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
Should doctors face jail when treatment goes wrong?
July 03, 2019 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.7 MBThe death of a patient at a private London hospital after a delay in his treatment led to the imprisonment of David Sellu. After 15 months behind bars, his name was finally cleared. He tells his harrowing story as a new report reveals that doctors from ethnic minorities are twice as likely to face disciplinary action as white doctors. Plus: Gaby Hinsliff on Jeremy Corbyn and the civil service. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Life in the fastest warming place on earth
July 02, 2019 02:00 - 23 minutes - 27.3 MBIn the world’s northernmost town, temperatures have risen by 4C since 1971, devastating homes, wildlife and even the cemetery. India Rakusen and Jon Watts travel to Svalbard to find out how the island is coping with the effects of global heating. And: Gary Younge on Ivanka Trump’s presence at the G20. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why is cocaine washing up on the beaches of Fiji?
July 01, 2019 02:00 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBA multibillion-dollar operation involving cocaine and methamphetamines is having a major impact on islands in the Pacific. Kate Lyons travelled to Fiji to investigate. Plus: John Harris on Facebook’s cryptocurrency. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Has Saudi Arabia got away with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi?
June 28, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.8 MBA UN report on the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi has said there is credible evidence linking the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to the crime. Nick Hopkins and Stephanie Kirchgaessner discuss the killing and the fallout in Saudi Arabia and among its allies. Plus: Patrick Timmons on the political reaction to the deaths of a father and daughter in the Rio Grande this week. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why aren't Hong Kong's protesters backing down?
June 27, 2019 02:00 - 23 minutes - 27.3 MBMillions of people have taken to the streets over the past three weeks in opposition to an extradition law. The Guardian correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison discusses covering the demonstrations and what could happen next. Plus: Angie Zelter on why she doesn’t regret being arrested at an Extinction Rebellion protest. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Ebola is back – can it be contained?
June 26, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 28.9 MBThe current outbreak of the deadly virus in the DRC has been called the most complex public health emergency in history. Peter Beaumont describes his recent visit to the DRC and Sarah Boseley discusses how the 2014 outbreak was eventually contained. Plus: Helen Pidd on what has been achieved with the ‘northern powerhouse’. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can anything stop Boris Johnson?
June 25, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.9 MBThe Tory leadership hopeful has spent the past three days avoiding questions on why the police were called to his home after an altercation with his partner. But will questions about Johnson’s previous behaviour and character damage his chances of becoming prime minister?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What has changed since the Stonewall rebellion?
June 24, 2019 02:00 - 32 minutes - 37.1 MBThe Stonewall rebellion in 1969 started a revolution in LGBT rights in the US. Ed Pilkington revisits the story 50 years on with those who were there. Plus: Lucy Siegle on the rise of fast fashion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
On the frontline: why has environmental journalism become so dangerous?
June 21, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.1 MBThe field of environmental journalism is now one of the most dangerous after war reporting. The investigative reporter Juliette Garside and the global environment editor, Jonathan Watts, discuss why journalists are facing rising levels of violence. And: Polly Toynbee on Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson making it to the final in the Tory leadership race. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why are the best footballers in the world suing their bosses?
June 20, 2019 02:00 - 24 minutes - 28.6 MBThe Women’s World Cup is nearing the knockout stages, with the tournament favourites, the US, in blistering form. But back home, the players are taking on their governing body in a gender equality lawsuit that could have huge implications for women’s sport. Plus: Jonathan Freedland on Donald Trump’s economic record. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What oil companies knew: the great climate cover-up
June 19, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 34.2 MBOil firms are said to have known for decades of the link between burning fossil fuels and climate breakdown. Author Bill McKibben describes how industry lobbying created a 30-year barrier to tackling the crisis. Plus: John Stewart on his campaign to stop the third runway at Heathrow. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The rehabilitation of Tony Blair?
June 18, 2019 02:00 - 30 minutes - 34.7 MBTony Blair’s legacy since leaving office has been the subject of heated debate both within the Labour party and the country at large. As Paul Lewis reports, his re-entry into the national debate on Brexit comes at a time of a crisis of trust in British politics and a rise in populism. Also today: Jim Waterson on the Saudi investment in the Evening Standard. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
From bootcamp to burnout: how to make it as a YouTuber
June 17, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.8 MBYoung stars on the Google-owned site can become multi-millionaires almost overnight but controversy has stalked every stage of YouTube’s growth. Plus: Amelia Abraham on rising LGBT hate crimes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The story of Grenfell United
June 14, 2019 02:00 - 31 minutes - 35.8 MBNatasha Elcock and Ed Daffarn escaped from Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017. Karim Mussilhy’s uncle died in the fire. Together with other survivors and bereaved people, they formed Grenfell United. They talk about their work over the past two years, while the Guardian’s social affairs correspondent, Rob Booth, discusses government inaction. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Private armies and secret deals: Russia's drive into Africa
June 13, 2019 02:00 - 30 minutes - 34.9 MBA cache of leaked documents appear to show how a close Putin ally is leading a push to turn Africa into a strategic hub with echoes of Soviet-era zones of influence. Luke Harding reports on the Kremlin’s drive to leave its mark on the continent. Plus comedian Jon Stewart tears into US lawmakers over the treatment of 9/11 first responders and emergency services. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Change UK: how not to set up a political party
June 12, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30 MBWith six of its 11 MPs having quit, Heather Stewart, the Guardian’s political editor, charts what went wrong. Plus Damian Carrington on plant extinctions. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Cruel state: the impact of austerity on disabled people
June 11, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.8 MBGuardian columnist Frances Ryan, who is disabled, has written about inequality and disability rights for decades. She discusses the impact that austerity has had on those most in need. And: Helen Davidson on the Hong Kong protests. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are peers asleep on the job? Investigating the House of Lords
June 10, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30 MBInvestigative journalist David Pegg and data journalist Pamela Duncan have spent the last four months examining the House of Lords. They discuss why the upper house is under such pressure to reform. Plus: Iman Amrani on her modern masculinity series. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Farewell Maybot: John Crace on the changing of the Tory guard
June 07, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 33.5 MBThe Guardian’s political sketch writer first coined the term ‘the Maybot’ in 2016, when she robotically repeated the same phrases in a car-crash interview. As she prepares to step down as Conservative leader, Crace discusses who might take over. Plus: Suzanne Wrack on the start of the Fifa Women’s World Cup. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
China's forgotten protesters: the other Tiananmens
June 06, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 29.6 MBHundreds of Chinese cities were involved in the student-led demos in 1989. The Guardian’s Lily Kuo discusses the uprisings outside of Beijing. Plus: Patrick Wintour on Saudi Arabia’s hand in Sudan’s military crackdown. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What is the future for Sir Philip Green?
June 05, 2019 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.7 MBAs Sir Philip Green’s retail empire faces the prospect of entering administration, putting 18,000 jobs at risk, the Guardian business reporter Sarah Butler discusses how we got here. Plus: Sadiq Khan responds to being called a loser by Donald Trump. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Death, carnage and chaos: a climber on his recent ascent of Everest
June 04, 2019 02:00 - 24 minutes - 28.1 MBOn 23 May, an image taken by the climber Nirmal Pujra went viral. It showed a long queue of climbers waiting to reach the summit of Everest. Elia Saikaly, a film-maker, was on that climb. He describes the ascent, while the Guardian’s Michael Safi discusses why the number of people seeking to scale Everest has exploded. Plus: Helsinki’s radical solution to homelessness. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Inside Islamic State: meeting Umm Sayyaf, the most senior female Isis captive
June 03, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.3 MBMartin Chulov, the Guardian’s Middle East correspondent, tells Anushka Asthana about meeting Umm Sayyaf, who described her role in helping the CIA hunt for the Isis leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. And: Johny Pitts on how an ice bath with pop duo Jedward prompted a journey around Europe exploring Afropean identity. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Trump's coming to see the Queen but what actually happens on a state visit?
May 31, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 29.2 MBBen Rhodes was Barack Obama’s national security adviser and accompanied him on his UK state visit in 2011. He reveals what goes into planning a trip of this scale and what the UK should expect when Trump arrives next week. Plus: Paul Owen on the fallout from Mueller’s first public statement on his investigation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Historical war crimes: an amnesty for British soldiers?
May 30, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.6 MBDefence secretary Penny Mordaunt has promised to introduce a ‘presumption against prosecution’ on historical prosecutions for military veterans. Samira Shackle looks back at the collapse of the investigation into abuse allegations in Iraq, while Conservative MP Johnny Mercer argues that soldiers have been unfairly hounded. Also today: Emma John looks ahead to the Cricket World Cup. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What happens to a place when its steel industry collapses
May 29, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 35 MBThe announcement that British Steel was entering insolvency came as a hammer blow to Scunthorpe, where it employs 5,000 people. It has become a familiar story in recent years, and Helen Pidd returns to Redcar, which lost the majority of its steelworks in 2015. Also today: Rory Carroll on the case of Ian Bailey, on trial in France for murder in his absence. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Brexit divide: Britain's EU election earthquake
May 28, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.4 MBA wave of support for populists and Greens has disrupted centrist parties across the EU. Daniel Boffey considers what it means for the bloc and Brexit. Plus: Julia Kollewe on the world’s first raspberry-picking robot. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who is trying to ban abortion in the US?
