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This Is Why

Sky News
This Is Why
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  • This Is Why

    Why does Trump trust Katie Zacharia?

    2026/10/16 | 16 mins.
    Surely, the first rule of being a press secretary is never to be the story. But in her first 14 minutes in the job, Donald Trump’s newest spokesperson managed to put herself very much front and centre.
    Plucked from a role as a TV talking head, Katie Zacharia has been trusted to replace Karoline Leavitt as the president’s press secretary – responsible for relaying the MAGA message to the media.
    But she has already been embroiled in controversy – not least for appearing to overstate her credentials as a fully qualified lawyer. With Trump already having to defend her, just how long will Zacharia last?
    Niall Paterson is joined by the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, Greg Swenson.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why now? Burnham’s Brexit backtrack explained

    2026/10/15 | 17 mins.
    Remember when Brexit meant Brexit? Well, a decade on from the referendum to leave the European Union, Andy Burnham thinks now is the right time to reopen the debate.
    The new prime minister is calling for a fresh look at our relationship with EU ahead of a summit in November. Is this just an attempt to boost economic growth with a better trade deal or is there more to it?
    What does Burnham really want? And would the public swallow the prospect of a 'rejoin' referendum?
    Niall Paterson is joined by the director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, Anand Menon.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why tiger death won’t stop zoo visits

    2026/10/14 | 13 mins.
    Donald Trump decided to mark the death of a man mauled by a tiger in a Yorkshire zoo by posting an AI-generated video of himself wrestling with a tiger.
    The killing of 23-year-old William Chapman has offered a stark reminder of just how dangerous zoo animals can be when things go wrong.
    So, has the social media obsession with animal videos desensitised us to the threat from wildlife?
    It has also renewed the debate over whether we should be keeping animals like that in captivity in the first place. Just how safe are the UK’s zoos and why do we even have them?
    Niall Paterson is joined by Amy Dickman, professor of Wildlife Conservation at Oxford University.
  • This Is Why

    Why Ukrainians are angry with Trump’s Russian diesel deal

    2026/10/13 | 20 mins.
    Donald Trump just loves a long-running feud, and in recent days he’s returned to an old favourite.
    America’s mudslinger-in-chief is calling for Ukraine’s wartime president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced – after he criticised the US diesel deal with Russia.
    But as Vladimir Putin’s war rages on, elections are perhaps the last thing on the minds of Ukrainians. So, how do people in the war-torn country really feel about Zelenskyy? And what is the reality of everyday life following more than four years of conflict?
    Niall Paterson speaks to Ukrainian independent journalist Dinara Khalilova about the ongoing trauma being inflicted on the country’s people.
  • This Is Why

    Will Andy Burnham bring the UK closer to the EU?

    2026/10/13 | 9 mins.
    Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes.
    On today's episode, Sophy and Wilf discuss the latest forecast from the IMF, how Andy Burnham has reignited the Brexit debate, and the start of Russell Brand's rape trial. Plus, a senior figure in the Iran-backed Houthis has told Sky News that Saudi Arabia is to blame for civilian casualties this weekend.
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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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