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
The Sun, the BBC and Huw Edwards: the story of a scandal
July 14, 2023 02:00 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MBAfter a week of frenzied reporting about allegations against the BBC presenter, there are uncomfortable questions for the paper that ran the scoop, reports Jim Waterson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads unravel Twitter?
July 13, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 37.7 MBMeta has launched what it promises will be a kinder alternative to Twitter. Can it deliver? Dan Milmo reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Putin v Prigozhin: is Wagner too valuable to crush?
July 12, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 40.1 MBWhen Wagner forces turned their guns against Russian forces it led to panic in Moscow. But after the coup was aborted and its leader accused of treachery, it was business as usual for the group’s lucrative Africa operations. Pjotr Sauer and Jason Burke report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Cure or fad? The truth about weight loss drugs | Podcast
July 11, 2023 02:00 - 31 minutes - 48.3 MBA new generation of weight loss drugs has caused a stir – offering impressive results. But are they really a silver bullet for the obesity epidemic?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Payback or play? The orcas sinking yachts
July 10, 2023 02:00 - 24 minutes - 32.8 MBSince May 2020, there have been hundreds of reports of orcas interacting with boats in the strait of Gibraltar. Philip Hoare reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What the raid on Jenin says about the future of Israel and Palestine
July 07, 2023 02:00 - 29 minutes - 38.2 MBThe biggest assault on the West Bank in 20 years could herald a new phase of this old conflict, reports Bethan McKernan from Jenin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can Biden solve his supreme court problem?
July 06, 2023 02:00 - 31 minutes - 48.5 MBLast week, the US supreme court ruled in favour of a web designer who does not want to serve gay clients, ended affirmative action and blocked Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan. Sam Levine reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why are so many children refusing to go to school? | Podcast
July 05, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 41.5 MBOne in 10 GCSE-year pupils are absent from England’s schools each day, up 70% since before the Covid pandemic. What is going on?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The killing of Nahel – and a week of grief and fury in France
July 04, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 43.5 MBSince a 17-year-old boy was shot during a traffic stop, protests have set France ablaze, and exposed deep divisions. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Tuvalu – how do you save a disappearing country?
July 03, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 47.3 MBThe Pacific Islands country could be lost to rising sea levels in just 50 years. Now its citizens have come up with a surprising plan to preserve their nation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Republican race for 2024: can anyone stop Trump?
June 30, 2023 02:00 - 27 minutes - 42.3 MBDespite being embroiled in several legal wrangles that could ultimately land him in jail, Donald Trump has a comfortable lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Joan E Greve reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Guards at Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya accused of killings
June 29, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 39.3 MBAn investigation by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative journalism has uncovered claims from villagers in Kenya of violence and even killings linked to guards on a Del Monte pineapple farm. Emily Dugan reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The oil company CEO running the next UN climate change summit
June 28, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 35.2 MBThe UN’s annual climate conference is being dogged by scandal months before it even begins. Environment editor Damian Carrington reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What the Wagner mutiny means for Ukraine, Russia and Putin
June 27, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 44.6 MBWhen Russia’s mercenary group marched on Moscow, it seemed to take the world – and Vladimir Putin – by surprise . What does it mean for his grip on power – and for his war?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A violent homicide – and a pioneering act of forgiveness | Podcast
June 26, 2023 02:00 - 42 minutes - 63.7 MBWhen Donald Fields Jr killed his father in an argument, he could have been imprisoned for life. Instead, in a case that might be the first of its kind in the US, he completed a restorative justice programme and was released. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How the Windrush generation shaped British culture
June 23, 2023 02:00 - 35 minutes - 52.9 MBIt is 75 years since HMS Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury in Essex. Authors Colin Grant and Patrice Lawrence and publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove reflect on the cultural legacy of that moment and how it has shaped their work. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Britain’s mortgage timebomb
June 22, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 39.6 MBThe Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates again today, leaving millions of homeowners facing higher costs. Richard Partington reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Held v Montana: the young people fighting for the climate in court
June 21, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 46.5 MBDharna Noor reports on the 16 young people taking on the state of Montana in a historic climate case. What could it mean if the plaintiffs are successful?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why police are stepping back from mental health callouts
June 20, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 44.6 MBPolice spend an estimated 20-40% of their time on mental health calls, according to the College of Policing. Is Humberside police’s ‘Right Care, Right Person’ a better way? Helen Pidd reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The death of the Unabomber: will his dangerous influence live on? – podcast
June 19, 2023 02:00 - 45 minutes - 56.5 MBTed Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people, died in prison earlier this month. But his manifesto promoting violent rebellion against the modern world continues to inspire copycat attacks. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Boris Johnson: the damning verdict
June 16, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 35.5 MBA committee of MPs has found that Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament and was part of a campaign to abuse and intimidate them. Peter Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is it time to decriminalise abortion in the UK?
June 15, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 40.8 MBAfter a distressing and controversial case in which a woman was jailed after taking abortion pills after the UK time limit, is it time to change the law?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How Saudi Arabia took over professional golf
June 14, 2023 02:00 - 33 minutes - 43.4 MBAfter months of bitter divisions in the world of professional golf, a major deal has resulted in victory for Saudi Arabia and its bid to influence the future of the sport. Ewan Murray reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The long shadows of Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon
June 13, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 43.3 MBThe former PM and ex-Scottish first minister were controversial leaders. Now they are both facing disgrace – adding to the turmoil in British politics. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What’s behind the rise in dog attacks?
June 12, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 35.7 MBSeven people have been killed by dogs in the UK so far this year. Simon Usborne reports on the worrying increase in attacks. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Prince Harry versus the Mirror
June 09, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 35.4 MBPrince Harry became one of the most senior royals ever to give evidence in an English court this week. Jim Waterson reports from the high court in London where tabloid phone hacking was back under the microscope. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam
June 08, 2023 02:00 - 27 minutes - 42.6 MBThe UN has blamed the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on Russia. What impact will the flooding have on the war in Ukraine? Dan Sabbagh reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How to develop artificial super-intelligence without destroying humanity
June 07, 2023 02:00 - 33 minutes - 43.3 MBSam Altman, the founder of the revolutionary application Chat-GPT, is touring Europe with a message: AI is changing the world and there are big risks, but also big potential rewards. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What is the UK government hiding from the Covid inquiry?
June 06, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 37.9 MBThe government has launched legal action to prevent the independent Covid inquiry demanding disclosure of thousands of WhatsApp messages. What does it have to hide, asks Aubrey Allegretti. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Our critics’ guide to a summer of music, movies and culture
June 05, 2023 02:00 - 32 minutes - 42 MBGuardian culture writers Alex Needham, Ellen E Jones and Michael Cragg make their picks of the best of this summer in arts and culture. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is Manchester City’s dominance of English football fair?
June 02, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 37.7 MBManchester City have added this season’s Premier League title to their collection of honours and are favourites to win the FA Cup and the Champions League. But are they playing fair? Jonathan Liew reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Sofas, smiles – and scandal: what’s going on at ITV’s This Morning?
