logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
30m 24s

Americanswers! Which news stories are be...

BBC News
About this episode

The first US measles death in a decade, mass protests against Trump and El Salvador’s mega-jail…

In today’s Q&A Anthony, Justin and Mariana sign the podcasting equivalent of an executive order, putting a one-episode exemption on tariffs to focus on the other stories that may have fallen on the backburner since Trump shook up the world’s financial markets.

The team discuss the biggest protests of Trump’s second term so far, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s controversial social media video featuring Venezuelan deportees, and the danger of vaccine misinformation following a measles outbreak that’s led to the deaths of two children.

And the US Senate and Congress seem to have gone quiet - what’s going on?

HOSTS: * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent * Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior 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 Rufus Gray and Grace Reeve. 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 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 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
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
Feb 2025
Trump Attempts To Shut Down USAID And Imposes Tariffs
This past weekend, President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. He has since walked back the 25% on Mexican imports after a conversation with Mexico's president. The others are still set to take effect on Tuesday. Then, Elon Musk announced that his DOGE was s ... Show More
16m 14s
Mar 2025
Trump's Tariff Tumult
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to enact tariffs on some of the United States' largest trading partners. As president, he has made good on that promise — but with more than a few exceptions and caveats. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White Hous ... Show More
13m 14s
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 18
US TV host Jimmy Kimmel suspended over Charlie Kirk shooting comments
The American television network ABC has suspended late-night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, indefinitely over comments he made about the shooting of the right-wing influencer, Charlie Kirk. The announcement has reignited the debate about free speech in the US. Also: the latest on ... Show More
27m 34s
Feb 2025
Justice Advocates General
Monday, February 24th, 2025Today, a bomb threat that was emailed into the Principles First Summit is being investigated by authorities in DC a day after Enrique Tarrio was arrested for simple assault; another OPM email went out to federal workers this weekend asking them to list ... Show More
52m 30s
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
Oct 3
Why did the US government shut down?
The US federal government is closed for business. Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to agree on a budget to keep the government open. But over two million federal workers who will go without a paycheck during negotiations have a new worry: will President Donald Trump u ... Show More
21m 2s
Apr 2025
My Other SCIF Is A Signal Chat (feat. Adam Klasfeld)
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025Today, Pete Hegseth participated in another Signal chat from his private phone and sent war plans to his wife and brother; the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that a transgender teen can’t change their name until they turn 21; someone allegedly stole Kris ... Show More
1h 2m
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
Oct 2
The Fight at the Center of the Government Shutdown
As the U.S. government shutdown enters its second day, Democrats are trying to underline that the growing political fight is all about the rising cost of health care.The New York Times journalists Margot Sanger-Katz and Shane Goldmacher explain why the Democrats are betting on th ... Show More
21m 54s