- 33 minutes 18 secondsMPs Vote Against Assisted Dying Bill
Today, MPs have voted against a fresh move to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill would have allowed adults with fewer than six months to live to apply to be given help to end their life.
It followed hours of debate and the result was close with 286 against and 270 in favour. Adam is joined by Ailbhe Rea, Political Editor of the New Statesman and Lara Spirit, Deputy Political editor of the Sunday Times to unpack the politics of the result and to reflect on the other big events in Westminster this week.
Including the moment the new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a fundamental shift on the government’s approach to Israel. Also, they discuss the news that Zack Polanski has been confirmed as the Green Party candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election taking place next month, and whether the greens think they can win.
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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 with Cordelia Hemming. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
11 September 2026, 3:29 pm - 42 minutes 8 secondsTrump's $5,000 Payout Promise
Today, US President, Donald Trump, has said he will offer every adult American $5,000 (£3,700) if the Republican party wins the midterms.
President Trump gave no detail on how it would work or how he would fund it. Speaking at the party's first-ever convention in the middle of a US presidential term. He also said that the country’s war with Iran would not end until after the midterms. James is joined by Caitriona Perry and Faisal Islam to unpack these latest statements.
Plus, is there a more than 10% chance AI could kill all humans within a decade? The ‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton says this estimate by some experts isn’t an unreasonable one. The BBC’s Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy is in the studio to tell us what people working inside AI have to say about the risks associated with it.
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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 James Cook. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris, Shiler Mahmoudi and Cordelia Hemming. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
10 September 2026, 3:51 pm - 29 minutes 19 secondsIs This The Biggest Row Between Israel And The UK?
Today, we look at Israel’s reaction to UK sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The foreign minister Gideon Saar announced retaliatory counter-measures, including the closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem. Meanwhile in the UK, Ed Miliband has disagreed with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis who described the move as a "truly dark day" that put British Jews in greater danger.
Adam discusses the continued fallout between Britain and Israel with chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet and Panorama filmmaker Jane Corbin.
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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 Miranda Slade with Anna Harris and Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
9 September 2026, 4:13 pm - 38 minutes 46 secondsWhy Has The UK Government Changed Its Approach to Israel?
Today, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has told Parliament the UK would ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.
In the speech, he said the UK government "agrees" there is ethnic cleansing in areas of the West Bank, and that the Israeli government is turning a “blind eye”. Israel has responded by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem and banning 11 left-wing MPs from entering the country.
How much is this a change in UK policy toward Israel? Adam and Chris discuss with BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen.
Plus, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan say the couple were surprised to see a letter sent on behalf of King Charles clarifying they remained non-working royals after moving back to the UK. Royal correspondent Sean Coughlan is in the studio.
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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 with Anna Harris, Shiler Mahmoudi, and Lois Worrow. The social producers were Gabriel Purcell-Davis and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
8 September 2026, 3:55 pm - 41 minutes 57 secondsCan The Chancellor's Positive Vibes Limit Tax Rises?
Today, John Healey delivered his first major speech as chancellor, aiming to boost confidence in the economy with a positive message.
The chancellor set out his intentions for growth, investment and more jobs. But midway through, Jaguar Land Rover announced they would be making thousands of job cuts after struggling with competition from China and falling behind in the electric vehicle race.
Economics editor Faisal Islam and business editor Simon Jack explain what it means for the country, and they chat through Healey’s new ‘Make Great Britain Growth Britain Again”
And we've had a weekend of anti-migration protests. One involved men in balaclavas in Dover and one with a crowd trying to block the migrant coaches in Portsmouth. UK correspondent Daniel Sandford explains.
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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 with Anna Harris and Lois Worrow. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was Philip Bull and Holly Smith. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
7 September 2026, 4:26 pm - 29 minutes 45 secondsHow New Is Andy Burnham’s Labour?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has consistently talked about what he sees as the wrong direction the country has been taken over the last 40 years.
So as the new Chancellor John Healey prepares a speech for tomorrow setting out his plans for growth, we look at whether this government will be as different as it is being presented as.
