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

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

Prince Harry V The Press

In the next 12 months, Prince Harry will be launching multiple lawsuits against multiple newspapers, as part of what he describes as his ‘life’s work’ to reform the British media. He is accusing some of the country's most popular newspapers of hacking phones, tracking cars and even bugging hotel rooms in order to get stories and photographs of him and his family and friends. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to royal correspondent Laura Bundock about the accusations, and Graham Johnso...

Mar 26, 202319 min

Local tree rows and why they’ve become a big deal

Some councils in England have come under fire for unnecessarily felling old healthy trees to make way for regeneration projects. In Plymouth more than a hundred mature trees were chopped down despite public disapproval, and in Sheffield an independent inquiry found that the council's destruction of thousands of trees was misjudged. National Highways, the government agency responsible for England's main roads, has also admitted that more than half a million trees it planted beside a single 21-mil...

Mar 24, 202319 min

"Hand on Heart": Boris Johnson swears he’s telling the truth

The former prime minister has been questioned by a cross-party group of MPs for more than three hours, with Boris Johnson's political career on the line over COVID rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown. He's given evidence to the privileges committee's inquiry, set up after the House of Commons referred the matter last April. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Sally Lockwood is joined by our chief political correspondent Jon Craig as we examine what's been said, by whom and when, p...

Mar 22, 202320 min

Misogyny, racism and homophobia – it's not just the Met police’s problem

The Metropolitan Police is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic, according to the independent police review conducted by Baroness Casey. She was appointed to carry out the review following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our home editor Jason Farrell to go through what the report reveals and the recommendations for reform. Also, Mina Smallman, mother of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry ...

Mar 22, 202321 min

Credit Suisse: Are we teetering on the edge of a banking crisis?

Credit Suisse, one of Switzerland's largest banks, has been swallowed up by its rival UBS for £1bn. The shotgun merger happened less than a week after the UK financial authorities saved the British arm of Silicon Valley Bank which had collapsed in the US. These troubles either side of the Atlantic have spooked investors - the concern now is other banks could follow. On the Sky News Daily Sally Lockwood speaks to economics and data editor Ed Conway about what this means for investors and whether ...

Mar 21, 202314 min

Cost of living: Why are more women turning to gambling?

Pandemic lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis have driven more people to gambling to help ease financial struggles - with support helplines this year receiving a record-breaking number of calls for help. A third of those calls are now from women. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to former gambler Lisa Walker about her story, who now works as a peer support worker for the charity BetKnowMore and runs their women-only programme New Beginnings. Also, Lisa Patton, a treatment servi...

Mar 20, 202316 min

The real cost of childcare

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has expanded free childcare for working parents in England to cover all children under five. The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce according to the government’s independent forecaster. While the move has been welcomed by parents, there's been criticism from the childcare sector, which is struggling with a workforce shortage and financial pressures that are forcing businesses to close. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard spea...

Mar 17, 202316 min

Budget: Sky's Beth Rigby and Ed Conway on what it means

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his spring budget, telling MPs his priority is to get people back to work. Free childcare for working parents in England, pensions breaks and tax cuts for businesses were among the announcements made. On the Sky News Daily Liz Bates is joined by Sky’s Political Editor Beth Rigby and Economics and Data Editor Ed Conway to go through the budget and assess what it means. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont...

Mar 15, 202324 min

A new Cold War? Rising tensions between the US and China

The UK, USA, and Australia announced a joint programme to build more nuclear submarines, and declared that China poses the biggest threat to the world economy of any country. It came following the inauguration of China’s President Xi Jinping’s precedent-setting third term in office, where he called for the country to modernise its military to make it a "Great Wall of Steel". On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our US correspondent Mark Stone, and Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith...

Mar 15, 202319 min

Gary Lineker row: How does the BBC get impartiality right?

Gary Lineker will return to BBC screens after reaching a deal with the corporation over an impartiality row. The Match of the Day host was removed from the show temporarily over comments made on his personal Twitter account about the UK government’s small boats policy. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockward is joined by former controller of BBC Radio 4, Mark Damazer and Professor Suzanne Franks, former broadcaster with BBC News, and head of journalism at City, University of London, to discuss the...

