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Today in Focus

The Guardianwww.theguardian.com
Hosted by Michael Safi and Helen Pidd, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining storytelling with insightful analysis and personal testimonies, the podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday. Today in Focus is unmatched in both scope and depth, delivering analysis and storytelling from right across the planet. With a global network of over 900 journalists and five dedicated editions covering news in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and beyond, the Guardian offers comprehensive reporting across every continent. Most recently we have introduced new correspondents in the Caribbean, South America and Africa.
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Episodes

US election extra: Harris breaks with Biden

Kamala Harris put distance between herself and the president, using Fox News to give her spikiest interview yet. Adam Gabbatt reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 17, 202410 min

US election extra: Musk’s millions

Elon Musk is donating huge amounts to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. What might he want in return? Adam Gabbatt reports from New York City. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 16, 202410 min

How UN peacekeepers ended up in Israel’s line of fire

UN peacekeepers in Lebanon say Israel has been attacking their bases. Now Israel has told them they should leave. Patrick Wintour reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 16, 202427 min

US election extra: DJ Trump

Donald Trump went off script on Monday night and abandoned the usual Q&A format of a townhall event in favour of bopping along to his campaign playlist. Chris Michael has the details. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 15, 202410 min

The hurricanes shaking the US election – podcast

Will two massive hurricanes in the US be enough to put the climate crisis on the election agenda? Oliver Milman reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 15, 202432 min

US election extra: the state of the race

As the polls tighten, Chris Michael joins Lucy Hough to discuss the state of the race, in the first instalment of a daily series of short updates on the election. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 14, 202410 min

How Giorgia Meloni became Europe’s favourite far-right leader

She’s the far-right prime minister with whom leaders across Europe seem to love being photographed. What’s her appeal and what does she really want? With Alexander Stille . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 14, 202431 min

One man on his grief for Gaza

Journalist Ahmed Alnaouq on losing 21 family members in an Israeli airstrike. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 11, 202443 min

Unleashed: John Crace digests Boris Johnson’s memoir

The former PM probably hoped this book would make the country fall in love with him again, but it will only revive the resentment, John Crace tells Helen Pidd. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 09, 202431 min

Sue Gray is out: will this solve Labour’s problems?

It’s coming up to 100 days since Labour took power, but its honeymoon period was cut short by a flurry of negative headlines. Will getting rid of Starmer’s highest-paid aide help? Jessica Elgot reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 08, 202424 min

7 October, one year on: a return to kibbutz Nir Oz

Bethan McKernan visits Nir Oz in southern Israel to talk to survivors about Hamas’s attack on 7 October last year, and to discuss what has happened to their kibbutz and the wider region since. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 07, 202430 min

Do Israel and Iran really want to go to war?

For years the two countries have been engaged in a shadow war. Why, and will it finally explode into a direct confrontation? Patrick Wintour reports . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 04, 202425 min

The curiously upbeat Tory leadership race

Helen Pidd goes to the Conservative party conference to hear from the four candidates vying for the leadership. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 03, 202441 min

How will Israel retaliate? – Today in Focus Extra

Peter Beaumont joins Michael Safi from Jerusalem to discuss the unprecedented attack on Israel by Iran – and what may come next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 02, 202412 min

Who were England’s 2024 rioters?

Racist chants rang out, and homes, businesses and hotels housing asylum seekers were attacked – for a week this summer English towns and cities seemed on the brink of chaos. Josh Halliday reports on what we know so far about the people at the centre of the violence. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 02, 202429 min

Will Hezbollah survive Israel’s onslaught?

Hezbollah was a force to be reckoned with. Now its veteran leader and a host of its senior leaders are dead and Israel is threatening a ground invasion of Lebanon. Is this the start of a new reality in the Middle East? Jason Burke reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Oct 01, 202427 min

The mysteries of IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome affects one in five adults in the UK but is little understood and has no known cure. Hannah Moore discusses living with the condition with a friend and asks a dietitian whether new research into the mind-gut connection may bring answers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 30, 202426 min

The deadliest week in Lebanon for decades

William Christou and Michael Safi speak to people affected by Israel’s intense bombing campaign in Lebanon. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 27, 202436 min

The bravery of Gisèle Pelicot in the rape trial horrifying France

For more than a decade Pelicot’s husband drugged her and invited other men to allegedly rape her. When she found out, she made an extraordinary decision. Angelique Chrisafis reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 26, 202431 min

Hope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power

From anger over the winter fuel allowance to a row over freebies, Labour’s first conference in power for 15 years started under a cloud. Did the prime minister’s speech lift the gloom? With Jessica Elgot . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 25, 202430 min

How Lebanon’s pagers and walkie-talkies became deadly weapons

On Tuesday, dozens of people were killed when electronic pagers blew up. The next day walkie-talkies exploded. What was the goal of the attacks? William Christou reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 20, 202425 min

Should we believe Putin’s war talk?

How discussions over long-range missiles led to war threats from Vladimir Putin. Dan Sabbagh reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 18, 202423 min

The devastating secrets of Huw Edwards

The newsreader has been sentenced for accessing indecent images of children. How did the BBC handle the scandal? Dan Boffey reports . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 17, 202430 min

Revenge of the childless cat ladies

How Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate JD Vance calling Democrats ‘childless cat ladies’ backfired. Elle Hunt reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 16, 202429 min

Creating The Spark: the kids behind 2024’s surprise summer hit

Rory Carroll and Helen Pidd meet the Kabin Crew and the Lisdoonvarna Crew – creators of a song that has notched up over a billion plays on TikTok – as they perform at the Electric Picnic music festival. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sep 13, 202429 min
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