Americast returns for a new series from tomorrow, 31 August, with Today presenter Justin Webb, North America editor Sarah Smith and disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring as the new hosts.
They will join North America correspondent Anthony ‘The Zurch’ Zurcher for new episodes released on BBC Sounds each Wednesday.
Justin says: “We know how much this podcast means to Americasters. I look forward to dusting off my former North America editor hat and delving into the issues and controversies that define the US as a nation. I have a daughter who’s a US citizen and I have a great love for the dynamism and inventiveness of the American spirit. I am also – unusually perhaps – optimistic about its future.”
Sarah says: “This is a fascinating time in America – as huge cultural and social issues define the increasingly polarised political debate. I’m excited to be able to tell the story of a changing country with on-the-ground insights from right across America. I’m also married to a US citizen so we are getting competitive about this!”
Each week, BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring will investigate the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. She has created undercover voters – multiple social media accounts belonging to different characters and she’ll track the content that is pushed at them.
The profiles have computer-generated photos and will sit across the political spectrum in the US. The ground breaking investigation will cover a turbulent time for the US politics with speculation over a Trump bid for the presidency and Biden facing domestic and international challenges. BBC Undercover Voters is an Americast collaboration with BBC Newsnight.
Jonathan Aspinwall, Senior Editor, News Podcasts, says: “It’s the perfect time for Americast to return, as the next year brings a massive range of engaging topics for us to cover. The congressional mid-terms and the primaries and campaigns leading up to them will provide ready-made drama, with winners and losers among many interesting personalities.
“We’ve signed up a brilliant team of Justin, Sarah and Marianna along with the Zurch. I know they’ll become trusted friends to Americasters who’ve been asking us to bring back the pod.”
