Broadcast timeline
Newsnight, followed by Weather
Wednesday 23 September 2026 · 22:30 BST · 30m · 3 stories · 9 annotated moments · 28 of 30 min on news stories (92%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
Newsnight led with President Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington for his first US visit in more than a decade, with trade, Taiwan and AI on the agenda. Donald Trump was travelling to Andrews Air Force Base to greet him on the tarmac. The programme said tariffs imposed on China by the US last year had been reversed, though some restrictions and export controls remained. It also reported that the bosses of Anthropic and OpenAI, Dario Amodei and Sam Altman, had told the UN Security Council that AI could be a risk to humanity and that regulation needed global cooperation. Guests discussed what Xi and Trump wanted, the prospect of continuing the trade truce, US arms sales to Taiwan, and reported US-China moves towards a formal AI dialogue and a possible communication channel. They also considered UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's suggestion that Britain could act as a bridge between the US and China, and the UK's G20 presidency next year.
The BBC reported that the British military had been jamming or blocking satellites from other countries to defend against hostile threats. The RAF had used a ground-based system for the past 12 months, according to a defence source, and it was preventing hostile nation satellites from tracking the UK's nuclear-armed submarines or other sensitive military operations. The UK announced the number three space effects squadron, described as the first ever space squadron dedicated to disrupting, degrading and denying hostile threats in space. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said adversaries were investing heavily in weaponry that could take out satellite systems and that the UK had to be ready for space as the next battleground. The panel discussed the growing use of satellites, hybrid warfare, UK space innovation and defence funding, including whether spending would reach 3% of GDP by 2030.
On air
People and organisations this broadcast put on air during its news coverage. The channel's own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed.
- 3:17
Gillian Tett, Financial Times columnist and provost of King's College, Cambridge
“Gillian Tett”
- 3:17
Matt Sheehan, world leading expert on China's use of AI, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
“Matt Sheehan”
- 7:39
Victor Gao, Vice President of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, Professor
“Victor Gao”
- 14:46
Johnny Mercer, Former Conservative Defence Minister
“Johnny Mercer”
- 14:50
Jonathan Ashworth, former Shadow Cabinet Minister
“Jonathan Ashworth”
- 1:33 Story begins Xi Jinping to meet Trump at White House
- 1:33
Claim Xi Jinping to meet Trump at White House
Xi Jinping is due to arrive in the United States, and President Trump is expected to host him at the White House on Thursday.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 1:33-1:42
- 2:31
Claim Xi Jinping to meet Trump at White House
OpenAI and Anthropic executives told the UN Security Council that AI could pose a risk to humanity and required global cooperation.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 2:31-2:45
- 5:28
Claim Xi Jinping to meet Trump at White House
The United States is seeking a notification system to identify where the two superpowers may come into contact on AI, especially on national security.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 5:28-5:42
- 17:59
- 18:08
Claim RAF jams hostile satellite signals as UK sets up first space squadron
The RAF has employed a ground-based system to jam satellite signals from states including Russia.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 18:08-18:16
- 18:52
Claim RAF jams hostile satellite signals as UK sets up first space squadron
The UK military confirmed it is expanding defence into space and standing up a new space unit with offensive and defensive capabilities.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 18:52-19:02
- 19:07
Claim RAF jams hostile satellite signals as UK sets up first space squadron
Wes Streeting said the UK must be ready for space as the next battleground because of rapid battlefield technology advances in Ukraine.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 19:07-19:18
- 22:41
- 24:30
Claim Mercer and Ashworth debate compromise and trust in Westminster
Jonathan Ashworth criticised Labour's position on Gaza for not calling for a ceasefire.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 24:30-24:37
- 26:11
Claim Mercer and Ashworth debate compromise and trust in Westminster
Johnny Mercer said he resigned because the Conservatives were not going to fulfil manifesto commitments on Northern Ireland veterans.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 26:11-26:16
- 27:07
Claim Mercer and Ashworth debate compromise and trust in Westminster
Johnny Mercer said too many people in politics seek personal status rather than doing the work.
BBC Two, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 23 September 2026, 27:07-27:12
Source: BBC TWO, "Newsnight, followed by Weather", Wednesday 23 September 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.