More
25m 13s
Jul 7
Americanswers… did Trump’s funding cuts contribute to Texas floods deaths?
Justin, Anthony and Marianna answer your questions on the devastating flash floods in Texas, which have killed tens of people, including children at a summer camp, and where search and rescue operations are ongoing. There are now questions around why people were not evacuated soo ... Show More
33m 27s
Jul 4
Is Trump deporting record numbers of migrants?
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to target illegal immigrants that were the ‘worst of the worst’ with strict deportation enforcements. Six months into his second term, the US president has ramped up his battle over so-called 'sanctuary cities' by taking legal action a ... Show More
38m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
40. The Surge for Kamala Harris
Why are women in Iowa coming out in support of Harris? Has Harris made a mistake using celebrity endorsements? Why is Trump so late to his rallies? Join Katty and Anthony as they answer all this and more on this episode of The Rest Is Politics US. Join us on Election NightGet rea ... Show More
34m 49s
Sep 2024
Will the assassination attempts decide the election?
How to make sense of not one but two assassination attempts in as many months on a former president? Donald Trump says it's all down to the language that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are using. JD Vance has just called her 'the most fraudulent person to run for president'. Is ... Show More
33 m
Mar 2025
The Week: NHS Reforms, Benefit Battles and Tariff Tactics
Today, Adam, Vicki, Faisal and Nick discuss Starmer’s attempts to speed up government, a possible fight over benefit changes and whether the PM is going to push back more on President Trump. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask B ... Show More
29m 54s
Feb 2025
Brexitcast Returns
Today, we go back to where it all began - Brexitcast. Adam, Laura, Chris and Faisal reunite in the BBC Radio Theatre in front of a live audience to discuss the past and future of Brexit. Could another outcome have been possible? Could Theresa May have survived Brexit as PM? And, ... Show More
28m 58s
Sep 2024
Are the Democrats really inciting violence against Donald Trump?
Donald Trump has blamed Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's rhetoric for the latest assassination attempt, calling them 'Marxist communists'. So how is the rhetoric changing in American politics? And is political violence on the edge of tipping over again?Later, Keir Starmer is cosying ... Show More
28m 6s
Oct 2024
DNC Shorts: Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Lateefah Simon
California Congresswoman Barbara Lee talks about being a lawmaker of conviction and the importance of passing the torch. And speaking of passing the torch, the longtime Congresswoman is joined by Lateefah Simon, the Congressional Candidate who is trying to fill Lee’s shoes in the ... Show More
10m 50s
Aug 2024
88. Bush and Iraq, being J.D. Vance’s boss, and why Trump loses (David Frum)
What was George W Bush like behind closed doors? Why did Trump really choose ‘never-Trump guy’ JD Vance as his running mate? How can Kamala Harris win the election? Rory and Alastair are joined by George W Bush's former speech writer and political commentator David Frum to discus ... Show More
1h 11m
Dec 2024
356. Georgia, Russia, and the fight for democracy - An interview with the President of Georgia
Will Georgia’s President accept the inauguration of her successor on the 29th of December? If she does, will Georgia be handed over to Russia? Is there a way back to Europe for the country?  In this live interview, Rory and Alastair speak with Salome Zourabichvili to ask all of t ... Show More
51m 27s
Jul 2024
Kamala
As promised four years ago, President Biden passed the torch to Vice President Harris. We officially have a new Democratic candidate for president! This week hosts Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Andrew Gillum digest yet another HISTORIC week of news and its implications for the p ... Show More
1h 16m
Mar 2025
Au Revoir Marine Le Pen?
Today, Marine Le Pen walked out of a Parisian courtroom after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds.Adam is joined by Katya Adler and Marion Soletty, Politico’s Editor-At-Large in France to unpack Le Pen’s first interview after the verdict in which she called the ruling a "po ... Show More
36m 15s