Today in Focus
1,722 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 649 ratingsHosted by Michael Safi and Helen Pidd, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, this podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday. Today in Focus features journalists such as: Aditya Chakrabortty, Alex Hern, Alexis Petridis, Andrew Roth, Emma Graham-Harrison, George Monbiot, Jim Waterson, John Crace, John Harris, Jonathan Freedland, Kiran Stacey, Larry Elliott, Luke Harding, Marina Hyde, Nesrine Malik, Owen Jones, Peter Walker, Pippa Crerar, Polly Toynbee, Shaun Walker, Simon Hattenstone and Zoe Williams. The podcast is a topical, deep dive, explainer on a topic or story in the news, covering: current affairs, politics, investigations, leaks, scandals and interviews. It might cover topics such as: GB, Scotland, England and Ireland news, the environment, green issues, climate change, the climate emergency and global warming; American politics including: US presidential election 2024, Biden, Trump, the White House, the GOP, the Republicans and the Republican Party, the Democrats and the Democratic Party; UK politics including: UK election 24, Parliament, Labour, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer; culture; the royals and the royal family, including King Charles III and Prince Harry; HS2; the police and current affairs including: Ukraine, Russia, Bangladesh, Israel, Palestine, Gaza and AI.
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Episodes
Is Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine changing?
March 31, 2022 02:00 - 28 minutes - 44.1 MBOn Tuesday, Russia announced it would ‘radically reduce’ its military activity in northern Ukraine, but the Ukrainian military warns that Russia’s statement is intended to mislead them. Emma Graham-Harrison reports from Kharkiv. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Ramzan Kadyrov: Putin’s ‘attack dog’ and Ukraine
March 30, 2022 02:00 - 26 minutes - 40.8 MBRamzan Kadyrov, the feared Chechen leader and staunch Putin ally, is reportedly in Ukraine commanding a unit alongside Russian forces. Julius Strauss explains what his arrival into the war means for Russia, Ukraine and Chechnya. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can P&O be forced to reverse its mass sacking of workers?
March 29, 2022 02:00 - 30 minutes - 46.2 MBThe company’s sacking of 800 UK employees without notice prompted outrage from politicians and unions alike. But will anything change? Joanna Partridge explores a low point in the recent history of industrial relations. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The race to mine the deep sea
March 28, 2022 02:00 - 32 minutes - 49 MBOne of the largest mining operations ever seen on Earth aims to despoil an ocean we are only just beginning to understand, says global environment editor Jonathan Watts• Seabed regulator deciding deep sea’s future ‘behind closed doors’. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The shameful strip-search of Child Q
March 25, 2022 03:00 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBAfter a 15-year-old London girl was strip searched by police at her school, her family and community want accountability. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The siege of Mariupol – podcast
March 24, 2022 03:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBFor weeks the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol has been under constant bombardment from Russian artillery. With the city in ruins, residents who risked everything to escape can now tell their stories. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How pandemics end and what they leave behind
March 23, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 40.4 MBTwo years after the first UK coronavirus lockdown, Laura Spinney reflects on what the years after the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic looked like, and what we might expect in a post-Covid era. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can China broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine? Podcast
March 22, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.5 MBThey’re longtime strategic partners but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is testing the strength of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping’s relationship, Tania Branigan explains. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can China broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine?
March 22, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.5 MBThey’re longtime strategic partners but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is testing the strength of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping’s relationship, Tania Branigan explains. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The woman jailed for a voting mistake
March 21, 2022 03:00 - 39 minutes - 58.6 MBPamela Moses, a Black Lives Matter activist , was sentenced to six years in prison for trying to register to vote. Sam Levine tells the remarkable story. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How daily life in Ukraine has become an act of defiance
March 18, 2022 03:46 - 28 minutes - 44.3 MBAcross the country, journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk has been chronicling how people in Ukraine are just carrying on - and how that in itself is a form of resistance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Has the Ukraine crisis transformed Britain’s approach to refugees?
March 17, 2022 03:00 - 38 minutes - 57 MBPeople in Britain have been signing up in their thousands to offer a place in their homes to those seeking refuge from the war. It’s a spirit of generosity that puts it at odds with recent government policy, says Amelia Gentleman. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How the UK finally turned on Roman Abramovich
March 16, 2022 03:00 - 33 minutes - 51.3 MBWhen Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003, he transformed the club’s fortunes and ushered in a new era of billionaire owners in the Premier League. But as David Conn explains, the issues that led to sanctions being imposed on him last week by the government have been in plain view for years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Wagner Group’s shadow mission in Ukraine
March 15, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.9 MBOfficially, it does not exist. But reporter Pjotr Sauer has traced the notorious Russian mercenary group’s activities in Syria and Africa – and recently spoke to one of its members. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How Ketanji Brown Jackson became Biden’s supreme court nominee
March 14, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.5 MBIf confirmed by the US Senate, Jackson will be the first Black woman to take a seat on the country’s highest court. The New York University law professor Melissa Murray explains the significance of Jackson’s nomination. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What’s driving Vladimir Putin and his assault on Ukraine?
