Newscast

Newscast

The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth. Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest news, developments in politics in Westminster and beyond. Newscast is hosted by trusted politics and news journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. 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. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer. GET IN TOUCH: Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480 Email newscast@bbc.co.uk Join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Or use the hashtag #BBCNewscast

Episodes

August 8, 2026 29 mins

Today, we look at the closest General Election of a generation as three party leaders faced their first national test.

There had been building speculation about when Labour Prime Minister Gordon would call the election after taking over from Tony Blair in 2007. When he eventually did, he faced the Conservatives’ David Cameron and Liberal Democrats’ Nick Clegg.

Adam is joined by Nick Robinson, who was the BBC’s poli...

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Today, after a week of deadly strikes targeting factories and infrastructure is the War in Ukraine entering a new phase of aggression?

President Zelensky has appealed for more ballistic missile interceptors after twenty one people were killed in a night in Kyiv. Moscow fired 115 drones and 24 ballistic missiles. Most of the drones were shot down, but Kyiv's depleted air defences did not intercept any of the missiles.

In Moscow oil r...

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August 6, 2026 28 mins

Today, are some of the world’s leading AI companies doing enough to stop their models from going rogue?

Facebook owner Meta has become the latest tech firm to say one of its AI models hacked another company. Similar breaches by OpenAI and Anthropic models have raised cyber-security concerns and prompted calls for tougher safeguards and more rigorous testing. Adam discusses with Professor Gina Neff, Head of the Minderoo Centre...

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Today, we discuss the Conservative Party’s decision to select an ex neo-Nazi as a council election candidate in Somerset.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine spent three years in prison for posting antisemitic material ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally in 2015. While in prison, he was also convicted of racially harassing then-Labour MP Luciana Berger, who is Jewish.

Kemi Badenoch has defended the decision, saying he had been rehabilitated a...

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Today, there has been more criticism from victims’ families over plans to release some prisoners early.

Under the policy, due to begin in October, thousands of prisoners will be eligible to be released part way through their sentences. Ministers announced last night that prisoners guilty of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming will be excluded. Adam is joined by home and legal affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani ...

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Today, Reform have announced plans to use the Navy to stop small boat crossings. They suggest, that if they are elected, military personnel would accompany migrants back across the English channel, overriding French objections if necessary.

Their opponents have said the plans are unworkable and come at a time when the party has been under pressure. Nigel Farage has been facing questions about his handling of donations and the party&...

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Today, we look at David Cameron’s rapid rise to Conservative leader in 2005.

This is the second of six Old Newscasts looking at the story of 30 years of British politics through six votes.

In this two part episode we tell the story of how after another damaging election defeat the Conservatives were once again looking for a new leader. After years in the political wilderness could the Tories elect someone who could end New Lab...

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Today, we look at David Cameron’s rapid rise to Conservative leader in 2005.

This is the second of six Old Newscasts looking at the story of 30 years of British politics through six votes.

In this two part episode we tell the story of how after another damaging election defeat the Conservatives were once again looking for a new leader. After years in the political wilderness could the Tories elect someone who could end New Lab...

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Watch
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July 31, 2026 32 mins

Today, an almighty bust up is happening in the world of football between Fifa and Uefa.

FIFA, who run the World cup, whose President Gianni Infantino recently announced a proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. UEFA, the governing body of European football, responded by calling an emergency meeting and the confederation unanimously voted in favour of a boycott should these plans go ahead.

Jane Dougall, BBC...

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July 30, 2026 34 mins

Today, a major incident has been declared in Suffolk where a wildfire the size of 140 football pitches is burning.

The fire is not yet under control, but Suffolk’s chief fire officer says it currently poses no risk to nearby nuclear power station Sizewell B. And, in the rest of the UK, drought has been declared in Wales and more than half of England.

Adam is joined by Anna Murgatroyd, lecturer in hydrology at Newcastle Univers...

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Today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants a major reform of the current social care system in England and set out his three-point plan to achieve it.

The prime minister has brought forward a review of social care by Baroness Casey, and has asked the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to work with him on his reforms.

But what does Andy Burnham mean by a ‘National Care Service’? Why have 22 previous reviews...

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Today, secondary school pupils in England will be offered more technical subjects as part of education reforms led by the new Prime Minister.

The courses, which will be available from year 10 onwards will be linked to local industries in the hope of giving children a clearer pathway into work.

Andy Burnham says he’s keen to strengthen links between education and the workplace and these reforms come alongside a new bursary schem...

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Today, intense and historic wildfires continue to burn in parts of Europe with more than 300,000 people having now been evacuated across France and Spain.

Adam is joined by Climate and Wildfire Scientist Theodore Keeping and Aitor Hernandez-Morales - Senior Reporter for Politico to discuss why these wildfires are so hard to control and what the political reaction to them has been.

Plus, in a recent interview with Laura, Andy Burnha...

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July 27, 2026 26 mins

What kind of prime minister will Andy Burnham be? Laura Kuenssberg has been behind the scenes with him during his first week in power. In his first major broadcast interview since taking office, she asks about his plans - and the challenges ahead.

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...

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Today, Andy Burnham says he would be prepared to call out Donald Trump to defend Britain's "national interest before anything else" if it is the right thing to do, in his first major interview as prime minister.

Speaking exclusively to the Laura for the BBC, Burnham said he had had a good first exchange with Trump, finding him to be "really warm".

Adam and Laura dissect what the Prime Minister said.

You’ll be able to hear that ...

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Today, we start the first of six Old Newscasts looking at the story of 30 years of British Politics through six votes.

We start in 1997, when the Prime Minister John Major called an election, hoping to extend 18 years of Conservative rule, and beat Labour’s Tony Blair .

To help us, we have two BBC legends who were there at the time. Jeremy Vine was the BBC's political reporter and Kirsty Wark was presenting Newsnight.

In this, ...

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Today, we start the first of six Old Newscasts looking at the story of 30 years of British Politics through six votes.

We start in 1997, when the Prime Minister John Major called an election, hoping to extend 18 years of Conservative rule, and beat Labour’s Tony Blair .

To help us, we have two BBC legends who were there at the time. Jeremy Vine was the BBC's political reporter and Kirsty Wark was presenting Newsnight.

In this, ...

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July 24, 2026 37 mins

Today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has officially opened up the doors to Number 10 North which he has described as the ‘best day of my life’.

Adam is joined by Lucy Fisher - Whitehall editor at the Financial Times and Patrick Maguire Chief Political Commentator at the Times, and they discuss how No 10 North is shaping up and whether it will be more than just a gimmick.

Plus, they look back at Andy Burnham’s annou...

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Today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced ‘no prisoners will be let out’ under early release scheme until he has conducted an ‘urgent review’.

The announcement comes after the widow of PC Andrew Harper described the possible early release of prisoners as ‘deplorable’, following reports that two of his killers could be freed early. Adam is joined by Dominic Casciani, home and legal corresponden...

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Today, Andy Burnham has announced the return of the £2 bus fare cap in most of England - taking effect from January 2027.

Bus fares had initially been capped at £2 in 2023 by the Conservatives, and was later increased to £3 by Keir Starmer. Andy Burnham has reversed the Starmer policy, but how will it be funded?

And, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, one of the first and most senior Labour politicians to pubilicly call for Keir St...

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