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Artwork for Americast

Americast

BBC News
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Nikki Haley
Republican Party
Taylor Swift
Democratic Party
2024 Presidential Election
Iowa Caucus
Roe V. Wade
In Vitro Fertilization
Iran
Israel-Gaza War
Ukraine
Ron Desantis
Eric Trump
New Hampshire
South Carolina
Republican Primary
US Presidential Election
Vladimir Putin

Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes518Founded6 years ago
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GovernmentPoliticsNews

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Artwork for Americast

Latest Episodes

Donald Trump has lambasted European countries as “decaying” and “weak”, singling out the UK, France and Germany for their immigration policies, whilst praising the Hungarian leader Viktor Orban for allowing “nobody in his country”. In an interview fo... more

Has the Trump administration just said the quiet part out loud? After months of speculation about what the U.S. really thinks about Europe, the Trump administration has published an excoriating 33-page National Security Strategy. It warns Europe face... more

As the United States gets ready to host the Fifa World Cup 2026, Americast looks at what’s behind the close relationship between Donald Trump and the president of football’s world governing body, Gianna Infantino. Sarah and Anthony go back to 2018, i... more

YouTube

In Trump’s last cabinet meeting of the year, we hear the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - under pressure over possible war crimes in the Carribean Sea - give his fullest explanation yet over what he knew, and when. Citing the “fog of war” in a cha... more

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Recent Guests

Henry Bushnell
Senior soccer writer at The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: Is Trump giving the FIFA World Cup a MAGA makeover?
Nick Reisman
Albany Bureau Chief at Politico, expert in New York State politics
Politico
Episode: The Donald Trump v Zohran Mamdani Show
Elie Honig
CNN senior legal analyst and friend of the pod
CNN
Episode: Trump vs the BBC…what happens next?
Zohran Mamdani
Youngest Mayor of New York City, known for his progressive ideas and charismatic campaign style
Episode: Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race
Katherine Sibley
Professor of History and Director of American Studies at St. Joseph's University, specializing in First Ladies.
St. Joseph's University
Episode: Is Donald Trump building a ballroom or a bunker at the White House?
Karine Jean-Pierre
Former press secretary for Joe Biden and author of the book 'Independent'
Episode: Are the US and China about to end their trade war?
Eric Lach
Staff writer at The New Yorker who has followed Mamdani on the campaign trail and offers insights on his political abilities and character.
The New Yorker
Episode: Inside Mamdani’s campaign to be mayor of New York City
James Rosen
Chief Washington Correspondent for Newsmax
Newsmax
Episode: Can Trump silence the press?
Inez Stepman
Senior policy and legal analyst for the Independent Women's Forum and Independent Women's Law Centre with a focus on education policy.
Independent Women's Forum
Episode: Trump's new plan for America's top universities

Hosts

Sarah Smith
BBC's North America editor and host of Americast. Known for her insights on US politics and society-related topics.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent and co-host of Americast, providing insights into the American political landscape.
Justin Webb
Presenter at BBC Radio 4 and co-host of Americast, offering a seasoned perspective on US politics.
Marianna Spring
BBC's disinformation and social media correspondent, bringing fresh insights on the interplay between social media and politics.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 5.1k ratings
  • Unbiased. Reliable. Well researched.

    Cuts through the noise. Love the hosts both their sense of humour (you need one when dealing with US politics) but also their reliable and well researched facts and opinions. Highly recommend. Started listening in early 2024 and haven’t stopped. Great work team!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K Gatti
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • Good, reactive pod that considers a range of issues

    Genuine subject matter expertise from Webb, Smith and Zurcher. Not quite sure why Spring and Chorley are involved but they add some humour.

    Insightful show that addresses up to date issues; enjoyable and recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jjh297
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • No longer the quality that it once was.

    This show has become much to partial to be on the BBC. While you need to explain what is happening - the panel now goes on to justify actions as part of their “analysis”. And they do so using humour at very inappropriate times. Makes you wonder about the increasing influence of right wing politics on the bbc and who they choose to present their programs. The BBC is better than this. The only one who displays the impartiality and quality of actual BBC journalism is Anthony Zurcher

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    N 254
    United Kingdom17 days ago
  • I’ve unsubscribed

    I have had to unsubscribe. I can no longer listen to Marianna Spring. When I started listening Sarah Smith was contributing more it was a worthwhile podcast. But Ms Spring comes nowhere close. She repeats the same old same old inconsequential trivia. A once worthy podcast ruined

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Benarchie
    United Kingdom20 days ago
  • Increasingly irritating

    This should be so much better but is ruined by the awful BBC obsession with making everything fun and clubbish. Please lose Marianna (the Miss Information thing is grim), the chummy bantering and this patronising nonsense of referring to the audience as “Americasters”. The US is teetering on the edge of turning into a fascist dictatorship (if it isn’t already) and the BBC persist with this CBeebies approach to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Putsch said
    United Kingdom20 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners generally value the timely discussions on current events, applauding the inclusion of expert guests and diverse perspectives.
Listener comments highlight the engaging mix of humor and serious analysis from the hosts, especially appreciating the depth of political insight provided.
Some critics feel there has been a shift toward partisan coverage, expressing concerns over the podcast's objectivity.
Reviewers note a commendable exploration of social media's role in contemporary politics, while others point out areas for improvement regarding host interactions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Americanswers… On 5 Live! Why has the US been accused of war crimes off the Venezuelan coast?
Q: How is President Trump's more transactional and business-focused international diplomacy viewed in America and in particular whether his base welcomes this as a genuine attempt to grow the US economy?
While some Trump supporters are willing to tolerate short-term economic pain for better trade deals, there's skepticism about how sustainable this approach is if economic challenges intensify.
Americanswers… On 5 Live! Why has the US been accused of war crimes off the Venezuelan coast?
Q: In light of President Trump's proposed threats to Venezuelan airspace and Hegseth's Leave No Survivors alleged instruction on boat attacks in the southern Caribbean, does it look like the president is not sticking to his clampdown on drugs?
The discussion revolves around Trump potentially pursuing regime change in Venezuela, conflicting with his previous stance on avoiding foreign wars while addressing drug smuggling.
Americanswers... On 5 Live! Has Trump just made the US/Europe breakup official?
Q: Does Trump's new national security strategy seal the arrival of a new world order with Trump in alliance with Putin and Europe sidelined?
The strategy highlights a potential shift in global alliances, indicating a more isolationist and critical stance towards Europe.
Americanswers... On 5 Live! Has Trump just made the US/Europe breakup official?
Q: Should European allies still see America as an ally?
No, there are serious questions about America's reliability as an ally under Trump's new national security strategy, which is particularly critical of European governance.
Marjorie Taylor Greene v Donald Trump
Q: Could MTG deepen this divide within the Republican Party?
Yes, MTG's criticism of Trump and her follower base can potentially create a split in the party.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Americast

What is Americast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on US news and politics, this podcast provides in-depth analysis and commentary on current events that shape America today. Hosted by seasoned BBC journalists, it emphasizes on-the-ground observations and a big-picture view of major stories, making it both informative and timely. The inclusion of updates from a social media investigation adds a unique angle, as listeners gain insights into how social media affects voter behavior and political dynamics. With noteworthy guest appearances and a consistent release schedule, this podcast offers a blend of serious journalism with engaging discussion, appealing to those seeking a comprehensive understanding of American politics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Americast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Americast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Americast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Americast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Americast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Americast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Americast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Americast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Americast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Americast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Americast:

1. Newscast
2. The News Agents - USA
3. The News Agents
4. The Rest Is Politics: US
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Americast are there?

Americast launched 6 years ago and published 518 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Americast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Americast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Americast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Americast?

Recent guests on Americast include:

1. Henry Bushnell
2. Nick Reisman
3. Elie Honig
4. Zohran Mamdani
5. Katherine Sibley
6. Karine Jean-Pierre
7. Eric Lach
8. James Rosen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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