March 11, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 45.9 MBThe president’s attitude to power – in Russia and beyond – has changed steadily since 1999, says Sam Greene, the co-author of Putin v the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Could Nato do more to stop the war in Ukraine?
March 10, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 49.9 MBNato has refused to intervene militarily in the Ukraine war. Dan Sabbagh explains what more the world’s most powerful military alliance could do – and why full intervention is off the table for now Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
From north to south: how Putin united Ukrainians against Russia
March 09, 2022 03:00 - 34 minutes - 52.1 MBShaun Walker has spent much of the first fortnight of the war in and around Kyiv. Travelling south to the port city of Odesa, he found even the Russian-speaking population were becoming hardened in disgust at Moscow’s invasion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Ukrainian refugees pouring into Europe
March 08, 2022 03:00 - 29 minutes - 45 MBA million and a half people have been forced to escape their homes in Ukraine. Annie Kelly and Lorenzo Tondo explain what this growing refugee crisis looks like. Plus, a couple who fled for Hungary share their journey. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The scandal of Britain’s ‘ghost’ flights
March 07, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 39.9 MBAt least 15,000 flights have taken off from UK airports since March 2020 at less than 10% capacity or even with no passengers at all. The Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, attempts to find out why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What Russians are being told about the war in Ukraine
March 04, 2022 03:00 - 31 minutes - 48.3 MBThe world has reacted with revulsion to stark images of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. But televisions in Moscow show a different story entirely, says Andrew Roth. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The volunteer fighter: ‘Life will never be the same’
March 03, 2022 03:00 - 26 minutes - 41.2 MBVolodymyr Ksienich, 22, has returned to Ukraine to join the defence of Kyiv. He tells Michael Safi how his life changed forever after last week’s Russian invasion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How to end Britain’s love affair with Russian money
March 02, 2022 03:00 - 29 minutes - 46 MBOliver Bullough has traced how the British financial system has sheltered ill-gotten Russian wealth over many decades. Can the system be cleaned up?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Comedian, president, warrior: the transformation of Volodymyr Zelenskiy
March 01, 2022 03:00 - 31 minutes - 47.9 MBWhen the comic actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy ran for the Ukrainian presidency in 2019 he was treated as a joke. Now, as Luke Harding reports from Lviv, he personifies the defiance and dignity of Ukraine’s embattled population. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A family flees Kyiv
February 28, 2022 03:00 - 29 minutes - 45.3 MBThousands of Ukrainians are flooding out of the capital. As the Russian attack continues, the residents who remain are taking cover – and taking up arms, Emma Graham-Harrison reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The day Putin invaded Ukraine
February 25, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.9 MBRussia has launched an invasion of Ukraine on several fronts, raising fears it could escalate into the most serious conflict Europe has seen since the second world war. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Freedom or folly? The end of England’s Covid restrictions
February 24, 2022 03:00 - 26 minutes - 40.7 MBToday marks the first day in nearly two years that no laws will be in place in England to deal with the spread of Covid-19. But is the government still following the science?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Putin orders troops into Ukraine. Now what?
