Americast

The president has started a war of words with California Governor Gavin Newsom after saying that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. Trump made the comments during his midterms campaign tour, telling the audience it would be “very small price to pay” in the war. Newsom has responded by calling the comments “deranged and dangerous”.
And Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has re-iterated his plans to remove “beirdos” and “weirdos” from the US military, in an ongoing campaign against DEI initiatives. In a speech to service members at a military base in Virginia he told them “the ideological clowns are out, the patriotic cowboys are in”.
Anthony and Sumi discuss Hegseth’s idea of masculinity in the army, why he is calling for routine testosterone screening of soldiers, and where calls for his impeachment over his handling of the war with Iran stand.
HOSTS:
• Anthony Zurcher, North America 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
This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

How has the botched execution of a woman convicted of murder in Tennessee 30 years ago prompted a debate about the death penalty in the US? Marianna, Sumi and Anthony answer your questions on the case of Christa Pike, which has led to the resignation of Tennessee's prisons chief.
Also, why has a rape allegation at Cornell University become one of America's biggest stories, with New York Attorney General Letitia James now investigating and Governor Kathy Hochul promising to close a legal loophole? There are also questions around the culture of fraternity parties at US universities and whether it’s possible to ban or change how they’re run.
The team also discuss why, with weeks to go before midterm elections, Donald Trump began his 32-day campaign tour in red states, and why he is now urging Republicans to vote by mail? And why are Republican senators still investigating Jack Smith, the former special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Trump?
HOSTS
- Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter
- Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
- Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:
- Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
- Or use #Americast
This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.
You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Abolish ICE? Abolish borders, No prisons? The co-chair of the DSA speaks to us about what the party really stands for and whether they can persuade undecided Americans to vote for them.
The Democratic Socialists of America can count some of the country’s most high-profile politicians in its ranks, such as Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Until recently, the organisation had only a few thousand members and sat on the fringes of US politics.
But since the rise of Donald Trump and opponents like Bernie Sanders, the DSA has grown into a nationwide force that’s turning the Democratic Party on its head as it prepares to choose a new leader for the party ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
In today’s episode, Justin speaks to the DSA’s national co-chair Ashik Siddique about their vision for the country, including on housing, healthcare as well as Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. What do they really stand for, and could they one day end up taking over the Democratic Party?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter
GUEST:
• Ashik Siddique, National co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America
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 Emma Close, George Dabby and Nik Sindle. 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.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Is Donald Trump now more of an electoral hindrance than a help, even in his home state of Florida, where one candidate has talked down his links with the US president. In this episode, we hear Anthony’s reporting from Florida where the race to replace Ron DeSantis as governor won’t be an easy win for Republicans.

Byron Donalds is looking to become Florida's first African American governor. He has Trump's endorsement and is a loyal MAGA supporter of the president, but in recent weeks, he’s played down his association with the president on his campaign website. He isn’t the only Republican candidate to do so. What does that tell us about how Republicans are messaging in this state, and beyond?

Sarah and Anthony also discuss the issues most important to Republican voters with five weeks go to before November’s midterm elections, and where early voting has already started.
HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, BBC North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:
• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast
This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. 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.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Ahead of November’s midterm elections, are we any closer to knowing who might lead the Democrats into the 2028 presidential election?
Americanswers is back answering your questions and this week we’re looking ahead at a number of important issues at this year’s midterms. The Democrats might fancy their chances to take back the House – and possibly even the Senate – but public opinion still looks unfavourably at the party’s leadership, so why doesn’t it have a new leader yet, and will this hurt them at the polls?
And, Donald Trump’s meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping earned warm words and plenty of photo opportunities, but did the two leaders agree anything of substance, and will it be enough to convince other world leaders that the two superpowers are really prepared to tackle major issues like artificial intelligence and Russian aggression towards NATO allies?
Plus, Donald Trump is reportedly considering a ban on US diesel exports as American consumers face record average prices of more than $6 per gallon. The president hopes it could lower prices ahead of the midterms but it could raise prices around the world. Would it actually make fuel cheaper for US consumers?
HOSTS:
- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
- Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter
- Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:
- Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB
- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480
- Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
- Or use #Americast
This episode was made by Alix Pickles with Nik Sindle. 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.
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd