Americanswers... on 5 Live! Will Trump's new challenge to birthright citizenship work?

Americanswers... on 5 Live! Will Trump's new challenge to birthright citizenship work?

Author: BBC News August 10, 2026 Duration: 40:47

Donald Trump isn’t giving up on his plans to limit birthright citizenship in the US, despite the Supreme Court striking down his previous attempt. He says his administration is making ‘adjustments’, and has issues two new executive orders to combat so-called ‘birth tourism’ and limit the criteria for becoming an American citizen. But what exactly is his new strategy? And a federal appeals court has ordered Trump to stop construction on his $400m White House ballroom, saying he can’t proceed without approval from Congress. Is this the end of the project?

The team also unpack the BBC’s interview with Hunter Biden and his comments about his father, former President Joe Biden. Does he think he made a mistake in pardoning him? And what’s the current state of his health? Sarah, Justin and Marianna join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to answer your questions.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations 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 Jack Maclaren, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd


Trying to make sense of American politics can feel like navigating a maze. Americast, from BBC News, cuts through the noise with a perspective that’s both grounded and far-reaching. You’ll hear from seasoned correspondents like the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, and presenter Justin Webb, who bring decades of experience to the conversation. This isn’t just a recap of headlines; it’s about understanding the forces shaping the United States, from the granular details observed on the ground to the wider historical and social currents at play. The team delves into everything from election campaigns and policy debates to the complex role of disinformation and social media, offering clarity on the stories that define the nation week to week. Relying on the BBC’s global network of journalists, this podcast provides analysis that connects local events to their international significance. For anyone looking to move beyond the soundbites and gain a more nuanced view of American government and society, tuning into this weekly discussion offers a valuable and authoritative resource.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Americast
Podcast Episodes
After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:36
How have 250 years of history shaped modern America? As historic July 4th celebrations take place across the country this weekend we ask how does modern America compare to the vision of the Founding Fathers in the 18th C…
Can Trump convince Republicans he’s won the war on Iran? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:25
The US is lifting its decades-long sanctions on Iran, without guarantees against its nuclear programme. We hear from Republican senators usually loyal to Donald Trump who are critical of Trump’s claims that America has w…