4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 6 August 2025
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has cancelled 22 projects - worth $500m (£376m) in funding – for tackling infections such as Covid and flu. During the pandemic, mRNA vaccines were heralded as a medical marvel that saved lives, but RFK Jr says he wants to shift the money to "safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate". Justin and Marianna look at the broader reasons behind the decision, what the science says, and the possible ramifications. Also today, we discuss stories away from the main American headlines: why former US president Bill Clinton, and his wife Hillary Clinton, have been summoned to give evidence about the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, Trump’s interview on why he sacked the head of America’s main agency which is responsible for issuing job data, and what that tells us about the US economy. HOSTS: * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:04.9 | It's all under the radar today. |
| 0:06.6 | It's all going to be stuff that we might miss on an ordinary occasion, |
| 0:10.8 | but this time we're not going to miss it. |
| 0:12.6 | So it's a sort of scattergun approach. |
| 0:15.0 | There is going to be a ton of stuff, but a lot of it's very important. |
| 0:17.9 | And a lot of it we've sort of bitten that before, but we haven't properly chewed. So Jeffrey Epstein will be there. The economy will be there. A few other things |
| 0:25.2 | as well. Plus the meta question, how much does any of this stuff actually matter or not matter? |
| 0:31.5 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 0:35.5 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 0:38.5 | You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. |
| 0:41.3 | You're gambling with World War III. |
| 0:43.5 | President Trump's message is very simple. |
| 0:45.6 | We are done being taken advantage of. |
| 0:47.4 | Mr. President, in the name of our God, have mercy upon the people. |
| 0:51.7 | We're scared now. |
| 0:52.6 | Are you supportive of these onesies? |
| 0:54.9 | I'm supportive of vaccines. |
| 0:56.5 | What is happening? Like, this is not America. This is a terrible nightmare. |
| 1:00.9 | This is what victory feels like. Yeah. |
| 1:19.4 | Hello. Hello, it is Mariana, aka Misinformation, back in the worldwide headquarters of America, in London. |
| 1:20.3 | And it's Justin sitting right next to her in the same place. |
... |
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