May 27, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.5 MBAlabama is one of 15 states to recently pass an abortion ban. Although none of the bans are currently in effect, the aim is to place pressure on Roe v Wade, the court decision that enshrined a woman’s legal right to an abortion. The Guardian’s US health reporter, Jessica Glenza, discusses her meeting with Janet Porter, the religious extremist who inspired the anti-abortion laws. And: Serena Daniari on trans women finding their voices. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.co...
The end of May: are we headed for Boris Johnson as prime minister?
May 24, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 28.2 MBTheresa May has entered the final phase of her leadership, with rivals waiting to pounce on the chance to succeed her. Patrick Wintour lays out the route ahead but can anyone stop the clear favourite? Also today: Claire Armitstead on the outpouring of love for children’s author Judith Kerr who died on Thursday at the age of 95. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Inside the neo-Nazi plot to kill a Labour MP
May 23, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBA plot to kill a Labour MP and a police officer was only disrupted after an informant within the neo-Nazi group National Action blew the whistle. Robbie Mullen passed the details on to Hope Not Hate’s Matthew Collins. Here, they tell their extraordinary story. Also today: the columnist Aditya Chakrabortty on his unlikely collaboration with the techno group Underworld. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is John Bolton trying to drive Trump to war with Iran?
May 22, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.6 MBDonald Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, was a key architect of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Now he is stoking tensions with Iran. Julian Borger describes how the standoff could get out of control. Also today: Katharine Viner on how the Guardian is updating its language when reporting on the climate crisis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Shaken up: will Nigel Farage's Brexit party change politics?
May 21, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.6 MBThe Brexit party is expected to top the polls in this week’s European elections in the UK. Farage’s calls to leave the EU immediately without a deal have proved appealing to many voters who feel betrayed that Brexit is yet to be delivered. The Guardian’s Peter Walker describes a reshaping of British politics. Plus: Samuel Gibbs on Google and Huawei. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Abandoned at sea: the cargo crew adrift without wages, fuel or supplies
May 20, 2019 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MBWhen companies run into trouble they can leave ships’ crews drifting at sea with no visas, wages or supplies. Karen McVeigh and Andy Bowerman tell the story of one vessel adrift off the coast of UAE. Plus, Rupert Neate on the tax breaks attracting the super-rich to Italy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Mum and me: a story of immigration and integration
May 17, 2019 02:00 - 30 minutes - 35.1 MBGuardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty, the son of two Indian immigrants, explains why he felt so frustrated with a recent report from Tony Blair’s thinktank. And Katharine Murphy looks ahead to Australia’s imminent election. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Facing up to Europe's far right
May 16, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 34 MBThe EU elections, beginning on 23 May, are a test for Europe’s mainstream parties as populists appear to be gaining momentum with stark anti-immigration campaigns. Anushka Asthana is joined by Jennifer Rankin, Shaun Walker and Angelique Chrisafis to assess the rising tide of populism across the continent. Plus: Simon Hattenstone on what an accidental voicemail recording revealed about G4S’s private ambulance service. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
India is voting: who is going to win the world's biggest election?
