The Explanation Podcast
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin.
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world.
Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.
Episodes to download
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The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media
Thu 17 Jul 2025
A government data leak led to press blackout. How journalists challenged the court order
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The Media Show: Oasis concert photo row
Thu 10 Jul 2025
Photographers hit out at Oasis for limiting use of pictures from comeback gig
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Unspun World: Donald Trump's foreign policy
Fri 4 Jul 2025
John Simpson analyses Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term
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The Media Show: Gaza documentary controversy
Thu 3 Jul 2025
Channel 4 airs Gaza film dropped by the BBC over impartiality concerns
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Unspun World: Has Iran weathered the storm?
Fri 27 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses where Iran stands now a ceasefire seems to be in place
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The Media Show: Iranian harassment of BBC journalists
Thu 26 Jun 2025
“Psychology warfare” waged against staff at BBC Persian
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Unspun World: Where is the conflict between Israel and Iran heading?
Fri 20 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses whether Israel’s attacks on Iran could lead to regime change
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The Media Show: Israel-Iran coverage
Thu 19 Jun 2025
Challenge in reporting Iran-Israel conflict due to limited access and state restrictions
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Unspun World: Trump's immigration crackdown
Fri 13 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses the US president’s decision to deploy troops to California
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The Media Show: Will AI kill the advertising industry?
Thu 12 Jun 2025
Meta’s plan for new tools that will let anyone make ads
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What does a new president mean for Poland?
Fri 6 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses what Karol Nawrocki’s victory means for Poland’s government
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The Media Show: Can NPR survive Trump’s cuts?
Thu 5 Jun 2025
CEO of US public radio sets out survival strategy
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Unspun World: Will Israeli criticism change Netanyahu's Gaza stance?
Fri 30 May 2025
Will criticism from within Israel force Netanyahu to change his approach in Gaza?
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The Media Show: NYT editor Joe Kahn, and travel presenter Simon Reeve
Thu 29 May 2025
Journalism in a divided America and documentary storytelling in Scandinavia
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Unspun World: The UK's new EU deal
Fri 23 May 2025
James Landale analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU
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The Media Show: Full-time for Lineker at the BBC
Thu 22 May 2025
How a social media post led to football presenter’s departure
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Unspun World: What's next for Gaza?
Fri 16 May 2025
John Simpson examines the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza
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The Media Show: Misinformation and the India-Pakistan Standoff
Thu 15 May 2025
How false claims have flooded social media during border tensions
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Unspun World: Vladimir Putin’s game plan
Fri 9 May 2025
John Simpson analyses Russia’s current strategy in Ukraine
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The Media Show: Tina Brown on her fight for quality journalism
Thu 8 May 2025
Legendary magazine editor on press freedom, editorial integrity and the MAGA era
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The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part three
Fri 2 May 2025
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
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Unspun World: What part did Trump play in Canada’s election?
Fri 2 May 2025
John Simpson analyses US President Donald Trump’s influence on Canada's election results
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The Media Show: Piers Morgan’s YouTube bet
Thu 1 May 2025
Why the former tabloid journalist believes online is his future
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The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part two
Fri 25 Apr 2025
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
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The Media Show: Washington leak culture
Thu 24 Apr 2025
Pentagon hunt for the officials talking to journalists
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The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part one
Fri 18 Apr 2025
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
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The Media Show: Britain's steel crisis and SNL’s leap across the Atlantic
Thu 17 Apr 2025
Reporting the battle to save the UK’s last major steelworks
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Trump's tariffs explained
Fri 11 Apr 2025
Ben Brown and Sumi Somaskanda examine the key questions about US tariffs
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The Media Show: Trade wars, tariffs, and Trump’s media strategy
Thu 10 Apr 2025
Challenge for journalists to explain economic uncertainty
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The Media Show: What teenage boys are watching online
Thu 3 Apr 2025
How the Netflix drama Adolescence has started a conversation about online influence
