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How did one of the most powerful alliances in American politics blow up? The falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been playing out very publicly on social media, with back and forth insults and threats. Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring, Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher unpack how the row intensified with Trump threatening to revoke Musk's government contracts and Musk claiming, without evidence, that Trump appeared in the unreleased Epstein files. Musk also suggested that Trump should be impeached. But why does a row between the world's richest person and one of the most powerful, the US president, matter to America and the rest of the world? And what impact could it have on the 2026 midterms? HOSTS: * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Sarah Smith, North America Editor * 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 Purvee Pattni, Alix Picikles, Rufus Gray, Grace Reeve and Tom Gillett. 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 and Ukrainecast. 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 Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm
This week, the BBC's senior North American reporter Anthony Zurcher joins Susan to dive into the latest developments in U.S. politics. In this episode, they break down the high-stakes battles on Capitol Hill, including Chuck Schumer's latest moves and the ongoing filibuster debate. What do Democrats need to do to push their agenda forward, and how are key figures like Chris Murphy shaping the conversation on social spending? Plus, political what strategist James Carville has said on the party's messaging challenges. Get ready for insightful analysis, sharp commentary, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of American politics.Tune in for a thoughtful and lively discussion that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of what's really happening in Washington.All this and more on No Holding Back with Susan Estrich.Sign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.noholdingback.fm/Produced by 1985 Productions
During his visit to the White House for the annual St. Patrick's Day event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin hoped to highlight key issues for Ireland. But with Donald Trump in the spotlight, the conversation turned to pharma companies in Ireland and EU trade tensions.Did the Taoiseach manage to get Ireland's concerns across? Our panel — featuring Harry Browne, Ian O'Doherty, Ben Scallan, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh and BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher — share their insights. Plus, we reveal the results of our audience poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kate Adie presents stories from the US, Mexico, Bangladesh, Guatemala and Malaysia Donald Trump marked his return to the White House with a deluge of executive orders and announcements, which included an immigration crackdown, ending federal diversity programmes and withdrawing the US from the WHO. Anthony Zurcher travelled with the president on board Air Force One.In cities across the US, the Immigration Enforcement Agency has been conducting raids and arresting thousands of undocumented migrants, as part of President Trump's crackdown. Mexico is preparing itself for the potential arrival of tens of thousands of people in the coming weeks. Will Grant reports from both sides of the border.In Bangladesh, deaths related to diseases, such as cholera and rotavirus are considered especially high, because of long-standing issues with overcrowding, poor sanitation and access to clean water. Rebecca Root visited a hospital in the capital, Dhaka, which is leading the way in treatment and prevention.Many of Guatemala's indigenous communities live outside the major cities, and the stress of living isolated lives has fuelled mental health problems. A group of indigenous women is trying to change that. Jane Chambers went to lake Atitlan to meet them.The Malaysian state of Sabah, in northern Borneo, is a mountainous region covered in dense rainforest. On a recent visit there, Stephen Moss came across the increasingly rare black hornbill – and a new generation of keen birdwatchers.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill
Today, Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president. He promised to unleash a blitz of executive orders, after calling for a "revolution of common sense" in Monday's inaugural address.James Cook and Chris Mason were joined by Anthony Zurcher and Marianna Spring from Americast, Victoria Derbyshire from Ukrainecast and Jonny Dymond from The Global Story to assess Trump's first act as he became President again.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Teodora Agarici and Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
Today, Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president. He promised to unleash a blitz of executive orders, after calling for a "revolution of common sense" in Monday's inaugural address.Victoria was joined by James Cook and Chris Mason from Newscast, Anthony Zurcher and Marianna Spring from Americast and Jonny Dymond from The Global Story to assess Trump's first act as he became President again.Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president. In his inaugural speech he promised to put America first and said "the golden age of America begins right now". The ceremony, held inside the Capitol building because of freezing temperatures in Washington, saw Mr Trump flanked by his family, political allies, and the billionaires running Silicon Valley's biggest tech firms.Mr Trump said he would immediately begin a review of trade policies - and that new tariffs would bring in massive amounts of money to enrich Americans at other countries' expense. He repeated threats to take over the Panama Canal - claiming that China had taken control of the waterway.The Global Story has teamed up with other BBC podcasts to dissect Trump's speech. Jonny Dymond is joined by James Cook and Chris Mason from Newscast, Anthony Zurcher and Marianna Spring from Americast, and Victoria Derbyshire from Ukrainecast.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran, Jack Maclaren, Teodora Agarici and Shiler MahmoudiSound engineer: Ricardo McCarthyAssistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Chris GraySenior news editors: China Collins and Sam Bonham(Photo: Donald Trump during his inauguration as 47th US president. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
In this episode, our Founder and President, Jennifer Risi, chats with BBC's Anthony Zurcher ahead of next week's inauguration and official start of a second Trump presidency. During their chat, Jen and Anthony discuss why Trump 2.0 feels 'different,' how his beat on U.S. politics and culture is changing and what's in store for 2025.
Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America correspondent
Trump's immigration plans, their effect on agriculture, and social media clashes. On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by Sumi Somaskanda and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. They discuss Donald Trump's key policy priorities as it gets closer and closer to his inauguration. This week the president-elect vowed to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States on his first day in office. Mr Trump reiterated his plans for mass deportation for undocumented immigrants. What impact would that have on agriculture - a sector that relies heavily on migrant labour? The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. And every Saturday until the inauguration of Donald Trump on the 20th of January, we bring you an update on his Path to the Presidency. If you don't want to miss an episode, follow or subscribe to The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts. You can email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com
With just weeks left in office, President Biden is making moves that could define his legacy. He has issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who was facing possible prison sentences in two criminal cases. Biden's decision has already prompted furious claims of hypocrisy from Republicans, and the White House has announced that the President is considering more pardons before the end of his term. In recent weeks, the president has also allowed Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike inside Russia and has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.On this episode Azadeh Moshiri is joined by our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and the BBC's Diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They examine how these decisions might shape Biden's legacy, impact Donald Trump's second term, and shape the future of the Democratic party. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Richard Moran and Alix PicklesSound engineer: Jonny Hall Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
What the president-elect's inner circle says about his priorities. Donald Trump is surrounding himself with loyalists, billionaires and political newcomers as he prepares for his second term in the White House. On this episode, Caitríona Perry asks the BBC's senior North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher about new additions to Team Trump like Elon Musk, and notable absences, like Ivanka Trump. Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom Kavanagh Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Gareth JonesAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: Sara Wadeson
Kate Adie presents stories from the US, Lebanon, Spain, Morocco and GreenlandDonald Trump won a resounding victory in the US election, heralding an imminent return to the White House. This was achieved through a new coalition of support - especially among African-American and Hispanic voters. Anthony Zurcher has followed the campaign from the outset, and reflects on how, despite a well-funded Harris campaign, Donald Trump pulled off a decisive win.Israel's invasion of Lebanon has continued, sparked by almost a year of cross-border hostilities. This latest conflict began with Hezbollah firing rockets across the border into Israel last October, in support of its ally Hamas in Gaza. Orla Guerin has been there since the conflict intensified six weeks ago.In Spain, thousands of troops, civil guards and police helped with the relief effort following flash floods in Valencia that killed more than 200 people. Amid a febrile atmosphere of blame and recrimination, Nick Beake has been building a picture of how events unfolded - and heard how tragedy hit one family.Morocco is a launch pad for many Africans trying to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean into Europe. Now, it's coming under increased pressure due to political instability in the Sahel. Richard Hamilton was in Tangier.In Greenland, an Inuit community living in the island's most remote settlement is facing profound changes to their traditional way of life amid melting sea ice. Mark Stratton went to hear about the challenges facing the community, such as climate change, tourism and polar bears.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill
Claire Brock speaks to Emer Higgins TD, Mairéad Farrell TD, Kevin Doyle, Anthony Zurcher and Bill Deere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sumi Somaskanda and Anthony Zurcher respond to questions about the upcoming US election. In this collaboration between The Global News Podcast, The Global Story, and Americast, Oliver Conway presents listener questions on the key topics shaping the vote.
2024 is a huge year for elections, with more than 60 countries holding national elections and over half the world's population voting. With each election it can seem like opinion polls dominate the coverage but how are these polls carried out? We speak to pollster and data analyst David Byler from the American non-partisan polling company Noble Predictive Insights about how it all works.We also hear from the BBC's North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, who explains how significant the polls are in the 2024 US Presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Historically there have been lots of poll prediction fails. BBC journalist Rupsha Mukherjee in Delhi tells us about how some important polls got it wrong in India's general election this year. And Niko Kelbakiani, a journalist at BBC Monitoring, explains the role opinion polls play in Iran's elections - where the Guardian Council must approve every candidate.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Benita Barden and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde
Donald Trump has held a last-minute meeting with President Zelensky despite repeated criticism of the Ukrainian leader on the campaign trail, and a row which erupted with with the Republican party.So is the former president hardening his stance on Ukraine? And how do Ukrainians feel about the forthcoming US election?Victoria and Vitaly are joined by Americast co-presenter Anthony Zurcher and two Ukrainians based in Kyiv.Today's episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
A bonus episode from The Global Story. Democrats and Republicans are donating billions to back candidates in November's election. So far, the 2024 US election has been defined by surprises and unprecedented moments. But if one thing is certain, it's that the election will cost a lot of money. Donors from both major parties are donating billions of dollars in the hopes of seeing their candidates win the White House and hundreds of local races. So, what is all that money spent on? And what impact is it having on US politics? Katya Adler speaks to the BBC's correspondent in Washington DC, Anthony Zurcher, and Matt Foster from American University, also in the capital. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide, one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world.Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.comYou can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery. Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas. Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.
And why is "THEY'RE EATING DOGS" trending on X?Kamala Harris and Donald Trump meet for the first time on a debate stage in Philadelphia, sparring over key issues and exchanging deep personal attacks. The momentous meeting was marked by question dodging, finger pointing… and pet-eating!The Americast Team analyses the night from the heart of the action. Who will go viral after tonight? Did Trump stick to his messaging? And will there be a second debate?!HOSTS: * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Sarah Smith, North America editor * Marianna Spring, Disinformation & social media correspondent * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentGET IN TOUCH: * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Or use #AmericastThis episode was made by Chris Flynn with Purvee Pattni and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The Americast 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-68093155Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. 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.... The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm Read less
Democrats and Republicans are donating billions to back candidates in November's election. So far, the 2024 US election has been defined by surprises and unprecedented moments. But if one thing is certain, it's that the election will cost a lot of money. Donors from both major parties are donating billions of dollars in the hopes of seeing their candidates win the White House and hundreds of local races. So, what is all that money spent on? And what impact is it having on US politics?Katya Adler speaks to the BBC's correspondent in Washington DC, Anthony Zurcher, and Matt Foster from American University, also in the capital. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery.Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.
Yesterday, a school shooting took place in Georgia - where a 14 year old boy killed 4 and wounded 9. It's become commonplace for this to happen in the United States, and each time calls for stricter gun controls are made.Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent and Matt Mayer, Former Senior Official in the US Department of Homeland Security under the Bush Administration, join Kieran to discuss if gun control promises would have any effect on the upcoming US election.
Kamala Harris closed the DNC with a speech that she hopes will sway voters to the Democrats. The day began with speculation over whether she might be joined on stage by Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. In the end, Harris took to the stage alone and focused on her upbringing and a pitch to America's middle class.The team assemble on the final night of the convention to analyse whether she did enough to win over the undecided.HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondentYou can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
As one of the smallest Supreme Courts in the world, do nine justices fairly represent the diversity of views in the US? Host Claire Graham talks to the BBC's senior North American reporter Anthony Zurcher about how the ratio of republican to democratic judges has changed over time. The controversy over lifetime tenures of justices is discussed with no set term limits or mandatory retirement ages and we find out why historical court decisions are being overturned.Produced by Cathy Young for the BBC World Service.
Today, we look at Kamala Harris taking centre stage at the Democratic National Convention, as she is poised to become presidential nominee. With just 11 weeks until the American people go to the polls, Kamala Harris will be nominated as the official Democrat presidential nominee on Thursday at the DNC in Chicago. Will we learn more about Harris' policies? What will President Biden Say? Could Beyoncé make an appearance? Adam is joined by Americast host Anthony Zurcher and Caitriona Perry, BBC news chief presenterPlus, Adam speaks to Zoe Kleinman, BBC technology editor, about the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch who is amongst the six people missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Miranda Slade and Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
Project 2025, described as a possible policy blueprint for a second Trump presidency, has become a lightning rod on the campaign trail. Donald Trump has been attempting to distance himself from it for weeks, stating that he had no involvement. Meanwhile, Democrats have recently intensified their criticism of the measures outlined in its pages. After the architect of Project 2025 - Paul Dans - stepped down earlier this week, Trump's campaign stated it would welcome the demise of the project.In this episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC's North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and Bob Costa, Chief election & campaign correspondent for CBS News.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.This episode was made by Richard Moran, Eleanor Sly and Tse Yin Lee. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.
