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
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Is it safe to travel on Britain’s railways?

From stabbing attacks to assaults and antisocial behaviour, do you still feel safe taking the train? On Saturday evening, 11 people were injured on board a high-speed train travelling between Doncaster and London. The rampage might well have been worse if it wasn’t for the actions of the staff on the train and the swift response from the emergency services. But can we every truly be prepared for such an attack? Niall discusses whether similar incidents are unavoidable with policing commentator G...

Nov 03, 202518 min

Cheat Sheet | Huntingdon train stabbing, Air India survivor and Women's cricket victory

Police are still trying to work out the motive for Saturday’s mass stabbing on a train from Doncaster to London. Sophy has spoken to the sole survivor of the Air India crash which killed 241 people back in June. And Wilf has heard from the US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, who wants the UK to keep drilling for oil and gas.

Nov 03, 202511 min

Cheat Sheet: A New Morning Podcast From Monday!

From Monday, Sky News has a new podcast for your morning commute. Sophy Ridge and Wilf Frost will be up early to get across the news so you don't have to. Cheat Sheet is a 10 minute briefing of all the big stories as you start your day. And you'll still have the Sky News Daily to drill down into one topic as you come home. In your feeds around 6am every weekday, from Monday November 3rd.

Nov 01, 20254 min

What’s next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?

The King has announced that his brother, Andrew, will lose the title of ‘Prince’ which he was born with, and will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The unprecedented move comes after ongoing revelations about Andrew’s relationship with the paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. It also comes after the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, a woman who claimed to have had sex with Andrew when she was underage. Once the ‘golden boy’ of the royal family, Andrew was widely thought to be his mother – ...

Oct 31, 202515 min

Sudan's war: Is it a genocide?

Tens of thousands of people were killed in the Sudanese city of Al Fashir in the days after it was captured by a paramilitary group, analysts believe. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war with Sudan's army since 2023 and have been accused of carrying out ethnically-motivated mass killings and other atrocities. Now, new satellite images appear to show ground stained with blood and scattered corpses around Al Fashir. Are these images evidence of a genocide? Mark Austin is joined by Sky ...

Oct 30, 202513 min

Why did the Home Office pay Hadush Kebatu £500 to leave the country?

Why did the Home Office pay Hadush Kebatu £500 to leave the country? Sky News has spoken to migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu hours after he was deported to Ethiopia. He claims he tried to hand himself in to police after he was released accidentally from prison last Friday but they ignored him. Responding to Kebatu's claims, the Metropolitan Police told Sky News: "The Met is not aware of any evidence to support the claims that Kebatu approached officers on Saturday morning. "The actions of offi...

Oct 29, 202518 min

Punishing Prince Andrew – would losing Royal Lodge be enough?

Less than two weeks after Prince Andrew announced he was giving up most of his royal titles he is now facing mounting calls to leave his 30-room home in Windsor. Public anger over the prince’s links to Jeffrey Epstein has been reignited following revelations in the posthumous memoir of his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre. Andrew continues to deny all the allegations against him – but the King continues to be under pressure to do more. Would moving the prince out of Royal Lodge be enough ...

Oct 28, 202514 min

Into the 'kill zone': How Ukraine fights a war of the future

Ukrainian soldiers sprint away from a disabled tank on the battlefield while their control room desperately tries to help them evade the Russian drones pursuing them. Later, a Russian soldier waves a white flag from the basement entrance of a gatehouse which was targeted by Ukrainian quad-copter drones. It's become a war of the future in the so-called "kill zone" in the Donbas region of Ukraine - where the trench lines are gone and drones rule the skies. Tom Cheshire speaks to Sky's internationa...

Oct 27, 202513 min

From Iron Maiden to the Iron Lady: Japan’s first female prime minister

A former television presenter and heavy metal drummer has become the first woman to be elected prime minister of Japan. Sanae Takaichi is known for her right-wing views and cites Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration. But it's not just her political beliefs that are controversial – Ms Takaichi has a love of hard rock and motorbikes, despite her deeply conservative background. Why has it taken so long for Japan to elect a female PM? And what challenges does she face domestically, as well as on the ...

Oct 24, 202518 min

Cool cows: The cattle challenging climate change

Whether they are providing the beef for your roast dinner or the milk for your cup of tea – cows are undeniably useful animals. The problem is they also enjoy burping and breaking wind and it's having a huge impact on global warming. The steaks couldn’t be higher and that’s why an agricultural college in Scotland has developed the Cool Cows programme to breed the animals in a way that means they expel less gas. Niall is joined by our udderly brilliant science correspondent, Thomas Moore. Produce...

