logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
33m 25s

Is Trump’s ‘flood the media’ strategy wo...

BBC News
About this episode

With daily announcements, executive orders and press conferences from Trump’s presidency in its first fortnight, how should we be navigating the daily torrent of news? Americast examines the deliberate strategy by the White House (also used in Trump’s first presidency) to “flood the zone” with news. Justin, Anthony and Marianna discuss whether Democrats and the media should be properly scrutinising each news story, what to ignore, and whether the strategy is successfully working for President Trump?

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, BBC 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 Purvee Pattni, Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and George Dabby. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. 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
Can Trump turn a Gaza ceasefire into a lasting peace deal?
There was an extraordinary moment at the White House on Wednesday when, in front of reporters, secretary of state Marco Rubio handed Donald Trump a note that read the words “very close”, followed by a whisper where he told the president that Israel and Hamas were on the brink of ... Show More
20 m
Oct 8
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
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Could Zelensky Still do a Deal With Trump?
Today, in this extra episode, Laura and Paddy get back together to talk after Laura met President Zelensky.He told her, and a group of other journalists, that he is still "ready to sign" a US-Ukraine minerals deal after leaving the White House without it being agreed.Laura explai ... Show More
17m 3s
Sep 30
How Trump Fared in a Major New Poll
In a new poll, The New York Times asked voters what they thought of the first eight months of President Trump’s second term.Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst at The Times, explains what the survey found and what it may tell us about where the country is heading next.Guest: N ... Show More
29 m
Aug 30
Sources & Methods: Trump's DC takeover, Ukraine, fired spy chief
Today, we're excited to share an episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's biggest national security news with NPR's team of reporters covering the military, State Department, and spy agencies. NPR correspon ... Show More
33m 18s
Aug 21
The Right-Wing Provocateur Who Has Trump’s Ear
Warning: This episode contains strong language.In President Trump’s second term, Laura Loomer has emerged as the most influential outside adviser, telling the president whom to fire and shaping major policy decisions.Ken Bensinger, who covers media and politics, explains how a so ... Show More
37m 7s
Sep 2024
Why has Trump just admitted he interfered with the last election?
Trump has been having what our grandmother's mght once have called 'a funny turn'. He keeps saying things out loud he then regrets. He admitted this week he had both lost the last election and tried to interfere with the result. Then he argued against the 6 week abortion ban in F ... Show More
32m 58s
Sep 23
Western Allies Formally Recognize A Palestinian State. The U.S. Won't.
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump reiterated the U.S. had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state. It comes as many traditional allies, like Canada, the United Kingdom & France, have done so in recent days. We look at why, and what the political implicatio ... Show More
16m 3s
Sep 17
Moazzam Malik, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK: Working on the ground in Gaza
Jamie Coomarasamy speaks to Moazzam Malik, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK, about operating on the ground in Gaza.They’re one of a number of non-governmental organisations, or NGOs, operating in the Gaza strip amid a backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.On ... Show More
22m 59s
Sep 19
F.C.C. Head Says Kimmel Not ‘the Last Shoe to Drop,’ and Musk Goes All In on A.I.
Plus, your Friday news quiz. On Today’s Episode:Trump Pressures Broadcasters Over Critical Coverage, Escalating Attack on Speech, by Zolan Kanno-YoungsKennedy’s Advisory Panel Votes to Limit M.M.R.V. Vaccine for Children Under 4, by Apoorva MandavilliSince Leaving Washington, Elo ... Show More
14m 40s
Aug 21
How The Trump Admin Uses Immigration Policy To Show Force
As a candidate, Donald Trump campaigned on carrying out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. As president, he's used immigration policy as a backdrop for other shows of force. We explore how he uses immigration as a political issue.This episode: senior White House corres ... Show More
14m 49s
Sep 5
Trump Administration Interpretation Of Civil Rights Act Reshapes Public Schools
President Trump pledged to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, but his administration is also using the department’s Office for Civil Rights to pressure local school districts to adhere to Trump’s political views. We discuss these tactics and how they fit into a broader c ... Show More
25m 8s