Newscast

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US-Venezuela: Russian-Flagged Tanker Seized By US Military Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Today, the US has seized two oil tankers — one Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic and another ship in the Caribbean. Both vessels have links to Venezuela.

The UK supported US efforts to seize the Russian-flagged ship, which is accused of breaking US sanctions by shipping Iranian oil.

What do we know so far and is this the closest Russia and the US have been to confrontation since the Cold War? Adam is joined by BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen and Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward.

Also in the studio is BBC economics editor Faisal Islam, who’s back from a visit to Google HQ in California, where they are developing a quantum computer which could have capabilities beyond anything the world has yet seen. Faisal fills us in on what he learned from his trip.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Rufus Gray with Shiler Mahmoudi and Laura Cain. The social producers were Beth Pritchard and Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

UK Troops in Ukraine… But Only Under a Peace Deal Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Today, Adam and Chris discuss the latest agreement between the Coalition of the Willing and the US to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire with Russia.

The talks in Paris saw the UK and France agree to put troops on the ground "in the event of a peace deal".

Plus we look at why President Trump has his sights set on Greenland and whether he really might annex the island.

Adam is joined by the Economist’s defence editor Shashank Joshi and Dr Gabriella Gricius, senior fellow at the Arctic Institute to discuss the strategic importance of Greenland to security in the Arctic.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producers were Joe Wilkinson and Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

US-Venezuela: Maduro Faces Court Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Today, the seized President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has appeared in a New York court charged with narco-terrorism. As Maduro pled not guilty he told the court he was a “decent man” and “still the president of his country”.

The highly televised spectacle of the Venezuelan leader being transferred to the court came as the UN security council held an emergency meeting across the city and President Trump reiterated his interest in annexing Greenland in the name of American national security.

Adam is joined by chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, BBC News chief presenter Caitríona Perry, and Vanessa Buschsclüter, BBC Online’s Latin America and Caribbean editor.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi and Chloe Scannapieco. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

US-Venezuela: Who’s in charge of Venezuela now? Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

Today, we look at who’s in power now in Venezuela, after President Donald Trump said the US will ‘run’ the country.

Maduro's Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has been named interim president, who Trump says is talking to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman is also in the studio to talk through Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura in which he reacted to the news from South America, as well as his future and the UK’s relationship with the EU.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was James Piper. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Keir Starmer 2026 Interview Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

As the new year begins, Laura's had a long chat with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There's speculation about his future, but he says he'll see out the year in the job.

The interview was recorded on Saturday, as the news about President Nicolás Maduro's capture was breaking. Laura also asks Starmer if he's is supportive of Donald Trump's actions.

And, how does he see the UK's future relationship with the EU?

This is the interview in full. There's a regular episode of Newscast on the way later today!

US-Venezuela: Trump strikes, captures the President and says the US will take over Jan 03, 2026

Show notes

Today, the United States dropped bombs on Venezuela and captured its president, before Donald Trump announced that the US will “run” the country until “safe transition can take place”.

He also said US oil companies will fix Venezuela's "broken infrastructure" and "start making money for the country".

Chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Laura and Paddy to talk through how and why Trump took the action. They also discuss what could happen next, and what it means for the rest of the world.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Old Newscast: How Donald Trump Won The Republican Nomination 2016 (Part 2) Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

Today, we look at how Donald Trump won the Republican nomination to be President in 2016 (Part 2).

Adam is joined by chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry, and Anthony Zurcher from Americast.

In part 2 they discuss the unique approach Donald Trump took to the debates? Why the likes of Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio failed to shine? And, why the late attempt by a Republican grandee to stop Trump failed?

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Old Newscast: How Donald Trump Won The Republican Nomination 2016 (Part 1) Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Today, we look at how Donald Trump won the Republican nomination to be President in 2016 (Part 1).

Adam is joined by chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry, and Anthony Zurcher from Americast.

In part 1 they discuss whether a speech by Barack Obama convinced Trump to run? Who his main competition would be? And, what made his campaign so different?

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Old Newscast: How Jeremy Corbyn Won The Labour Leadership 2015 (Part 2) Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

In Part Two of this Old Newscast, we pick up with Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign trail.

Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn entered the leadership contest with many doubting he would win the necessary 35 nominations from Labour MPs to make it on to the ballot. Three months later, on the 12th September 2015, he was elected as leader with almost 60% of the vote.

Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn of the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Jane Merrick and Nick Watt, to revisit how the Corbyn campaign won.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Old Newscast: How Jeremy Corbyn Won The Labour Leadership 2015 (Part 1) Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Today’s Old Newscast is travelling all the way back to 2015: it’s the morning after the general election, and Ed Miliband resigns as leader of the Labour party.

Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn of the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Jane Merrick and Nick Watt, to revisit how the Corbyn campaign won.

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://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

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