Oct 23, 202512 min

Shadowing the storm: Is Britain being dragged into war?

With Ukraine highlighting the use of UK hardware in strikes against Russia and the US insisting British military personnel join a team monitoring the Gaza ceasefire, are we at risk of ending up in a wider conflict? The possibility, however slim, that UK soldiers could be engaged in fighting in the Middle East follows Ukraine's very public revelation that British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles were used in a "massive" attack inside Russia.Less than two weeks ago, the foreign secretary said there ...

Oct 22, 202520 min

Is the AI bubble about to burst?

The rise of AI has been hailed as a new industrial revolution - a huge economic success story (depending on your point of view) with massive implications for energy, materials and jobs. In the US, artificial intelligence has accounted for the vast majority of economic growth so far this year - not least because of the patronage of Donald Trump, who's also fond of taking AI-generated jibes at his critics. But does the US have enough access to the infrastructure and materials needed to fuel this e...

Oct 21, 202517 min

Titles and entitlement: Prince Andrew’s unanswered questions

The downfall and disgrace of Prince Andrew has taken another dramatic turn after he announced he was giving up some of his royal titles. Reports have emerged that Andrew asked his personal protection officer to help with a smear campaign against Virginia Giuffre years before she filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault. The prince continues to deny any wrongdoing. What role did the King and other members of the Royal Family play in Andrew's decision to give up his titles? Why is this...

Oct 20, 202516 min

Thatcher 100 - why Margaret Thatcher is still shaping politics a century on from her birth

The UK's first female prime minister undoubtedly transformed the country as she achieved electoral success her Conservative successors could only dream of. Evidence of her enduring influence is the fact that it's not just Tories who claim a debt to her but also opposing politicians, with Rachel Reeves recently branding herself the "iron chancellor". She was also a very divisive figure, with lasting anger over her handling of the miners' strike and the controversial poll tax. So, what is Baroness...

Oct 17, 202518 min

'Divide and rule': The gangs rivalling Hamas for control of Gaza

A ceasefire may be in place, but violence continues to plague Gaza. As Hamas attempts to keep some control, a rival group has told Sky News they plan to fight to the end. With internal fighting and power struggles ongoing, can peace hold within Gaza for the Palestinians hoping to begin rebuilding their lives? Dominic Waghorn, our international affairs editor, and digital investigations journalist Ben van der Merwe join Niall to explain who these groups are and what role they are playing. Produce...

Oct 16, 202519 min

Are the police getting it right on rogue officers?

Dishonesty, discrimination, and misconduct – just some of the reasons why more than 730 police officers were sacked and barred from service last year. Of those, 21 were struck off for child sexual offences. But can our police forces recover from falling public trust and reputational damage? Martin Brunt, our crime correspondent, joins Niall to explain what’s gone wrong – and assess whether ‘bad apples’ in the police are an institutional issue. Plus, Jamie Klingler – co-founder of Reclaim These S...

Oct 15, 202516 min

The communities combatting a rise in religious hate crime

Members of minority religious groups say they feel less safe in the UK than ever before. A summer of protests outside asylum seeker hotels and a renewed debate about immigration have led to concerns British society is becoming increasingly fragmented. And last week, figures released by the Home Office showed that religious hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales had reached a record high. Some members of the Sikh community in the West Midlands have been escorting elderly people to the...

Oct 14, 202519 min

What next for Israel’s released hostages?

All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas – after more than two years in captivity. Now the slow process of recovery and rehabilitation begins. For each of them, that journey will be different. What kind of support will they receive? And will the trauma ever truly be over? Niall discusses the needs of the released hostages with Stephen Regel – a former senior psychosocial practitioner with the British Red Cross and founder of the Centre for Trauma Resilience and Growth...

Oct 13, 202513 min

No laughing matter: Is Saudi festival a case of ‘comedy washing’?

Can you put a price on freedom of speech? Comedy royalty including Dave Chapelle and Jimmy Carr, famous for defending their right to say whatever they want, have been paid big money by the Saudi government to appear at the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival. But there's a catch.... they're not allowed to say anything that could cause "embarrassment" to Saudi Arabia, its royal family or any religion. The outcry has given you a new phrase to learn - "comedy washing". What is comedy washing and what ...

Oct 10, 202519 min

Presidents, peace deals and how to win a Nobel prize

Donald Trump has claimed the credit for ending seven wars and with the developments in Gaza it could soon be eight - surely then he's a dead cert for this year's Nobel Peace Prize? Unsurprisingly, with this bombastic US president, it's not quite that simple... no matter how much he insists that he deserves it. As the world prepares to find out who has won this year's prize, the self-styled peacemaker-in-chief is likely to be among those paying the closest attention. What is the Nobel Peace Prize...

