The Explanation is a snackable audio guide giving you the backstory behind the headlines. In each episode, presenter Claire Graham meets a BBC News correspondent who has lived and breathed these stories. She’ll hear clear analysis along with powerful archive. The Explanation will go back in time to unpack complex chains of events and will make the stories in question easier to understand.
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to deploy troops to tackle protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, examines the impact at home of Russia’s war casualties in Ukraine, and looks at shocking evidence of life in Syria’s prisons under former leader, Bashar al-Assad.
The advertising industry is facing dramatic change, after Meta announced new AI tools that will let anyone make ads. Sir Martin Sorrell, Executive Chairman of S4 Capital, and Alex Dalman, Co-chair of the Advertising Association’s AI Taskforce, discuss whether the industry faces an existential threat. Dan Snow is the TV historian turned media mogul, whose network History Hit celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. With a streaming service, a YouTube channel, and popular podcast, Dan reflects ...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the impact of the election of a right-wing president in Poland on the country’s government, examines the long-term effects of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, and looks at the ongoing attempts by the Chinese authorities to suppress the memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Producer: Kate Cornell Executive Producer: Benedick Watt Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski
NPR, one of America’s most prominent public broadcasters, is facing potential funding cuts following moves by President Trump. The administration alleges a lack of impartiality, prompting legal action by NPR to defend its editorial independence and mission. Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, outlines the organisation's stance and shares her plan for survival. The Hajj in Mecca has become a huge media event but reporting from it poses significant logistical and editorial challenges. With two million pi...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether criticism from within Israel will force Netanyahu’s government to change its approach to the war in Gaza, examines the impact Russia’s latest onslaught is having on Ukrainian citizens, and looks at the conflict between security forces and armed separatists in Cameroon over the independence of the country’s two English-speaking regions.
Joe Kahn, Executive Editor of the New York Times, outlines how the newsroom prioritises stories, handles editorial pressure, and navigates the challenges posed by political figures like Donald Trump. Also on the show, Simon Reeve, BBC travel presenter, and Alfie Watts, a digital travel content creator, reflect on the changing landscape of travel media. Reeve shares the motivations behind his new BBC series on Scandinavia and how he integrates current affairs into travel storytelling. Presenter: ...
James Landale, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU, looks at the possible impacts of the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, and examines scientists’ attempts to discover the origin of life itself.
Gary Lineker, a former England football captain and longtime presenter of the BBC’s football highlights programme Match of the Day, has left the corporation after sharing a controversial post on social media. His exit followed years of internal debate over his political commentary online and the BBC’s impartiality rules. Steve Ryder, former BBC sports presenter, reflects on Lineker’s elevated status within the BBC and why many saw his departure as long overdue. Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor at Th...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza, assesses China’s efforts to lessen its reliance on the United States for trade, and looks at attacks against critics of the Iranian regime on foreign soil.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reignited an information war, not just on social media but also in mainstream outlets. Shayan Sardarizadeh from BBC Verify explains how false reports of military actions, such as attacks on Karachi or high-level casualties, have circulated with little evidence. An Australian court case involving Erin Patterson, accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth with a poisonous lunch, has drawn intense media attention. Nino Bucci from ...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Russia’s current strategy in Ukraine, looks at the preparations the Polish are making for a possible Russian invasion of their country, and examines the escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank. Producer: Kate Cornell Executive producer: Benedick Watt Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski
Tina Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has joined Substack, a self-publishing platform for independent writers. Speaking in the week of the Truth Tellers summit, which she founded in memory of her husband Sir Harold Evans, she highlights concerns about press freedom, particularly in the face of legal and financial pressure from media owners. Chris Best, co-founder of Substack, outlines the platform’s business model, which he says offers creators editorial freedom, prestig...
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what does the futur...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the role Donald Trump played in the Liberal Party’s election victory in Canada, looks at the extent of the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, and examines whether the legacy of Pope Francis will endure under his successor. Producer: Kate Cornell Executive producer: Benedick Watt Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski
Piers Morgan explains why he has stepped away from traditional television to focus exclusively on YouTube. He outlines the commercial and editorial logic behind the move and his plans to expand the Uncensored brand across digital platforms, including Substack. A UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman has prompted a wider examination of how British media report on gender identity. Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor at The Sunday Times, Jane Fae, Chair of Trans Media Watch, Hannah Ba...
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what does the futur...
The death of Pope Francis has drawn intense global media coverage as journalists gather in Rome. Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent for The Times, describes press access within the Vatican and reflects on the Pope's evolving relationship with journalists. The Pentagon continues its hunt for officials behind recent high-profile leaks involving sensitive military plans. David Smith, Washington DC Bureau Chief at The Guardian, joins former special adviser Peter Cardwell and journalist Isabel Oakeshot...
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what does the futur...
A critical moment emerged in northern England as the UK government intervened to prevent the closure of a major steelworks, one of the last of its kind in the country. The intervention followed the discovery that blast furnaces were on the brink of shutdown due to the site's Chinese owners halting essential raw material orders. Ed Conway, Economics Editor at Sky News, and Jo Makel, Senior Reporter for BBC regional television, explain their approach to reporting the story. Also on the show, how a...
Ben Brown in London and Sumi Somaskanda in Washington, examine the key questions about the Trump tariff rollercoaster of the last few days. Why has the US doubled down on China with even steeper tariffs of 145%?
Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs has disrupted global markets and challenged journalists tasked with explaining complex financial implications. Dharshini David, Deputy Economics Editor at BBC News, outlines how media coverage has responded to the fast-moving story, including social media misinformation and the difficulties of making the topic accessible to the public. Max Goldbart, International TV Co-Editor at Deadline, assesses what tariffs could mean for the media industry itself. T...
A Netflix drama about a boy accused of murder has sparked global attention over the content consumed by teenage boys online. Claire Holubowskyj of Enders Analysis highlights how boys spend significant time on platforms like YouTube and Reddit, often absorbing longer-form, algorithm-driven videos. Dr Marcus Gilroy-Ware of SOAS and Oli Dugmore, Editor at Joe, delve into the online presence of Andrew Tate and similar figures. Also on the show, Nintendo has announced the Switch 2 console, a successo...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines how Gaza could be governed in the future, analyses what a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia might look like, and looks at whether a minerals deal with the United States might end the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A new lawsuit has intensified scrutiny over whether artificial intelligence models are being trained using pirated books. Authors and publishers are reacting to claims that Meta used books from Library Genesis, a well-known piracy site, without permission. Alex Reisner, Data Journalist at The Atlantic, built a tool enabling authors to check if their books were included in the dataset. Rosie Wilby, comedian and author, found her work listed and raised concerns over consent and fair compensation. ...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the negotiations between the United States and Russia over a ceasefire in Ukraine, examines Canada’s attempts to forge European alliances amidst a trade war with Donald Trump and – at a pivotal moment for the International Criminal Court - explores the impact of the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines.
Documentary maker Dan Reed returns with Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, following Wade Robson and James Safechuck as they continue their legal fight against Jackson’s estate. Reed discusses how he got the film over the line and the ongoing backlash from Jackson’s supporters. Also on the show, the Trump administration has cut funding to US state-backed broadcasters, affecting Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Free Asia. Bay Fang, President of Radio Free Asia, responds...
Dr Joachim Nagel isn't just Germany's chief central banker, he's one of the most powerful economic policy-makers in Europe. In this exclusive interview, originally recorded for the BBC World Service's Business Daily podcast, Ed Butler asks how he thinks Germany, and the European Union as a whole, should be responding to a time of unprecedented economic peril. It's a shaky time for the world's third-largest economy, which has been experiencing stagnant growth for five years. As a trade war betwee...
Sarah Wynn-Williams describes her seven years at Facebook as a “front-row seat” to one of the most powerful and influential companies in the world. She traveled on private jets and met with heads of state in her role as Director of Global Public Policy until 2017. But now in her new memoir, Careless People, she makes a series of allegations about the behaviour of the company at the time. Meta denies wrongdoing. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer for BBC Audio: Simon Richardson Producer for BBC Ne...
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether jitters in the world markets suggest an economic downturn is imminent, examines how the American decision to hold talks with Hamas has affected the situation in Gaza and looks at how scientists are trying to counter the jamming of GPS signals.
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what Ukraine can do to win back American military support in its war with Russia, explores whether a European army could provide a bulwark against Russia and looks at how Donald Trump and Elon Musk have waded into the controversy over South Africa’s land inequality.
