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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

Ukraine war: are we inching closer to peace?

Delegations arrived in London on Wednesday for talks on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after the discussions were downgraded from the very top level. Officials, including the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Secretary David Lammy had been expected to attend, but that’s now not happening. The downgrading in the level of diplomacy is in contrast with an intensification in the pressure from Donald Trump to agree a ceasefire. So, what’s going on? Is a peace deal inching clos...

Apr 23, 202516 min

What next after the Pope?

As Catholics around the world continue to mourn the death of Pope Francis, the process to elect a new pope will begin soon. But what direction will the new pontiff take? Will the cardinals pick a reformer or go with a traditionalist? And how will the church deal with waning congregations in the global north in comparison with the growing numbers in the south. Niall Paterson speaks to Freddy Gray, editor of the US Spectator and former deputy editor of the Catholic Herald about the tensions in the...

Apr 22, 202514 min

What's the legacy of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, a day after appearing in the Vatican’s St Peter's Square to wish worshippers a happy Easter Sunday. Earlier this year, he was treated in hospital for five weeks with an infection, but had been discharged. The Argentinian pontiff, who ushered in a swathe of reforms over his 12-year papacy, symbolised to many an increasingly modern, progressive, and inclusive church. Niall Paterson is joined by Italian-born Sky News presenter Barbara Serra, who covered the d...

Apr 21, 202516 min

Who is the "world's coolest dictator" Nayib Bukele?

El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele was welcomed into the White House by President Trump earlier this week. The pair have recently become close allies after Trump began sending Venezuelan immigrations to a prison in El Salvador. On this Sky News Daily host Niall Paterson finds out who the self-proclaimed "world's coolest dictator" actually is. He speaks to chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay about what impact Bukele has had on El Salvador's gang problems and if he has transformed the country into...

Apr 17, 202517 min

Trans women not legally women say judges – what changes now?

The definition of a woman is based on biological sex, according to the UK’s most senior judges. As part of the decision, Lord Hodge, one of the judges, said: “We counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another, it is not." Nevertheless, campaigners who brought this case to the courts cheered and hugged as the judges left the room. This episode hears from both sides of one of the most divisive debates in society and Niall Paterson...

Apr 16, 202517 min

Weinstein retrial: What happened to the #MeToo momentum?

Jury selection begins on Tuesday in the retrial of the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, where the original charges of rape and sexual assault will be heard again. Last year his convictions on those charges were overturned due to concerns the judge had made improper rulings. The accusations against the Hollywood mogul were first published seven years ago - sparking the #MeToo movement. It saw a flood of women - famous and not - sharing stories of gender-based violence and harassment. On the S...

Apr 15, 202514 min

From Shanghai to Scunthorpe - what's China's influence on UK industry?

British Steel's Scunthorpe steelworks are now effectively under government control after the business secretary said Chinese owner Jingye had decided to stop buying enough raw materials to keep the blast furnaces going. Jonathan Reynolds said the government took the action as steel "is vital for our national security". But with Chinese companies owning hundreds of billions of pounds worth of infrastructure assets throughout the UK, do they have too much influence on the UK's critical industries?...

Apr 14, 202514 min

Electoral Dysfunction: Why isn’t Keir Starmer saying what he really thinks?

On today's Sky News Daily, we're sharing the latest episode of Electoral Dysfunction. Donald Trump has pressed pause on his higher tariffs... but not before he unleashed absolute chaos on the global economy. It all came down to the bond market - which you might remember from Liz Truss's time as prime minister... Alongside most countries, the UK still has the base level of 10% tariffs on exports and 25% on automobiles, so is the prime minister's "keep cool" strategy still paying off? Or is the UK...

Apr 11, 202533 min

Bin strikes, stinking rubbish and rats – what's life like in Birmingham now?

It's been five weeks since the Birmingham bin strikes began over a long-running dispute between workers and the council. The city's residents have complained that mounting rubbish is a risk to public health, with rotting food attracting foxes, cockroaches and rats. Tom Cheshire speaks to Sky's Midlands correspondent, Shamaan Freeman-Powell, who's been in the city finding out how residents are dealing with the mounting rubbish, the smell and the rats - and whether an end to the strikes is in sigh...

Apr 10, 202513 min

US-China trade war ramps up: Who will blink first?

Donald Trump has raised trade tariffs on China again - up to 125% and that's effective immediately. At the same time, he's ordered a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for dozens of countries. If it wasn't a trade war between the world's two biggest economies before - it is now. On this episode, Mark Austin examines if China will keep on retaliating against Donald Trump. Its tariffs on US imports had been increased to 84%. He's joined by vice president of the Beijing thinktank, the Centre for China ...

Apr 09, 202516 min

Courts and the Colosseum: What is the Harry and King Charles dynamic now?

Unannounced Prince Harry arrived at the court of appeal in London on Tuesday, as part of a last-ditch attempt to overturn the Home Office decision to remove his UK state funded security, something he calls an “injustice”. It overshadows the King and Queen’s state visit to Italy which comes at a time of geopolitical and diplomatic delicacy as Trump’s tariffs upend world order as we know it. On the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin speaks to royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills in Rome about why security ...

Apr 08, 202514 min

Market turmoil: Are we heading for a global recession?

Today has seen chaos on global stock markets, with price plunges reminiscent of the famous Black Monday crash of 1987. Back then, the causes were unclear, whereas today there's no doubt - Trump's "liberation day" tariffs have spooked the markets. In 1987, people feared Black Monday was a sign of a global recession. They were wrong. Are we right to have the same fears today? Tom Cheshire is joined by Sky's Darren McCaffrey and stockbroker Russ Mould to discuss what might come next. Producers: Tom...

Apr 07, 202516 min

The rise (and fall?) of Marine Le Pen

The leader of France's far-right National Rally party Marine Le Pen has had her dreams of becoming the president of France thwarted. It comes after a court found her guilty of embezzling European Union funds. She's now been banned from running for political office for five years. She has the support of Elon Musk, and Donald Trump who publicly backed her after the conviction, and this weekend there's a massive rally planned in Paris in support of her. So who is Marine Le Pen? Niall Paterson talks...

Apr 04, 202515 min

Trump's tariffs: what do they mean for Britain?

President Donald Trump has imposed immediate tariffs of 10% on all British exports to the United States. He did this as he announced a "declaration of economic independence" for the US. On his self-declared "Liberation Day", Mr Trump described the tariffs as reciprocal and said he was going to be "kind" by charging half of each country’s total "anti-US" measures. Niall Paterson talks to Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso about what these tariffs might mean for British business, which sector...

Apr 03, 202515 min

How have Trump's tariffs already affected China?

China's economy is already struggling. Growth has slowed dramatically in recent years and there is high youth employment. Since the beginning of March, there's also been a tax of 20% on any goods sold to the US. Ahead of President Donald Trump’s "liberation day", what effect are tariffs already having on the Chinese economy? Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith who has been to Guangdong province to find out how manufacturing is being impacted. They also discuss how t...

Apr 02, 202516 min

Bills, bills, bills: How can you beat the hikes?

From 1 April, household bills are going up. The cost of everything from energy to phone bills, council tax, and broadband is increasing. You can calculate how the increases will impact you here. So, is there any way you can beat the hikes? Daily host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso to look at why costs are going up, and gets some advice on how to limit the impact on your wallet from financial advisor and founder of Money Matters, Georgia Taylor. Help us unders...

Apr 01, 202514 min

Anger and acrimony: The Prince Harry charity row explained

Last week, Prince Harry quit as patron of a charity he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. Over the weekend, the charity's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka told Sky News' Trevor Philips the prince had been "the number one risk" to the charity and accuses the Duke of unleashing "the Sussex machine" on her and Sentebale's staff. A source close to the former trustees of the charity has described the claims as "completely baseless". On today's Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's royal co...

Apr 01, 202516 min

Who is MAGA's most aggressive loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene?

US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene hit the headlines this week when she told Sky's US correspondent Martha Kelner to "go back to your own country ". It was the latest controversy in a political career for the Republican firebrand - a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. But who is she and how influential has she become? Host Jonathan Samuels speaks to Tia Mitchell, Washington Bureau Chief for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who h...

Mar 28, 202517 min

How will Trump’s car tariffs affect the UK? Ed Conway explains

President Trump has announced a 25% tax on all car imports and car parts to the US - they're due to come on 2 April along with tariffs on many other goods in what Trump is calling "Liberation Day". Rachel Reeves says the UK won't impose retaliatory tariffs yet, in hopes of a deal being struck between the two countries. Niall Paterson talks to Professor David Bailey about how British car companies will be affected, and also to economics and data editor Ed Conway on the wider implications of a pot...

Mar 27, 202517 min

Spring statement: Beth Rigby and Ed Conway on Rachel Reeves's changed plan

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out her plans for the UK economy during her spring statement in the House of Commons. It came as the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - which monitors the government's spending plans - unveiled its latest economic forecasts. Liz Bates is joined by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby, and economics and data editor Ed Conway, to pick through the detail and discuss why the chancellor changed her original plan. Producers: Natalie Ktena Editor: Philly Beaumont...

Mar 26, 202518 min

Trump's metal tariffs are already buckling the UK economy: Ed Conway explains

The world is bracing itself for what Donald Trump is calling 'Liberation Day' when on 2 April he's promised tariffs will be placed on most countries trading with the US. The UK is already feeling the effects of Trump's protectionist policies after tariffs were imposed on its metal industries. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to economics and data editor Ed Conway who has been travelling across the UK looking at the impact they're having so far. He visits an aluminium plant in Scotlan...

Mar 25, 202517 min

The 'charisma battle' at the heart of the Turkish protests

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Turkey, following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu – the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Opposition leader Mr Imamoglu is a popular politician and is a 2028 presidential nominee – but last Wednesday he was detained and later formally arrested for corruption, a move he believes is politically motivated. On Sky News Daily, Liz Bates talks to Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford who has been reporting from Istanbul and meeting with...

Mar 24, 202515 min

How could a fire shut down Europe's biggest airport?

Heathrow Airport has been shut all day after an "unprecedented" fire hit a nearby substation. Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the blaze, with thousands of people affected by plane cancellations and power cuts. On the Sky News Daily, Rob Powell talks to The Independent’s travel writer Simon Calder about how airports prepare for an emergency. He also talks to Sky's data and forensic correspondent Tom Cheshire about how one fire closed Europe's biggest airport and what l...

Mar 21, 202515 min

Is the soft power of the royals more important than ever?

Prince William is in Estonia to visit British troops but also to show the UK's support for the NATO country which borders Russia. The King's invitation to Donald Trump to come to the UK for a state visit was seen as a key part of British diplomacy to keep the US president on side. And the King and Queen are due to go to Italy soon with a focus on UK-Italian defence co-operation. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills in Tallinn to discuss whether at thi...

Mar 20, 202513 min

Can Adolescence change the rise of the ‘manosphere’?

Netflix’s hit drama series Adolescence has shone a light on the pressures faced by boys growing up today, and the rise in misogynistic violence that frequently hits the headlines. It tells the story of what happens to the Miller family after 13-year-old Jamie is arrested in a dawn raid for killing a girl in his class. Sky News' political correspondent Tamara Cohen and Labour MP for Darlington Lola McEvoy join Niall Paterson to discuss Sky News’ exclusive survey of a thousand kids aged 16 to 17 a...

Mar 19, 202515 min

Inside Syria's prisons: Alex Crawford speaks to a British ISIS fighter

Sky News' special correspondent Alex Crawford joins Niall Paterson to discuss her recent trip to northeast Syria, where she gained extremely rare access to one of the main ISIS prisons under Kurdish control. It's a time of particular upheaval in the country - since the new regime took over in Damascus, ISIS attacks have doubled. Alex tells us about the British ISIS fighter she met in the prison - Hamza Parvez, the first Briton to openly declare he was fighting for ISIS in 2014. Alex’s visit form...

Mar 18, 202517 min

Why is Labour sick of the benefit PIP?

The government is due on Tuesday to set out its plans to make cuts to the welfare system. One of the benefits targeted for £5bn worth of savings is the key disability benefit - Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told Sky News 1,000 people a day apply for PIP, but pressure from Labour's backbenchers could see plans to reform the benefit watered down. On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Paul Morrison, a benefits expert and policy adviser for th...

Mar 17, 202513 min

Jonathan Powell – the UK’s bridge with Trump and Ukraine?

Sir Keir Starmer appointed Jonathan Powell to be his national security adviser at one of the most critical points in European security since the Cold War. He has spent years at the heart of government, helping to broker the peace deal in Northern Ireland and more recently the controversial Chagos deal. Now he is being credited with being the architect of the peace deal plan between Ukraine and Russia and the bridge between the Trump administration, Europe and Ukraine. On this episode of the Sky ...

Mar 14, 202516 min

Will Reform's civil war hurt the party?

Reform UK has consolidated its gains at the general election, with recent polling suggesting that it is neck and neck with Labour and ahead of the Conservatives. But now a huge row has erupted between Nigel Farage and his fellow MP Rupert Lowe. Mr Lowe is currently suspended from the party after being reported to the police over alleged threats towards Reform's chairman. He has called the allegations "false" and says it's because he "dared to question Nigel Farage". On the Sky News Daily, Niall ...

Mar 13, 202516 min

The Danish group behind a children's home run like a cult

The Red House was a children’s home in Norfolk which took in hundreds of students in care from across the UK between 1984 and 1998. It was run by a controversial Danish group called Tvind, operating an unconventional education system - most students from the Red House left without any qualifications. Now, over 40 former pupils have come forward with allegations of physical and sexual abuse they say they faced at the home. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to correspondent Alice Porter...

Mar 12, 202519 min
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