Trump vs Comey (and the city of Portland)

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 29 September 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It started with a Truth Social post from the president, calling for a handful of his critics to be prosecuted, one of those targeted was the former FBI director James Comey. Less than a week later, he has been indicted and charged with perjury over testimony he gave to Congress five years ago about the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Prosecutors allege he lied about whether he authorised the leak of classified information to members of the media.

Sarah and Anthony discuss the rocky relationship between Trump and Comey, concerns about whether Trump is weaponsing the justice department to target his political rivals, and who could be next?

And Trump has set his next target for the National Guard to deply to - Portland, Oregon. He says the city is ‘war-ravaged’ and that ICE Facilities are ‘under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists’. What is the reality on the ground? How have Democratic lawmakers in Oregon pushed back? And what precedent could it set if federal troops do march onto the streets?

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

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This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. 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.
0:07.2	We get it. Life is busy. You want to keep up with the news, but there's just too much going on.
0:13.0	Which is where newscast comes in. We do the work, and when you're ready to dig deeper into the day's news, you just pop us into your ears.
0:23.1	It does mean we have to put in the hard work, though.
0:26.1	Listen to newscast every day on BBC Sounds.
0:28.1	Here's a question for you, Anthony.
0:32.8	If you're going to try and sum up, everything that's happened since 20th of January,
0:36.8	everything about Donald Trump's second term in just one word, what would it be?
0:37.4	One word. Let's see. Disruptive,
0:40.1	chaotic, aggressive, destabilizing, take your pick.
0:44.0	Yeah, okay. Four one words. I think we could add revenge or retribution to that,
0:49.9	especially after the events we've seen over the last couple of days, where we've got one of his big enemies, as he describes him,
0:57.1	James Comey, former head of the FBI, being indicted,
1:00.3	and he's sent National Guard forces to the city of Portland,
1:04.0	which he complains about a great deal as well.
1:06.4	It feels like he's taking on and fighting back against previous adversaries.
1:12.3	Welcome to AmeriCast.
1:21.3	AmeriCast. AmeriCast from BBC News. When Donald Trump calls, they say, yes, sir. Right away, sir.
1:27.2	Happy to lick your boot, sir. We are the sickest country in the world. Oh dear. Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?
1:29.4	Of course the president supports peaceful protest.
1:31.4	What a stupid question.
1:32.4	Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?
	...

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