Why did Donald Trump skip another Republican debate? Sarah is sent to Michigan instead of California as Trump and Joe Biden race to show their solidarity with striking car factory workers. Marc Lotter, who ran the comms on Trump's last campaign and was press secretary for Vice-President Mike Pence, tells the Americast team about the ex-president's re-election strategy. He gives his take on why Trump doesn't need to debate his Republican rivals, which vice-presidential pick could help put him back into the Oval Office, and the only thing that could stop Trump from winning the Republican nomination. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Katty Kay, US special correspondent • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUEST: • Marc Lotter, Donald Trump's 2020 campaign communications director 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg. CLIP CREDITS: • Fox Business • CBS Sports Network BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 0:05 – Taylor Swift at the NFL 6:51 – Trump skips another Republican debate 13:10 – Marc Lotter interview 32:36 – Is a government shutdown looming?

Some US politicians are growing impatient over supporting the war effort – and a lot could change if Donald Trump wins back the White House. Our very own Anthony was in the Oval Office to see President Zelensky meet its current occupant, Joe Biden, while Sarah watched them address the UN. We talk about how Washington views America’s role in the conflict. And Marianna chats to award-winning true crime podcasters, Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, about the harmful effects of social media’s obsession with crime cases and whether that could extend to US politics. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUESTS: • Suruthi Bala, 'RedHanded' podcast host • Hannah Maguire, 'RedHanded' podcast host 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 2:27 – Will the US election decide the war in Ukraine? 21:10 – TikTok frenzies and true crime in America 38:28 – Rep. Lauren Boebert “reaching across the aisle”

Is Joe Biden too old to win another go in the White House? And could his son derail his campaign? The Americast team talks through the challenges the president is facing in the run-up to the next election. Barack Obama's former spokesperson and podcaster Tommy Vietor gives us his thoughts on Biden's achievements and viral moments, as well as his 2024 chances, with some critics obsessed by his age and sceptical about Vice President Kamala Harris. And the gang tries to guess the Republican presidential candidate from the songs that supposedly "stir their souls". HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUEST: • Tommy Vietor, host of 'Pod Save America' and 'Pod Save the World' 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 Americas[email protected] • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the senior editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 03:10 – Joe Biden's age 15:50 – Tommy Vietor interview 35:00 – Republican soul songs

How do we cover a headline-grabbing former president who falsely claims he never lost the election? Two of our bosses step into the worldwide HQ of Americast for the kind of conversation we normally have in our morning meetings: what past mistakes can we learn from and what’s the BBC’s strategy for reporting on Donald Trump’s campaign and his court cases? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent GUESTS: • Paul Danahar, BBC News Foreign Editor • Adam Levy, BBC News Channel Executive Producer 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning "undercover voters" here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Hayley Clarke. The technical producer was Emma Crowe and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 7:14 – Is Trump a special case? 21:59 – Does the BBC have a liberal bias? 28:33 – Should we show Trump's speeches live? 33:58 – How will the BBC cover the 2024 election?

Charting music's part in US politics, from 1970s disco to 'Rich Men North of Richmond', which has become a surprise No.1 hit. What does this country song, claimed by conservatives, tell us about American society? The Americast team talk to the BBC's 'Professor of Pop', Paul Gambaccini, about protest music in the States. And what happens when musicians refuse to be used by politicians? Karen Willis, manager of The Village People and the wife of its lead singer, tells us about the YMCA group's cease and desist letter against Donald Trump. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent GUESTS: • Karen Willis, manager of 'The Village People' • Paul Gambaccini, Radio 2 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF. This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans and the editor was Damon Rose. BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 19:16 – Karen Willis 28:18 – Paul Gambaccini