Mar 14, 202320 min

Sturgeon's successor: Meet the SNP leadership candidates

Three candidates are vying to become the next leader of the SNP and Scotland's first minister after Nicola Sturgeon's resignation in February. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan have been accused of 'trashing’ their own party in a series of TV debates as they set out their policies and attack each other's records in government. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s Scotland correspondent to take a closer look at the candidates, plus pollster Sir John Curtice looks at who ...

Mar 13, 202322 min

Supersonic missiles and the town on the frontline of the Ukraine war

A wave of Russian missile attacks across Ukraine has left at least five people dead and many buildings destroyed. The seven-hour barrage, described as 'Russian barbarism' by Ukraine's foreign minister, is part of a resurgent offensive by Russian forces in the region. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay from Kyiv. They discuss the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut which is under attack from Russian forces. Podcast producer: Soila Apparic...

Mar 10, 202317 min

Turkey-Syria earthquake: The child survivors

A month on from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria millions of people are struggling to come to terms with their new reality. More than 50,000 people were killed and those who survived are left with the grief and devastation of losing their loved ones – not to mention aftershocks, disease, and a lack of basic supplies. Among the worst affected are children. On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by British aid worker, Joe English, from UNICEF, who ha...

Mar 09, 202314 min

Will Illegal Migration Bill stop the small boats?

Home Secretary Suella Braverman insists migrants arriving in the UK illegally on small boats will be "removed swiftly" under the government's plan to tackle the crisis. The bill also includes an annual cap on the number of people entering via safe routes. But critics argue it's unfair, unworkable and, according to the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, "risks making the chaos worse". On the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson examines the plan with our political correspondent Ali Fortescue,...

Mar 08, 202323 min

Partygate's over, but not for Boris Johnson...

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed partygate investigator Sue Gray as his chief of staff, prompting some Tory MPs to say her inquiry was a "Labour stitch-up". But she will have to set out the timeline of her discussions with Labour, including when she first began talking to Sir Keir about the role. Not the only one facing questions, Boris Johnson is soon to appear in front of a parliamentary committee looking into whether he misled parliament. On the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson is joined by ...

Mar 07, 202319 min

What’s going on with Kim Jong Un and his daughter?

We think she’s ten years old and we think we know her name, but those details are only known because of the former basketball player Dennis Rodman after he spoke to a newspaper a decade ago revealing the identity of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's youngest daughter. She has now been seen in public in North Korea at military events and parades, but why has Kim Jong Un decided to bring her out now? On the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson explores what it means for the secretive North Kore...

Mar 06, 202320 min

The Salisbury poisonings five years on

Tracy Daszkiewicz was Wiltshire Council's director of public health when ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted in March 2018 with the deadly nerve agent novichok. Three months after the Salisbury poisonings, two other people fell ill at a flat several miles away in Amesbury and one of them died. Later this month, an inquiry into Dawn Sturgess' death will have another preliminary hearing. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Ms Daszkiewicz about the impact ...

Mar 03, 202321 min

What do Matt Hancock's COVID messages actually tell us?

The ex-health secretary faces fresh scrutiny after leaked WhatsApp messages alleged he rejected testing advice on care homes during the pandemic. With preliminary hearings for the UK COVID-19 Inquiry under way, the new revelations raise further questions around Westminster's response to the global pandemic. On the Sky News Daily Podcast, Niall Paterson is joined by science and technology correspondent Tom Clarke who has been digging into Mr Hancock's leaked messages and their wider implications....

Mar 02, 202320 min

Neglect and abuse: Inside the US ‘troubled teen’ industry

The ‘troubled teen’ industry in America is worth billions of dollars every year – but it is plagued by allegations of neglect and abuse. This industry was dragged into the spotlight last December when 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge died at Diamond Ranch Academy in Utah. On the Sky News Daily Podcast, Niall Paterson is joined by our US correspondent Martha Kelner to take a closer look at troubled teen camps and hear from whistle-blowers and campaigners calling for more regulation. Producer: Sarah G...

Mar 01, 202327 min
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