The Explanation

Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin.

World Service,351 episodes

Episodes

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The President's Path: Trump and the AI data centre debate
Artificial intelligence data centres take centre stage in the US political debate
14 Aug 2026,16 mins
The Media Show: James May's YouTube move
James May on building a YouTube audience after television success
13 Aug 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Is Trump the AI president?
Can the US find the balance between AI innovation and regulation?
07 Aug 2026,15 mins
The Media Show: Alternative Hollywood
How faith-based studios are finding success outside the film industry's mainstream
06 Aug 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Does Zelensky have the upper hand in the Ukraine war?
Are relations between Trump and Zelensky warming?
31 Jul 2026,16 mins
The Media Show: Interviewing Elon Musk
The Economist's editor-in-chief on the interview that sparked Musk's "traitor" attack.
30 Jul 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: The US-Saudi nuclear deal
What do we know about the US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal?
24 Jul 2026,16 mins
The Media Show: Can an AI actor win over Hollywood?
The creator of AI star Tilly Norwood explains why she's casting her in a feature film
23 Jul 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Trump accuses China of US election 'meddling'
Donald Trump accuses China of interfering in the 2020 US election
17 Jul 2026,16 mins
The Media Show: Trump's New York Times subpoenas
The media implications of subpoenas over reporting on President Trump's new Air Force One
16 Jul 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: US-Iran conflict reignites
The US and Iran are once again trading strikes
10 Jul 2026,16 mins
The Media Show: Farage's fight with the Media
Nigel Farage accuses the media of targeting him amid scrutiny of his financial interests
09 Jul 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: America at 250
How does the US of today measure up to what the country’s founders had envisioned?
03 Jul 2026,24 mins
The Media Show: The Murray brothers' media game
Jamie Murray on launching a YouTube tennis channel with his brother Andy
02 Jul 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Has Trump taken over America’s big birthday?
The US marks its 250th birthday - but who's throwing the party?
26 Jun 2026,25 mins
Unspun World: Has Britain become ungovernable?
John Simpson examines the factors behind the resignation of Britain’s prime minister
26 Jun 2026,26 mins
The Media Show: How Shop workers became content
Retail staff report a rise in filming by customers for social media videos.
25 Jun 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: What did America actually win in the Iran deal?
Trump signs a US-Iran deal at Versailles. But what has America actually won?
19 Jun 2026,25 mins
Unspun World: Winners and losers of the US-Iran agreement
John Simpson examines the new deal aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran
19 Jun 2026,26 mins
The Media Show: Citizen journalists at protests - reporting or activism?
The growing role of online creators at protests and public disorder in the UK
18 Jun 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Why is Trump hosting the UFC at the White House?
Trump marks his birthday with a White House cage fight as the World Cup comes to America
12 Jun 2026,24 mins
Unspun World: Fighting resumes between Israel and Hezbollah
John Simpson explores the impact of Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon
12 Jun 2026,26 mins
The Media Show: Reporting the World Cup
BBC Sport and football journalists set out how the biggest tournament will be covered
11 Jun 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Why did Trump and Netanyahu clash over the Iran war?
Trump's blazing row with Netanyahu over the Iran war. Is the alliance cracking?
08 Jun 2026,24 mins
Unspun World: What's it like to live in Iran now?
How do ordinary Iranians feel about the conflict with the United States?
05 Jun 2026,26 mins
The Media Show: Inside Rafa Nadal's Netflix show
The director of Rafa on access, editorial control and sports documentaries.
04 Jun 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: The costs of the Iran war
War with Iran: How long will US consumers feel the pinch?
29 May 2026,24 mins
Unspun World: Is the US preparing to invade Cuba?
John Simpson analyses the possibility of the US forcing regime change in Cuba
29 May 2026,26 mins
The Media Show: The French Rupert Murdoch
Actors and filmmakers raise concerns about Vincent Bolloré’s media influence
28 May 2026,22 mins
The President's Path: Trump pivots to Cuba
Trump pivots to Cuba and takes on his own party in the primaries
22 May 2026,24 mins