The new Conservative shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith is also trying to distance himself from the past. We compare the two approaches.
And after more difficult questions for Reform UK and Nigel Farage over money, we ask where he goes from here and whether can recover from the damage they’ve caused.
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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, Joe Pike, and Henry Zeffman. It was made by Chris Flynn and Jesse Fox. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
6 September 2026, 11:36 am - 34 minutes 18 secondsHow Damaging Is Reform's Donations Row?
Today, we look at how much damage the Reform donations report will do to the party.
Nigel Farage has said he "frankly wasn't listening" during the conversation with his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter discussing what appears to have been a scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK.
The row has overshadowed the party’s conference in Birmingham, where Laura, Chris, and Joe got together to discuss Farage’s response.
They also look at whether cultural issues are partly to blame for controversies for the party to do with money.
And we look at the policies coming from the event.
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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, Chris Mason and Joe Pike. It was made by Chris Flynn and Jesse Fox. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
5 September 2026, 4:02 pm - 18 minutes 57 secondsThe Undercover Reform Investigation
Today, two senior officials have stood down from Reform UK after a Channel 4 News report prompts the party to investigate claims about funding.
Nigel Farage's senior aide Dan Jukes and Reform's head of policy James Orr have both stood down pending the outcome of the internal probe. The undercover filming was done by Verbatim Investigations and broadcast by Channel 4 News. Reform UK has denied wrongdoing and Nigel Farage describes the operation as entrapment.
The footage appears to show an attempt to secure funding from someone they believed to be a foreign donor. Electoral law prohibits UK political parties from receiving financial contributions from people who can't vote here.
Reform denies any wrongdoing and says it has "been the target of a hoax perpetuated by foreign-funded climate change activists". Adam and Chris discuss. This episode was recorded at 11.30am on Friday.
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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 with Miranda Slade and Nik Sindle. The social producers were Joe Wilkinson and Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
4 September 2026, 12:23 pm - 40 minutesBurnham’s Big Economic Choices
Today, we discuss the economic challenges Andy Burnham is facing ahead of his first budget.
The economic backdrop has left the prime minister and his Chancellor John Healey with big decisions to make about defence spending, as pressure increases on the government to raise it. Adam Fleming is joined by economics editor Faisal Islam and Helen Miller, director at the IFS to discuss the options for the government.
Plus, the BBC’s technology and AI editor Zoe Kleinman is the first British journalist to hail a self-driving Uber in London. She’s in the studio to debrief on what the journey was like, and how quickly the technology is evolving.
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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 Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi and Nik Sindle. The social producers were Joe Wilkinson and Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
3 September 2026, 4:39 pm - 27 minutes 36 secondsHow Did Andy Burnham Do In His First PMQs?
Today, Andy Burnham faced his first PMQs, and Nigel Farage has told Chris the UK is a "complainants' society" after questions about Reform’s funding.
Adam and Chris unpack Chris’ first interview with Nigel Farage after he returned to parliament as the re-elected MP for Clacton on Tuesday. They discuss his response to continuing questions about the £5m he received from a crypto billionaire before becoming an MP, plus whether Andy Burnham’s premiership is a threat to Reform. Farage has said the £5m was a personal gift and did not therefore require registration under the rules.
And Andy Burnham has faced Kemi Badenoch in his debut appearance at PMQs. Does the new Prime Minister seem like a breath of fresh air, or is it already a return to politics as usual?
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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 Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi and Nik Sindle. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
2 September 2026, 3:39 pm - 33 minutes 10 secondsKeir Starmer Resigns (Again)
Today, after standing down as Prime Minister earlier this summer, Keir Starmer has decided to announce his resignation as MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
It comes on Andy Burnham’s first day addressing MPs in the House of Commons as Prime Minister. Was the timing deliberate, or coincidental?
Prime Minister Burnham has returned to the House of Commons after Summer Recess promising to 'unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility' - but what issues are awaiting the new-ish prime minister? Adam and Chris are back together on Newscast to unpack it all.
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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 with Shiler Mahmoudi . The social producer was. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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