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
Leonardo da Vinci and the mystery of the world's most expensive painting
August 31, 2020 02:00 - 24 minutes - 35 MBSalvator Mundi was sold for a record $450m at auction in 2017 to an anonymous bidder. But the painting’s provenance as the work of Leonardo has been called into question. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revisited: the Windrush scandal isn't over
August 28, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 33.4 MBHubert Howard, a prominent Windrush victim, died recently without receiving compensation or a personal apology. Amelia Gentleman discusses his case. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revisited: Understanding white privilege, with Reni Eddo-Lodge
August 27, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MBReni Eddo-Lodge became the first black British author to top the UK bestseller list with her 2017 book Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. In an exclusive interview with the Observer’s Nosheen Iqbal, she talks about global discussions on racism after the death of George Floyd. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revisited: How the Bristol bus boycott changed UK civil rights
August 26, 2020 02:00 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBMarvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, discusses the 1963 Bristol bus boycott – a protest that proved to be a watershed moment in the UK’s civil rights movement. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revisited: Britain's reckoning with its racist past
August 25, 2020 02:00 - 31 minutes - 44 MBUK Black Lives Matter protests have taken place across the country. They have not just been about solidarity with the US or racism in the UK today, but also about the need to address Britain’s past and the impact of that legacy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revisited: The death of George Floyd – will anything change? – podcast
August 24, 2020 02:00 - 38 minutes - 53.4 MBProtests ignited across the world after footage showed George Floyd dying under the knee of white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Paul Butler discusses the history of police killings of black Americans and whether Floyd’s death could prove a turning point. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who are the people risking everything to cross the Channel?
August 21, 2020 02:00 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBThe number of migrants arriving in small boats this year is already double that of 2019. But those who manage to reach the UK find themselves confronted by a government that is increasingly hostile to new arrivals. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The trouble with England's test and trace system
August 20, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 39.1 MBJosh Halliday on failures in England’s coronavirus contact-tracing system as the government replaces the main public health body in the middle of the pandemic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The A-levels fiasco
August 19, 2020 02:00 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBWhen schools in England closed in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it meant students could no longer take their final exams. Instead, computer modelling was used to assign grades. But when results were unveiled, there was shock and anger at what looked like clear injustices. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can Kamala Harris help Joe Biden win the US presidency?
August 18, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBKamala Harris is the first Indian American and the first black woman to run for US vice-president on a major party ticket. Lauren Gambino discusses why as Joe Biden’s running mate, Harris is in prime position to go one step further. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The return of Extinction Rebellion
August 17, 2020 02:00 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBWhen Extinction Rebellion began holding protests two years ago, the movement could not have predicted its rapid growth or the public support it received. But missteps and the Covid-19 shutdown meant the group lost momentum. Now, it is planning a series of new actions in the autumn. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Could a Belarus protest movement bring down Alexander Lukashenko?
August 14, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.5 MBSince Sunday, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Belarus to contest the claimed election victory of the president, Alexander Lukashenko, and met a violent police response. Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist, describes being on the ground, while the Guardian’s Andrew Roth looks at how Lukashenko has remained in power for 26 years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How Britain’s deepest recession is becoming a jobs crisis
August 13, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MBEconomics writer Aditya Chakrabortty describes how the coronavirus crisis has sent Britain plunging into a record recession and what it means for the millions of people fearing for their jobs. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How one hotel outbreak of Covid-19 put an Australian state back in lockdown
August 12, 2020 02:00 - 22 minutes - 25.5 MBMelbourne bureau chief, Melissa Davey, discusses life under a second lockdown after a hotel security breach in Victoria caused a resurgence of coronavirus cases. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
After the Beirut explosion: anger, grief and the fall of the government
August 11, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 39 MBIt is a week since the devastating explosion rocked Beirut, killing more than 200 people. As shock turns to anger and the cabinet resigns, Bethan McKernan and Martin Chulov report on what comes next for the Lebanese people. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Covid long haul: why are some patients not getting better?
August 10, 2020 01:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MBWhen the Guardian’s Luke Harding began suffering symptoms of Covid-19 he assumed he would be laid low for a couple of weeks. Five months later he is still unwell, and he has found hundreds of people like him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Hadley Freeman on the future of the royals
August 07, 2020 02:00 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBGuardian columnist Hadley Freeman discusses the fallout from the publication of Finding Freedom, a biography of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the latest allegations surrounding Prince Andrew. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How did President Trump get his pandemic response so wrong?
August 06, 2020 02:00 - 31 minutes - 36.1 MBWhile Donald Trump continues to claim the US is ‘doing very well’ in its fight against Covid-19, the figures suggest a different story. The US has the highest death toll in the world, with over 150,000 deaths. Guardian US chief reporter Ed Pilkington examines how Trump got it wrong. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How the world is coping with coronavirus, six months on
August 05, 2020 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.6 MBFrom Portugal to Pakistan, the Guardian’s international correspondent Michael Safi looks at the different ways countries have been affected by the virus and the impact that is having on the lives of people there. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How cancer care was sidelined in the fight against Covid-19 – podcast
August 04, 2020 02:00 - 26 minutes - 36.6 MBWith NHS services consumed by the fight against Covid-19 in recent months, cancer care has been dealt a blow, with diagnoses and treatment delayed. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Inside Lebanon's economic crisis
August 03, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 29.7 MBScenes of economic despair are visible across Lebanon – from shops to homes, businesses to hospitals. Guardian journalist Martin Chulov discusses why the country is verging on financial collapse. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Young, British and black: a generation rises
July 31, 2020 02:00 - 21 minutes - 24.8 MBThe death of George Floyd in the US provoked massive anti-racism protests in the UK. Guardian reporter Aamna Mohdin discusses what she learned when she interviewed 50 young Britons at the heart of those rallies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How did Britain get so overweight?
July 30, 2020 02:00 - 28 minutes - 40.5 MBAs the government launches a newly interventionist strategy to tackle obesity, the Guardian’s Felicity Lawrence looks at whether it goes far enough to take on the might of the food industry. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is Donald Trump playing politics with the Portland protests?
July 29, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.3 MBThe anti-racism protests in Portland appeared to be dwindling in size until Donald Trump sent in federal officers to confront them, reports the Guardian’s Chris McGreal. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will we ever achieve immunity from Covid-19?
July 28, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBRecent studies suggest that even where immunity is developed to Covid-19, it may be fleeting. Science editor Ian Sample looks at what this means for vaccines, treatments and living long term with the coronavirus. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are we creating a generation of problem gamblers?
July 27, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 35.8 MBChildren as young as 11 are becoming problem gamblers as apps and websites make betting easier than ever. Journalist Jenny Kleeman investigates how it has been allowed to happen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Covid-19 and the EU: 'When Italy cried for help there was silence'
July 24, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBWhen coronavirus swept through the European Union, member states called on Brussels to help. But as Daniel Boffey in partnership with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism discovered, the distress calls too often went unanswered. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The shocking truth of racism in British schools
July 23, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 42.8 MBWhen a teenage activist sent a callout on social media for examples of racism within schools, he was deluged with responses. Aditya Chakrabortty began to investigate. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Sketching a crisis: John Crace on the politics of coronavirus
July 22, 2020 02:00 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBSketch writer John Crace reflects on a surreal parliamentary session, including the daily indignities of the coronavirus press conferences, which some cabinet members mastered – and others clearly did not. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is Kanye West seriously running for president?
July 21, 2020 02:00 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe rapper has entered the race for the White House invoking his religious beliefs. Prof Josef Sorett looks at whether West’s presidential bid is anything more than a stunt. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Perseverance: the new mission to Mars
July 20, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MBPlanetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson describes how the latest mission to Mars builds on centuries of discoveries about the red planet, our nearest neighbour. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Poland divided and right-wing populists win again – podcast
July 17, 2020 02:00 - 28 minutes - 40 MBA narrow win for the populist incumbent Andrzej Duda in Poland’s presidential election cleared the path for the right-wing Law and Justice party to pursue anti-LGBT policies and further assault the courts and free press. The Guardian’s Christian Davies reports from Warsaw. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who is Ghislaine Maxwell and does she hold the key to justice for Epstein’s victims? Podcast
July 16, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 34.5 MBGhislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and daughter of the media baron Robert Maxwell, once attended parties with princes, presidents and celebrities. Now she faces up to 35 years in a US prison for her alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage girls. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who is Ghislaine Maxwell and does she hold the key to justice for Epstein’s victims?
July 16, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 34.5 MBGhislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and daughter of the media baron Robert Maxwell, once attended parties with princes, presidents and celebrities. Now she faces up to 35 years in a US prison for her alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage girls. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
In conversation with Benjamin Zephaniah and George the Poet
July 15, 2020 02:00 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBBenjamin Zephaniah and George the Poet are two of Britain’s most successful contemporary poets. They discuss why, despite being born a generation apart, their work is still exposing racial injustice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is the UK's ‘golden era’ of relations with China now over?
