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Artwork for Americast

Americast

BBC News
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Iran
Ukraine
Tariffs
Jeffrey Epstein
Venezuela
United States
Elon Musk
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Congress
Social Media
Russia
China
Joe Biden
NATO
ICE
Economy
Epstein Files

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes591Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Latest Episodes

A viral video of Marco Rubio has sparked speculation over who might take over the Republican party in 2028. Whilst president Trump muses over his successor, reportedly asking his advisors whether they prefer “JD or Marco”, Anthony and Justin weigh up... more

The US president is going after his fellow Republicans in Kentucky and Indiana. Donald Trump is getting involved in key state primaries - often in cases where US presidents don’t intervene - urging voters to stay away and not vote for candidates who ... more

What is really going on beyond the rhetoric? We unpick the mixed messages from the Trump administration with the war on Iran. It started with the president unveiling “Project Freedom”, a US operation to help vessels trapped in the Gulf to safely esca... more

Sarah’s recent phone call with Donald Trump told us more about the president’s thoughts on the war with Iran, as well as his relationship with the UK and NATO allies, but what’s he like when he’s away from TV cameras?

In this special live edition of... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Daniel Miller
Reporter at Politico who covers sports and politics
Politico
Episode: Will ICE agents stay away from the 2026 World Cup?
Tom Bateman
BBC colleague who was in the room during the dinner
BBC
Episode: Who is Trump’s “would-be assassin”… were there security failings at DC shooting?
Donald J. Trump
Former President of the United States
The White House / President of the United States
Episode: Donald Trump gets on the phone... with Sarah
Kash Patel
FBI director mentioned in Atlantic article
U.S. government / FBI
Episode: Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is insider trading corrupting Trump's White House?
Graham Platner
Candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine
Democratic candidate (Maine)
Episode: Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?
Matt Charlie
Guest on Five Live (as introduced in the episode)
Episode: Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on Iran
Eric Schmitt
National Security Correspondent for The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?
Debra Houry
Former medical director at the CDC
CDC
Episode: What is RFK doing to vaccines for children in America?
Dean Ball
Former AI adviser to the Trump administration
Self/Former government adviser
Episode: Trump v Anthropic: The battle over who controls AI

Hosts

Justin Webb
Presenter at BBC Radio 4, experienced journalist, and co-host of the podcast.
Sarah Smith
Co-host and BBC's North America Editor, specializes in U.S. political coverage.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America Correspondent, providing insights into U.S. politics.
Marianna Spring
BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, focuses on social media's impact on politics.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 5.3k ratings
  • Ditch Matt Chorley

    Increasingly this podcast includes Matt Chorley, who is, to use oxymoron, deeply shallow. This podcast is also so pro-Trump. Almost every report of something that Trump is doing is followed by "to be fair..." and a compliment. I don't need fake balance in my podcasts, and I definitely don't need pro-Trump sympathy. This is more than annoying. And why is everything such a joke? Maybe if you are a British Maga sympathiser who rather likes the BBC's dated jocularity and received pronunciation, thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tmtl1
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Trump Apologists

    Just decided to check this out. Trumps SOTU speech was a pack of lies smothered in bs. You can’t middle-of-the-road this stuff anymore. I won’t be listening. Was looking for UK perspective but this isn’t for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RobMajor
    United States3 months ago
  • Good

    The title explains it’s self

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🤑🤑🤑🤑
    Australia3 months ago
  • Clear speech

    Sara Smith needs to understand that broadcasting requires clear speech , she suffers from “Babble” she does not understand that each word does not join into the next so that the whole point of view becomes a mass of babble .

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Landorhope
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Really disappointing

    I listened to the mid term election episode today as my first listen. I have only witnessed such terrible journalism on Fox News and NewsMax. The restatement of the Administrations lies was unchecked throughout this episode. Really disappointed in the BBC for this one. Not sure I’ll ever be able to listen to these two hosts again. As Trump would say: SAD.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KC-MA
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many listeners value the addition of special guests, although there are mixed feelings about their effectiveness in enhancing episodes.
Listeners appreciate the insightful political commentary and analysis provided by the hosts, often praising their expertise and the variety of topics discussed.
Critiques frequently mention biases perceived in the hosts' discussions, particularly regarding political figures, which suggests some listeners find the coverage potentially skewed.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will ICE agents stay away from the 2026 World Cup?
Q: Are you going to any matches in Los Angeles?
Daniel Miller explains he has tickets to Iran matches in LA because they were affordable, highlighting how ticket prices and available deals influence fan attendance. He notes some matches are expensive, while others can be found at reasonable prices with careful searching.
Americanswers… LIVE at Castfest! Who could lead the Democrats into 2028?
Q: What is Trump like as a person over the phone compared to his public performances?
The panel described him as authentic and consistent with his television persona, noting a lack of formality and a temperament that aligns with how he presents in public, with an ability to pivot to familiar topics when pressed.
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on Iran
Q: Why did JD Vance visit Budapest and endorse Viktor Orban?
The hosts suggest it was an effort to bolster a like-minded right-wing ally and to signal U.S. support for a populist leader, which aligns with broader questions about foreign political interference and strategic messaging.
Americanswers... on 5 Live! Donald Trump vs Pope Leo on Iran
Q: What is the legality of the blockade and how might it be viewed domestically?
The panel explains legal nuance: international law traditionally permits certain measures during wartime, but because the US has not declared war, the legality is debated; some see it as plausible under war-like enforcement, while others warn of constitutional and international law challenges.
Americanswers! Can Zohran Mamdani keep his promises as New York mayor?
Q: What can Democrats learn from Mamdani about delivering on promises?
Delivering tangible local outcomes, like pothole filling or rent policies, can anchor public perception even amidst national political turbulence, suggesting a focus on day-to-day governance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Americast

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

The podcast features in-depth discussions surrounding U.S. news and politics, focusing on current events and significant issues affecting American society. Across episodes, the hosts provide analysis on critical topics such as the influence of political figures, judicial rulings, and emerging trends in social media related to voter engagement. Listeners can expect commentary on controversial figures like Donald Trump, insights into government strategies, and implications for American democracy in a rapidly changing landscape. A unique aspect includes the integration of social media updates from an award-winning investigation that provides context on how information is disseminated to voters.

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 7 years ago and published 591 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Americast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Americast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Americast?

Recent guests on Americast include:

1. Daniel Miller
2. Tom Bateman
3. Donald J. Trump
4. Kash Patel
5. Graham Platner
6. Matt Charlie
7. Eric Schmitt
8. Debra Houry

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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