February 23, 2022 03:00 - 21 minutes - 34.3 MBAfter weeks of threats, Putin has sent soldiers and tanks into eastern Ukraine. Shaun Walker and Patrick Wintour explain what the new stage of the crisis means for Ukraine and its allies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Democrats’ crime conundrum
February 22, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.2 MBWhile US Democrats struggle to follow through on promises of police reform, Republicans are trying to keep voters’ attention on rising crime rates. Lauren Gambino reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Credit Suisse: a bank for dictators, drug lords and criminals
February 21, 2022 03:00 - 33 minutes - 50.2 MBA leak of data from Credit Suisse has shown how it provided services to known criminals and fraudsters for decades. It’s the latest huge scandal to hit the Swiss bank, say investigative reporters Kalyeena Makortoff and David Pegg. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Tories attacking the UK’s net zero plans
February 18, 2022 03:00 - 24 minutes - 38.1 MBThe Net Zero Scrutiny Group insists it accepts the facts of the climate emergency. But as the cost of living crisis deepens, they see an opportunity to push back against the government’s climate agenda. Helena Horton reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The fall of Prince Andrew
February 17, 2022 03:00 - 22 minutes - 35.2 MBThe Duke of York faces a bill of millions of pounds after settling a sexual assault case with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre. This, in effect, ends his career in public life, says royal reporter Caroline Davies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The displaced Chagos Islanders yearning for home
February 16, 2022 03:00 - 26 minutes - 41.8 MBOver 50 years after they were forcibly removed from their homes, the former residents of Britain’s last colony in Africa are challenging the UK’s claim to the archipelago. Lawyer Philippe Sands is advising the Mauritian government in the legal battle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How the Ukraine crisis looks from Kyiv
February 15, 2022 03:00 - 26 minutes - 41.5 MBAs US intelligence sources warn of an imminent Russian invasion, residents of the Ukrainian capital are refusing to be cowed, reports Shaun Walker. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The joys (and pressures) of being single
February 14, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 44.5 MBYou don’t need a partner to have a happy and fulfilling life - so why does society still apply the pressure to couple up?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Scotland reckons with the violent witch hunts of its past
February 11, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.7 MBThey were accused of sorcery but they were just ordinary women. Libby Brooks reports on a campaign to pardon those persecuted in witch trials 300 years ago. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What a leadership crisis looks like from inside Downing Street
February 10, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.1 MBGavin Barwell was in No 10 when Tory MPs were plotting the downfall of his boss Theresa May. Now, as Boris Johnson’s premiership hangs in the balance, he tells Nosheen Iqbal what it’s like on the inside when things start falling apart. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Clause 9 and the erosion of citizenship rights
February 09, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 47 MBThe UK government has long held the right to deprive British people of their citizenship. But in the past 20 years, its use of those powers has dramatically accelerated. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is the cryptocurrency trading boom creating a new generation of addicts?
February 08, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46 MBWith endorsements from celebrities and ads on TikTok, cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. But not everyone gets rich. Rob Davies reports on how crypto apps encourage addictive, high-risk trading habits. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The scammers getting rich on lockdown loneliness
February 07, 2022 03:00 - 31 minutes - 47.7 MBDating fraudsters stole nearly £100m from lonely people in Britain last year. Lizzie Cernik reports on how these increasingly sophisticated scams work. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Weekend: episode one of a new podcast
February 05, 2022 05:00 - 48 minutes - 69.1 MBEase into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In our first episode, Marina Hyde reflects on another less than stellar week for Boris Johnson (1m38s), Edward Helmore charts the rise of Joe Rogan (9m46s), Laura Snapes goes deep with singer George Ezra (18m30s), and Alex Moshakis asks, “Are you a jerk at work?” (34m40s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or whe...
Weekend: episode one of a new podcast
February 05, 2022 05:00 - 48 minutes - 69.1 MBEase into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In our first episode, Marina Hyde reflects on another less than stellar week for Boris Johnson (1m38s), Edward Helmore charts the rise of Joe Rogan (9m46s), Laura Snapes goes deep with singer George Ezra (18m30s), and Alex Moshakis asks, “Are you a jerk at work?” (34m40s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or whe...
Can Joe Rogan change?
February 04, 2022 03:00 - 31 minutes - 47.7 MBThe freewheeling, inquisitive style that made Rogan so influential turned into a liability during the Covid pandemic. What’s next for the world’s most famous podcaster?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Cressida Dick and the crisis of trust in the Metropolitan police
February 03, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 48.8 MBAfter a year in which the Met lurched from one crisis to another, Danny Shaw looks at the challenges faced by the woman in charge. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
‘A ticking time bomb’: what a prison break reveals about the threat from Islamic State
February 02, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.7 MBIS might have been defeated on the battlefield, but the terror group still has the capacity to shock and its threat is far from over, says Martin Chulov. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Today in Focus podcast: what a prison break reveals about the threat from Islamic State
February 02, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.7 MBIS might have been defeated on the battlefield, but the terror group still has the capacity to shock and its threat is far from over, says Martin Chulov. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Sue Gray’s verdict: ‘Failures of leadership’
February 01, 2022 03:00 - 23 minutes - 36.6 MBSue Gray’s report into Covid lockdown rule-breaking in Downing Street has finally been published. Jessica Elgot analyses what it means for Boris Johnson’s future. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Grenfell inquiry final phase: will politicians be held accountable?
January 31, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 42.7 MBAs the Grenfell inquiry heads towards its concluding stages, politicians will be called to account for their part in the deadly fire. Our social affairs correspondent Robert Booth has been watching on throughout • How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Has China fallen into a Covid-zero trap?
January 28, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 39.7 MBFrom the beginning, China’s response to coronavirus has been to quash outbreaks with ultra-strict lockdowns. But has the Omicron variant left its leaders trapped in the wrong strategy?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What happens if Russia invades Ukraine?
January 27, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.4 MBWith diplomatic talks at an apparent impasse, Vladimir Putin seems prepared to start a war. Andrew Roth reports from Moscow. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus