Is the U.S. president now above the law?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 3 July 2024
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In one of its most pivotal decisions of the year, the top US court has ruled that American presidents can have absolute immunity for ‘official’ acts. But what does that mean exactly? How far could the leader of the free world push the definition of a presidential duty?
Sarah and Anthony have been combing through the opinion, and call in constitutional law expert Alison LaCroix to help them understand all the details - from the practical to the farcical. Does the ruling impact Donald Trump’s other legal cases? Could Joe Biden order Trump’s assassination and claim immunity?
Elsewhere in the world of politics, some Democrats have started to publicly call for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. Plus, Sarah sat down with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, on plans to contest the 2024 presidential election if the Democrats win. GUESTS: Alison LaCroix, Constitutional law expert and professor Steve Bannon, former strategist for Donald Trump 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 US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Catherine Fusillo, Claire Betzer, and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | Why is Donald Trump claiming victory this week? |
| 0:08.0 | And why does one Supreme Court judge think that the President is now a king above the law. |
| 0:14.3 | And what about this email we've had from John Jenkins who asks, |
| 0:17.4 | could President Biden now wish you a decree as part of his official duties |
| 0:21.3 | that Trump be removed from all ballot papers and the |
| 0:23.9 | Republican Party must find a new candidate. Is that within the powers of the |
| 0:28.0 | USA King? Well don't worry, we'll explain it all. Welcome to Americast. |
| 0:33.4 | America. America. |
| 0:36.6 | Americast from BBC News. |
| 0:39.0 | Let me start off with two words made in America. I'm not running for |
| 0:43.4 | sainthood here. I'm running for president. I did everything right and they |
| 0:46.4 | indicted me. I can chew and walk on at the same time. There is no indication |
| 0:51.2 | of aliens or extraterrestrial activity. |
| 0:53.9 | We will fight the woke in education. |
| 0:56.3 | We will fight the woke in the businesses. |
| 0:58.2 | We will never ever surrender to the woke mob. |
| 1:01.6 | Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking leave. |
| 1:04.3 | Brian. |
| 1:05.3 | Why are you guys tired of covering this? Hello, it's Anthony here in the BBC Bureau in Washington, D.C. |
| 1:18.0 | And Sarah Smith sat beside Anthony this week, which is good news for both for both of us yes and in our comfortable |
| 1:24.6 | new studio which you can watch on YouTube if you like so it's Tuesday |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.