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Americast

BBC News
Donald Trump
Iran
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Jeffrey Epstein
United States
Ukraine
Venezuela
Congress
Social Media
Joe Biden
Charlie Kirk
Federal Reserve
Epstein Files
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
ICE
Tariffs
Russia
NATO
Zohran Mamdani

Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. 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... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes626Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

The Democrats almost certainly need to win the Senate race in Michigan if they are to take control of Congress in November’s midterm elections but picking a candidate is exposing a stark choice for the party. Next week party members in the state will... more

One of Donald Trump’s favourite right wing influencers, Laura Loomer, had been a vocal critic of US support for Ukraine, but after a complete U-turn, we ask whether MAGA is softening on support for the country.

We also discuss whether this is Loome... more

Donald Trump joked at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that he would run for a “fourth term” as president before taking out a red hat with the words 'TRUMP 2028' on it. The event had been rescheduled after being cancelled by a shooting three mo... more

We’ve been speaking to perhaps the most prominent anti DEI MAGA activist, Christopher Rufo. He’s widely credited for convincing Donald Trump to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes within the government, and led the campaign whi... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Loomer
MAGA influencer, political commentator
MAGA influencer / MAGA movement
Episode: Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Donald Trump serious about running for a third term?
Chris Rufo
MAGA activist and commentator who campaigns against DEI in education and the public sector
Episode: The anti DEI MAGA activist Christopher Rufo
Jenny Rasico
Former partner who spoke publicly about Platner, cited in media reports
Not explicitly stated in episode
Episode: How will Democrats fight Trump after dumping their candidate Graham Platner in Maine?
Heather Cox Richardson
Professor of History at Boston College; historian interviewed on Americast
Boston College
Episode: After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream?
Mario Bonassi
Head avian curator at the American Bald Eagle Foundation
American Bald Eagle Foundation
Episode: Have Republicans been given a major midterms boost by the Supreme Court?
Ben Rhodes
Former Deputy National Security Advisor under Barack Obama; author and podcaster; public commentator on U.S. foreign policy and politics
Obama Administration
Episode: How can Democrats persuade more voters to like them? (with Ben Rhodes, Obama’s former senior advisor)
Ryan Mack
Investigative technology reporter and author
The New York Times
Episode: Elon Musk the trillionaire... does the global economy need him to succeed?
Robert Bryce
Energy journalist
Energy Journalists / Independent
Episode: The battle in rural America against AI data centres
Morris Katz
Political strategist who led media for a major campaign
Episode: The Democrats fight back Trump-style in Maine… but have they messed up?

Hosts

Justin Webb
BBC Radio 4 presenter and Americast host, frequently guiding discussion and probing guests.
Sarah Smith
BBC North America editor and Americast host known for on-the-ground reporting and international perspective.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent and Americast co-host, brings reporting and analysis on US politics.
Marianna Spring
BBC disinformation and social media correspondent, contributes on social platforms and digital policy.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 5.4k ratings
  • Disappointed by the turn this show has taken

    I’m from the US with no significant connection to Britain, but I started following during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic because it was comforting to me to have a source for down-the-middle, fact-based reporting. I never found it totally unbiased but it had a unique skew compared to US news sources, which is always helpful. I continued to follow for another five years or so because I found the outside perspective on American politics fascinating. The last few times I’ve tuned in, it’... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    noa.be
    United States2 months ago
  • Good takes

    I listen to the Swedish public service equivalent and it is very insightful to hear the different takes and angles of the (often same) topics. Also from your US journalists. Keep up the good work, BBC and the Americast crew!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fredrik of Sweden
    Sweden2 months ago
  • Room for Improvement

    I will continue to seek balanced & informed analysis elsewhere as long as Ms Spring is a presenter.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    markmck12
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • The problem with the US World Cup

    Is NoT politics. It is PRICE GOUGING!!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Karissima
    United States3 months ago
  • Articulated

    Pls can you ask Maranna to talk a little bit slowly because now it’s like a high speed train. Also don t forget there are listeners who have another mother language than English. A little bit of respect.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    lubo19
    Belgium3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate cross-Atlantic perspective and on-ground reporting.
Critiques often target perceived partisan tilt or inconsistent hosting.
Listeners value the hosts' well-sourced, balanced analysis.
Some listeners criticize perceived bias or pace.
Feedback highlights informative guests and timely political coverage.

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! Was the 2026 World Cup a success for Donald Trump?
Q: How are Trumpians and other Americans seeing the war with Iran?
A broad segment of supporters defended the president's decisions, arguing he acts decisively while many others worry about the long-term consequences; the discussion notes a visible split between loyalists and critics.
Has the Supreme Court just made Trump the most powerful president in history?
Q: What did the Mississippi mail-in voting ruling imply for future elections?
The ruling suggested that postmark timing and state counting rules could be reconciled with federal law in a way that supports mail-in voting, potentially increasing the margin for late-arriving ballots to be counted.
Has the Supreme Court just made Trump the most powerful president in history?
Q: How did the case involving the Federal Reserve differ from other agencies in terms of removal protections?
The Court indicated that the Fed requires a showing of cause and procedural safeguards before removal, preserving a much more robust independence for monetary policy decisions compared with agencies like the FTC or EAC.
Has the Supreme Court just made Trump the most powerful president in history?
Q: What is the practical effect of allowing a president to fire independent agency heads without 'cause' in most cases?
It could empower the presidency to reshape regulatory bodies quickly to align with policy priorities, potentially reducing organizational insulation and increasing the executive branch's influence over broad areas of governance.
After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream?
Q: Tell us about your own celebration of July the 4th then, finally, Heather.
Heather describes local, community-centric Fourth of July celebrations, especially in coastal Maine, emphasizing family gatherings, public readings, and a sense that national memory is increasingly expressed through local acts rather than large federal events.

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?

A BBC-anchored US politics show that blends sharp policy analysis with on-the-ground reporting and media strategy. It covers the dynamics of American politics, and how media, social platforms, and international angles shape U.S. policy. Regular discussions explore elections, governance, and high-profile events, with a rotating slate of guests who offer grounding in law, journalism, and public affairs. Noteworthy are the frequent live questions, the focus on media narratives, and the willingness to dissect complex issues from multiple angles for an audience that spans UK and US perspectives.

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?

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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 626 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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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. Laura Loomer
2. Chris Rufo
3. Jenny Rasico
4. Heather Cox Richardson
5. Mario Bonassi
6. Ben Rhodes
7. Ryan Mack
8. Robert Bryce

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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