July 14, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBChina and the UK have clashed in recent months over a draconian new security law in Hong Kong and the Chinese tech company Huawei. The Guardian’s Tania Branigan examines whether a much-promoted ‘golden era’ between the two countries is at an end. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Facebook, white nationalists and becoming the target of a hate campaign
July 13, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBIn November, Julia Carrie Wong reported on the continued presence of white nationalist organisations on Facebook – and a weeks-long campaign of racist and sexist harassment followed. She discusses the impact it had on her and why she believes Facebook has played a role in creating the conditions that enable that kind of harassment to happen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What would annexation of parts of the West Bank mean for Palestinians?
July 10, 2020 02:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBThe Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has proposed permanently seizing Palestinian territory by annexing swathes of the West Bank - a violation of international law. Journalist Mariam Barghouti and PIPD executive director Salem Barahmeh describe how this would formalise a system that millions of Palestinians are already enduring, while Jerusalem correspondent Oliver Holmes examines what is driving Netanyahu’s latest plans. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/...
The Leicester garment factories exposed by Covid-19
July 09, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 28.8 MBA spike in cases of Covid-19 in Leicester has led Guardian reporter Archie Bland to its garment factories. He discusses a story that goes beyond the pandemic and into workers’ rights, appalling factory conditions and the ethics of fast fashion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are the police failing BAME communities?
July 08, 2020 02:00 - 33 minutes - 37.9 MBBas Javid joined the Avon and Somerset police in 1993. Last year he became a commander at the Met. He reflects on his experiences as a BAME officer and discusses the use of stop and search, which has been cited as a continued source of tension between the force and communities. Ben Bowling, a professor of criminology and criminal justice, examines the history of police race relations. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Taking on Sir Humphrey: can the civil service be reformed?
July 07, 2020 02:00 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBMichael Gove has set out his plans for a revolution of Britain’s permanent bureaucracy, the civil service. But as former Downing Street chief of staff Jonathan Powell argues, it is easier said than done. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Maria Ressa and an attack on the free press in the Philippines
July 06, 2020 02:00 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBOne of the most prominent journalists in the Philippines has been convicted of ‘cyberlibel’ in a court process condemned by human rights groups. Journalist Carmela Fonbuena in Manila describes the chilling effect the verdict has had on free expression. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How one neighbourhood in London lost 36 residents to Covid-19
July 03, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 26.4 MBGuardian reporter Aamna Modhin meets residents from Church End, a small, deprived neighbourhood in Brent, north London. She examines how housing pressures, in-work poverty and racial inequalities contributed to the deaths of 36 residents from Covid-19. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The scandal of millions of Americans being deprived of running water – podcast
July 02, 2020 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.9 MBGuardian US environmental justice reporter Nina Lakhani reports on her landmark investigation into America’s water crisis, revealing that millions of Americans are facing unaffordable bills for running water and risk being disconnected or losing their homes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why hasn't Boris Johnson released the Russia report?
July 01, 2020 02:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBParliament’s intelligence and security committee produced a report into alleged Russian interference in UK politics. It was supposed to be published before December’s election, but the UK prime minister withheld its release. Now, six months later it still hasn’t seen the light of day. The Guardian’s Luke Harding investigates what could be in it and says witness testimony from an ex-MI6 officer makes uncomfortable reading for the government. Help support our independent journalism at theguard...
Lockdown easing: why the UK is better prepared for a second wave
June 30, 2020 02:00 - 22 minutes - 26 MBThis Saturday, lockdown measures in England will ease further, with people able to get a pint in a pub, have a haircut and see another household indoors. The Guardian’s heath editor, Sarah Boseley, looks at whether another lifting of restrictions might result in a second wave, and if it does, why we are better prepared this time round. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Understanding white privilege with Reni Eddo-Lodge
June 29, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBReni Eddo-Lodge has become the first black British author to top the UK bestseller list with her 2017 book Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. In an exclusive interview with the Observer’s Nosheen Iqbal she talks about global discussions on racism following the death of George Floyd. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
After a decade of austerity: what now?
June 26, 2020 02:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBColumnist John Harris has spent the past decade touring the country and reporting on what devastating budget cuts have meant to communities. Looking back, he sees some signs of hope amid the devastation. But will the government change its approach for the impending Covid-19 economic crash?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How damaging is John Bolton's scathing account of Donald Trump's presidency?
June 25, 2020 02:00 - 26 minutes - 37 MBThe publication of John Bolton’s White House memoir has caused a sensation. Jonathan Freedland assesses the lurid claims of cosying up to authoritarian leaders as well as descriptions of ‘stunning’ ignorance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How did Jordan end up with the highest smoking rate in the world?
June 24, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 35.1 MBWhen international correspondent Michael Safi began looking into why Jordan had become the country with the highest smoking rates in the world, he began to uncover what public health advocates have described as widespread interference in policymaking by multinational tobacco companies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus