The Week: Defence Spending, Benefit Cuts and The Spring Statement

Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss the impact of President Trump’s new 25% tariff on cars, whether Labour’s proposed welfare changes are more about balancing the budget than reforms, and Baroness Sue Gray has issued a warning in her maiden speech in the House of Lords about the language used around cuts to the civil service.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/NbuxWnmYNew episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Anna Harris. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Adam is joined by Jeremy Bowen to discuss the summit taking place in Paris, where Europe’s leaders have united behind support for Ukraine and further sanctions against Russia.Plus, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride is in the studio to give Adam and Chris his verdict on yesterday’s Spring Statement. And, it wouldn’t be Mel Stride on Newscast without a political sporting metaphors quiz. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/NbuxWnmYNew episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi and Nancy Geddes. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a set of measures aimed at restoring her fiscal headroom.Adam and Chris are joined by Faisal Islam and Dharshini David to unpack everything the Chancellor revealed today, including cuts to welfare spending. Plus we dive into the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast - and their many, many, charts. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Anna Harris, Shiler Mahmoudi and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at the fall out after a journalist revealed that he had been mistakenly added to a groupchat where US security leaders were discussing air strikes in Yemen. Many of the security officials on the Signal app chat have been testifying at a worldwide threat assessment hearing in the Senate.Adam is joined by BBC chief presenter in Washington Caitríona Perry and former Pentagon top US government security official Celeste Wallander.Plus, a lawyer investigating former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has found "credible evidence" he and his staff mistreated two female team members. He denies the allegations. Chris is on to explain what’s happening.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Anna Harris and Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, delegates from the US and Russia are meeting for another round of talks on the war in Ukraine. The meeting follows Witkoff’s comments on Tucker Carson’s podcast over the weekend where he said President Putin is “not a bad guy” and questioned Ukraine’s claims to parts of its own country.Adam is joined by North America editor Sarah Smith and diplomatic correspondent James Landale.Plus, David Dimbleby tells Adam all about the free market revolution ahead of the release of his new podcast ‘Invisible Hands’. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Shiler Mahmoudi and Anna Harris. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

What could the Spring Statement mean for the UK?Today, Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss Laura’s interview with chancellor Rachel Reeves about proposed cuts to the civil service and welfare system.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Adam Chowdhury. Digital production by Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Laura and Paddy look ahead to the Spring Statement after Rachel Reeves ruled out "tax and spend" policies, signalling that she will neither raise taxes nor government budgets.The chancellor has been speaking to Laura for a BBC documentary called ‘The Making of a Chancellor, which you can listen to on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00298hqAlso Paddy tries out a new metaphor.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell . It was made by Lewis Vickers with Adam Chowdhury. Digital production by Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, James and Chris are joined by Lucy Fisher from the FT and Stephanie Flanders from Bloomberg to discuss; whether the Prime Minister can convince the public that an increase in defence spending is needed, how the benefit cuts are being received and what to expect from the spring statement. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at why Israel has "resumed combat in full force" against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Israeli aircraft launched massive airstrikes against what the military said were Hamas targets in Gaza, and ground operations have started again.International editor Jeremy Bowen explains how domestic politics could be a factor in Israeli Prime Minister’s Benjamin Netanyahu decisions.And as European leaders meet to discuss a plan for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, Europe editor Katya Adler is on to talk about what NATO is already doing on the Russian border.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Chris Flynn with Shiler Mahmoudi and Nancy Geddes. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at the challenges being faced by young men and boys after the former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate said he fears they are spending too much time gaming, gambling and watching pornography.James and Alex are joined by Ed Davies, Policy Director of the think tank the Centre for Social Justice, and Ceylon Andi Hickman, director at Football Beyond Borders.They discuss what’s driving the problem, which Southgate and the Centre for Social Justice says is a ‘crisis’.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook and Alex Forsyth. It was made by Chris Flynn with Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.