4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 9 July 2025
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Donald Trump is under pressure from sections of his MAGA-supporting base after a Justice Department memo released on Monday said there was no 'client list' related to the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein Files argue that he held a client list in order to blackmail high-profile individuals. During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to release files relating to the disgraced financier.
Anthony, Marianna and the BBC’s North America Correspondent, Nomia Iqbal look into the new accusations of a cover up, the controversial ‘missing minute’ of Epstein’s final hours and why it all matters.
There's also increasing uneasiness among MAGA when it comes to U.S. foreign policy. Despite campaigning on an America First promise of non-intervention, the president has said the U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine after an announcement last week that Washington would halt some shipments of critical arms to Kyiv.
The Americast team discuss whether the president really is losing his core supporters, and whether it will force him to change his approach.
HOSTS: • Nomia Iqbal, North America Correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations 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 [email protected] • Or use #Americast
This episode was made by George Dabby with Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Chris Ablakwa. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.
Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm Radical: BBC Sounds - Radical with Amol Rajan - Available Episodes
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0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
0:04.8 | Okay, so here's the thing. |
0:06.2 | Maga, Donald Trump's Make America Great Again base, is not happy. |
0:10.6 | In particular, they're upset about files relating to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein |
0:15.6 | that the Trump administration has promised to release. |
0:18.9 | So, why are they unhappy? |
0:21.1 | And is the president losing his base? |
0:23.5 | Let's talk about it. |
0:24.5 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
0:28.7 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
0:31.9 | You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. |
0:34.6 | You're gambling with World War III. |
0:36.9 | President Trump's message is very simple. |
0:38.9 | We are done being taken advantage of. |
0:40.7 | Mr. President, in the name of our God, |
0:43.1 | have mercy upon the people. |
0:45.0 | And we're scared now. |
0:46.3 | Are you supportive of these onesies? |
0:48.3 | I'm supportive of vaccines. |
0:49.8 | What is happening? |
0:50.9 | Like, this is not America. |
0:52.7 | This is a terrible nightmare. |
... |
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