Kate Adie presents stories from the US, the West Bank, India and ItalyDonald Trump was confirmed as the Republican party's presidential candidate this week at their National Convention in Wisconsin. He also announced his running mate, JD Vance. Anthony Zurcher was at the convention and reflects on the impact of this last week, and the attempted assassination, on the Presidential campaign.The Israel-Gaza war has exacerbated tensions in the occupied West Bank where around three quarters of a million Israeli settlers live, including East Jerusalem, alongside three million Palestinians. Under Benjamin Netanyahu's government, settler expansion has risen sharply. Tim Whewell travelled across the West Bank and heard from both Palestinians and Israelis.In India, Hindu nationalism had been growing in prominence throughout Narendra Modi's first terms in office. Its impact was pervasive – and left many Muslims feeling increasingly marginalised, even at risk. But the two communities share far more culturally than the febrile political atmosphere of the recent election campaign would lead you to believe, says Samira Hussain.The ancient Roman city of Pompeii holds a certain fascination for archaeologists across the world. The current dig is the biggest in a generation and is underlining Pompeii's unique window on the people and culture of the Roman empire. Natasha Fernandes went to explore.The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania has shaken the US and triggered several Congressional investigations. Gary O'Donoghue was at the scene and reflects on a defining moment both in the presidential campaign – as well as US history.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Tom Bigwood Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
El ataque contra el expresidente Donald Trump remite a una época oscura de Estados Unidos y acentúa la guerra de trincheras partidista cinco meses antes de las elecciones presidenciales.
Joe Biden maintains he will stay in the presidential race despite ever increasing calls to end his campaign.Biden at a NATO press conference last night made some two significant blunders: calling Ukrainian President Zelenskyy ‘President Putin' and calling Camilla Harris ‘Vice President Trump'...Joining guest host Joe Molloy to discuss is Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent.
Questions surround President Joe Biden's run for re-election this November. After an underwhelming performance in the first debate with Republican rival Donald Trump, calls for the incumbent to step aside and let somebody else stand as the Democratic candidate have grown louder within the party. With concerns over the president's fitness for office hanging like a cloud, we look at whether or not the Democrats could nominate an alternative candidate without his agreement, and examine some of the contenders who could potentially enter the fray. Host Caitríona Perry speaks with the BBC's US Special correspondent Katty Kay and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher about the president's fight to stay on his party's ticket.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.This episode was made by Tom Kavanagh and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Donald Trump made history today by being the first former president to go to trial over an alleged crime. Trump is in court today over allegations that he falsified business records around hush money paid to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Anthony Zurcher, BBC North American Correspondent joins Jonathan to discuss.
Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Ukraine, Russia, the USA and Georgia.Sarah Rainsford was in Ukraine when Vladimir Putin first launched his full-scale invasion two years ago, reporting on the defiance and rush to defend the country. On a recent trip back to the border city of Kharkiv, she found a much more sombre mood.Steve Rosenberg reflects on how the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, along with two years of war with Ukraine, has affected the outlook of many ordinary Russians. Many wish for change, but are unclear on how that can be achieved.Over recent months, the stalled passage of a $60bn military aid package through the US Congress has heightened concerns that Washington's support for Ukraine is on the wane. Anthony Zurcher reflects on how the current US position has changed since his trip to Kyiv in the weeks before the Russian invasion began.Georgia has become a prime destination for Russians fleeing the war with Ukraine, especially those escaping conscription. The sudden arrival of tens of thousands of Russians has proved overwhelming at times, and given Georgia's own past conflict with Russia, not everyone is happy to see them, reports Vitaliy Shevchenko.Since Russia's invasion, more than 6 million Ukrainians have sought refuge overseas – but many people have stayed put, often by choice, determined to carry on living their lives as they have always done. Caroline Eden meets some market traders in Ukraine's southern port of Odessa, who are trying to ensure it's business as usual.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinator: Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
In the eight years since he entered office and three since he left it, Donald Trump has time to rethink his approach. Rousing at his rallies in 2016, and frustrated by Washington bureaucracy in his presidential term, the former US president now takes the counsel of trusted loyalists with serious republican campaigning credentials. Meanwhile the scratch team of big egos has moved to the periphery. But who is the 2024 team behind Trump? Is he listening to them? And will this alter the Donald Trump we see this year?Discover the story behind Trump's team with insights from the North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and US special correspondent Katty Kay.The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Today's episode of The Global Story was made by Richard Moran and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt, Michael Regaard and Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
We speak to the BBC's North America Correspondent, Anthony Zurcher about the UN General Assembly vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. As America warns Israel that the continuous attacks on Gaza are alienating allies, we look at what diplomatic solutions are being discussed. Today's episode is hosted by Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent Guest: Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk TEAM: This episode was made by Lucy Boast and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The studio manager was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
The US Congress is voting Tuesday morning on whether to approve a bill that would see the government avoiding a shutdown. The last time Congress tried to fund the government to prevent a shut down, it ended with the Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy losing his job. This time, new Speaker Mike Johnson appears on track for a better outcome as he introduces a stopgap package to keep the government running into the new year. BBC Senior North American reporter Anthony Zurcher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, the Middle East, Peru and Japan. The Israel-Gaza conflict has been framed by harsh words, and when talk of peace and reconciliation seem more distant than ever, is there space for understanding - or hope? Our correspondent Fergal Keane has spent his career reporting on divided societies, and after spending the last few weeks in Jerusalem, he reflects on the question of hope. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been back in the Middle East this week, working to keep diplomatic channels open to negotiate 'humanitarian pauses' in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Our correspondent Anthony Zurcher travelled with him. The ultra-fine wool of the vicuna was once reserved for the royal dynasties of the Inca empire, and today it is equally adored by European fashion houses. Stefania Gozzer has been in Peru, where she met the communities benefiting from this luxury trade. And in Japan, baseball's Hanshin Tigers finally broke one of sport's longest standing 'curses' this week when they won the Japan Series. Tigers fan Guy De Launey tells the story of how his team broke a 40 year losing streak. Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Rushdi Abualouf in Gaza and Anthony Zurcher on the US Secretary of State's Middle East visit; reflections from our correspondents as Lyse readies to leave JerusalemFEATURING: Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, BBC Gaza reporter Anna Foster, BBC correspondent on Israel's northern border with Lebanon Jon Donnison, BBC correspondent and former BBC Gaza correspondentGET IN TOUCH: - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email theconflict@bbc.co.uk TEAM: This episode was made by Joe Kent in London. The assistant was editor Neal Razzell. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
Israel starts 'a prolonged and powerful campaign' in Gaza. What might be the consequences? BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson analyses the fallout. Also in the programme: diplomatic correspondent James Landale examines why European leaders are changing the way they tackle mass migration; senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher explores why the United States has become increasingly ungovernable; and a BBC Eye Investigations team uncovers deadly loan apps in India and beyond. Reporter Poonam Agarwal reveals the trap ensnaring some of the world's poorest people.Produced by Pandita Lorenz and Benedick Watt
The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, asks defence correspondent Jonny Beale where the war in Ukraine is heading and what victory might look like; finds out from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher if any of the Republican presidential candidates will give Donald Trump a run for his money; analyses a new era in relations in the Middle East with Baran Abbasi from BBC Persian; and explores why South Africa is in so much trouble, and what can be done about it, with South Africa correspondent Nomsa Maseko.Produced by Pandita Lorenz and Benedick Watt.
