This Is Why - podcast cover

This Is Why

Sky Newswww.skynews.com
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why  takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
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Episodes

Vaping: The ‘epidemic’ among teens

Parents and teachers are facing an "epidemic" as the number of under 18s who are vaping has exploded. According to the NHS, 9% of 11 to 15-year-olds regularly use nicotine based vapes, which are disguised by bright colour packaging and sweet flavours. Australia recently announced it is set to ban recreational vaping, saying the products - that are deliberately targeted at children - are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts. On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto hears from a group of teenag...

May 08, 202317 min

Local election results: What do they tell us?

Sir Keir Starmer has declared that the “road to a better Britain” is being “paved with Labour wins” as the party celebrated a series of local election victories across England. The Liberal Democrats have also been celebrating success, taking Windsor and Maidenhead, which covers Theresa May’s constituency. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has defended the government’s position. On the Sky News Daily Niall Patterson is joined by Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates and Sky’s Election Analyst Hannah Bunting to...

May 05, 202324 min

The Republican Royalist

This weekend sees the coronation of King Charles III – but how much do we really know about the man who wears the crown and the woman by his side, Queen Camilla? Ahead of the royal occasion, Niall Paterson has visited parts of the nation to find out what people think about Britain’s monarch - and the monarchy. On this Sky News Daily, Niall talks to Kathy Lette about being both a Republican and friends with Charles and Camilla. Plus, Kathy gives listeners an insight into what the couple are reall...

May 04, 202317 min

From Scilly to Scotland: What people think of King Charles

Ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, Niall Paterson has visited parts of Britain - including Edinburgh, York, Birmingham and Cornwall - to gauge the resilience of the Royal Family’s popularity. On the Sky News Daily, Niall speaks to people in communities along his journey, plus SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, Operation Black Vote’s founding director Lord Simon Woolley, Kehinde Andrews, who co-chairs the Black Studies Association, and the CEO of political organisation Republic, Graham Smith. Annie...

May 03, 202320 min

Local elections: What's at stake?

This week millions of voters will head to the ballot box as more than 8,000 council seats in England are in contested in local elections. The vote will be the last big electoral test of public opinion before the next general election. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's political correspondent Sam Coates to discuss the key things to look out for, what's at stake for the key parties, and what the results will mean for the next general election. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Edi...

May 02, 202322 min

A Royal coronation: How the monarchy and Britain has changed since 1953

This weekend sees the coronation of King Charles III but for some people, this will be the second British monarch they have seen crowned during their lifetime. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to two of those who were in the crowds in central London for Queen Elizabeth II’s big day in 1953. She also looks at how Britain has changed over those 70 years. Julie Windsor, 82, recalls taking photos of the royal procession on her new camera as a schoolgirl, while Brian Kesteven, 87, shares ...

May 01, 202324 min

How long can Wrexham's Hollywood dream last?

Wrexham AFC have been promoted to the English Football League after 15 years in the lower divisions, but their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have lost nearly £3m getting them there. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to club commentator and voice of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, Mark Griffiths, about how his club and town has changed since the take-over. Plus, Sky's sports correspondent Rob Harris on how Wrexham can hope to improve their finances whilst contin...

Apr 27, 202321 min

Trump v Biden - Round Two

President Joe Biden has announced his intention to run for a second term in the White House. Already the oldest president in US history, he would be 86 after finishing a second full term. Donald Trump has already relaunched his bid for presidency. So, is America up for another round of Trump versus Biden? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a look at Biden's first term with our US correspondent Mark Stone, and asks how important his age really is. Plus, we hear from two strategists from ...

Apr 26, 202321 min

Diane Abbott, antisemitism and a ‘hierarchy of racism’ in the UK

Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after she wrote a letter to the Observer newspaper which said Traveller, Roma, Gypsy and Jewish people could not be the victims of racism. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to the author of This is Not America, and writer of the Observer article Ms Abbott was responding to, Tomiwa Owolade, about what he believes are the limitations of viewing racism as a black and white issue. Podcast prod...

Apr 25, 202319 min

Sudan crisis: The Britons left behind

As other nations scramble to extract their citizens from Sudan, thousands of Britons are still stuck with no clear government plan to help them escape the violence. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson hears about the terror faced by those on the ground from our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir and speaks to Dr Shaza Faycal as she awaits news from her mother and two young daughters, who are trying to flee the country. Plus, Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes on why pressure is ...