June 01, 2023 02:00 - 25 minutes - 39.8 MBIt’s been a fixture on British TV screens for decades – as has one of its hosts, Phillip Schofield. But now This Morning is in turmoil after he admitted to an ‘unwise, but not illegal’ workplace relationship. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Tracking down Ukraine’s abducted children
May 31, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 41.8 MBHow did tens of thousands of Ukrainian children end up in Russian re-education camps? Peter Beaumont reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Bashar al-Assad’s dark return to the world stage
May 30, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 46.8 MBFor almost a decade the murderous actions of the Syrian president meant he was shunned but now he is being embraced by Arab leaders once more. What does this mean for the millions of refugees who fled from his brutal regime?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Murdochs' real-life succession drama | Podcast
May 29, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 46.8 MBWho will take over Rupert Murdoch’s media empire after he dies, and why does it matter? Paddy Manning reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A spying scandal and lots of coffee: how Guardian Australia launched 10 years ago
May 27, 2023 02:00 - 47 minutes - 70.5 MBIn a special edition of Full Story, Guardian Australia’s daily podcast, Bridie Jabour speaks to the key players of its launch in May 2013. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Conspiracy theories and chaos: a week watching GB News
May 26, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 43.3 MBGB News launched in 2021 with a mission to disrupt the relatively safe and sedate world of rolling TV news. Heather Stewart spent a week watching the channel to see what it has become today. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How a killing on New York subway exposed a broken system – podcast
May 25, 2023 02:00 - 34 minutes - 52.7 MBWhen Jordan Neely, a homeless Michael Jackson impersonator, died at the hands of a fellow passenger this month, it shocked the world. But what does it reveal about the city?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is Suella Braverman speeding towards a government exit?
May 24, 2023 02:00 - 22 minutes - 36.4 MBHaving set herself up as a rival to the prime minister, the home secretary is now facing allegations that she broke the ministerial code. Aubrey Allegretti reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
From pollution to policing – can Sadiq Khan clean up London?
May 23, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 44.2 MBWhile training for the marathon, the London mayor developed adult-onset asthma – now he is on a mission to clean up the city’s air. But will his green policies win over voters?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why California is dismantling its death row
May 22, 2023 02:00 - 30 minutes - 47.2 MBAfter decades locked alone in small cages in California’s San Quentin prison, men sentenced to die are now being moved off death row. Sam Levin investigates. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
National Conservatism: a Tory fringe or the party’s future?
May 19, 2023 02:00 - 25 minutes - 39.3 MBA conference run by a rightwing American thinktank attracted Tory MPs and influencers this week. Is its Trumpish populist philosophy a taste of where the Conservative party is heading?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can Imran Khan really take on the Pakistani army and win?
May 18, 2023 02:00 - 34 minutes - 51.7 MBThe former prime minister has blamed the country’s powerful military for his arrest last week, and his supporters have attacked military buildings. With Khan’s home surrounded by police yesterday, has he picked a battle he’s destined to lose?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Has Ukraine’s spring offensive begun?
May 17, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 40.5 MBUkrainian officials claim their forces have retaken land around the eastern city of Bakhmut and shot down Russian missiles targeting Kyiv. Luke Harding reports on the state of the war. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Erdoğan survives, but will Turkish democracy?
May 16, 2023 02:00 - 31 minutes - 48.5 MBRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, has moulded the country in his image during his two decades in power. Now he faces a run-off election to stay in power. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is the UK in the grip of ‘greedflation’?
May 15, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 41.8 MBPrices in the UK are continuing to rise on everything from groceries to energy bills and mortgage costs. Meanwhile, some companies are reporting record profits. Richard Partington reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Hosting Ukraine’s Eurovision party
May 12, 2023 02:00 - 33 minutes - 51.2 MBHannah Moore reports from Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena where Britain is preparing to host the Eurovision song contest on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh – and another ordinary day in the West Bank
May 11, 2023 02:00 - 33 minutes - 51.3 MBA year ago the renowned journalist was shot, but it was far from the only news story in Palestine that day. Kaamil Ahmed looks into the stories Abu Akleh never got to report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Did distress calls go unanswered in the run-up to a fatal Channel disaster?
May 10, 2023 02:00 - 26 minutes - 41.4 MBIn November 2021 a dinghy crossing from France to the UK overturned, and at least 27 people drowned. Questions are being asked over whether distress calls were effectively ignored in run-up to worst Channel disaster in 30 years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why ‘godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton thinks humanity at crossroads
May 09, 2023 02:00 - 29 minutes - 45.3 MBHis work is at heart of AI revolution, but in an interview with the Guardian’s Alex Hern, Hinton says he now fears the advances he helped usher in could pose an existential threat to humankind. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus