Can Trump convince Republicans he’s won the war on Iran?

Can Trump convince Republicans he’s won the war on Iran?

Author: BBC News June 24, 2026 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 won the war, and that Iran is “on the ropes”. In this episode, Sarah and Anthony look at how the US president is trying to convince Republicans and US voters, that it’s the right decision to allow Iran to make billions of dollars from selling oil, and that the regime won’t use it on their military or nuclear programme. Will this work on senate Republicans, where a measure has just been passed to limit Trump’s ability to restart his war on Iran? Also, as Trump blames continued high gas prices on the oil companies, will he convince voters their economic troubles are not his fault?

Plus, is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani starting a new socialist democrat movement across the city? A slate of socialist-leaning Democratic candidates he endorsed have achieved sweeping victories in the primaries. These include candidates who want to defund the police and are critical of the mainstream Democratic establishment. Is this a model the rest of the party might follow elsewhere in the United States?

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America 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 Pickles, Bethan Ashmead and Tom Gillett. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. 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
The battle in rural America against AI data centres [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:05
The world’s largest data centre (62sq miles) has been approved in Utah, but there is growing opposition towards the project. At twice the size of Manhattan with promises to create thousands of jobs, we look at the bi par…
The most expensive World Cup ever? (With Football Daily, part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:23
We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the to…
Will War Overshadow the World Cup? (With Football Daily, part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:10
We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the to…
Why Democrats think they can win back Iowa from Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:53
Could Democrats flip Iowa from the Republicans? It’s a state Trump has won three times and Republicans have dominated for more than a decade. The last senate race the Democrats won there was Barack Obama’s victory in 200…
Does the US need new laws to protect elections? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:41
US presidents have always told lies. Richard Nixon famously lied to Congress over his knowledge of the Watergate scandal while Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives after declaring that he did not ha…