Apr 24, 202321 min

Voter ID: “Threat to democracy” or sensible fraud prevention?

For the first time in England, people turning up at polling stations to vote in May’s local elections will need photographic ID to cast their ballot. Some argue the move is identity cards ‘by the back door’. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood examines the debate with our political correspondent Liz Bates, who has been speaking to young people in Hull about what the changes mean to them. Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Philly Beaumont – editor

Apr 23, 202317 min

Dominic Raab resigns: What does it mean for the Prime Minister?

The Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has resigned from the government over a report investigating bullying allegations against him. Raab, who was also Justice Secretary, said the inquiry dismissed all but two of the claims against him and hit out at what he called its "flawed" findings, saying it "set[s] a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government". On the Sky News Daily with Sally Lockwood, political correspondent Joe Pike talks about the investigation, and what this means for th...

Apr 21, 202321 min

The Ukrainian children rescued from Russia

Natalya ran a children's care home in southeastern Ukraine when Russian forces invaded in February 2022. Soldiers turned up at her door saying they were taking the children to Russia, and she insisted on going with them. Thousands of Ukrainian children have been illegally taken to Russia over the course of the war but Natalya and her children are some of the few who have escaped. Russia claims it is giving them sanctuary from the horrors of war. On the Sky New Daily, host Sally Lockwood is joine...

Apr 20, 202321 min

Why does the UK have the highest inflation in the G7?

The government has made it its primary aim to halve inflation by the end of the year but things aren't quite going to plan. Britain has shot up the leader board and now has western Europe's highest rate of consumer price inflation. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to founder of consumer advice website Nous and household finance expert, Greg Marsh, about what this means for the money in your pocket, and to Sky's business and economics correspondent, Gurpreet Narwan, about why the UK h...

Apr 19, 202317 min

Hillary Clinton on Northern Ireland, Biden and Ukraine

The former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby about the war in Ukraine, next year’s US presidential election and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mrs Clinton says that the age of the “showman” is over as she put support behind President Joe Biden. She praised the President’s work on Ukraine and she reiterated the importance of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland on its 25th anniversary.

Apr 18, 202313 min

Is Sudan heading for civil war? Why it matters

By Monday, close to 100 civilians – including at least three UN workers - had lost their lives in Sudan following violence that broke out between the African nation's army and a paramilitary group two days earlier. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir - whose parents are trapped in their home in Sudan - and Arshad Malik, country director for the charity Save the Children in Sudan, about what's going on, why it's happening and where it could lead...

Apr 17, 202316 min

Tony Blair on restoring power-sharing to Stormont

Global leaders have been visiting Northern Ireland to mark 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, the peace treaty that bought an end to 30 years of conflict. US President Joe Biden, who boasts of his Irish heritage, was among those calling on the leaders of Northern Ireland to restore power-sharing in Stormont which is currently in deadlock. This week, former US president Bill Clinton, who played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland, will also be visiting Belfast. But can the lea...

Apr 16, 202315 min

Rana Plaza Factory Collapse: 10 years on, how much has changed?

On 24 April 2013, a tower block in Bangladesh collapsed killing 1,134 people and leaving thousands more with life-changing injuries. Most of those killed and injured were factory workers, who had been making clothes for some of the world's biggest fashion brands. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to journalist and author of The Anti-Capitalist Book Of Fashion, Tansy Hoskins and Amy Powney, the creative director of sustainable fashion brand Mother of Pearl and star of the documentary F...

Apr 13, 202319 min

Pentagon leak: The secret Ukraine files explained

Classified US documents purportedly about the war in Ukraine have been circulating online, in what's been called by some the most damaging intelligence disaster in a decade. It is believed some of the documents may have doctored - but the US has admitted they are likely to be authentic. So how does America deal with a security leak relating to war? And how can we tell what's true or not? On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to Jack Taylor from Sky's data and forensics unit about the verific...

Apr 12, 202316 min

Are Labour’s attack ads working?

The Labour Party have launched a series of 'attack ads' taking aim at the Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. The adverts attack his stance on gun crime, sexual assault perpetrators and his personal tax status but they’ve been criticised for their tone. On The Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto asks political correspondent Liz Bates why Labour are getting personal in the build-up to the local elections, and speaks to Conservative peer, Lord Saatchi, who was the brains behind a number of hugely su...

Apr 11, 202318 min

Why do so many US presidents like to say 'I'm Irish'?

Almost every US President since John F Kennedy claims to come from Irish ancestry - and it's not just the White House. Some 45 million Americans claim Irish heritage, 10 times more than the population in Ireland. The two countries have been politically aligned for decades, so why is their relationship so enduring? On the Sky News Daily Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins with political journalist Aoife Moore are in Belfast to explore what's in it for both countries. Plus David speak...

Apr 10, 202319 min

The Good Friday Agreement: 25 years of peace, hope and paralysis

The seismic Good Friday Agreement brought Northern Ireland's long period of violence to an end. It set out fundamental rights for the people of Northern Ireland about identity and citizenship. It set out in law that people from both Catholic and Protestant communities had equal rights after decades of discrimination. But did the Good Friday Agreement achieve everything it set out to? On its 25th anniversary, Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins and political journalist Aoife Moore ar...

Apr 06, 202328 min

Hidden victims: What happens to the children of sex offenders?

A senior police officer has told Sky News that children of sex offenders are "hidden victims" and called for services, especially mental health provision, to be improved. Research shared with us shows around 300 families a month in England and Wales are affected by a parent being arrested for online child sex offences. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to our correspondent Katerina Vittozzi who has been investigating this issue for months after she was tipped off by a police contact. ...

Apr 05, 202320 min

What’s life in witness protection like?

Police praised her bravery, and they described the evidence she gave to a court as "powerful and emotional". This woman helped them convict the drug dealer who shot 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead in her own home in Liverpool. But her courage comes at a huge cost. It’s reported that she’s had numerous death threats against her. She’s been granted anonymity and faces a decision on entering witness protection for years to come. On this Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood discusses how witness prote...

Apr 04, 202319 min

Donald Trump indictment: A help or hindrance for his 2024 ambitions?

Donald Trump is the first former US president in history to face criminal charges. The charges stem from an alleged $130,000 (£105,000) hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign for the White House. Mr Trump still wants to be the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election. One survey has suggested the majority of Republicans think he should still be allowed to run again – regardless of the case against him. So why does he remain such a champion fo...

Apr 03, 202320 min

Andrew Tate released from jail: Why does his appeal continue?

For months, Andrew Tate has been in prison in Romania. Along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women, the controversial influencer is being investigated over claims of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. They all deny all the allegations. Court papers say the Tate brothers are now under house arrest for 30 days. On this Sky News Daily – Niall Paterson looked at why Andrew Tate still has so many loyal supporters. He's joined by the Observer's Sha...

Apr 02, 202323 min

Jeremy Corbyn: Life after Labour

Labour's governing body has voted to block Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election. Mr Corbyn is already suspended as a Labour MP and sits as an independent following a row over antisemitism. In a statement, he said the decision to block him showed "contempt" for the voters who had supported the party at the 2017 and 2019 elections while he was party leader. On the Sky News Daily, politics correspondent Liz Bates speaks to Jon Lansman, the co-founder of Mom...

Mar 30, 202318 min

Is AI becoming too clever?

The government is unveiling a new approach to regulating AI in the UK in the hope of building public trust in the technology it hopes can benefit the economy. But what does the future look like with reliance on artificial intelligence? And can we keep it under control? On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by science and technology editor Tom Clarke to explore the benefits and pitfalls of the technology and speaks to machine learning scientist Catherine Breslin, who helped develop Alex...

Mar 29, 202317 min

Israel protests: Is its democracy on the brink of a crisis?

Protests have broken out in Israel by many of the country’s secular Jews against the government’s plans to “radically” reform the legal system which would remove checks and balances in its democracy. On the Sky News Daily, host Sally Lockwood is joined by our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall to explore how the movement started and why these protests could become a defining moment for the country. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 28, 202318 min

Humza Yousaf promises independence: What can new SNP leader deliver?

Humza Yousaf made a few big promises as he succeeded Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader – including healing divisions in his party, redoubling efforts to lift people out of poverty and, of course, Scottish independence. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies and Shona Craven, columnist at The National, as we look at what we can expect from his leadership and discuss how he will measure up against his predecessors. Annie Joyce – senior podcast prod...

Mar 27, 202319 min
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