May 15, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 29.3 MBHundreds of millions of Indians are going to the polls over six weeks to vote for their next government. The Guardian’s south Asia correspondent, Michael Safi, heads out on the trail as the prime minister, Narendra Modi, makes a national security case for re-election amid criticism over his handling of the economy. Plus: John Crace on what he learnt from attending a Nigel Farage rally. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Venezuela uprising: the story so far
May 14, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.6 MBNicolás Maduro appeared on the brink of being forced from power in an uprising plotted by the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó. But key figures stayed loyal, allowing the president to begin reprisals. Tom Phillips in Caracas has watched it play out. Plus: Owen Jones on public schools and who gets to go to Britain’s elite universities. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Smuggled over the border: the school trip, the Stasi and the East German defector
May 13, 2019 02:00 - 30 minutes - 34.4 MBIn December 1984, a group of teenagers on a school trip from West Germany crossed the border into East Germany. When they returned, an East German defector was hiding under a seat on their bus. Sophie Hardach speaks to those involved 35 years on and revisits their incredible story. Plus: Jo Holdaway on the GM anti-virus drug that saved her daughter’s life. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Love Corbyn, hate Brexit? Labour's EU elections dilemma
May 10, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 33.1 MBJeremy Corbyn launched Labour’s European elections manifesto with a renewed promise to back a second Brexit referendum in certain circumstances – but to also respect the result of the first. Yet for ardently pro-Corbyn Europhiles such as Momentum’s Laura Parker, it has been a tough balancing act to support. Also today: Jason Burke on the South African election and the ANC. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Anna Sorokin: the fake heiress who fooled everyone
May 09, 2019 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.5 MBFor years Sorokin passed herself off as ‘Anna Delvey’, a German heiress worth $60m. Today she will be sentenced in New York and faces up to 15 years in prison. Hadley Freeman discusses how Sorokin was eventually exposed and why her case has attracted so much attention. Plus: Helen Pidd on the inequality between London and the rest of England. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Fortress Europe: what happens to the refugees sent back to Libya?
May 08, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBThe EU’s efforts to stem the flow migration from Africa across the Mediterranean has meant assisting the Libyan coastguard to intercept boats. But what happens when asylum seekers are returned to war-torn Libya? Sally Hayden has spent months investigating conditions in the detention camps. Plus: Jonathan Watts on the UN’s alarming report on the possible extinction of more than a million plant and animal species. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The new space race
May 07, 2019 02:00 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MBThe science writer Philip Ball has always been fascinated by space. He looks at the latest missions to the moon and beyond. And: Carole Cadwalladr on why she used her TED talk to tell tech billionaires they had broken democracy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Fired by Trump: former US attorney Preet Bharara on American justice – podcast
May 06, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBThe ‘sheriff of Wall Street’, who took on mafia bosses and terrorists in court, looks back on his career. Plus: Tim Gordon on the silencing of the oceans. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are non-disclosure agreements out of control?
May 03, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 29.8 MBZelda Perkins worked for Harvey Weinstein in her early 20s. She signed a non-disclosure agreement when she left his company, but 20 years later decided to break it when allegations about the film producer’s behaviour became public. She has subsequently questioned the widespread use of NDAs. Plus: Dan Sabbagh on Gavin Williamson’s short-lived cabinet career. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Julian Assange and the story of WikiLeaks
May 02, 2019 02:00 - 34 minutes - 39.4 MBJulian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail conditions after spending almost seven years inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Today, he has an extradition hearing, which could conclude with him being sent to the US. Esther Addley and Julian Borger chart his rise and fall. Plus: Sean Ingle on the Caster Semenya ruling. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Accused of cheating: another immigration scandal?
May 01, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 29.8 MBAmelia Gentleman discusses the immigration scandal in which the Home Office has accused 34,000 international students of cheating in English language tests. And: Magid Magid, the 29-year old lord mayor of Sheffield, who is stepping down to run as a Green MEP. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How worried should we be about Huawei?
April 30, 2019 02:00 - 28 minutes - 32.4 MBTheresa May has turned to her national security council to help her decide on whether to allow the Chinese firm Huawei to provide parts of Britain’s 5G network. Guardian reporters Rupert Neate, Alex Hern and Tania Branigan discuss the company at the heart of a diplomatic tussle. Plus, in opinion, David Kogan argues Labour needs clarity on Brexit to have a chance of winning power. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
On the frontline in the fight for LGBT rights
April 29, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 29.5 MBRuth Hunt joined Stonewall 14 years ago, quickly rising to become the charity’s chief executive. In that time she has seen huge strides made towards equality for LGBT people. As she prepares to step down in August, she reflects on how much further there is to go. And: the author Nicci Gerrard on her campaign for the rights of people with dementia in hospitals. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are our blueberries radioactive? The fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 30 years on
April 26, 2019 04:50 - 28 minutes - 32.2 MBOn 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear accident in human history occurred in the No 4 reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Soviet Ukraine. Kate Brown has spent years researching the cover-up that took place afterwards. Plus: Rory Carroll reflects on the legacy of the Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A week with Extinction Rebellion
April 25, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 30.8 MBLast week, central London was brought to a standstill when thousands of protesters blocked sites including Waterloo Bridge in a ‘climate rebellion’ organised by Extinction Rebellion. The Guardian reporter Damien Gayle has been with the protesters from the start, while Matthew Taylor, the Guardian’s environment correspondent, assesses their demands. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus