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

Is a degree worth it?

It’s results time for 700,000 A-level and T-level students. It’ll mean final decisions about their future – and whether university is the best option for their finances and their career. With the huge cost of a three or four-year course, squeezed graduate incomes and fast changes to the job market due to AI, is a degree worth it? Niall Paterson speaks to business and economics correspondent Paul Kelso about whether the cost of a degree outweighs its reward and just what has changed since Tony Bl...

Aug 13, 202516 min

Inside settler violence in the West Bank

Who are the Israeli settlers forcing Palestinians from their homes? Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been in the West Bank, witnessing the Israeli settlers who are forcing Palestinians from their homes. He also sees how the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is protecting the growing number of Israelis claiming this land is theirs. Stuart meets one Palestinian man who left for work and when he returned home, he found it had been taken over by Israeli settlers. He also meets the settlers who say th...

Aug 12, 202518 min

What’s the evidence which Israel says links Anas al-Sharif to Hamas?

Anas Al-Sharif was one of five journalists among seven people killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. The five worked for the broadcaster Al Jazeera. Israel says Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell but has only produced limited evidence about its claims. Al Jazeera rejected the accusations and said the strike was a "blatant" attack on press freedom. On this episode, Niall Paterson and Sky News international correspondent Diana Magnay look at Anas Al-Sharif's career, Israel's claims and the...

Aug 11, 202518 min

Nicholas Rossi: False names, a fake death and the flight from justice

Arthur Knight was an Irishman, wrongly arrested – he claimed – whilst recovering from a coma in a Glasgow hospital. Except “Arthur Knight” didn’t exist. His real name is Nicholas Rossi – a convicted sex offender, originally from the United States, who is now facing trial in Utah on two further counts of rape. But for years, he attempted to convince Scottish authorities he was the victim of a wild conspiracy. Rossi’s extradition hearing was covered at the time by Sky News’ correspondent, James Ma...

Aug 08, 202525 min

Does Netanyahu want a 'forever war' in Gaza?

He’s been warned against a full military occupation by 600 former Israeli military officials. But after 22 months of war, that’s exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu wants. What would long-term occupation mean for Gazans, Israel, the Middle East and the world? What would it be like for those living in Gaza? Will the Israeli hostages be returned? And is there any other option in Netanyahu’s eyes? Niall Paterson is joined on the Sky News Daily by a Palestinian aid worker in Gaza and Professor Yossi Mek...

Aug 07, 202517 min

Where does ‘he said, she said’ charity row leave Prince Harry?

No evidence of bullying, misogyny or racism. On the face of it, good news for the Duke of Sussex. But there's still plenty of fallout from a very public row ignited by the woman still in charge of the charity set up by Harry in honour of his mother, that he's now walked away from. Earlier this year, Sentebale's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, used an interview with Sky News' Trevor Phillips to accuse Harry of "harassment and bullying at scale". The prince strenuously denied those claims and has now ...

Aug 06, 202517 min

Why the wait for weight loss jabs on the NHS?

The "King Kong" of weight loss drugs, Mounjaro, should finally be available on the NHS. So, why are thousands of patients still waiting for a treatment that could transform their lives? Mounjaro was meant to be rolled out across the NHS in England from 23 June for those with the highest clinical need. However, a Sky News investigation has found it is only available in eight out of 42 NHS integrated care boards, prompting accusations of a "postcode lottery". Many providers will not make it availa...

Aug 05, 202516 min

Mis-sold car loans - did it happen to me?

If you bought a car as far back as 2007 with a loan organised through your car dealership, you could be eligible for a payout. The regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, is consulting on a compensation scheme - and it's thought up to 40% of motorists who entered personal contract purchase (PCP) or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for a payout. Niall Paterson talks to Sky's business correspondent Gurpreet Narwan about who might be eligible. He also speaks to Ad...

Aug 04, 202516 min

Peter Kyle: The making of a maverick minister

After doubling down in a very public row with Nigel Farage, Peter Kyle is the minister of the moment. In an interview with Sky News, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology caused controversy by suggesting Mr Farage was "on the side" of sexual predators like Jimmy Savile because of his opposition to the Online Safety Act. Mr Farage described the comment as "disgusting " and demanded an apology. But in a post on X, Mr Kyle went further, stating: "If you want to overturn the ...

Aug 01, 202519 min

Why aren’t parents getting their kids vaccinated?

Measles vaccination rates are at their lowest level in sixteen years in England and there’s fears that it’s led to a rise in the number of cases. According to the latest Government figures an additional 145 cases have been reported since the beginning of the month. It comes weeks after the death of a child with measles at the Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, a city with low levels of vaccination. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health at Great...

Jul 31, 202515 min

Are Trump’s tariffs destroying lives and livelihoods in Lesotho?

"Nobody's heard of it." That's Donald Trump's dismissive claim about Lesotho – a small country in southern Africa where lives are being devastated by the US president's decision. But what are the real-world consequences of Mr Trump's trade war? Trump's cuts to US foreign aid means people can't get access to HIV medication and costly tariffs is causing havoc to the economy – both of which are costing lives. Sky News' Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir has been to Lesotho to find out how decision...

Jul 30, 202516 min

Can anything stop the ketamine crisis?

Incontinence and chronic pain are just some of the life-altering effects caused by heavy ketamine use – which is at record levels. The drug, used in clinical settings as an anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever, can create hallucinations in users. But those who become addicted to ketamine also face severe bladder and kidney problems. As the government considers reclassifying ketamine to a Class A substance, Shingi Mararike, our North of England correspondent, has been speaking to people suffer...

Jul 29, 202515 min

History Girls: How football came home... again

After claiming back-to-back European titles, the Lionesses are now the first senior England football side to win a major tournament away from home. The team had to overcome physical and psychological adversity throughout the tournament – from poor performances and penalty drama to a player being subjected to horrendous racial abuse. So how did inspirational manager, Sarina Wiegman, beat the odds once more? On today's episode, our sports correspondent, Rob Harris, relives the highs and lows of Eu...

Jul 28, 202519 min

Why is Lucy Bronze the Lionesses' golden girl?

33-year-old defender Lucy Bronze has been at the heart of the England team for over a decade, with 140 caps so far. She played a crucial role in helping the Lionesses win back-to-back European titles - somehow managing to play the entire tournament in Switzerland with a broken leg. Shirts with her name on the back are amongst the most commonly worn by England fans, a testament to her contribution to the growth of the women's game. On today's episode, Niall Paterson learns about Bronze's work eth...

Jul 25, 202515 min

Doctors strike – what's different this time?

The doctors' union, the British Medical Association, is calling for a pay rise of 29.2% to reverse "pay erosion" since 2008/09. The government has offered 5.4%. In previous strikes, around 1.5 million appointments were cancelled or rescheduled, but this time hospitals have been told to cancel non-urgent work only in "exceptional circumstances". In today’s episode, Niall Paterson talks to Sky’s health correspondent Ashish Joshi about how the NHS will deal with the walkout and also to resident doc...

Jul 24, 202518 min

How Ozzy Osbourne made Birmingham the birthplace of metal

Ozzy Osbourne made a musical genre. For millions of metal fans, Ozzy and Black Sabbath came up with the sound which influenced countless others. Heavy metal will always be linked with Birmingham – Ozzy's home city, where he returned to perform in early July. On this Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at how a working-class lad from Aston became a cultural icon and gave the city its own musical identity. Niall speaks to Sky News entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow who covered the "Back To Begin...

Jul 23, 202517 min

Why are far-right white nationalists on the rise in the US?

Warning: This episode contains themes of racism and homophobia which listeners may find upsetting. No gays, no Jews, and definitely no non-whites. It’s messaging that reminds us of a segregated United States – a time that apparently ended in the 1960s. But a community in Arkansas, called Return to the Land, wants to establish a whites-only town, and think they have the legal standing to do so. The group says it’s about freedom and community - but critics say it’s “pure white supremacist rhetoric...

Jul 22, 202521 min

Does water's 'Great Stink' moment pass the sniff test?

A critical review into England and Wales's broken water system has been released - and it says we are in the midst of the "Great Stink" of the 21st century. The report includes 88 recommendations - including a new single integrated regulator to replace existing water watchdogs, mandatory water metering, and a social tariff for vulnerable customers. In this episode, Niall Paterson asks Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso if after decades of ill-treatment, finally can new regulation bring our ...

Jul 21, 202519 min

Can Lamine Yamal handle the heat of stardom?

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been flagged as football's next superstar. At just 18-years-old, he has already helped Barcelona FC to success in the Spanish league LaLiga and played a pivotal role in his home nation's triumph at Euro 2024. He's also been awarded the No.10 jersey, previously worn by none-other-than Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho. But the early success has come at the cost of extreme scrutiny. Yamal's lavish 18th birthday celebrations were overshadowed by the threat of legal acti...

Jul 18, 202518 min

Can Tesla survive without Trump?

Elon Musk's Tesla faces the loss of billions of dollars in government subsidies, following his fallout with Donald Trump. This is after the president cut state support for green industries. Subsidies have been central to Tesla's success from upstart manufacturer to the world's largest vehicle maker in less than 20 years. But now the president's cuts could leave a significant gap in its future earnings. Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso and Kate Schneider from our Data and Forensics unit ha...

Jul 17, 202514 min

Should the children of online sex offenders receive more support?

"John" is a convicted sex offender. "Ava" is his daughter. She was only told about her father's crimes weeks after his arrest. But the impact of those crimes could last a lifetime. Online sex offenders receive counselling as part of their rehabilitation, as do their victims. However, there is currently no support for the families of those perpetrators – despite the devastation they have caused. In today's Sky News Daily, our correspondent Katerina Vittozzi tells us about her in-depth interviews ...

Jul 16, 202521 min

Why was the MoD data leak kept secret for 600 days?

It was a mistake that endangered thousands of people who had supported British forces in Afghanistan - and the Afghans' families. For the first time, the Ministry of Defence has admitted it was responsible for a data breach that has been kept a secret for years - at huge expense to taxpayers - with the help of a super injunction that prevented media or parliamentary scrutiny. Almost 7,000 Afghan nationals are being relocated to the UK following the blunder by the British military. Mark Austin is...

Jul 15, 202516 min

Can the BBC move on from its mess on Gaza?

The BBC breached its own editorial rules when it did not explain that a 13-year-old used to narrate a documentary about Gaza was, in fact, the son of a Hamas official. A review has found that the independent production company, Hoyo Films, bears most of the responsibility for what happened – but that BBC bosses should have had more oversight of the film. The corporation says it is taking action but, so far, nobody has lost their job. However, it is creating a new management role called 'Director...

Jul 14, 202516 min

What’s the truth of The Salt Path?

It's the bestselling book that's in the middle of its own seismic plot twist. Raynor Winn's The Salt Path spent 85 weeks in The Sunday Times Bestsellers List and has just become a film. But the author's life-affirming account of how her husband's illness and losing their money and home put them on a 630-mile coastal walk has been called into question. The Observer has claimed that not all of the couple's story stacks up - something strenuously denied by the author.Niall goes through the claims w...

Jul 11, 202518 min

Destroyed, dismantled or dangerous: Is Iran still a global threat?

A government report has warned that the threat of physical attacks by Iran on people living in the UK has increased "significantly" since 2022. Iran rejects what they call, hostile allegations. Has the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran changed the hierarchy in the Middle East and its attitude towards the West? On today’s episode, Niall Paterson speaks to home editor Jason Farrell, who attended the briefing for the report. He then discusses Iran’s current global ambitions with Professor M...

Jul 10, 202516 min

The fly-tippers turning trash into cash

If you've paid to have rubbish taken away from your home - where do you expect it to end up? A Sky News investigation has tracked down some of those behind the dumping of people's waste illegally and discovered how they are making thousands of pounds from it. On this episode, Niall hears the back story to how we went from digging through dumped waster to confront a suspected flytipper - and how TikTok played a part. He's joined by correspondent Rachael Venables and our Open Source Investigations...

Jul 09, 202513 min

Anorexia, bankruptcy, suicide – how the Horizon IT system ruined lives

The public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has published its first report into what went wrong and how the victims should be properly compensated. The inquiry's chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has found that at least 13 postmasters may have taken their own lives after being accused of wrongdoing based on evidence from the Horizon IT system which both the Post Office and its maker, Fujitsu, knew could be false. In today's episode Niall Paterson speaks to our business correspondent Paul Kels...

Jul 08, 202515 min

How I reported the 7/7 bombings

On the morning of 7 July 2005, four suicide bombers targeted London's transport network. We now know that three bombs were detonated on the underground and an hour later a fourth exploded on a bus, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds of others. But on the day itself, there was confusion for hours about the details of the scale and nature of the attacks. On today's Sky News Daily, Gareth Barlow speaks to our crime correspondent Martin Brunt, who recalls his experience of reporting for Sky New...

Jul 07, 202521 min

Why does China care who the next Dalai Lama is?

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is turning 90 and has confirmed - after years of uncertainty - that he will have a successor after his death and will not chose to end the line. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama is reincarnated after they die. Monks search, select, and school a successor – usually a child. The current Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two. He and an estimated 150,000 Tibetans now live in exile in India, and other countries, after China annexed Tibet decades ago. ...

Jul 04, 202519 min

Kush – the deadly drug wreaking havoc in West Africa

The synthetic drug kush, first seen in Sierra Leone in 2022, has now spread into much of West Africa while also evolving into an even more dangerous drug. Tests have found it contains nitazenes which are 25 times stronger than fentanyl. Sky News has found that ingredients used to make kush are being shipped into Sierra Leone from the UK. In today's Sky News Daily, Gareth Barlow is joined by our Africa correspondent, Yousra Elbagir who has spoken to addicts and those trying to tackle the problem....

Jul 03, 202513 min
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