Everything you need to know about how confidential US intelligence was leaked, and who's accused of being behind them. Adam is joined by security correspondent Gordon Corera, journalist for the BBC's newly created forensic hub, Shayan Sardarizadeh, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. We also have the latest on the current junior doctors strike. And, author and comedian David Baddiel speaks to Adam about why he doesn't believe in a god and his theories as to why some do. Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Miranda Slade, Rufus Gray and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Donald Trump has addressed thousands at his campaign rally in Texas. The former US president, who's bidding for the job again, has criminal charges looming for falsifying business records in 2016 He paid an adult film star $130,000 dollars in hush money for an alleged affair - but labelled them as legal fees. Trump warned the large crownds in Waco, Texas of "potential death and desctruction" if he is indicited US correspondent Anthony Zurcher spoke to Kim Hill.
Joining Gavan On the Record to discuss Donald Trump's election rally in Waco as well as Rupert Murdoch and the Fox News/Dominion $1.6bn defamation lawsuit is Anthony Zurcher, BBC's senior North American correspondent.
Kate Adie presents stories from Turkey, the USA, Myanmar, Italy and Ukraine. Anna Foster has been in Kahramanmaras, the epicentre of the recent earthquake, where diggers work to remove the debris, revealing small personal items that tell of so many lives lost. Even after the rescue teams have left for the day, relatives continue the search for loved ones through the night. President Joe Biden has switched to campaign mode in both his State of the Union speech to Congress and on his recent visit to Florida - celebrating the achievements of his presidency. But a fight looms with Republicans who now control the House, and there are potential trip wires on the road ahead, says Anthony Zurcher. A journalist from Myanmar shares his story of how hope turned to despair when the military seized power in a coup in 2021 - and how he was forced to flee with his family. The regime has used intimidation and harassment to shut down the media, says Rebecca Henschke. In Italy, Daniel Gordon tells the story of a man who managed to escape the clutches of the mafia. Having grown up in a crime family, the man reveals the challenges of leaving 'the family' when he was still a young man, before starting a new life in the north of Italy. And Nick Redmayne takes the ever-punctual Ukrainian Railways overnight sleeper from Poland's far east to Kyiv. As the train departs, following a timetable undeterred by war, Nick chats to his travel companions over cups of hot tea served to passengers in elegant glasses. Producers: Serena Tarling and Louise Hidalgo Editor: China Collins Production Coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross
President Zelensky is making his first overseas visit since the war began. He's in Washington for talks with President Biden and is also due to address Congress. The BBC's North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher gauges the level of support for Ukraine in the US and from Moscow, Steve Rosenberg explains how the Kremlin is reacting to the visit. Also BBC disability reporter Ruth Clegg has been meeting the families of disabled Ukrainian refugees in Poland. They tell her the care they have received in Poland has changed their lives - in Ukraine many disabled people had been neglected in institutions. And we catch up with Volodymyr Demchenko a young soldier who made films before the war. He tells Victoria about life on the front line in Bakhmut. Today's episode is presented by Lucy Hockings, Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480.
Joining Gavan On the Record is Anthony Zurcher, BBC North American Correspondent. Together they discuss Donald Trump's ongoing legal woes, the lack of momentum behind his White House bid, and Kyrsten Sinema's defection from the Democratic Party.
Donald Trump is poised to announce his 2024 presidential campaign, he is expected to make the announcement in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago Club this evening. This announcement comes as Trump voters rejected his endorsed candidates in last week's midterm elections. Kieran was joined by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent for the latest update...
The battle for control of the House of Representatives is now the biggest unanswered question from this year's US midterm elections. The Democrats have kept their narrow Senate majority, with victories in Arizona and Nevada meaning the party will enter 2023 with at least 50 senate seats. But with votes still being counted the race for the House is still too close to call. BBC US correspondent Anthony Zurcher spoke to Corin Dann from Washington.
As the midterm results continue to come in, the Americast team are taking over the Newscast feed for one day only! The team are in Washington DC, taking a closer look at the rivalry between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump. Americast is presented by North America Editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about the Americast ‘undercover voters' here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374 This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
Russia has ordered its military to pull out of Kherson, the only regional capital it captured after invading Ukraine in February. The BBC's Jeremy Bowen gives us his appraisal of whether we can believe what Russia says about troop movements. The news came shortly after the announcement that the Russian-appointed official in the region, Kirill Stremousov, had been killed in a car crash. BBC investigative reporter Tim Whewell tells Vitaly about the significance of Stremousov's death. We hear from Anthony Zurcher, BBC's North America reporter, about the US mid-term elections and what the ramifications might mean for the country's support for Ukraine. And we hear from Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's former foreign minister, who tells Victoria and Vitaliy how the war has brought Ukraine and Poland closer together. Today's episode was presented by Vitaliy Shevchenko and Victoria Derbyshire. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Clare Williamson. The technical coordinator is Emma Crowe. The series producer is Estelle Doyle. The assistant editor is Alison Gee. And the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480.
Joining Gavan to discuss the forthcoming US Midterm elections is Anthony Zurcher, BBC North American Correspondent.
Ahead of the US midterm elections, Oliver Conway is joined by Americast's Sarah Smith, Anthony Zurcher and Marianna Spring to discuss the Trump factor, abortion, the role of social media and much more. Will the Republicans sweep the board or can the Democrats hold on to at least one of the houses of Congress? The result is likely to shape American politics for the next two years - and could help determine who ends up in the White House in 2024.
FBI agents have raided the Florida home of former US President Donald Trump overnight. The unprecedented action is believed to relate to the handling of official papers. Anthony Zurcher the BBC North American correspondent told us exactly what happened overnight.
FBI agents have raided the Florida home of former US President Donald Trump overnight. The unprecedented action is believed to relate to the handling of official papers. Anthony Zurcher the BBC North American correspondent told us exactly what happened overnight.
A national emergency is declared as the UK faces a record-breaking heatwave. The Sunday Times health editor Shaun Lintern and rail expert Anna-Jane Hunter assess how the NHS and railways will cope if temperatures reach 40C next week. And Adam discusses the US Capitol riot hearings with the BBC's Anthony Zurcher and Alex Holder, director of Unprecedented. The documentary about President Trump has been used as evidence by the House of Representatives committee investigating what happened that day. This episode of Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Phil Marzouk and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Alison Gee.
Ukrainians have mounted a defiant response since President Vladimir Putin's invasion of their country began. But scores of lives have nonetheless been lost. Moscow's propaganda machine has been in full swing domestically, trying to conceal any Russian casualties from the outside world. Caroline Davies visited went to a village in Eastern Siberia to speak to the families and friends of one of the Russian soldiers in Ukraine – who's believed to have been captured. Finland once signed a treaty which ensured it would not face a Soviet invasion, providing it stayed out of Nato and gave Moscow to influence its domestic and foreign policy. To date, Finland has remained outside Nato but a debate is now underway as to whether it should eventually join following threats from Vladimir Putin this week. Emilia Jansson reports that attitudes on the ground are beginning to shift. For the majority of those attending the annual Republican Conference in Florida, the crisis in Ukraine was a subject best avoided. Instead, President Joe Biden was cast as their greatest threat. Anthony Zurcher reports on the conference. Thousands of miles off the coast of Chile, sits the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. The islanders are eagerly anticipating the return of one of their beloved Moai – figures carved out of rock. It was first brought to Chile in 1870. Jane Chambers has been following the twists and turns of the great home coming of one of them. Copenhagen is home to one of the world's largest humanitarian aid warehouses. The warehouse can store more than 36 000 pallets of life-saving equipment. It's sorted and packed by robots, humans and mechanised wheelbarrows. Sandra Kanthal has been to the warehouse, run by Unicef, to meet the people who work there.
Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent, on a $73 million settlement paid by the makers of the gun used in the Sandy Hook school shooting.
Vice President Kamal Harris' first year in office has been very rock. The two issues the White House assigned to her - Immigration and Voting Rights - proved to be too challenging for her and her staff. A recent poll shows that only 28% of Americans want President Biden to seek re-election. Can Kamala turn around her political fortunes ? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/james-herlihy/message
Will they / won't they? All eyes are on Boris Johnson, still... as more MPs call for him to stand down. Laura K and Craig Oliver (ex Director of Comms for David Cameron) pick through the pieces. And, what is really happening in Ukraine right now? The US say that the Russians could attack at any moment. We catchup with Americast's Anthony Zurcher, as well as Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary General... Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with John Murphy, Alix Pickles and Ben Cooper. The studio director Hannah Montgomery.
President Biden has urged his party to pass his $1 trillion infrastructure bill. But interparty disagreement over a separate social spending bill is threatening to block the passage of both in the House of Representatives. The BBC's senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher brings us the latest from Washington DC. Also in the programme, the US economy added 531,000 jobs in October, beating analysts' expectations. We look at the latest data with Chris Low of FHN Financial.
All eyes are on the COP summit on climate change, its delegates charged with the task of limiting CO2 emissions for decades to come. The mood music beforehand has not been positive, but then this summit represents one of the greatest challenges of all times in terms of diplomacy: persuading many countries to take a short-term economic hit, in return for the long term, greater good of the planet. This would be a tough call at any time, but the times now seem particularly challenging for reaching agreement, according to James Landale. He was at the G20 summit of wealthy nations which has just finished in Rome, a prelude to the COP event. He says even there, it was clear that multilateral cooperation is just not in vogue at the moment. India has a reputation as a country where families of the rich and famous are particularly protected from misfortune, not having to play by the same rules as lesser mortals. However, it seems that now depends on what kind of fame and wealth you are related to. This has been brought to the fore by two recent criminal cases. On the one hand, there is the son of a Bollywood film star, caught up in allegations of drug possession. On the other hand is the story of a government minister's son. His car apparently ploughed into a group of protestors, killing eight. It is what happened next that has made these cases front page news in India. The actor's son was locked up straight away, despite his apparently plausible protestations of innocence. Meanwhile it took almost a week for the Minister's son even to be arrested. Geeta Pandey has been following the twists and turns of this murky story. The rich and famous of Europe also have their privileges, not least the expensive spots they go to on holiday. Among these is Monte Carlo, popular particularly with those who not only have plenty of cash, but also a yacht that needs berthing. The capital city of tiny little Monaco has always pulled in such big-wigs, but it seems these visitors are now very much a reason that other visitors come. Because while some choose safaris for a holiday, to see wild animals, in Monaco, it's the wealthy people and their lifestyles which other people come to see, says Felicity Hannah. International summits may be tough going for negotiators, as we suggested above, but they do at least give world leaders a brief break from their troubles back home. Prime Ministers and Presidents get to strut their stuff on the world stage, talking about major issues like climate change. Just for a few days, they don't have to think so much about how to run public services, for example, or whether voters will approve of new regulations they've introduced to control playground safety in nursery schools. Instead, it is the big stuff they can focus on. And yet, some of those who went to Glasgow will have found it hard to forget the home front. Take the US President, Joseph Biden. Less than a year after being elected, his poll ratings are not good . This week his Democratic Party lost a crucial Governor's election in Virginia, a vote which many commentators believe expressed popular disaffection with the President and his record. Anthony Zurcher has been travelling with Joseph Biden this past week, and has also been talking to some of his heartland electorate back home. It is not easy finding places for astronauts to train. Some of the original Apollo team who went to the moon practised under-water, to get a taste of weightlessness. They also went to the Arizona desert, to experience a barren landscape that would be similar to the moon's. What you might not expect is to find a team of trainee space adventurers coming to a small, medieval town in southern Germany. Certainly this was not the kind of company Andrew Eames expected to be keeping.
Gavin McLoughlin is joined by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent. Taking Stock with on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.
President Biden’s administration has plenty to do – and has gone about doing it at a less hectic pace than its predecessor. The Democrats say their plans are all about ‘rebuilding America’ with proposals for huge infrastructure projects as well as social care reform. Senior Republicans have called it “the most socialist agenda” Congress has ever voted on. Anthony Zurcher has been feeling a different mood in DC. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh last year cost Armenia dear, in territory and lives. A truce deal, backed by Russia, was meant to get all prisoners of war back home. But Armenia says around 200 of its citizens are still in captivity. Rayhan Demytrie reports. Nick Thorpe, the BBC’s correspondent in Budapest, is no stranger to the River Danube. He’s travelled its length twice, has written a book and made a series of documentary films on it. But this week, he met his match - a hardy couple of adventurers who've been paddling upstream for weeks, only leaving the water to sleep. The buzz over the Eurovision Song Contest is a little quieter this year in Rotterdam – though we can still expect blaring power ballads. Singing indoors is a high-risk activity these days. Covid restrictions don't make the easiest conditions for a festival of unity. But Steve Rosenberg’s enthusiasm is undampened. The work of Claude Monet is deeply rooted in nature. For him, plants and landscapes weren’t simply pretty things to be observed, but the core of his inspiration. From 1883, at his home in Giverny in Normandy, he cultivated specific views to contemplate. His gardens are usually a major visitor attraction but languished unseen through much of 2020. As they got ready for a limited reopening, Christine Finn had an early look. Producer: Polly Hope
US President Joe Biden has unveiled the details of a spending plan aimed at re-igniting America's economic growth. It aims to upgrade its crumbling infrastructure and tackle climate change. We get reaction from the BBC's Anthony Zurcher in Washington DC. And we get market reaction and the rest of the news on Wall Street from Susan Schmidt of Aviva Investors.
