With the Iowa caucus just days away, Chris Christie drops out of the 2024 presidential race. Can anyone stop Donald Trump? The team takes a look at why Iowa dominates the political conversation every four years.

Anthony Blinken is once again in the Middle East to broker peace in the region amid a barrage of attacks by Houthi rebels against Red Sea shipping.

And on Saturday Taiwan heads to the polls for its presidential elections in a vote that could shape the future of relations between the US and China.

With the help of Ivo Daalder, former US Ambassador to NATO, the team takes you inside the Americast Situation Room to monitor the biggest challenges the US faces around the world.

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent

GUEST: • Ivo Daalder, Former United States Permanent Representative to NATO

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 Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.