Oct 09, 202515 min

Starmer, spies and China’s threat to national security

The prime minister’s been asked to ‘explain himself’ after the UK’s top prosecutor blamed the collapse of a China spy trial on the government - for not labelling China a risk to national security. But Sir Keir Starmer blames the previous Tory government. A parliamentary researcher and his associate were accused of passing on “politically sensitive” information to a member of China’s ruling politburo – so why won’t it go to court? Niall is joined by political correspondent Mhari Aurora and the fo...

Oct 08, 202518 min

Lewis Moody and living with MND

In September, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody received a devastating diagnosis that changed his life forever. The 47-year-old Rugby World Cup winner is the latest retired professional player to be told he has the fatal muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease. What do we know about the possible causes of MND? Is there a link between extreme exercise and developing the disease? And are we any closer to a cure? Niall is joined by Moody’s World Cup-winning team-mate Will Greenwood an...

Oct 07, 202519 min

Wargame Day: Is the UK ready for a real Russian attack?

It's the morning of Monday 6 October 2025 and Russia has launched a missile strike against the UK. That was the scenario of The Wargame - a gripping five-part Sky News podcast that brought together former government ministers, military chiefs, and top defence experts to explore how the UK might respond to a modern-day crisis. On the real 6 October, we speak to some of the makers of the series to get a sense of whether our leaders are taking the threat of Russia seriously enough. Would the United...

Oct 06, 202519 min

Sarah Mullally: The former nurse chosen to lead the Church of England

Could the historic appointment of a first female Archbishop of Canterbury cause a split within the Anglican Church? Dame Sarah Mullally has been chosen for the role while the Church is arguably in a state of crisis - but also at a time when there has been a surge in attendance among young people. She's the first woman to lead the Church of England in its almost 500-year history - the question now is, what impact she will have on its future. Who is Dame Sarah and why was she chosen? How big a mom...

Oct 03, 202517 min

Manchester synagogue attack: 'We knew this day would come'

Communities in Manchester are once again reeling following a terror attack - this time on a synagogue in Crumpsall during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The prime minister has announced extra security for synagogues, but there had been previous warnings of a rise in religious hatred across the UK. Niall speaks to Sky's home editor, Jason Farrell, about the attack and the wider state of national security. Warning: This episode contains audio of the moment leading up to police...

Oct 02, 202518 min

Are asylum fears a distraction in the fight for women's safety?

The senior police officer in charge of preventing violence against women and girls has warned the political discourse around asylum seekers risks being a distraction from the "real threat" to women's safety. Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Helen Millichap made the remarks after a summer of protests outside hotels housing migrants across the country. Will the row undermine the government's ambitious target to halve violence against women and girls within a decade? And where should the re...

Oct 01, 202514 min

Immigration and the problem with ‘progressive patriotism’

The government has continued to grapple with the subject of immigration during the Labour Party conference - where a desire to fight Reform UK's rhetoric has come up against the political reality of public opinion. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has openly called Reform UK's policies "racist" - at the same time as his new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has highlighted the need to review the rules over indefinite leave to remain. Nowhere is this paradox more acute than in Glasgow, where an app...

Sep 30, 202518 min

Ed Conway on Rachel Reeves - what her conference speech reveals

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her keynote speech to the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool. In an address where there were multiple standing ovations in the hall, she explained she won’t take risks with the public finances and warned the UK will "face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds". But were there any significant policy announcements? And does the speech signal the choices she will make in November, when her autumn budget ...

Sep 29, 202517 min

Sarah Ferguson: Debts, deceit and the downfall of a duchess

Just as they were for her ex-husband, revelations about her relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have proved highly embarrassing for Sarah, Duchess of York. Several charities have now dropped her as a patron after it emerged she had emailed Epstein to apologise for publicly disavowing him following his conviction. In messages dating back to 2011, the duchess described the late financier as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend", and said sorry for criticising him in public....

Sep 26, 202517 min

How to survive a cyber attack

Despite Jaguar Land Rover announcing some of its systems are back online, not a single car has rolled off the production line since the end of August. And there's still no date set for the factories to reopen. All because of a cyber attack, costing hundreds of millions of pounds and threatening thousands of jobs. JLR is just the latest British company harassed by hackers – with Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Co-op all suffering major (and expensive) outages in recent months. Airports and natio...

Sep 25, 202516 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android