Erich chats to BBC's senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher. They discuss what it was like to cover the White House under Trump and also how to translate US politics for a British audience.
We visit the tribesmen of Yemen, which has for years been wracked by civil war. The conflict morphed into a proxy war in 2015 after a coalition, led by Saudi Arabia launched attacks on Iranian-backed Houthi Muslim rebels. And as the conflict has raged on, Yemeni civilians face economic hardship and starvation. Some of the country’s tribespeople have stepped up to play the role of peacemaker to try to restore order. Leila Molana -Allen heard about some of the challenges they face when she was a guest at a tribal gathering in the south of the country. For a president to undergo an impeachment process was until recently a somewhat rareified event, but former president Donald Trump has now undergone not one, but two sets of proceedings against him. The latest one examined his role in the storming of the Capitol building on January 6th. In the end, the Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump – and as Anthony Zurcher found, the era of Trump’s influence is by no means a closed chapter for Republicans. Kosovo has been marking the 13th anniversary of its independence from Serbia. And voters have been ringing the changes, facing temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius and snow to cast their ballots – awarding a landslide victory for the opposition Self Determination party in last Sunday’s parliamentary election. Guy Delauney reports. Cuba is suffering. Economically the country is in its worst moment since the “Special Period”, a decade of severe austerity and shortages after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Breadlines are once again a common sight across the island. The hard times have prompted the government to undertake long-promised radical economic reforms. As Will Grant reports, the changes mean that even a low-key celebration of a special occasion can be tricky. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling
Podcast: From Our Own Correspondent Podcast (LS 59 · TOP 0.5% what is this?)Episode: President Trump's LegacyPub date: 2021-01-09In Washington, he storming of Capitol Hill this week by President Trump's supporters has dominated headlines, but many political pundits said that this should not have taken people by surprise. Anthony Zurcher has covered the White House throughout Donald Trump's term in office – he charts the clear path that led to this moment, from President Trump's 2016 campaign. On Thursday, Uganda will go to the polls pitting two very different presidential candidates against each other. Yoweri Museveni has served five consecutive terms and his main challenger, the charismatic Bobi Wine has galvanised support among the youth. But can it guarantee Bobi Wine victory? Our Africa correspondent, Catherine Byaruhanga has been finding out. One day in April , 2015 an old fishing boat overloaded with refugees and migrants sank en route to Italy from Libya – drowning more than a thousand people. Then Italian Prime Minister declared the Italians would salvage the shipwreck and recover the corpses. The boat was raised from the seabed and transported to Sicily. Linda Pressly met the man in charge. Deep among the frosty pines in Baden-Württemberg, a factory is manufacturing the industrial freezers that are needed to keep the supplies of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at extreme cold temperatures. Germany's Covid infection and death rates are rising steeply. It's a race against time as the vaccine is rolled out. Jenny Hill visited the factory dealing with a huge influx of new orders. And we visit Venezuela which has been suffering a deep socio-economic crisis for years. But our correspondent Katy Watson found out on a recent trip to the Hotel Humboldt, which overlooks Caracas, there are those who have benefitted.The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC Radio 4, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
In Washington, he storming of Capitol Hill this week by President Trump’s supporters has dominated headlines, but many political pundits said that this should not have taken people by surprise. Anthony Zurcher has covered the White House throughout Donald Trump’s term in office – he charts the clear path that led to this moment, from President Trump’s 2016 campaign. On Thursday, Uganda will go to the polls pitting two very different presidential candidates against each other. Yoweri Museveni has served five consecutive terms and his main challenger, the charismatic Bobi Wine has galvanised support among the youth. But can it guarantee Bobi Wine victory? Our Africa correspondent, Catherine Byaruhanga has been finding out. One day in April , 2015 an old fishing boat overloaded with refugees and migrants sank en route to Italy from Libya – drowning more than a thousand people. Then Italian Prime Minister declared the Italians would salvage the shipwreck and recover the corpses. The boat was raised from the seabed and transported to Sicily. Linda Pressly met the man in charge. Deep among the frosty pines in Baden-Württemberg, a factory is manufacturing the industrial freezers that are needed to keep the supplies of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at extreme cold temperatures. Germany's Covid infection and death rates are rising steeply. It’s a race against time as the vaccine is rolled out. Jenny Hill visited the factory dealing with a huge influx of new orders. And we visit Venezuela which has been suffering a deep socio-economic crisis for years. But our correspondent Katy Watson found out on a recent trip to the Hotel Humboldt, which overlooks Caracas, there are those who have benefitted.
While President Donald Trump continues to claim widespread voter fraud, President Elect Joe Biden is accelerating preparations to assume the presidency on January 20th by announcing senior members of his cabinet, foreign policy and national security teams . To discuss this further is BBC North America Correspondent, Anthony Zurcher joined Shane on the show. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.
In the United States, President Trump still hasn’t conceded that he has lost the election. His campaign is doubling down making claims of voter fraud. But without evidence. Meanwhile, the election winner, Joe Biden, is preparing to become president while being denied access to the briefings he is entitled to as President-elect, as Anthony Zurcher reports from Washington. Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been dubbed the Trump of the Tropics. Despite widespread criticism of his handling of the pandemic, he has been gaining support from an unexpected place recently – in the country's northeast, known as a left-wing stronghold. But a new welfare benefit is changing the political landscape there, as Katy Watson found. Russia passed the two-million mark of Covid-19 cases this week. One of the worst affected areas is the Archangelsk region in the north, on the White Sea of the Arctic Ocean. It's been hit so hard, that overstretched healthcare workers are defying their bosses and speaking out, as Sarah Rainsford reports. It's Black Friday next week, when retailers try to entice their customers with big discounts. In France however there’s talk of postponing the event because of the current lockdown, to give the smaller bricks-and-mortar shops a chance against the internet-based competition. Lucy Williamson has been to visit a legendary bookshop in Paris: Shakespeare and Company. The island of Madagascar has a wealth of different habitats, that are home to thousands of endemic species of plants and animals that exist nowhere else, like the round-eyed lemurs. But the remaining forests are under threat, as Michelle Jana Chan found out when trekking in a remote canyon. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
For President Trump to have had Covid-19 so close to the election presents political dilemmas. Play it down, and you offend the relatives of the dead. Play it up, you highlight the seriousness of the disease that killed so many on your watch. And then there are the pitfalls for the Democrats. Anthony Zurcher navigates the minefield in Washington. A state of emergency has been declared in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, and troops have been ordered onto the streets of the capital Bishkek to quell the unrest that erupted after a disputed parliamentary election last weekend. Protesters are angry at alleged vote buying and intimidation. They clashed violently with police and seized government buildings. A new revolution, asks Caroline Eden? Despite certain advances, Nigeria still has a way to go to true gender equality. Take renting a home for example. It’s much harder to convince a landlord of your merits as a tenant, if you’re a woman, especially if you’re single, as Olivia Ndubuisi has been finding out. Despite the hot climate, cycling has become popular in the United Arab Emirates, and Team UAE's Tadej Pogacar, a Slovenian, won this year's Tour de France. Young women, too, have taken up the sport enthusiastically, all while wearing modest clothing. Georgia Tolley reports from Dubai. Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield has had to take a driving test - his old Irish licence had run out, and couldn't be renewed in France. But unlike the first time, this time he had to get his head round a counterintuitive but crucial rule: to give priority to any car coming from the right. How did he get on? Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Gavan Reilly was joined by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent to discuss US president Donald Trump’s Covid-19 condition, the confusion around what is the real situation & the latest on US politics. Listen and subscribe to On The Record with Gavan Reilly on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.
The West Coast wildfires have lifted climate change to the top of the campaign agenda, but will it actually shift any votes? It highlights one of sharpest policy contrasts between the two presidential candidates - with Donald Trump questioning whether global warming is even a threat, while Joe Biden has a detailed $2.5 trillion plan to decarbonise the economy. Justin Rowlatt speaks to David Banks, a former energy advisor to both President Trump and George W Bush, as well as Cheryl LaFleur, who served as an energy regulator under Barack Obama. Plus the BBC's North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher discusses electoral calculations behind each candidate's stance. (Picture: A firefighter watches the fire burning in Monrovia, California; Credit: Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images)
For weeks President Donald Trump downplayed the threat of the coronavirus. The White House carried on with business as usual. But then a few members of staff tested positive for the virus. Anthony Zurcher reports on the impact this has had on both the White House, and on the Trump administration more widely. In Ukraine, it's a year since the new president, Volodymyr Zelensky, came to office. Before he was elected Mr Zelensky had been a comedian and actor, playing a popular fictional president fighting corruption in a TV series. And then he got the job for real. Jonah Fisher reports on how the actor-turned-politician has been getting on. The Dutch have been having “an intelligent lockdown” - to minimise the impact on society and the economy. Only shops such as hairdressers or beauticians had to close. As the lockdown eases Anna Holligan reports on innovative solutions to enable restaurants to open and care home residents to see their families again. In Chile's capital Santiago a very strict lockdown was only imposed a few days ago. This new stress comes after months of social unrest over inequalities in the country. Protestors were promised they could vote for a new constitution, but that’s now been put on hold, as Jane Chambers reports. In Greece, they're celebrating Easter - on the 26th of May. It will be a scaled down version, after the actual Easter in April had to be cancelled, with churches closed for lockdown. Heidi Fuller-Love finds that religion is so important, it's sewn into the seam of life in Crete, and not just a coat to throw on when it's cold. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
An Americast takeover... Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Anthony Zurcher join Adam to talk about how America is dealing with coronavirus. With a stateside view from Congresswoman Donna Shalala, who is the longest serving Health Secretary in US history. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi and Alicia Burrell Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
We unpick the latest statement from the PM on Coronavirus and hear from one of the MPs who is self-isolating. And Americast’s Anthony Zurcher joins us to react to Donald Trump banning all travel to the US from the Schengen area. Producer: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Trump may deride him as ‘sleepy Joe’ but this week the former vice president Joe Biden was the rejuvenated, 70 something, comeback kid. He won nine of the 14 states that voted to pick a Democratic White House candidate on Super Tuesday. An astonishing turnaround says Anthony Zurcher. Israelis went to the polls this week for their third election in just a year. The country’s political system has been in deadlock since last April, with no party able to find enough parliamentary seats to build a coalition. If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is handed the mandate to try and form a government, he’ll be juggling that task with preparing for his own corruption trial. Is he the magician of Israeli politics asks Anna Foster. It’s been nearly three years since the Iraqi city of Mosul was liberated from Islamic State. As locals try to rebuild their city and their lives, their efforts are crippled by high-level corruption. Jobs and money are scarce. But Mosul is not lacking in entrepreneurial spirit says Lorraine Mallinder. South Africa’s highly developed economy makes it a magnet for people from elsewhere in Africa. There are more than three and a half million migrants in South Africa, out of an overall population of 50 million. But with politicians accused of stoking anti-immigrant sentiment and attacks on foreigners on the rise Zeinab Badawi wonders if South Africa suffers from 'Afrophobia'. A team in Moscow has created the putrid scent, in a protest against plans for a perfume store in a historic building with a terrible past. Sarah Rainsford met the activists who have come up with an innovative way of reminding people about Stalin's Great Terror in the 1930s.
The president sort of won the Iowa Democratic caucus. This week was supposed to be when the race to be the candidate to take on Donald Trump in November’s presidential election really got going. But the Iowa Democratic caucus was a mess: a tech failure meant a delay in getting results, and a lot of red faces in the party hoping to unseat the current Commander in Chief. Nearly all the results are in, and it looks like Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders have come out on top. But, in a week that also saw him acquitted in his impeachment trial, did the chaos mean Donald Trump is the real winner? Beyond Today producer Harriet Noble takes us through the Democratic candidates, and Senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher looks at what it all means for the incumbent president. Presenter: Matthew Price Producer: Harriet Noble Mixed by Emma Crowe Editor: Philly Beaumont
When Russian forces took over parts of Ukraine in spring 2014, much of the world held its breath. Would Western countries side with Ukraine, and could the fighting spread further into Eastern Europe? While that kind of escalation did not happen, life in Eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed rebel forces and Ukraine’s army are still facing off, still looks something like wartime. As Jonah Fisher recently found, in this terrain, politicians, as well as soldiers, have to tread carefully. This week Democratic members of Congress accelerated their push to impeach Donald Trump. Anthony Zurcher has been watching the hearings. He has had a front-row seat as history is written, but sometimes he wonders what history might make of it. Since the early Nineties, the United Nations has held an annual conference to bring the world together to tackle the threat of climate change. This year's event in Madrid is meant to persuade the biggest polluters to rein in their emissions. But, as David Shukman reports, progress is as slow as ever. A Norwegian pensioner convicted of spying in Moscow recently returned home in a spy swap. Frode Berg’s arrest caused controversy in Norway, with criticism of the use of civilians in espionage. Sarah Rainsford met Mr Berg in Oslo, soon after his release. Prince William has just made his first visit to Kuwait. He will have found it to be a different place to what it was nearly three decades ago, when thousands died during Iraq's invasion and occupation of the country. Sumaya Bakhsh has recently visited Kuwait and discovered that, for some, a sense of loss still lingers. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Neil Koenig
Immigrants & Taxes and The Anti-Vaxx Outbreak Recorded on 03 Mar 2019: Topics include Immigrants & Taxes, and The Anti-Vaxx Outbreak! Banter: Gun Laws, Drafting Women, and Behind the Curve US gun laws: House passes bill expanding background checks , Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, 27 Feb 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47396340 Judge rules all-male military draft unconstitutional, Michael […] The post Episode 013 appeared first on The Skeptic Heads.
