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

Afghanistan: The forgotten LGBT+ community

After the UK government’s promise to support vulnerable LGBT+ people in Afghanistan following the country’s fall to the Taliban in August 2021, those left behind say they’re struggling to get enough help. On the Sky News Daily with Niall Patterson, Nemat Sadat, the executive director of LGBT+ charity Roshaniya, asks for a clearer plan from ministers, and LGBT+ Afghans share their experiences of discrimination and violence, saying there’s “no future left for LGBT+ people in Afghanistan”. Warning:...

Dec 05, 202219 min

Ukraine War Diaries: EP35 - The bloody dark, bathroom pits & the blitz of Kyiv (Nov 28 – 2Dec)

Under siege in Kyiv, Ilyas endures his longest blackout. Military volunteer, Seva, sources chainsaws for comrades in the east and in her mind, Oksana visits the rooftop of her apartment block to offer a god-like view of a Ukrainian capital under siege. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland. As of December 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment...

Dec 03, 202213 min

Royal race row: Can they modernise?

The Prince and Princess of Wales's first overseas trip since the Queen's death has been overshadowed by controversy at home. The prince’s godmother has resigned from her role in the royal household after she repeatedly asked Ngozi Fulani, a black domestic abuse campaigner, where she “really came from”. A spokesperson for Prince William, who is on a three-day visit to Boston, Massachusetts, said Lady Susan Hussey's comments were "unacceptable" and that "racism has no place in our society". On the...

Dec 02, 202225 min

New Alzheimer's drug: How much of a breakthrough is it?

A drug used in clinical trials has been found to slow memory loss in patients with the condition - and although lecanemab is not a cure, it has got a lot of scientists and others very excited. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson speaks to Scott Mitchell, the widower of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, who died with the disease, about what the breakthrough means to his campaign to raise awareness. Plus Tom Clarke, Sky’s science and technology editor, explores how much of a difference the ...

Nov 30, 202222 min

Ukraine's other battle: Keeping the power on

Intense missile strikes from Russia have left Ukraine with country-wide power outages and blackouts. Satellite images show how dark the country has become compared to its neighbours. How will the darkness affect Ukraine as the war enters the winter months? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes as they explore the impact the continued Russian shelling is having on Ukraine's power grid, and the bleak winter ahead. Annie Joyce – senior pod...

Nov 30, 202220 min

Fear and fury in China – what does President Xi do now?

Protests have sprung up across some of China's biggest cities with demonstrators shouting "down with the CCP, down with Xi Jinping". The protests, originally sparked by frustration at continued COVID lockdown measures, are now being seen as a challenge to the Communist leadership in the country in general. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky News' Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, who has witnessed protests in Shanghai. Plus, Cindy Yu, host of The Spectator's Chinese Whispers p...

Nov 29, 202222 min

The Dark Web: Exploring the 'murder-for-hire' sites

The dark web is a hidden space on the internet where your activity can be anonymous and private. Among these dark websites, there’s a disturbing amount of apparent "murder-for-hire" sites offering hitman services. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood explores the use of "murder-for-hire" websites with hacker and dark web vigilante Chris Monteiro, while one victim tells us how dangerous they are. Also, Andy Greenberg, author of Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocu...

Nov 28, 202218 min

Ukraine War Diaries: EP34- Ghosts of Chernobyl, going south & grave phone calls (Nov 21-24)

In the dark of Kyiv, Ilyas fears for the under-fire Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, knowing how the 1986 Chernobyl disaster continues to impact lives in Ukraine to this day. With new orders, military volunteer Seva, prepares to go on assignment in southern Ukraine, but not before an unexpected meeting with two soldiers involved in the recent liberation of Kherson. And feeling helpless overseas, Oksana desperately tries to reach her family in the midst of yet another devastating missile attack....

Nov 26, 202212 min

'Fear and intimidation' – the tactics of Iran's secret police

State secret police have been accused of abducting and killing civilians on the street of Iran, a country where hundreds of people have died and violence continues to escalate during protests which have been raging for 10 weeks. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Victoria Elms and Sanya Burgess from Sky News’ digital investigations team which has carried out a special investigation into CCTV footage of a murder, carried out in broad daylight, seemingly by Iran's feared secret pol...

Nov 25, 202226 min

Scottish Independence: A blow for Sturgeon - so what next?

Supreme Court judges have decided unanimously that an Indyref2 vote cannot go ahead without the UK parliament’s permission. But it’s not the end of the debate – or Scotland’s First Minister’s fight to break free from Great Britain. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what the judgment means both politically and legally with our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies. Plus, reaction from both sides of the debate as we speak to Kevin Hague, chair of pro-union think tank These Islands, an...

Nov 23, 202219 min

Musk and Twitter: The end or a new beginning?

Since Elon Musk bought and took over Twitter three weeks ago, he’s re-visioned the platform with “free speech” at its core. But his takeover has seen an exodus of staff and a series of user-reported issues. Twitter has been a resource for connecting with officials, celebrities, and each other, but can it withstand the changes made under Musk? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Patterson speaks to our technology reporter Tom Acres about what has happened since Musk took over. Also, former Twitter EMEA ...

Nov 23, 202220 min

Armband row: Did football just score an own goal?

LGBT+ rights activists and campaigners have condemned FIFA’s threats to sanction players who wear OneLove armbands at the World Cup in Qatar. England, Wales and five other European nations have confirmed their players will not wear the armband as a result. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News’ sports correspondent Rob Harris in Qatar, and Jon Holmes, from the campaigning and advocacy group Sports Media LGBT+ about FIFA’s missed opportunity to make a stand for equality in f...

Nov 21, 202219 min

Big Ideas Live: Can the UK become a science superpower?

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, wants to turn the UK into the next Silicon Valley. The question many scientists are asking is: How? Although there were no cuts to science and technology in Mr Hunt’s autumn statement, those in the field say a lot more must be done to realise the government's ambition. For a special Sky News Daily, Tom Clarke, our science and technology editor, is joined by a panel of experts for Sky’s Big Ideas live event in London to discuss whether the UK can be a science and tech...

Nov 21, 202232 min

Ukraine War Diaries: EP33 - Russian fury, freezing down & the price of freedom (Nov 14-18)

On the road in freezing temperatures, military volunteer Seva, reflects on Russia’s latest mass attack on the Ukrainian energy network. And looking out across a darkened Kyiv - after a Russian missile knocks out the power in his apartment block - the ramifications of winter become very real for Ilyas, but so too enemy soldiers. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge...

Nov 19, 20229 min

What Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement means for you

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered the government's autumn statement, outlining tax rises and spending cuts in order to fill a £54bn "black hole" in the UK economy. Mr Hunt has pledged to increase spending on the NHS and education while increasing the amount of tax paid by the highest earners, as the Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted that living standards are going to fall by 7% over the next two years. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's political editor Beth...

Nov 17, 202225 min

Donald Trump is running for President... again!

Donald Trump has announced he is running for the US presidency in 2024. But to be on the ballot, he will have to win the Republican Party’s nomination. As he well knows, the road to becoming one of the main parties' presidential nominees can be long and arduous. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's US Correspondent Mark Stone who was at Trump's estate in Mar-a-Lago in Florida for the announcement. He was also joined by Republican strategist and the former chairman of the Nevada R...

Nov 16, 202222 min

Inside Kherson: What next for Russia’s war with Ukraine?

Ukraine has faced another intense wave of missile strikes, just days after Russia’s loss of Kherson - the port city in southern Ukraine. On the Sky News Daily podcast with Niall Paterson, our correspondent Alex Rossi reflects on what he witnessed as Ukrainian troops took back control last week, and Sky's Cordelia Lynch discusses global diplomacy at the G20 summit in Bali. Plus, Sky's security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke explains what it could mean strategically for both Ukraine ...

Nov 16, 202223 min

Will British police in France stop the small boat crossings?

The UK and France have agreed a new deal to try to tackle the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats. UK agents will be working in France for the first time after more than 40,000 people have made the trip so far this year. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's Europe correspondent Adam Parsons and producer Sophie Garratt about new and more dangerous tactics being deployed by people smugglers off the Calais coast. And Peter Walsh from Oxford University's Migration O...

Nov 15, 202222 min

The science of ageing: Can we live forever?

There has been an explosion in Silicon Valley tech start-ups putting their money behind anti-ageing science. They're working to halt and one day maybe reverse the one inevitability of our human existence – and they've the backing of names like Google and Jeff Bezos. It raises long lists of moral and ethical questions – is it for the greater good or the next frontier for the billionaires whose only limit is their mortality? On this special bonus episode of Sky News Daily, Sky's science and techno...

Nov 14, 202212 min

Qatar World Cup: Has football become a side show?

32 teams are competing in the FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar. It’s the first winter championship and first tournament to be held in the Middle East. But the choice of host has come under scrutiny; homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and poor conditions for migrant workers building the facilities has faced backlash. On the Sky News Daily with Niall Paterson, our sports correspondent Rob Harris and Alistair Bunkall, our Middle East correspondent, discuss the human rights issues surrounding Qata...

Nov 14, 202219 min

Ukraine War Diaries: EP32 - Limping into darkness, lost limbs & longing for Kyiv (Nov 7-11)

In Kyiv, a sudden restaurant blackout forces Ilyas to consider the reality of winter in a city without power and increasingly isolated. Injured by an anti-tank grenade, Seva accompanies a close friend to one of Kyiv’s trauma units. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of conversations about a future evacuation, Oksana readies to return again to the Ukrainian capital. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, a...

Nov 12, 202212 min

Albanian migrants: Why are they coming to the UK?

Albania's prime minister recently accused the UK's home secretary of fuelling xenophobic attacks against his people, after Suella Braverman described people crossing the English Channel in small boats as an "invasion". What do we know about those leaving Albania? What impact is it having on the country's economy? And how should the UK respond? On the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's Siobhan Robbins, who's travelled to Albania to speak to people there, and Shqiponja Telhaj, ...

Nov 11, 202224 min

‘I’m so exhausted’: Why nurses say they’re striking

Hundreds of thousands of nurses across the UK are going on strike. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the strike will affect the majority of NHS employers as nurses take action against pay levels and patient safety concerns. Patients who are already facing record waiting lists are now likely to see operations and appointments delayed or cancelled, though emergency care will continue. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson hears from two nurses about day-to-day life in the NHS and Billy Palme...

Nov 10, 202224 min

US midterms: Why Trump's red wave became a ripple

The predicted Republican red wave in the US midterm elections hasn't materialised. Elections for the Senate and House of Representatives presented an opportunity to install supporters of Donald Trump, and make politics difficult for President Joe Biden. On the Sky News Daily, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Niall Patterson is joined by our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and political correspondent Joe Pike to debrief on what the results mean for the Democrats, the country,...

Nov 09, 202223 min

Gavin Williamson bullying claims: How problematic for the PM?

Rishi Sunak promised to lead the Conservatives with “integrity, professionalism and accountability”. Two weeks on, however, the prime minister and his judgement are under fierce scrutiny after rows involving Suella Braverman’s reappointment as home secretary and bullying claims surrounding Sir Gavin Williamson, the new Cabinet Office minister. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what’s happened over the past fortnight with Jon Craig, our chief political correspondent, and examines the...

Nov 08, 202222 min

Why is China still imposing Covid lockdowns?

China is one of the few remaining countries still enforcing a Zero-Covid policy. People face strict lockdowns, regular mass testing, constant scanning of health ‘green’ codes when travelling to most places, and restrictions. Although the policy has largely prevented mass hospitalisations, the strict pandemic restrictions face increasing economic and societal pressure, with falling productivity, growing unemployment, and what some observers liken to mass surveillance of its population. On the Sky...

Nov 07, 202219 min

Ukraine War Diaries: EP31 - More Russian payloads, Putin’s plan & Patriots (Oct 31-4 November)

From his apartment in Kyiv, Ilyas watches and listens as Ukrainian air defence armoury targets yet another onslaught of Russian missiles. Meanwhile, military volunteer, Seva, sets off on a lone assignment to the frontlines in Donetsk where his thinking is challenged by an embattled tank battalion. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland. As of November 2022...

Nov 05, 202210 min

Manchester Arena attack: How the emergency response went wrong

A victim of the Manchester Arena bombing would likely have survived had the emergency response been better, an inquiry has found. Its new report found "significant aspects... went wrong" and "the performance of the emergency services was far below the standard" it should have been. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood gets a breakdown of the report from Sky’s Katerina Vittozzi, who has been speaking to victims' families. The presenter also talks to security journalist Duncan Gardham about the l...

Nov 04, 202223 min

Bird flu: How serious is it?

Around 100 million birds have been culled across Europe and the US in the past year following the 'worst-ever' outbreak of avian influenza. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Sally Lockwood speaks to poultry farmer Mark Gorton, director of science at the British Trust for Ornithology, James Pearce-Higgins, and Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke about how serious the threat is to business, consumers and wildlife. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse In...

Nov 03, 202218 min

Matt Hancock: What is it about politicians and reality TV?

Former health secretary Matt Hancock is going on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! He was suspended from the Conservative Party after news broke he was heading to the Australian jungle - but he's not the first politician, or probably the last, to risk political ruin for the bright lights of show business. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood gets the temperature in Westminster with Sky News' chief political correspondent Jon Craig and speaks to former MP and I'm A Celebrity contestant, Lem...

Nov 02, 202217 min
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