logo
episode-header-image
Jun 18
31m 47s

Is Donald Trump about to put the US at w...

BBC News
About this episode

Donald Trump is considering how far the United States should go in joining Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Sarah and Anthony - who were both at the G7 summit in Canada on Monday, with Anthony travelling on Air Force One with Trump - discuss whether the U.S. is on the brink of another Middle East war.

The president held an emergency Situation Room meeting at the White House in which his national security team discussed how far the U.S. should be involved. One of the big targets would be the uranium enrichment site at Fordo that is deep underground.

Donald Trump has already called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” following Israel’s strikes but Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US military involvement will be met with “irreparable harm”.

Does the president have support from the American public and what might happen next?

HOSTS: * 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 with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was James Piper. 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 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.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

Up next
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
Jul 2
Why has Paramount paid Donald Trump $16 million over a CBS interview?
In the latest instalment of Donald Trump's battle with the U.S. media, Paramount - the parent company of CBS News - has agreed to pay $16 million to Donald Trump's future presidential library. The company noted the settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret.Trum ... Show More
27m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 18
The Rachman Review: Iran’s nuclear talks could reshape the Middle East
Swamp Notes is taking this weekend off so instead we wanted to share the latest episode from our fellow FT podcast, The Rachman Review. Nuclear talks between the US and Iran began last weekend in Oman, and are set to continue in the coming weeks. President Trump has warned that i ... Show More
23m 54s
Jun 22
WW3 Countdown? U.S. Bombs Iran | 'I Told Iran to Build the Bomb' – George Galloway Unfiltered
🚨 The war has officially begun.U.S. bombers have struck Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran has answered with a direct missile assault on Israel. With the Middle East in chaos and the global balance shifting fast, some say this moment is even more dangerous than Iraq.🎙 On tonight’s ... Show More
1h 32m
Jan 2025
Has Donald Trump brought peace to the Middle East?
Was it Joe Biden's quiet diplomacy or Donald Trump’s loud threats that brought the two sides to a place where a ceasefire is at least within reach? Over night Israeli rockets killed more than 70 Palestinians suggesting we are still a long way out from peace. How much power rests ... Show More
44m 24s
Jun 16
Will Trump drag America into war with Iran?
What is Israel's end game in Iran? Does it genuinely believe Iran is making nuclear weapons - or is this about overthrowing the whole regime? Did Trump make Iran more dangerous when he ripped up the diplomatic deal Obama had forged with the country? And will Trump end up dragging ... Show More
40m 59s
Jun 23
‘Time To FINISH The Job’ | Trump Strikes Nuclear Sites | Iran Attacks US Bases
As Iran claims to have launched an attack on an American air base in Qatar in retaliation to Donald Trump striking their nuclear bases, it’s difficult to predict what may happen next, as the conflicts in the Middle East intensifies day by day. There are many targets left, the US ... Show More
1h 23m
Jun 23
The U.S. Bombed Iran. Now What?
In an address to the nation on Saturday night, President Trump confirmed that the U.S. military had carried out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It was a move that he had been threatening for days, and that previous U.S. presidents had avoided for decades.David E. Sanger, ... Show More
27m 49s
Jun 19
Will Britain go to war with Iran?
Sir Keir Starmer has put his cabinet on alert for a possible US attack on Iran. Just 24 hours after insisting Donald Trump had given no indication he was about to “get involved” in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Prime Minister called a COBRA meeting to review how Brita ... Show More
38m 40s
Apr 23
Can Trump Force Zelensky To Do A Deal?
Today, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to accuse Zelensky of harming Ukraine peace negotiations following the Ukrainian president telling a news conference he would not recognise Crimea as Russian.Adam is joined by James Landale, diplomatic correspondent, and Sumi Somaskanda, B ... Show More
37m 6s
Apr 17
Iran’s nuclear talks could reshape the Middle East
Nuclear talks between the US and Iran began last weekend in Oman, and are set to continue in the coming weeks. President Trump has warned that if the talks fail the US could take military action against the Islamic republic – an idea that Israel's government is pressing for. What ... Show More
23m 54s
Apr 16
Trump Trashed the Iran Nuclear Deal. Will His Be Any Better?
For years, President Trump has mocked the Obama administration for the nuclear agreement that it reached with Iran — a plan he disliked so much that he revoked it.Now, as he embarks on talks with Iran to reach a nuclear agreement of his own, the question is whether his administra ... Show More
28m 32s