Immigrants & Taxes and The Anti-Vaxx Outbreak Recorded on 03 Mar 2019: Topics include Immigrants & Taxes, and The Anti-Vaxx Outbreak! Banter: Gun Laws, Drafting Women, and Behind the Curve US gun laws: House passes bill expanding background checks , Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, 27 Feb 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47396340 Judge rules all-male military draft unconstitutional, Michael […] The post Episode 013 appeared first on The Skeptic Heads.
At what point will the standoff in Washington DC start doing serious harm to the US economy?Vishala Sri-Pathma speaks to two victims of the shutdown. As a prison officer, Eric Young is currently not getting paid by the government, even though he is still legally required to turn up for work. He is also a national union representative, and is calling on the government to start planning for a lockdown of jails as staffing numbers dwindle. Meanwhile Bob Pease, head of the Brewers Association, says that small craft beer makers could be facing real a crisis if the government doesn't start issuing licences again soon.So how much longer can this all go on for? We ask Megan Greene, chief economist at US asset managers Manulife, and the BBC's North America reporter Anthony Zurcher.Producer: Laurence Knight(Picture: A signs says the Renwick Gallery museum is closed because of the US federal government shutdown; Credit: Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images)
Ify and Turquoise discuss BBC News reporter Anthony Zurcher’s article ways American elections are undemocratic, Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman says he always thought of Bert & Ernie as a couple, Push for KavaNaw to be investigated by FBI increases, McDonalds employees #MeToo walkout, Stacey Abram’s twitter thread on her brother and criminal justice reform, Hurricane Florence death toll raises to 37, and more.
Few American politicians have carved such a distinctive career as the late John McCain, the Republican Senator for Arizona. Anthony Zurcher, the BBC's North America reporter, looks back at his life, including his military service, during which he endured five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and his two unsuccessful bids for the American presidency. He also examines how McCain gained a reputation as a political maverick, and inflicted one of the most high-profile policy defeats of Donald Trump's presidency to date. Featuring interviews with political journalist and author Elizabeth Drew, political adviser Mark McKinnon, and Brooke Buchanan, Sen. McCain's former press secretary and communications director.
Donald Trump campaigned on numerous issues, but when it came time for action in the early days of his administration, healthcare reform was his top legislative priority. “Repealing and replacing” the Democrats' Obamacare system has proven harder than it seems. Time and time again the Republican-controlled Congress was unable to pass sweeping changes. Anthony Zurcher, examines the challenges facing Donald Trump's Administration, including efforts to replace Obamacare as well as his handling of the opioid addiction epidemic and efforts to reform the medical system for US veterans.
In January it will be 12 months of tweets from Donald Trump since his inauguration last January – a year of tweeting dangerously for his opponents, and potentially for himself. The president has posted about stopping North Korea's ‘Rocket Man' leader from acquiring nuclear missiles. At home he has rallied his supporters and lashed out at his critics – as well as his own intelligence services. Some suggest that forthright remarks on Twitter could cause the President legal problems from on-going investigations into Russia's involvement in last year's election. The BBC's Anthony Zurcher reviews a year of the president's tweets and asks what has been the impact of the way Donald Trump has used Twitter during his first year as president. What can the tweets tell us about the Trump presidency, America and its relationship with the world?
Donald Trump celebrated a remarkable Presidential election victory a year ago on 8 November 2016. Anthony Zurcher revisits that dramatic night – and asks could he do it again in 2020?
President Donald Trump has just completed his first week in the Oval Office. He's been busy - swiftly signing a handful of executive orders, undoing some of President Barack Obama's policies, and picking fights with the press over reports of inaugural crowd sizes. What other challenges does Donald Trump face? Political author Henry Olsen contributes. Also on the programme: the reasons for the Women's March on Washington. Politics reporter Anthony Zurcher presents the final episode of Sopel's Soapbox. We might be back at some stage in the future - but for now, our elections coverage is over as we concentrate on the new administration. Thank you all for listening!
"It's only if centre ground, and the centre left particularly, are changemakers not guardians of the status quo, that we'll succeed. Otherwise... the person who comes along and represents change will take the laurels." Is populism just about being popular or is it a matter of saying what the public want to hear even if a politician is not sure how to deliver it? Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair joins Jon Sopel to talk about populism, globalisation, social media and centrist politics. Also on the programme: the fake story 'pizzagate', and Anthony Zurcher on how - and why - Donald Trump uses Twitter.
"I want admirable, intelligent, prudential people in important slots, because we're not playing tiddlywinks here. This is the Presidency of the United States and there's an enormous amount that rests on how well the President acts." Peter Wehner, an establishment Republican, reflects on how Donald Trump will fit in with traditional, conservative Republicans, when "He won and he's now President". What do Donald Trump's choice of appointments indicate about his priorities for his administration? Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn shares her thoughts. Presented by Anthony Zurcher.
"The FBI is not to be used for political purposes and he should realise he was being used for just that." Jon Sopel speaks to Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W Bush, about whether FBI Director James Comey broke the law by disclosing a new development so close to the election. The FBI Director turned the US election on its head when he announced a new discovery of emails related to Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State. FBI insiders are reported saying that Comey was concerned about appearing secretive and partisan had he not exposed the new information. Also in this episode: Anthony Zurcher on the African American voter turnout.
"On a dozen counts you would say Donald Trump should be out of this race, but he's not." Donald Trump’s week was marked by a New York Times story about his near billion-dollar business losses in 1995 and further questions about his tax returns. But even so, Allan Lichtman, who has correctly predicted the winner of every election for three decades, says forecasting this year’s race is still the most puzzling and difficult yet. Also on the programme what millenials think, and Anthony Zurcher on the vice presidental debate. Don't forget to send in your questions for next week's programme via direct message https://www.facebook.com/bbcworldservice or email worldservice.letters@bbc.co.uk
Light-hearted and deeply analytical, this podcast is both. "Lord help us. We need prayer. Cos we're in trouble," says one voter on the programme. Just what is going on in the US? Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post shares her thoughts on the psychology going on in the Presidential debate. And the BBC's Jon Sopel and Anthony Zurcher talk about Libertarian Gary Johnson's bad week and how it's still up for grabs as to who could be voted in as President. Don't forget to send in your questions for next week's programme via https://www.facebook.com/bbcworldservice