Americast

Could Abdul El-Sayed’s left-wing victory in Michigan cause the Democrat party to split? Democrats are contemplating whether its left-wing candidates are capable of beating Trump-backed Republicans in the midterms and beyond. El-Sayed was not backed by many senior figures in the Democratic party, and has already been labelled a communist and the most radical candidate ever by Republicans.
What does it also mean for Democrats who want to unify ahead of the midterms but are wary of alienating its base - including working-class and Jewish voters? Particularly as the Democrats remain unpopular in national US polls. despite the need for change after the 2024 presidential election.
Plus, Justin and Sarah are joined by Mike Murphy, the prominent Republican strategist who shares his thoughts with us on how the party should respond to the rise of progressive candidates in this year’s election cycle, and the future of the Republican party after Trump.
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
GUEST:
• Mike Murphy, Republican political strategist and co-host of the Hacks on Tap podcast
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 Bob Howard and Beth Ashmead. 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

Why has one of Washington DC’s most famous landmarks become symbolic of the Trump presidency?
The renovation and subsequent damage to the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC gives an insight into Donald Trump’s second term as president and the team that surrounds him. For months the president has claimed that vandalism was responsible for damage to the monument he wanted restored in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations.
But at the end of last week, Jeanine Pirro, the federal prosecutor he selected for Washington DC, dropped charges against four people - including US Olympian David Hearn - who were accused of damaging the pool’s lining and blamed “flawed” construction for the damage. Trump accused Pirro of “folding like an umbrella”, but her decision to go against the president’s version of events has raised questions over where Trump is getting his information, and whether his top allies are now less willing to give him the news he wants to hear.
Sarah and Anthony discuss the wider significance of the Reflecting Pool story and also what changes can be expected if Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, is appointed as head of the Justice Department.
HOSTS:
• Sarah Smith, 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 BethanAshmead. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. 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

Will the US president intervene to help Gianni Infantino who is facing calls to step down as head of FIFA, football’s world governing body?
In this episode, Marianna, Anthony and Justin join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions. We also discuss why Republicans are targeting Trump’s former Chief Medical Adviser, Anthony Fauci, who was the public face of the US fight against Covid, and how Fauci is responding after being questioned in Congress.
Plus, can the Democrats salvage their senate race in Maine with a new candidate, Troy Jackson, after Graham Platner’s campaign imploded following rape allegations?
HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
• Matt Chorley, 5 Live 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 Alix Pickles and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. 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

From chasing pickpockets to unmasking predators, vigilantism has become one of the biggest trends on social media. On this episode Matt and Marianna discuss how the age of streaming has added a new layer of risk to content like this, with the potential for devastating consequences including reputational damage and even legal repercussions.
Also this week, as national media fangirls over Andy Burnham's TikTok persona, we ask what the new prime minister is doing right online. Is social media now the ultimate test of a politician's authenticity, and could cosying up to influencers set a dangerous precedent in terms of transparency and accountability for those in positions of power.
Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is topcomment@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

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 decide between a left wing candidate backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and a centrist candidate backed by establishment Democrats like Gretchen Whitmer.
It's opened up a debate about whether the success of other progressive candidates like Zohran Mamdani could be replicated across the country as the Democrats build a strategy to take on the Republicans at the midterms and beyond.
Just how important is the race in Michigan for the Democrats, and will the outcome have an outsized role in deciding how they approach the 2028 presidential election?
HOSTS:
- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
- Sumi Somaskanda, BBC News 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 Andews. 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: 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: bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
Top Comment: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm
Radical: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
The Global Story: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd