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
What’s in the air in East Palestine, Ohio?
March 02, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 51.2 MBWhen a train derailed in a small town in Ohio last month, it shed its toxic load, spewed smoke and set off a political firestorm that is still raging. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What the salad crisis says about Britain
March 01, 2023 03:00 - 22 minutes - 35.3 MBShoppers have been left staring at empty shelves and advised by their government to eat turnips over tomatoes. But the food shortage might be more serious than it sounds, reports Joanna Partridge. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Is the Northern Ireland protocol deal a much-needed win for Rishi Sunak?
February 28, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.8 MBThe protocol led to the collapse of power sharing in Northern Ireland’s assembly – and empty supermarket shelves. So will the prime minister’s Windsor framework solve everything?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Rewriting Roald Dahl
February 27, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 40.1 MBThe latest editions of the author’s books for children have had extensive edits made to update the language for modern sensibilities. Lucy Knight and David Baddiel take a closer look. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Searching for the first casualty of the war in Ukraine
February 24, 2023 03:00 - 31 minutes - 48.3 MBDaniel Boffey reports on the life and death of staff sergeant Denys Tkach, the first soldier to have been killed by Russian forces on the day of the invasion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why did the search for Nicola Bulley turn so toxic?
February 23, 2023 03:00 - 29 minutes - 45.7 MBAfter the mortgage adviser disappeared TikTok detectives, grief tourists and the media descended. Now her family have hit out at the ‘appalling’ way they have been treated. What went wrong?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The secret world of disinformation for hire
February 22, 2023 03:00 - 43 minutes - 64.5 MBHow an undercover investigation revealed a team of Israeli contractors who claim to have manipulated more than 30 elections around the world using hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The new tactics of Britain’s far right
February 21, 2023 03:00 - 34 minutes - 52.4 MBFar-right groups are mobilising in towns around the UK where asylum seekers are living in hotels. The protests are spreading – and turning increasingly aggressive. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The true cost of wood-burning stoves
February 20, 2023 03:00 - 26 minutes - 40.6 MBLearning the full extent of the environmental damage caused by wood-burning stoves led Guardian columnist George Monbiot to issue a public mea culpa – and help ignite a raging debate. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Are chatbots coming for your job?
February 17, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.9 MBA high-stakes race for supremacy in artificial intelligence is playing out between two of the world’s biggest tech companies. Should we be worried or excited? Chris Stokel-Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Nicola Sturgeon's resignation: the end of an era for Scotland
February 16, 2023 03:00 - 26 minutes - 41.5 MBOn Wednesday morning, Nicola Sturgeon called a press conference to announce she would be stepping down as the first minister of Scotland. Severin Carrell reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why is the Prevent counter-terrorism programme review so controversial?
February 15, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 42.7 MBThe UK scheme has long had its critics, but now even the review looking at how to overhaul it is facing criticism. Why is the debate around Prevent so heated?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why anger is growing in Turkey a week after catastrophic earthquakes
February 14, 2023 03:00 - 27 minutes - 43.1 MBIt’s been an agonising time for survivors in Syria and Turkey – especially those whose relatives and friends are still trapped under rubble. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How a new treatment for diabetes offers hope for millions
February 13, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 50.8 MBThe development of an ‘artificial pancreas’ could revolutionise the daily lives of people living with type 1 diabetes. Now the technology could be made available to more than 100,000 people in the UK on the NHS. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Could western tanks be decisive in Ukraine?
February 10, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.6 MBAfter months of debate and diplomacy, western tanks are finally heading to Ukraine for what promises to be a spring escalation in the fighting. But will they be decisive? Dan Sabbagh and Daniel Boffey report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Haiti: a country in crisis without an elected government
February 09, 2023 03:00 - 37 minutes - 56.3 MBThe last elected Haitian senators left parliament this month. Amid raging gang violence, the country is at breaking point with a health and hunger emergency. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why are more people in the UK turning to private healthcare?
