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Today in Focus

The Guardianwww.theguardian.com
Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
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Episodes

‘El Guapo’: The Spanish PM standing up to Trump

Madrid-based journalist Guy Hedgecoe explains why Pedro Sánchez has been one of the few European leaders to challenge the US president on Iran. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 16, 202621 min

Oscars 2026: who should win … and who actually will? – The Latest

After months of red carpets and awards season campaigns, it’s all eyes on Hollywood’s night of nights - the Academy Awards. It looks like it will be a fight between Ryan Coogler’s thriller Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation One Battle After Another for most of the big prizes, with Jessie Buckley’s performance in Hamnet the clear favourite for best actress. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s film editor, Catherine Shoard – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at ...

Mar 13, 202612 min

‘Let’s-a go!’ The story of Nintendo

Video games editor Keza MacDonald traces the rise of Nintendo, and explains why its sense of fun matters in a world of big tech. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 13, 202626 min

Mandelson files: Starmer admits ‘I made a mistake’ – The Latest

Keir Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in making Peter Mandelson ambassador to the US due to his links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly released files. The first batch of files raises new questions about the prime minister’s judgment, as well as the vetting process at the highest level of government. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus...

Mar 12, 202611 min

What teenagers really see on their phones

Helen Pidd talks to Abbey, 15, and Josh, 16, about their experiences of social media, and a growing divide between boys and girls. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 12, 202627 min

How much worse could Iran war make the cost of living crisis? – The Latest

Rising oil prices and market turmoil as a result of the war in the Middle East are fuelling fears the cost of living crisis could get even tougher. Energy bills, mortgage rates and petrol prices could all surge in the fallout from the conflict. So how much could the war tighten the screws on our personal finances? Lucy Hough speaks to the deputy editor of the Guardian’s money section, Rupert Jones – watch on YouTube How will war in the Middle East affect your finances? . Help support our indepen...

Mar 11, 20269 min

Should we be boycotting ChatGPT?

Rutger Bregman on why he thinks consumers should cancel their ChatGPT accounts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 11, 202626 min

Could Trump really end the war in Iran ‘very soon’? – The Latest

Donald Trump has held an astonishing press conference in which he said the war in Iran was ‘very complete’ and could end ‘very soon’, but also claimed that the US had not ‘won enough’. The US president is under growing pressure over the economic toll from the conflict, but his words were met with defiance from Tehran. So is the war any closer to ending and has Trump underestimated the resilience of the Iranian regime? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik – watch on YouTube ....

Mar 10, 202612 min

Inside Iran as the bombs fall

Annie Kelly speaks to ordinary Iranians about the attacks on their country, and peace strategist Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini explains her fears for the future. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 10, 202632 min

Will Trump make a deal with Iran’s new supreme leader? - The Latest

Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to replace his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader, while the country continues to be heavily bombarded by US and Israeli forces. There are concerns the move could lead to a further escalation of war in the Middle East, after Donald Trump warned that Khamenei was an ‘unacceptable’ choice. But as oil prices soar, could the US president be looking for a way out of this war? Lucy Hough speaks to diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour – watch on YouTube...

Mar 09, 202612 min

Who really took one of history’s most famous pictures?

The photo of a Vietnamese girl running away from a napalm strike is one of the most famous in history. But who actually took it? With conflict photographers Gary Knight and David Burnett, and film-maker Bao Nguyen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 09, 202632 min

Trump sacks Kristi Noem: what does it mean for ICE? – The Latest

Donald Trump has fired his controversial US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, after weeks of bipartisan complaints about her leadership. As the public face of an aggressive immigration crackdown that prompted lawsuits and nationwide anti-ICE protests, Noem’s year-long tenure was plagued by multiple controversies, including accusing two US citizens killed by immigration agents of ‘domestic terrorism’. What exactly led to Noem’s firing and what do we know about her replacement? Nosheen Iqb...

