Best Ballots And Bullets Podcasts (2025)

1
The President’s Path: Inside ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ 24:42

19h ago24:42

24:42

We follow President Trump as he visits the new Florida detention centre dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, where around 3,000 migrants are expected to be held as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration. The Trump administration says alligators, crocodiles, and pythons in the surrounding wetlands will keep detainees from escaping — but concerns have …

1
The President’s Path: Governing by post? 25:08

8d ago25:08

25:08

Is Donald Trump’s phone his most powerful tool in office? From announcing ceasefires and trade deals to commenting on military actions like the recent strikes on Iran, Trump has used social media -especially his platform, Truth Social- as a direct line to the public. But what does this say about his presidency? And who's really behind those late-ni…

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s plan for Iran 24:44

14d ago24:44

24:44

Donald Trump will decide if the US gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks. Trump made waves – and charmed voters – by promising an ‘America First’ foreign policy. With the Middle East on the brink, what that means is up for debate. On this episode of The President’s Path, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and B…

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s troops 24:47

22d ago24:47

24:47

Washington DC is hosting a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The event falls on the same day as President Trump's 79th birthday. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann Jr explore how the Trump administration is reshaping the US military with a deployment to quell unrest in Los Angeles, a big parade and chan…

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s travel ban 24:40

28d ago24:40

24:40

Donald Trump has signed a ban on travel to the US from 12 countries, citing national security risks. There are also seven additional countries whose nationals will face partial travel restrictions. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann Jr. explore how the travel ban reflects Trump’s broader approach to immigration and national secur…

1
The President’s Path: Trump v Harvard 25:24

1M ago25:24

25:24

As part of his wider crackdown on higher education, US President Donald Trump has moved to ban Harvard from enrolling international students, accusing the school of not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus. Harvard filed a lawsuit in response, and a judge has halted Trump's ban for now. On this episode of The President’s Path, Caitríona Pe…

1
The President’s Path: Another Oval Office ambush 25:01

1M ago25:01

25:01

In an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, Donald Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa with video over discredited claims of a white genocide in South Africa. In this episode, the BBC’s Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann discuss how Trump handles meetings with foreign leaders visiting the Oval Office. They also…

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s Gulf tour 25:24

2M ago25:24

25:24

US President Donald Trump has visited the Gulf on his first major diplomatic tour since returning to the White House. Caitríona Perry, Bernd Debusmann, and CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe discuss the significance of his trip. They also explore why President Putin skipped peace talks in Turkey between Moscow and Kyiv. Every weekend, The President’s Path explor…

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s wall 25:27

2M ago25:27

25:27

Fewer people are crossing the US-Mexico border under President Trump. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about his immigration crackdown. Plus, Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what’s happening in US politics and what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House and on Capitol Hill. If…

1
The President’s Path: Waltz out 25:35

2M ago25:35

25:35

President Trump has ousted his national security advisor Mike Waltz. He had been under pressure since last month, when he inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal group chat where senior Trump officials were discussing military plans to strike Yemen. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann examine the implications of this decision…

1
The President's Path: 100 days 25:21

2M ago25:21

25:21

President Trump has been in office for nearly 100 days. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann discuss what voters think of his administration so far. Plus, we explore potential tariff and trade deals. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what’s happening in US politics and what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House and …

1
The President's Path: Doubling Down on Deportations 24:11

3M ago24:11

24:11

Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann are joined by Politico's Jack Blanchard to discuss the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case and Trump's meeting with El Salvador's president. While Republicans frame immigration as a winning issue, Democrats focus on the economy, with AOC and Bernie Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" tour drawing huge crowds in red states. Produ…

1
The President's Path: Tariff Turmoil 26:50

3M ago26:50

26:50

President Trump's tariff policy has led to confusion on Capitol Hill, and in the markets. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, are the Democrats trying to take a new approach to tackling Trump?By BBC World Service

1
The President’s Path: Trump’s Tariffs 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

Presidents Trump’s tariffs trigger the steepest US stocks drop since 2020. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, Democrat Cory Booker’s record-breaking filibuster.By BBC World Service

1
The President’s Path: Signalgate 26:45

3M ago26:45

26:45

A journalist ended up in a top secret US military group chat. How did that happen? And how is Washington reacting? BBC's Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about Signalgate. Plus, a look at the other executive orders signed by President Trump this week. Producers: Aisling Taylor and Peter Goffin Sound engineer: Mike Regaard E…

1
The Republican crusade against public media 26:30

3M ago26:30

26:30

Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his representatives have been following through on promises to slash federal spending. Their latest target is public media, and this week fierce Trump-loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene led a hearing demanding that the bosses of NPR and PBS justify their government funding. Public broadca…

1
Pronatalism: Make America procreate again? 29:35

3M ago29:35

29:35

Malcolm and Simone Collins hope to have 10 children to help avoid what they see as a pending demographic collapse. They tell Lucy Hockings that as pronatalists they want to promote the dangers of falling fertility rates and encourage other people to have more children. Whereas many people might see their lifestyle as extreme, pronatalism seems to b…

1
The Great Wealth Transfer: Will it divide millennials? 23:22

3M ago23:22

23:22

The baby boomer generation has become the richest in history. In recent years there has been some degree of animosity between the boomer generation and their younger millennial counterparts. The millennial generation have been much less well off than their parents and are often stereotyped as living beyond their means. But this could all be about t…

1
How did one fire paralyse Europe's busiest airport? 20:20

3M ago20:20

20:20

London Heathrow saw all its flights cancelled on Friday after a fire at a local power supply station. The news led to rampant speculation online – rumours of foreign interference, accusations against executives, and angry questions about who was to blame. So why wasn’t there a contingency plan to keep such an essential transport hub running? Caitrí…

1
Noise: The not-so-silent killer? 27:29

3M ago27:29

27:29

By BBC World Service

1
The President’s Path: What's the chance of a constitutional crisis? 27:20

4M ago27:20

27:20

This week, Donald Trump and his team are continuing the immigration squeeze. When 238 Venezuelans were deported from the US, a federal judge ordered the planes be stopped and turned around. The administration decided to proceed, setting up a fraught legal battle between the Trump team and the federal courts. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Ber…

1
Turkey: Erdogan's political deja vu 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested on Wednesday on corruption and terror charges he insists are politically motivated. Considered the leading candidate to face Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the next election, Mr Imamoglu's eligibility had been thrown into doubt after his university degree was annulled earlier this week.…

1
Are we really getting enough sleep? 26:29

4M ago26:29

26:29

We spend around a third of our lives sleeping. But many people struggle with insomnia or have difficulty staying asleep, and research shows that bad sleep can increase the risk of multiple health conditions. How harmful is bad sleep to our health? And what can we do about it?Jonny Dymond speaks with Professor Russell Foster, Director of the Sleep a…

1
Why has Israel gone back to war? 26:27

4M ago26:27

26:27

On Tuesday night, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that combat against Hamas in Gaza had resumed in full force. This followed several hours of early morning air strikes targeting Gaza, which killed more than 400 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict so far. Jonny …

1
Putin: War or peace? 26:16

4M ago26:16

26:16

The Russian leader has been mulling a 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by the US, ahead of talks with Donald Trump on Tuesday. Will Vladimir Putin accept a temporary pause in fighting, let alone a long-term deal? What are the pressures that could sway him toward peace, or cause him to drag out the war in Ukraine? On this episode, presenter Jon…

1
Maradona and the trial transfixing Argentina 26:04

4M ago26:04

26:04

By BBC World Service

1
The President’s Path: Are we headed for a global trade war? 26:59

4M ago26:59

26:59

This week President Trump's promises of tariffs became a reality, with universal levies on aluminium and steel imports becoming a reality. The EU responded with their own tariffs on items from bourbon to jeans and the mayor of Ontario threatened to turn of electricity supplies to the US. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer in…

1
Can tariffs convince Mexico to stem the flow of fentanyl? 28:08

4M ago28:08

28:08

Over the past decade fentanyl use has spiked, leading to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. Most of the deadly drug enters the US via its border with Mexico, concealed deep within vehicles and even hidden inside food packages. The Trump administration has previously accused the Mexican government of colluding with the drug cartels. H…

1
Mohammed bin Salman: From pariah to peacemaker 26:28

4M ago26:28

26:28

How did Saudi Arabia come to host leaders from the US, Russia and Ukraine for peace talks? Just a few years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was publicly identified as the man who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As a result, he was referred to as a pariah by former President Joe Biden. So, h…

1
A reckoning for Duterte 26:09

4M ago26:09

26:09

The former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte oversaw a bloody war on drugs that left tens of thousands of people dead, but he remains extremely popular with many in the Philippines, who say he cleaned up their country. On this episode, pr…

1
Can Syria ever be united? 26:09

4M ago26:09

26:09

When Syria's Bashar al-Assad was toppled in a lightning offensive in December, his successor Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to unite a broken country. Barely three months on, a surge in fighting between pro-Assad gunmen and transitional government security forces has reportedly left hundreds of civilians dead and exposed the enduring divides in Syrian so…

1
Will Donald Trump take over Greenland? 26:02

4M ago26:02

26:02

The people of Greenland go to the polls for an election this week at a time when Donald Trump says he wants to take over the autonomous Danish territory. The US President hasn’t ruled out using military force, arguing that America needs the world’s biggest island for Arctic security. A majority of Greenlanders say they don’t want to be owned by the…

1
The President’s Path: Spotlight on the VP 28:21

4M ago28:21

28:21

JD Vance has enjoyed increased prominence over the past week, as his headline-grabbing speech at the Munich Security Conference was followed by a starring role in the Oval Office blow-up between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. We look at how the VP’s central role compares to that played by Mike Pence during the first Trump administration, and how th…

1
How North Korean hackers launched history's biggest heist 23:32

4M ago23:32

23:32

In February, hackers launched what is being considered the biggest heist of all time, when they stole almost $1.5bn from the cryptocurrency trading platform, Bybit. The record theft reportedly went down in just two minutes, and it set in motion a race against time to freeze some of the funds before the culprits could cash out. Soon, evidence began …

1
Xi Jinping takes the trade war to Iowa 22:58

4M ago22:58

22:58

China's retaliatory tariffs on US agricultural exports could hit President Trump's rural heartlands. This week, 3,000 of China’s most influential politicians have gathered for the annual National People’s Congress. Premier Li Qiang referred to the economy as a “giant ship” moving “steadily towards the future.” But behind the optimistic rhetoric, Ch…

1
Have RFK Jr.'s vaccine views gone mainstream? 26:04

4M ago26:04

26:04

Vaccine mistrust is on the rise. And when US President Donald Trump's new cabinet met for the first time last week, all eyes were on the new Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr who has long been known as a vaccine sceptic. With doubts about vaccines increasing in many parts of the world, will his appointment have an effect on t…

1
Is Trump taking Putin's side? 25:02

4M ago25:02

25:02

After a tense meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, relations between the US, Ukraine, and European allies seem to have reached a new low. Meanwhile, ties between the White House and the Kremlin appear to be warmer than they have been in decades. President Trump has publicly praised his close relationship with …

1
Zelensky's diplomatic rollercoaster 27:28

4M ago27:28

27:28

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been on a diplomatic rollercoaster in the last few days. His meeting with Donald Trump descended into argument and accusation on Friday. Then, he was greeted with open arms by European leaders at a summit in London. Following that meeting, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new plan for Eu…

1
The scandal sinking an Oscars campaign 24:15

4M ago24:15

24:15

Emilia Pérez is the most talked-about movie of awards season. But despite a divisive premise about a Mexican drug boss seeking gender affirming surgery, it's the fallout off-screen which is causing controversy. The re-emergence of offensive tweets by its lead star, trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón, has derailed the movie's momentum. After promoters…

1
Inside Ukraine as Trump targets minerals 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington on Friday, after a preliminary deal was agreed to share his country's mineral resources. Kyiv insists it is still seeking additional security guarantees from the US, before anything is signed. Meanwhile, Ukraine's long defence against Russia's invasion continues, and three y…

1
Why are more younger adults getting cancer? 25:57

4M ago25:57

25:57

The number of cancer cases among the under-50s around the world appears to have risen sharply in the past 30 years. Studies have shown that there are rising cases of breast, colorectal and other cancers in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. But what is driving the increase in younger adults getting cancer and can anything be done to stop it? Present…

1
China’s approach to Trump 2.0 24:29

4M ago24:29

24:29

The challenges and opportunities facing Beijing. China has been recalibrating its economic, political and diplomatic strategies since Donald Trump returned to the White House. From renewing the state’s relationship with powerful tech giants to expanding Chinese influence in the developing world, President Xi Jinping is preparing his country for a n…

1
Inside Russia: Putin’s war, three years on 24:58

4M ago24:58

24:58

What have Russians won and lost during the conflict in Ukraine? Three years after the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has entered talks with Donald Trump – and not Kyiv – about ending the war. For Vladimir Putin, this could be a chance to end the conflict on his terms, and forge a new international order with Russia and the US at its centr…

1
The President's Path: Trump and Zelensky's rift 24:29

4M ago24:29

24:29

The world of international relations was shaken as the US held talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The relationship between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky has soured, with Trump calling Zelensky a "dictator" and accusing him of doing a "terrible job." Zelensky has fired back, claiming that the US President is trapped in a "disinformat…

1
Bolsonaro: Is it all over for the 'Trump of the Tropics'? 26:28

4M ago26:28

26:28

With President Trump back in the White House, his Brazilian former counterpart Jair Bolsonaro is attempting his own return to high office. Bolsonaro has been nicknamed the 'Trump of the Tropics' but he is facing a lot of hurdles to reclaim his position. He has been barred from standing in the next election by the courts and he has been charged with…

1
From welcome to wary: Europe's divide on migration 24:55

5M ago24:55

24:55

A decade of migration through the eyes of a German city. Ten years ago Germany opened its borders to more than a million people at the height of Europe’s so-called migrant crisis. A decade later, that warm welcome has cooled as issues of culture, integration and national identity spark fierce debate across the continent. With German elections just …

1
Is Rwanda backing rebels in the DRC? 25:25

5M ago25:25

25:25

The mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dogged by conflict for more than 30 years, since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Violence has once again seen an uptick in recent months as the M23 rebel group has captured a number of key cities and towns. Led by ethnic Tutsis, the militia has long been associated with the Rwandan gover…

1
How can Europe defend itself without the United States? 24:12

5M ago24:12

24:12

With the Trump administration threatening to redirect America's foreign defence spending from Ukraine and Europe to other parts of the world, European leaders are grappling with what the future of their security could be without US support. Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They discuss the threat of Russia…

1
The President’s Path: The push to end the war in Ukraine 29:10

5M ago29:10

29:10

On this episode of The President’s Path, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann Jr discuss a week of major foreign policy developments in Washington DC. The proposed meetings between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could herald a new dawn in US-Russia relations, while critics fear Ukraine could be sidelined during negotiations to end …

1
Has one phone call sealed Ukraine's fate? 26:24

5M ago26:24

26:24

In a surprise move this week, US President Donald Trump announced that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The pair held what Washington described as a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call, ending an effective boycott of high-level diplomatic dialogue with the Kremlin by western l…

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