February 08, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.8 MBThe NHS turns 75 this year, but as waiting lists for appointments grow, increasing numbers of patients are looking elsewhere for healthcare. Denis Campbell reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A deadly earthquake in Syria and Turkey
February 07, 2023 03:00 - 31 minutes - 48.5 MBA 7.8-magnitude quake has struck Turkey and Syria, killing at least 2,600 people and razing entire neighbourhoods. Experts say it could not have happened at a worse time. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
After 17 years in prison, will Andrew Malkinson finally clear his name?
February 06, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 44.3 MBAlmost two decades ago Andrew Malkinson was accused of a rape where the victim was left for dead. He has always maintained his innocence and his supporters say the case against him was fatally flawed. Now he hopes new evidence will show he was not guilty. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The children going missing from Home Office hotels
February 03, 2023 03:00 - 21 minutes - 34.5 MBMore than 200 unaccompanied child asylum seekers have gone missing from hotels used by the Home Office. Mark Townsend reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Strikes, seatbelts and sleaze: Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days as PM
February 02, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 47 MBRishi Sunak entered Downing Street promising to calm the markets and stop the scandals, but 100 days in it’s proving a bumpy ride, reports Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The scammers forced to steal people’s life savings
February 01, 2023 03:00 - 36 minutes - 55.1 MB‘Pig butchering’ crypto scams, where victims are wooed for months before being fleeced, are ruining people’s lives. But how are criminal gangs exploiting trafficking victims – and using fake UK firms – to steal millions of pounds?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How Putin’s chef became the second-most powerful man in Russia
January 31, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.2 MBYevgeny Prigozhin went from hot dog seller to the commander of a private army fighting intense battles in Ukraine. But his rapid rise has made him a target, reports Pjotr Sauer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The code of omertà: how a mafia kingpin evaded police for 30 years
January 30, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 39.4 MBMatteo Messina Denaro was arrested after decades on the run, found hiding in plain sight in Sicily. Lorenzo Tondo and Clare Longrigg report on what it means for the once mighty Cosa Nostra. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What is the teachers strike really about?
January 27, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 50.4 MBOver the next couple of months, thousands of teachers are due to strike across the UK. What is the government doing in response to their demand for an above-inflation pay increase? Jessica Elgot reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why are women in Britain having to travel hundreds of miles to get an abortion? podcast
January 26, 2023 03:00 - 23 minutes - 37.1 MBRecord numbers of abortions are being carried out and services are struggling to cope. Why is the system under so much pressure and what toll is it taking on women?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What was behind Jacinda-mania – and why did it end so suddenly?
January 25, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 48.8 MBJacinda Ardern became a progressive icon around the world, but despite winning a rare parliamentary majority in New Zealand and gaining plaudits for her handling of Covid, the outgoing prime minister’s legacy is complicated, says Tess McClure in Auckland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why is Scotland’s gender reform bill so contentious? | Podcast
January 24, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 47 MBThe bill was supposed to streamline the way that people can apply to change their legal gender. So why has it sparked a constitutional crisis – and become a culture war battleground?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Exposing rainforest carbon credits: why offsetting isn’t working
January 23, 2023 03:00 - 37 minutes - 56.2 MBA Guardian investigation has found that more than 90% of the carbon offsets verified by the company Verra did not reduce deforestation. Patrick Greenfield reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Biden, Trump and the classified documents
January 20, 2023 03:00 - 24 minutes - 39.1 MBThe discovery of batches of classified documents on Joe Biden’s property presents a headache for the president – but his case is quite different from that of Donald Trump, reports David Smith in Washington. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
David Carrick and the crisis of trust in British policing
January 19, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 50.1 MBThe conviction this week of one of Britain’s worst sex offenders in recent history was accompanied by a staggering revelation: he was a serving police officer. Emine Sinmaz and Vikram Dodd report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why are energy companies forcing their way into people’s homes?
January 18, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 48.9 MBEnergy companies have been granted warrants to forcibly switch customers on to pre-payment meters. What are the consequences for people struggling with their bills?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
China’s deadly coronavirus wave
January 17, 2023 03:00 - 24 minutes - 39.1 MBHaving spent much of the last three years with some of the world’s most strict Covid restrictions, China’s relaxing of its rules has coincided with a massive wave of infections just as the country prepares to celebrate the lunar new year. Tania Branigan reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will the UK’s strict new voter ID laws damage democracy?
January 16, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 46.5 MBFor the first time, voters in May’s local elections will be required to show photo ID before casting their ballot. But as Peter Walker reports, the new rules risk damaging the integrity of elections, not enhancing it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Jailed for life for stealing $14
January 13, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 49 MBDavid Coulson was imprisoned in California under draconian ‘tough on crime’ laws stemming from the 1990s. Now campaigners are calling for reform, reports Sam Levin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How a far right assault on Brazil’s democracy failed
January 12, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 39.6 MBThe effort to overturn the election of the Brazilian president was thwarted but the attack has shaken an already divided country, reports Tom Phillips. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Prince Harry’s memoir: why has the ‘Spare’ gone rogue?
January 11, 2023 03:00 - 37 minutes - 56.1 MBIn his explosive memoir he claims Prince William physically attacked him, his family leaked stories about him – and even reveals how he lost his virginity in a field. But why is the prince telling all, and what will it mean for the royal family?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
What has Brexit done for Britain?
January 10, 2023 03:00 - 38 minutes - 57.7 MBBrexit, Britain was promised, would allow the country to ‘take back control’ – of its economy, its borders and its land. But what has that really meant for people now living with its consequences?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Mouldy flats and bidding wars: how did the UK rental crisis get so bad?
January 09, 2023 03:00 - 31 minutes - 48.6 MBAccording to 2021 census data, 5m households in England and Wales are private renting. We ask why renting is getting more expensive and precarious. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will Donald Trump finally face criminal charges for January 6?
January 06, 2023 03:00 - 29 minutes - 45.2 MBAfter interviewing 1,000 witnesses and compiling an 800-page report, the inquiry into the assault on the Capitol is complete. But what will it mean for Donald Trump in 2023 – and his presidential bid?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The arrest of Andrew Tate: the ‘king of toxic masculinity’
January 05, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 43.4 MBHe calls himself a misogynist – and has millions of followers. Now the former kickboxer from Luton turned social media star has been arrested on charges that include human trafficking. What happened?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can you breathe your way to feeling better?
January 04, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 50 MBThe Guardian’s parliamentary sketch writer, John Crace, and breath coach Rebecca Dennis describe how they have used breathing techniques to help their mental health. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Culture 2023: our picks for film, TV, music and art
January 03, 2023 03:00 - 37 minutes - 56.8 MBThe Guardian’s arts editor Alex Needham, music and features writer Sam Wolfson, and film critic Ellen E Jones, on what they’re looking forward to this year. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode seven: an update
January 02, 2023 03:00 - 11 minutes - 20.1 MBRevisited: Guardian producer Lucy Hough and reporter Matthew Weaver give an update on the outcome of Matthew Hardy’s appeal. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode six: the winding clock
December 31, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 49.9 MBRevisited: As the years tick by, journalist Sirin Kale speaks to victims and those who know Matthew to ask whether his stalking will ever truly end. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode five: a mother’s love
December 30, 2022 03:00 - 42 minutes - 63 MBRevisited: Journalist Sirin Kale meets Matthew Hardy’s mother to uncover more about his past – and what may have motivated him to cyberstalk his victims for so long. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode four: a reckoning
December 29, 2022 03:00 - 39 minutes - 59.4 MBRevisited: Matthew Hardy’s victims come face to face with him as an attempt is made to stop the torment once and for all. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode three: the man upstairs
December 28, 2022 03:00 - 34 minutes - 52.4 MBRevisited: who is Matthew Hardy? Journalist Sirin Kale looks for clues about what motivates this cyberstalker to create chaos and fear in so many people’s lives. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode two: the widening circle
December 27, 2022 03:00 - 39 minutes - 58.7 MBRevisited: As the cyberstalker spreads his net wider, anyone could be a target. The fast-changing world of social media creates new opportunities for him to find more victims. But now someone is watching him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can I tell you a secret? Episode one: the beginning
December 26, 2022 03:00 - 34 minutes - 51.9 MBRevisited: Guardian journalist Sirin Kale takes us to a small town in the north of England to uncover how one man began a decade of cyberstalking. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus