Are the Republicans ready to win back Arizona?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 July 2026
⏱️ 23 minutes
🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Republicans hope they can win a number of crucial races in Arizona that could determine which party controls Congress in this year’s midterm elections. Arizona Republicans chose to nominate a number of Trump-backed candidates for November’s elections, putting the power of the president’s endorsement to the test in the crucial swing state.
At the top of the ticket is the race for the governor’s office where Republicans are optimistic their candidate, Andy Biggs, can beat incumbent Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs. Biggs supported Trump’s failed attempt to block certification of his 2020 election loss, and there are concerns among some Republicans that his record may put off independent voters in the state.
And, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on the federal government to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes. Mamdani said in a social media video that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York with the Israeli prime minister expected to travel to the city for the UN General Assembly in New York. Donald Trump said in response that Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the U.S. Is this exactly the sort of political fight the president wants right now?
HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | I'm sure there used to be quiet news days. |
| 0:10.0 | Not anymore. These days the news never stops, and nor do we. |
| 0:14.0 | That's why there are new episodes of newscast seven days a week. |
| 0:17.0 | And sometimes even that isn't enough. |
| 0:19.0 | Listen to newscast every day on BBC |
| 0:21.8 | Sounds. Every vote matters, of course, in the upcoming midterm elections in November in the United |
| 0:27.8 | States. You've got Democrats thinking that they could seize control of Congress and that would be |
| 0:33.1 | absolutely crucial for Donald Trump's future for the next two years. But every vote in Arizona might matter a little bit more than others. |
| 0:41.0 | It's an absolutely key battleground state. |
| 0:44.2 | They've now just had their primary elections and chosen the candidates who are going to go into November's race. |
| 0:49.4 | And Donald Trump on a pretty clean slate with all of his nominees going on to victory. But is that going to help them? |
| 0:56.8 | Voters are increasingly unhappy with Donald Trump's performance in the White House. It's possible |
| 1:01.7 | his endorsement isn't going to help his candidates in Arizona. Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 1:09.2 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:12.4 | You hear that sound? |
| 1:13.5 | Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. |
| 1:17.3 | We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. |
| 1:21.5 | This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it. |
| 1:24.9 | This guy has Trump-arrangement syndrome. |
| 1:26.7 | I have four words for you. |
| 1:30.4 | Turn the volume up. Hello, it's Sarah here in the BBC's Washington Bureau. And it's Anthony, |
... |
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