The Explanation

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

World Service,328 episodes

Episodes

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The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media
A government data leak led to press blackout. How journalists challenged the court order
17 Jul 2025,22 mins
The Media Show: Oasis concert photo row
Photographers hit out at Oasis for limiting use of pictures from comeback gig
10 Jul 2025,22 mins
Why is the Gulf Stream and AMOC so important to our climate?
AMOC ocean currents enable heat to be distributed around our planet, but could they stop?
05 Jul 2025,25 mins
Unspun World: Donald Trump's foreign policy
John Simpson analyses Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term
04 Jul 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Gaza documentary controversy
Channel 4 airs Gaza film dropped by the BBC over impartiality concerns
03 Jul 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: Has Iran weathered the storm?
John Simpson analyses where Iran stands now a ceasefire seems to be in place
27 Jun 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Iranian harassment of BBC journalists
“Psychology warfare” waged against staff at BBC Persian
26 Jun 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: Where is the conflict between Israel and Iran heading?
John Simpson analyses whether Israel’s attacks on Iran could lead to regime change
20 Jun 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Israel-Iran coverage
Challenge in reporting Iran-Israel conflict due to limited access and state restrictions
19 Jun 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: Trump's immigration crackdown
John Simpson analyses the US president’s decision to deploy troops to California
13 Jun 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Will AI kill the advertising industry?
Meta’s plan for new tools that will let anyone make ads
12 Jun 2025,22 mins
What does a new president mean for Poland?
John Simpson analyses what Karol Nawrocki’s victory means for Poland’s government
06 Jun 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Can NPR survive Trump’s cuts?
CEO of US public radio sets out survival strategy
05 Jun 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: Will Israeli criticism change Netanyahu's Gaza stance?
Will criticism from within Israel force Netanyahu to change his approach in Gaza?
30 May 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: NYT editor Joe Kahn, and travel presenter Simon Reeve
Journalism in a divided America and documentary storytelling in Scandinavia
29 May 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: The UK's new EU deal
James Landale analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU
23 May 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Full-time for Lineker at the BBC
How a social media post led to football presenter’s departure
22 May 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: What's next for Gaza?
John Simpson examines the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza
16 May 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Misinformation and the India-Pakistan Standoff
How false claims have flooded social media during border tensions
15 May 2025,22 mins
Unspun World: Vladimir Putin’s game plan
John Simpson analyses Russia’s current strategy in Ukraine
09 May 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Tina Brown on her fight for quality journalism
Legendary magazine editor on press freedom, editorial integrity and the MAGA era
08 May 2025,22 mins
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part three
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
02 May 2025,30 mins
Unspun World: What part did Trump play in Canada’s election?
John Simpson analyses US President Donald Trump’s influence on Canada's election results
02 May 2025,26 mins
The Media Show: Piers Morgan’s YouTube bet
Why the former tabloid journalist believes online is his future
01 May 2025,22 mins
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part two
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
25 Apr 2025,29 mins
The Media Show: Washington leak culture
Pentagon hunt for the officials talking to journalists
24 Apr 2025,22 mins
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part one
What does the future hold for Kurdish people?
18 Apr 2025,32 mins
The Media Show: Britain's steel crisis and SNL’s leap across the Atlantic
Reporting the battle to save the UK’s last major steelworks
17 Apr 2025,22 mins
Trump's tariffs explained
Ben Brown and Sumi Somaskanda examine the key questions about US tariffs
11 Apr 2025,24 mins
The Media Show: Trade wars, tariffs, and Trump’s media strategy
Challenge for journalists to explain economic uncertainty
10 Apr 2025,22 mins