Funding Ukraine… or America First?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 21 September 2023
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Some US politicians are growing impatient over supporting the war effort – and a lot could change if Donald Trump wins back the White House.
Our very own Anthony was in the Oval Office to see President Zelensky meet its current occupant, Joe Biden, while Sarah watched them address the UN. We talk about how Washington views America’s role in the conflict.
And Marianna chats to award-winning true crime podcasters, Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, about the harmful effects of social media’s obsession with crime cases and whether that could extend to US politics.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GUESTS: • Suruthi Bala, 'RedHanded' podcast host • Hannah Maguire, 'RedHanded' podcast host
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
Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 2:27 – Will the US election decide the war in Ukraine? 21:10 – TikTok frenzies and true crime in America 38:28 – Rep. Lauren Boebert “reaching across the aisle”
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.4 | Hi, all. |
| 0:06.4 | It's Anthony. |
| 0:07.4 | I'm sitting outside the West Wing of the White House, where US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian |
| 0:11.5 | President Bolotomir Zelensky just finished about two hours of meetings. |
| 0:16.2 | I've been in the press pool today, and there are times when cool duty feels like you have |
| 0:19.9 | a front row seat to history. |
| 0:22.0 | Today, that was one of those days. |
| 0:29.3 | Once we packed into the Oval Office, where the two leaders sat on chairs across from |
| 0:32.8 | one another, Biden wore suit, Zelensky sported his drab olive military attire. |
| 0:38.9 | That was followed by a larger group in the East Room of the White House. |
| 0:43.2 | The President, Secretary of State Blinken, and the rest of the US delegation sat across |
| 0:47.6 | a long table from their Ukrainian counterparts. |
| 0:50.6 | The two presidents shook hands at the end, with Biden telling those of us in the press that |
| 0:54.8 | there was no alternative to US support for Ukraine. |
| 0:58.6 | There's no alternative. |
| 0:59.6 | Thank you. |
| 1:00.6 | All right. |
| 1:01.6 | We're ready. |
| 1:02.6 | Thank you so much. |
| 1:03.6 | Now, if you go back shortly after Zelensky arrived here in his motorcade, a reporter next |
| 1:07.5 | to me on the South Lawn shouted a question at the Ukrainian President. |
... |
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