Mar 06, 202610 min

The Jesse Jackson I knew

As Chicago prepares to bid farewell to Jackson, Today in Focus hears about the groundbreaking civil rights activist from those who knew him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 06, 202634 min

Why does Trump want Kurdish fighters to join the war in Iran? – The Latest

Intense waves of airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts and police stations along northern parts of Iran’s border with Iraq in what appears to be preparation by the US and Israel for a new front in their war. Iran has warned ‘separatist groups’ in this region against joining the widening conflict and launched strikes against Iraq-based Kurdish groups it described as ‘opposed to the revolution’. Could the involvement of these militant groups increase the risk of a civil ...

Mar 05, 20269 min

Could the Iran war trigger a global economic crisis? – The Latest

Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that facilitates the shipping of about a fifth of the world’s oil, has been in effect closed since the regional war began, prompting fears of a global economic crisis. According to reports, traffic has dropped by about 80%, but how long until we feel the effects? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of business, John Collingridge – watch on YouTube ....

Mar 04, 202611 min

What do Netanyahu and Trump really want in Iran?

Who’s calling the shots in the US-Israeli war on Iran? Chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison and international security correspondent Jason Burke report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 04, 202626 min

War widens in the Middle East – The Latest

Israel has deployed soldiers on the ground in southern Lebanon and is carrying out heavy airstrikes in the country as conflict in the Middle East continues to spread. It comes after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Beirut-based journalist Will Christou – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus...

Mar 03, 202610 min

Chaos in the Gulf

After the US and Israel assassinated Iran’s Supreme leader, Tehran has hit back. Missiles have rained down on the Gulf. Will the region retaliate? Julian Borger reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Mar 03, 202631 min

Iran war escalates: what’s Trump’s endgame? - The Latest

The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with casualties and destruction reported across at least nine countries in under 10 hours. Israeli and US warplanes launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran, while US allies in the Gulf states are under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of international news, Jamie Wilson – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus...

Mar 02, 202613 min

Greens win Gorton and Denton: is this a turning point for UK politics? – The Latest

The Green Party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gordon and Denton byelection in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England, with Labour pushed into third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK despite having a 13,000-vote majority. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England correspondent Hannah Al-Othman, who lives in the constituency and was at the count overnight – watch on YouTube . Help support our ...

Feb 27, 202612 min

The men trying to do friendship, better – podcast

Can talking about their problems help men forge closer relationships – or is there another way? Josh Halliday reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Feb 27, 202627 min

Has Corbyn won the Your Party power battle? - The Latest

Jeremy Corbyn’s allies declared victory after he was voted to be Your Party’s parliamentary leader in an election in which his rival Zarah Sultana was also voted on to the party’s leadership committee. The party is hoping to turn the page on bitter in-fighting since its launch last year, but will it succeed? Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus...

Feb 26, 202611 min

Will Andrew bring down the monarchy?

As MPs vote to release the documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy, Helen Pidd speaks to Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, about the former prince’s antics in the role and whether this scandal will be the monarchy’s last. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Feb 26, 202625 min

Baftas racial slur row sparks BBC backlash – The Latest

The BBC is under fire over its failure to remove a racial slur shouted by John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, from its broadcast of the Bafta awards. Davidson was heard shouting the N-word while two stars of the film Sinners, Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, were on stage. The BBC has apologised for the error and said producers overseeing the coverage did not hear the slur. Lucy Hough is joined by the Guardian’s assistant opinion editor Jason Okundaye – watch on YouTube – Read Jason’s pi...

Feb 25, 202611 min

On the ground in the byelection that could end Starmer

Reform and the Greens both insist they can win the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton from Labour – and if they do, it could be another nail in the prime minister’s coffin. Helen Pidd reports on how the candidates and voters are feeling. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Feb 25, 202638 min

Mandelson arrested: Epstein files fallout intensifies – The Latest

Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland...

Feb 24, 202610 min

Ukrainian men on how four years of war has changed them

A DJ turned soldier explains how life has changed for Ukraine’s men while Tracey McVeigh and Shaun Walker report on the impact of the conflict and what could happen next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Feb 24, 202626 min

Could Farage bring ICE to the UK? – The Latest

Reform UK has promised to create an ICE-style agency dedicated to mass deportations if the party came to power. Nigel Farage and his party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, have pledged to start a ‘UK Deportation Command’ to remove thousands of people, under plans that have been condemned as ‘sadistic’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy political editor Jessica Elgot – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus...

Feb 23, 202611 min
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