This Is Why

Sky News
This Is Why
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2410 episodes

  • This Is Why

    Why the UK has fallen behind on drone warfare

    2026/06/09 | 16 mins.
    Swindon. The epicentre of the global drone industry? As unlikely as it might seem, the Wiltshire town could soon be just that.
    But instead of taking advantage of the cutting-edge weaponry being developed in the area, the UK is falling behind in the deployment of this potentially decisive technology.
    Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shown just how vital drones are in modern warfare – used as they are to such brutal effect on the front line.
    But while the US and Ukraine are buying British, the Ministry of Defence has yet to commit to large-scale investment in our own drone capabilities.
    So, why is the UK dragging its feet? And how vulnerable does that leave the country at this time of increased global volatility?
    Mhari Aurora speaks to Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.
    Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why Trump and Netanyahu are split on Iran

    2026/06/08 | 16 mins.
    After Israel launched strikes on Iran for the first time since April – against US wishes – are the cracks beginning to show between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu?
    The episode is another sign of the growing friction between the US and Israeli leaders, following reports of heated disagreements behind closed doors.
    Is Washington’s influence over Israel starting to wane? And as Netanyahu ramps up his military ambitions in the Middle East, who is really calling the shots when it comes to the Iran war?
    Jonathan Samuels speaks to Sky’s Middle East Correspondent Adam Parsons in Jerusalem.
    Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why Beatrice and Eugenie living rent-free is a risk for the royals

    2026/06/05 | 17 mins.
    The idea of two princesses living in luxury while the King pays their rent may have seemed normal in days gone by – but surely not in 2026.
    Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of former prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have been enjoying that very arrangement despite being non-working royals.
    So, who are Beatrice and Eugenie? How have they navigated the scandal over their parents' links to Jeffrey Epstein? And is it right the King still pays their rent?
    Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's royal correspondent Laura Bundock.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why 'trillionaire' Musk and SpaceX are driving the AI arms race

    2026/06/04 | 17 mins.
    He was already the richest man on the planet. Now Elon Musk's wealth is about to go stratospheric.
    The SpaceX founder will become the world's first trillionaire when he launches the company on the US stock market next week.
    One trillion seconds amounts to a staggering 31,700 years. One trillion dollars would give Musk almost unimaginable influence.
    What are the dangers of him – and other tech giants – amassing so much wealth?
    Niall Paterson is on the money with Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why Putin has plunged Russia’s economy into ‘the death zone’

    2026/06/03 | 18 mins.
    Moscow may have hit Ukraine with one of its biggest attacks of the war so far - but is it Russia’s economy that’s starting to crack?
    Businesses are closing while bills and taxes are on the rise – as the growing cost of the conflict is felt on the high street and in homes as much as the battlefield.
    With his hometown under attack from Ukrainian drones, what does Vladimir Putin fear most - losses on the frontline, unrest over the struggling economy, or the possibility both could combine to threaten his control?
    Sky’s Ivor Bennett sends a snapshot from St Petersburg, while Niall Paterson is joined by our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
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About This Is Why
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why  takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
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