Inside Trump’s White House

LONG After one of the greatest political surprises in American political history, Donald Trump’s 2016 victory gave way to a controversial and consequential presidency.

We look back on the four years that were defined by staff fallouts, COVID, and an attempted insurrection. Anthony is joined by two journalists who were in the room with Trump while he was changing American politics one decision at a time.

Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States.

HOST: * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: * Meredith McGraw is a national political correspondent at Politico * Jonathan Karl is the Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News

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 Chris Flynn, George Dabby, Purvee Pattni, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

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.

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

Americast discovers how Donald Trump's business success came from creating a franchise out of his most valuable commodity: himself.

Americast is profiling all the major candidates in the U.S. election - Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and JD Vance - look out for our special profile eps over the next few Sundays!

HOST: * Sarah Smith, North America Editor

GUESTS: * Marc Fisher, senior editor at the Washington Post and co-author of the biography ‘Trump Revealed’ * Bill Pruitt, former Apprentice producer

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, George Dabby, Purvee Pattni, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer, and Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

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.

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

How much do we know about the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States? What are their backgrounds, and what do they stand for? Americast kicks off its first profile series with Vice President Kamala Harris part 1. Justin explores her early rise in the state of California as a prosecutor and senator, to her journey towards becoming VP. What’s the connection between Toni Morrison and Kamala Harris? Why did she drop out of the 2020 race before a single ballot was cast? Americast is profiling all the major candidates in the U.S. election - Kamala Harris part 2 (on her time as VP), Donald Trump, and Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance - look out for our special profile episodes over the coming weekends!

HOST: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

GUESTS: • Brian Brokaw, Former campaign manager for Harris’ Attorney General campaign • Joe Garofoli, Political journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle

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 George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. 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 Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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

Sarah didn’t quite make it to dinner with Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit, but we spoke to someone who did, an old friend he met in 1985 at a potluck in Muscatine, Iowa.

Back in the present, the Chinese president has held talks with Joe Biden for the first time in over a year. What came from the meeting and where has it landed US/China relations? And, Gen Z and Millennials will make up half of the electorate when it comes to the 2024 presidential election. The Americast team looks at the political power of social media with Gen Z TikTok influencers Harry Sisson and Isabel Brown. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUESTS: • Harry Sisson, TikTok influencer • Isabel Brown, TikTok influencer • Sarah Lande, Iowa resident and friend of Xi Jinping 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 Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The series producer is George Dabby. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

As votes from Election Day 2023 were tallied up this week, wins for Democrats may have given a preview into next year’s presidential election. But new polls seem to point towards a rocky road to re-election for President Joe Biden.

It’s not all good news for Trump, though. He and his children took the stand in New York, giving evidence in the civil fraud case brought against him.

How might these problems play out as the 2024 presidential elections near? Expert pollster and political analyst Amy Walter joins the team to make sense of it all.

HOSTS: Sarah Smith, North America editor Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST(S): Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief of The Cook Political Report

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Twelve months until the US election, Americasters join us on the recording to ask some of the big questions about an era-defining presidential poll and help the team put some predictions in the Americast time capsule.

Will it be Biden v Trump again? What issues will define the race? Could we see a first female president sooner than it seems? And will Justin have a change of heart about Americast's Discord community? Listen back to our live episode.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The aide to Donald Trump’s White House Chief of Staff opens up to Americast about her mistakes and why she believes that the former president should never be allowed near the Oval Office again.

Cassidy Hutchinson explains why she wrote her candid memoir, which Trump’s team tells us “either belongs in the discount bin of the fiction section of a bookstore or should be repurposed as toilet paper.”

There’s finally a new Speaker of the House of Representatives. But who is Mike Johnson?

And Arnold Schwarzenegger tells Justin why he thinks Trump’s re-election hopes have terminated.

Please note there is a brief suicide reference between 8:35 and 9:15.

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

GUEST: • Cassidy Hutchinson, White House aide under President Trump

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

Join us for our live episode, marking one year to go to the US election, on our Discord server at 18:00 GMT on Thursday, 2 November: https://discord.com/invite/64ZfGct4A3?event=1168526948046225498

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

President Biden wanted to show America’s global strength during his flying visit to Israel this week, but does the United States still call the shots internationally? The Americast team reviews Biden’s high-stakes 30 hours in the region, talks about the misinformation swirling around the internet, and weighs in on America’s place in the world.

Back in DC, House Republicans are still struggling to elect a Speaker after two rounds of voting. Anthony gavels the gang in for a crash course on the latest congressional chaos.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray, with Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

President Biden has promised to support Israel with whatever it needs and forcefully condemned the attacks by Hamas on civilians. But what do Americans think about the unfolding conflict in the Middle East?

The Americast team also hears from 2020 presidential candidate and co-founder of the Forward Party, Andrew Yang, on why third parties are important to US politics and what it’s like running for the Oval Office.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Andrew Yang, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Claire Betzer and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Philip Bull and the sound designer was David Crackles. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

For the first time in US history, a speaker has been kicked out. A group of Trump-supporting Republicans carried out a coup to remove him from the chair of the House of Representatives.

How did it come about? What does it say about the Republican Party? Put simply, what the hell happens now? Americast is called to order to shed light on the situation in Congress.

And on the theme of political division, Naomi Klein explains her theory behind what’s making America hard to govern and why not everyone on the left wants to get behind Joe Biden.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUESTS: • Naomi Klein, liberal writer and activist • Victoria Spartz, Ukrainian-born Republican congresswoman

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Ben Andrews and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Why did Donald Trump skip another Republican debate? Sarah is sent to Michigan instead of California as Trump and Joe Biden race to show their solidarity with striking car factory workers.

Marc Lotter, who ran the comms on Trump's last campaign and was press secretary for Vice-President Mike Pence, tells the Americast team about the ex-president's re-election strategy.

He gives his take on why Trump doesn't need to debate his Republican rivals, which vice-presidential pick could help put him back into the Oval Office, and the only thing that could stop Trump from winning the Republican nomination.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Marc Lotter, Donald Trump's 2020 campaign communications director

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

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg.

CLIP CREDITS: • CBS Sports Network • Fox Business

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 0:05 – Taylor Swift at the NFL 6:55 – Trump skips another Republican debate 13:14 – Marc Lotter interview 32:40 – Is a government shutdown looming?

Some US politicians are growing impatient over supporting the war effort – and a lot could change if Donald Trump wins back the White House.

Our very own Anthony was in the Oval Office to see President Zelensky meet its current occupant, Joe Biden, while Sarah watched them address the UN. We talk about how Washington views America’s role in the conflict.

And Marianna chats to award-winning true crime podcasters, Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, about the harmful effects of social media’s obsession with crime cases and whether that could extend to US politics.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: • Suruthi Bala, 'RedHanded' podcast host • Hannah Maguire, 'RedHanded' podcast host

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 2:27 – Will the US election decide the war in Ukraine? 21:10 – TikTok frenzies and true crime in America 38:28 – Rep. Lauren Boebert “reaching across the aisle”

Is Joe Biden too old to win another go in the White House? And could his son derail his campaign? The Americast team talks through the challenges the president is facing in the run-up to the next election.

Barack Obama's former spokesperson and podcaster Tommy Vietor gives us his thoughts on Biden's achievements and viral moments, as well as his 2024 chances, with some critics obsessed by his age and sceptical about Vice President Kamala Harris.

And the gang tries to guess the Republican presidential candidate from the songs that supposedly "stir their souls".

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • Tommy Vietor, host of 'Pod Save America' and 'Pod Save the World'

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

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the senior editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 03:10 – Joe Biden's age 15:50 – Tommy Vietor interview 35:00 – Republican soul songs

It’s the second part of our Kamala Harris profile, as Americast takes a closer look at all the major candidates in the U.S. election. In this episode, Justin goes back to why Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris as his VP, and discusses what she stood for, and achieved during her time in the White House. Why did she lose confidence in 2021? Which issue redefined her, and which Democrats hope will be integral to success in the 2024 election? Americast is also profiling Donald Trump, and Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance - look out for our special episodes over the coming weekends!

HOST: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

GUESTS: • Jasmine Wright, Reporter for NOTUS • Ankush Khardori, Writer for Politico Magazine

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, Purvee Pattni, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

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.

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

How do we cover a headline-grabbing former president who falsely claims he never lost the election?

Two of our bosses step into the worldwide HQ of Americast for the kind of conversation we normally have in our morning meetings: what past mistakes can we learn from and what’s the BBC’s strategy for reporting on Donald Trump’s campaign and his court cases?

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUESTS: • Paul Danahar, BBC News Foreign Editor • Adam Levy, BBC News Channel Executive Producer

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

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Emma Crowe and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 7:14 – Is Trump a special case? 21:59 – Does the BBC have a liberal bias? 28:33 – Should we show Trump's speeches live? 33:58 – How will the BBC cover the 2024 election?

Charting music's part in US politics, from 1970s disco to 'Rich Men North of Richmond', which has become a surprise No.1 hit. What does this country song, claimed by conservatives, tell us about American society? The Americast team talk to the BBC's 'Professor of Pop', Paul Gambaccini, about protest music in the States.

And what happens when musicians refuse to be used by politicians? Karen Willis, manager of The Village People and the wife of its lead singer, tells us about the YMCA group's cease and desist letter against Donald Trump.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: • Karen Willis, manager of 'The Village People' • Paul Gambaccini, Radio 2 presenter

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans and the editor was Damon Rose.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 19:16 – Karen Willis 28:18 – Paul Gambaccini

While his challengers clashed in Milwaukee, Donald Trump skipped the first Republican debate of the campaign for the relative comfort of an interview with ex-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.

Did any of the other presidential candidates surprise? It’s an Americast Wisconsin special as the team try cheese curds and sip beer at a bar near the venue and link up with Sarah, who’s in Atlanta waiting for Trump’s latest arrest, to break down the showdown and the no-show.

And Marianna chats to local voters about how the politics has been playing out on their social media feeds.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Trump’s Debate No-Show 04:07 – Debate Winners and Losers 18:36 – US Voters Social Media Panel 33:31 – Cheese Curd Wisconsinbly

As the last Republican presidential hopefuls try to qualify for the opening debate of the primary in Milwaukee next week, Donald Trump is deciding whether to turn up or to surrender to a court in Georgia. Jake Tapper, who has moderated election debates for CNN, joins the Americast team to explain what they are like behind the scenes and how this one could play out.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Jake Tapper, CNN anchor and author

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Alix Pickles and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Gareth Jones and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 0:04 – Republican debate bingo 3:18 – Will Trump turn up? 12:17 – Jake Tapper

Donald Trump has been criminally charged for the fourth time in a frenzied five months. Now he’s accused of trying to interfere with the result of the 2020 election in Georgia.

The Americast team stays up late into the Atlanta and Washington nights (while Justin mans the Radio 4 studio) to talk through what’s in the indictment – and why this one could be the most challenging yet for Trump.

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

GUEST: • Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party chairman

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg. The technical producer was Philip Bull and the editor was Sam Bonham.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 02:45 – Instant reaction 15:19 - Sarah interviews Josh McKoon 24:06 – Listener question

As Donald Trump prepares for a possible fourth indictment, Americast wonders if the word “unprecedented” has lost all meaning. To find out, we gather together four BBC Washington reporters past and present to talk about how US politics has changed since their tenures, swap stories of presidential interviews, and share American memories through the medium of show and tell.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUESTS: • Matt Frei, Channel 4 News presenter • Nick Bryant, ex-BBC New York 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 2:35 – The Presidents & The Unprecedented 16:57 – Show & Tell 27:18 – The 2024 Election

As Donald Trump pleads not guilty over the Capitol riot, will his third criminal indictment impact his election chances?

Is the ex-president allowed to use campaign money to fund his legal battles? Could he really be president from jail? And is there no-one in the Democratic Party who will challenge Joe Biden?

We’re back (and Justin has woken up!) to answer questions from Americasters with the help of political correspondent Liz Landers, who's standing in for Anthony (but doesn’t have his pink suit).

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • Liz Landers, political 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Philip Bull and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Donald Trump has been charged with a third set of crimes. This time he's accused of plotting to overturn his election defeat after an inquiry into the storming of the Capitol two years ago on January 6th.

Former FBI director James Comey, who was fired by Trump, joins this emergency Americast, as we look at what happens next and what it could mean for the ex-president's attempt to return to the White House.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • James Comey, former FBI director

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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Lee Wilson. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Viral memes and alien themes: the Americast News Feed returns as we scroll through the biggest stories trending on social media.

Twitter X and Threads fight for online attention while Congress hears unworldly claims about the existence of UFOs.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles continue, and 81-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell freezes during a press conference.

These topics and much more are unpacked on Americast’s podcast equivalent of a social network.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • 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

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Catherine Fusillo, Natasha Fernandes and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Gareth Jones and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor was Tim Walklate.

Could global warming make some states uninhabitable? With parts of the US sweltering in record-breaking heatwaves, the Americast team wonders whether cities like Phoenix in Arizona can continue to survive by the end of the century.

Meanwhile, Sarah enjoys cooler temperatures in Colorado and catches up with the UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at the Aspen Security Forum.

And Hollywood strikes have held up the Barbie film's press tour, but could politicians learn a thing or two from its internet-breaking marketing campaign?

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • James Cleverly, UK Foreign Secretary

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Natasha Fernandes and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

There is new and significant polling from the swing states which is energising the Democratic campaign. But beyond the headline numbers, what do the polls tell us about how long Kamala Harris’s boost in popularity might last?

This week Justin and Sarah look at what voters in swing states think about both candidates, and how they decide to who to vote for.

Ruth Igielnik, Polling Editor for the New York Times, gives us a behind the scenes insight into the accuracy of polls.

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

GUEST: Ruth Igielnik, polling editor for the New York Times

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 with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Michael 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.

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

Joe sets his sights on Nato but is being criticised at home.

The Americast team reconvene early from their holidays to react to Joe Biden’s brief visit to the UK. Justin is joined by Katty Kay and Anthony is pulled out of bed in Washington DC at 4:30am to join the new Americast Breakfast Club.

BBC political editor Chris Mason is on hand too.

And there’s one more question to answer: is the Commander in Chief actually a nice guy? He’s faced criticism for not publicly acknowledging his granddaughter. Is his family man image at risk?

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Katty Kay, USA special correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: • Chris Mason, political editor

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Rainbow flags symbolising LGBT freedoms are being flown in many parts of the world this Pride month, but in some parts of America they are being lowered due to state bans. Why have these kinds of issues become so political?

Bobby Berk, star of hit makeover show Queer Eye, joins the Americast team, along with a Republican activist, to tell us how LGBT people are feeling across the US political divide.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: • Bobby Berk, ‘Queer Eye’ host • Jerri Ann Henry, Republican LGBT rights activist

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Alix Pickles, Natasha Fernandes and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Mike Regaard and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Hunter Biden will plead guilty to tax and gun offences to avoid prison. The Americast team looks at whether the sins of his son could knock Joe Biden’s re-election hopes.

Talking of being in trouble with the law, has Donald Trump implicated himself in a recent interview with Fox News?

And it’s a tale of two Anthonys, as our very own host travels with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on a historic trip to China and then the UK, and reports back on how he was received by President Xi.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Alix Pickles, Rufus Gray and Natasha Fernandes. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

On the eve of his 77th birthday, Donald Trump has appeared in court to face charges of mishandling classified documents. He even found time to stop by a bakery – though not for a cake to celebrate.

Sarah has made it through the media scrum in a humid Miami and the Americast team has assembled early this week to talk through another day of firsts in US political history.

We also hear from Miles Taylor, former chief of staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security under President Trump, about why he believes that the man he once served now poses a threat to the nation’s safety.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at the US Department of Homeland Security

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Alix Pickles and Stephanie Mitcalf. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Republican race for the White House is getting crowded. With eight candidates all gathering in Iowa to campaign, eat roast pork and ride motorbikes, the Americast team looks at who came out on top and whether any of them could beat Donald Trump, who is facing fresh criminal charges over his handling of classified documents.

Harvard professor Steven Pinker, who sees himself as a liberal, tells us why he thinks academic freedom is under threat on US college campuses.

And first, Sarah wanders through the White House with the BBC’s political editor, Chris Mason, who has flown with the prime minister to Washington.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Alix Pickles, Natasha Fernandes and Alex Collins. The technical producer was Gareth Jones and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Journalists and podcast hosts Jon Ronson and Gabriel Gatehouse join Marianna for a special episode of Americast delving deep down the rabbit hole of conspiracies.

The trio talk about why America is a breeding ground for conspiracies, how to spot them, and what happens if they’re true.

We also look at whether conspiracies and misinformation might affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and what role artificial intelligence could play in their spread.

HOST: • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUESTS: • Jon Ronson, host of 'Things Fell Apart' • Gabriel Gatehouse, host of 'The Coming Storm'

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Natasha Fernandes and Alex Collins. The technical producer was Ben Andrews and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

It’s Elon Musk’s latest launch… not a rocket this time, but Ron DeSantis’ campaign for president, live on Twitter! But after some technical hiccups, is it a failed lift-off? The Americast team reviews how it went and tries to answer whether Florida's governor can win the White House.

And after dining with Sarah and Anthony in DC, J Smith-Cameron, who plays Gerri in Succession, meets Marianna in London ahead of the show’s finale, and turns the tables by asking her what reporters can learn from how the show portrays the media.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • J. Smith-Cameron, ‘Succession’ actress

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Ivana Davidovic, Alix Pickles and Natasha Fernandes. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Crime is a growing worry in many American cities and has divided Democrats. New Orleans had the unenviable title of the US murder capital in 2022 – what went wrong in a city better known for its smooth music than the sound of gunfire?

The Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, tells us what she's doing to address the poverty and lack of opportunity which have plagued her city, and why she thinks she's being unfairly targeted over her track record.

And after Prince Harry and Meghan's "near catastrophic" New York car chase, the Americast team asks how that could really happen in midtown Manhattan.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUESTS: • LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans • Anna Adams, BBC reporter in New Orleans

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Natasha Fernandes, Alix Pickles and Ivana Davidovic. The studio manager was Emma Crowe and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Has Donald Trump’s sexual assault verdict damaged his reputation? The Americast team explains why a top Texas Republican thinks he’s toast, even though Trump is fighting the ruling.

Sarah is on the US border with Mexico in El Paso, where a controversial Trump immigration policy known as Title 42 is about to expire and a state of emergency has been declared. A Texas Congressman and Democrat, Joaquin Castro, tells us why he blames President Biden as well as Trump.

And Santos Watch is back after the under-fire congressman George Santos was charged with fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Joaquin Castro, Texas congressman (Democrat)

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

CLIP CREDITS: • ABC ‘Good Morning America’

Find out more about our award winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Ivana Davidovic and Natasha Fernandes. The studio manager was Dafydd Evans and the sound designer was David Crackles. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis has escalated his feud with Disney, launching a lawsuit against one of the country’s biggest companies. The Americast team updates us with the latest details from the battle and how it might impact his presidential campaign. And Americast's own reporting royalty/fairy queen, Katty Kay, rejoins the team from outside Westminster Abbey, where the finishing touches are being made ahead of King Charles' coronation. She analyses America's obsession with the British monarchy and whether recent events have changed anything.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUEST: • Katty Kay, US special correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning “Undercover Voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Ivana Davidovic, Natasha Fernandes and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump connected on X to broadcast a long conversation which covered topics ranging from immigration, the economy and freedom of speech.

The pair have developed a close relationship in the two years since Donald Trump called Musk a liar at a rally. So what's behind their new-found friendship? And how could Trump's return to the platform he once dominated impact his chances at becoming president?

HOSTS:

* Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media 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

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 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.

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

Joe Biden is officially running again! The 80-year-old president has posted a video promising “freedom” for Americans and to “finish the job”.

Jim Messina, who masterminded Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, tells the Americast team that Democrats should be praying every night for Donald Trump to be their opponent, why he thinks it makes sense for Kamala Harris to stay on as vice president, and how Biden’s team can make sure his age isn’t the elephant in the room.

Sarah visits a college baseball park in North Carolina to see which way voters are swinging. And Marianna checks in with our Undercover Voters, but some of them are actually distracted by the shock exit of influential anchor Tucker Carlson from Fox News.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • Jim Messina, Barack Obama’s re-election campaign manager

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Natasha Fernandes and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Scrolling through the biggest stories in America right now. With Fox News forced to defend its editorial standards, Donald Trump attacking “pudding fingers” Ron DeSantis and a conservative beer boycott spilling over, the Americast team take a few of this week’s most talked about topics and explain the context behind the clickbait.

What’s been happening? Why does it matter? And why are we seeing so much of it all on social media?

We also talk about the spate of shootings of people for tragically turning up in the wrong place and the effect of “stand your ground” laws on how gun owners view self-defence.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Ivana Davidovic and Isobel Gough. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

President Biden has been travelling up and down the island of Ireland, where he’s promised to “keep the peace” but has also cracked some jokes down the pub with his distant cousins. Sarah’s been following him and trying to find out why he’s actually there.

And a ruling from a Texas judge seeking to ban an abortion pill across America is being batted between various courts. Joyce Vance, who was a US attorney under Barack Obama, explains what can happen when the legal system gets personal and why it could go as far as the Supreme Court.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Joyce Vance, former US attorney

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles and Natasha Fernandes. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The multi-billionaire defended his ownership of Twitter in a last-minute interview live from the company’s Silicon Valley HQ.

This extra episode of Americast features his rollercoaster conversation with the BBC’s James Clayton in full.

It came out of an email exchange over the BBC’s labelling on Twitter as "government-funded media" – Musk replied himself and agreed to an interview "tonight".

Asked about the mass layoffs of Twitter staff, misinformation on the platform and his unusual work habits, Musk at times tries to do the interviewing himself and admits that owning Twitter has been "quite painful".

HOST: • James Clayton, BBC North America tech reporter

GUEST: • Elon Musk, Twitter CEO

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

Donald Trump pleads not guilty to criminal charges.

The former (and aspiring future) president has been accused of falsifying business records after an investigation into hush money paid to a porn star.

Sarah is back, dialling in from the middle of the media circus in Manhattan, as the team talk through Trump’s historic day in court and answer Americaster questions about what comes next.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Natasha Fernandes, Alix Pickles and Cat Farnsworth. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Donald Trump might be dominating the news again, but Nashville is still grieving after six people were murdered in the latest school shooting. The Tennessee tragedy was one of 130 mass shootings this year alone in America.

For this extra episode, we return to the question we planned to bring you earlier this week: where does gun control go from here? We explore what would and wouldn’t make a difference.

And celebrity lawyer Ben Chew, who was Johnny Depp’s lead attorney last year in a defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard, gives us his view of how future Trump court appearances might play out, as well as his verdict on Gwyneth Paltrow’s $1 ski crash trial.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Ben Chew, celebrity lawyer

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles and Natasha Fernandes. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Donald Trump becomes the first ex-president to be charged with a crime. It comes after an investigation into hush money payments to a porn star.

What did he do? What could this mean for US politics? And how are Americans reacting to the breaking news?

The Americast team fire up their phones for an emergency episode as Trump shakes up politics – again.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles and Natasha Fernandes. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

America waits to find out if a former president will find himself in handcuffs.

A close ally of Donald Trump joins the Americast team to explain why it could be a case of all publicity is good publicity.

We go through the potted history of the Stormy Daniels scandal, break down how it’s playing out on social media, and look at what it means for Trump’s campaign to win back the White House.

And TikTok is on trial as its CEO testifies to Congress, where the app’s security is being scrutinised. Can a platform that popular really be banned?

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GUEST: • Bryan Lanza, former Donald Trump communications director

GET IN TOUCH: • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Rufus Gray and Aiden Johnson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Sarah is on holiday so the BBC's US Special Correspondent Katty Kay steps into her breach on Americast, equipped with stories of Dr Anthony Fauci saving a guest at the prestigious Gridiron dinner.

The team speak to Marianne Williamson, who found fame as Oprah Winfrey's 'spiritual advisor', and who now wants to usurp Joe Biden to become the Democratic nominee for President, despite newly-emerged allegations of bullying her staffers.

There are other challenges for Biden this week, though - Marianna Spring talks us through how the president's controversial plans to approve oil drilling in Alaska are being received online.

And a former economist at the United States Department of the Treasury, Brad Setser, explains how damaging the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is for the US.

Americast is presented by the BBC’s US Special Correspondent Katty Kay, Today host Justin Webb, social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374.

Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments and send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 3301239480.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Simon Watts. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

Twitter insiders have told the BBC that the company is now much less able to protect users from trolling, state-co-ordinated disinformation and child sexual exploitation. Marianna takes the rest of the Americast team though her BBC Panorama investigation into how one of the world’s most influential social media platforms is being transformed by Elon Musk. And she describes how the Twitter CEO has responded to her online.

Tech journalist and host of the ON podcast, Kara Swisher, also joins Americast to talk about how social media companies could be regulated in the future.

And in the week of International Women’s Day, one of America’s best-known feminist lawyers, Gloria Allred, discusses how far she thinks women’s rights in the US have come in the decades that she has been practicing law.

Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374.

Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments and send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 3301239480.

This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Simon Watts. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

Elon Musk does not stay on the fence when it comes to politics in the US or the UK. Are his comments regarding riots in England this summer intended to send a message ahead of the presidential election?

And, Joe Biden gave an interview to CBS News explaining why he took the decision to withdraw from the election. He name-checked Nancy Pelosi in the interview. Just how powerful is Pelosi within the Democrat Party?

HOSTS:

* Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent * Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter

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 George Dabby. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

America's conservative cable TV channel is being sued for airing false 2020 election fraud claims. And court documents suggest that Fox News anchors reported allegations that the vote was “stolen” from Donald Trump even though they knew they were false. The Washington Post’s media critic Erik Wemple joins the team to talk through what's been happening in the case and a bombshell deposition from Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch.

When Coronavirus first spread around the world, everyone wanted to know where it came from. Did it jump from animals to humans in a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan? Or was it leaked from a virology lab? No one is entirely sure. But this week not one, but two US intelligence agencies said their best assessment was a lab leak. Stephen Morrison, host of the Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast, gives Americast the latest and explains the political context in Washington.

Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our award winning "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374.

Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments and send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 3301239480.

This episode was made by Cat Farnsworth and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Simon Watts. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

A busy week for President Biden! On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, he made a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet President Zelensky, pledging to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes". Biden then gave a speech in Poland to reaffirm America's commitment to Nato. Sarah was on the trip and shares her impressions, and the Americast team also talk to Assistant US Secretary of State Karen Donfried.

In Kentucky, a Christian university campus went viral on TikTok after one of its church services turned into a continuous worship session lasting two weeks. We speak to a student about the so-called "Asbury Revival".

And former President Jimmy Carter, 98, has been moved to hospice care. Carter served just one term between 1976 and 1980, but what will his legacy be?

Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374.

Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments and send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 3301239480.

This episode was made by Phil Marzouk, Cat Farnsworth and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Simon Watts. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

As a growing number of flying objects are shot down in US airspace, the Biden administration is still trying to explain just what’s going on...and even fielding the odd question about aliens. Why are Americans so obsessed with extra-terrestrials?

Meanwhile, on ground level, many are asking why national media took so long to start covering a major train derailment in Ohio that released hazardous chemicals into the air of a nearby village.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has been talking up his move to ban an advanced high school African-American studies course, possibly laying the framework for his presidential bid. Americast talks to Harvard professor, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, who helped devise the course.

And in South Carolina, Anthony has been at the launch of Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign. But does she really stand a chance of winning?

Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374.

Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments and send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, to +44 3301239480.

This episode was made by Phil Marzouk and Cat Farnsworth. The studio director was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Simon Watts. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.