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The Explanation

BBC World Service
The Explanation
Latest episode

339 episodes

  • The Explanation

    The Media Show: Farage's fight with the Media

    2026/07/09 | 22 mins.
    Nigel Farage has accused parts of the British media of mounting a politically motivated campaign against him after reports about his financial interests prompted an investigation by Parliament's Standards Commissioner.
    Gabriel Pogrund, editor of the Insight investigations team at The Sunday Times, outlines the reporting behind their story, while journalist Michael Crick and Brendan O'Neill of Spiked discuss the political and journalistic issues.
    A High Court judgement has dismissed all claims brought by Prince Harry and six other claimants against Associated Newspapers over allegations that journalists used unlawful methods to obtain information. The ruling marks a significant moment in the long-running legal and political legacy of Britain's phone-hacking and press intrusion scandals. Susan Aslan, media lawyer, outlines the legal significance of the judgement.
    Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
    Producer: Tim Bano
    Content producer: Lucy Wai
    Researcher: Ruth Waites
    Technical co-ordinator: Mark Dickins
    Sound engineer: Sarlota Hadroj Touzimska
  • The Explanation

    The President's Path: America at 250

    2026/07/03 | 24 mins.
    Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann reflect on where America is at, 250 years in. The team discusses a visit to the Great American State Fair in Washington DC, gauges the mood with the latest polling, and evaluates what the American dream means as we look ahead to the future.
    Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

    Senior Producer: James Kraft
    Editor: James Kraft
    Executive Producer: Anna Holford
  • The Explanation

    The Media Show: The Murray brothers' media game

    2026/07/02 | 22 mins.
    Wimbledon is under way and some of the sport's biggest names are increasingly becoming media businesses in their own right. Jamie Murray has joined the BBC's Wimbledon coverage as an analysis expert while launching a new YouTube channel, The Set, with his brother Andy. Jamie Murray explains why they decided to create their own platform, and Catherine Whitaker, co-host of The Tennis Podcast, looks at what more player-led media means for broadcasters and sports journalism.
    Netflix has added two more seasons of the Russian children's cartoon Masha and the Bear, prompting criticism from Ukraine. The country's Centre for Countering Disinformation says the programme is a form of Russian soft power, while its producers have previously said they receive no funding from the Russian state. Oleksandra Zhylina, a master's student at Charles University specialising in propaganda and disinformation, outlines the concerns. Clare Denning, Russia specialist at BBC Monitoring, explains why the debate has grown.
    More journalists are leaving traditional news organisations to build their own subscription businesses. Lachlan Cartwright has reported for the New York Post, Vanity Fair and The Hollywood Reporter before launching Breaker Media. Lachlan Cartwright explains why he went independent and how he is building a media business around exclusive reporting.
    This audio was edited on 2 July to add: “Since the programme was recorded, a spokesperson for the producers of Masha and the Bear has been quoted in news coverage as saying that their client ‘categorically rejects the false and defamatory suggestion that Masha and the Bear is associated with propaganda’.
    Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
    Producer: Lucy Wai
    Assistant Producer: Tim Bano
    Researcher: Ruth Waites
    Technical Coordinator: Akik Rahman
    Sound: Robin Schroder
  • The Explanation

    The President's Path: Has Trump taken over America’s big birthday?

    2026/06/26 | 25 mins.
    Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann look at the preparations and events to mark America’s 250th anniversary. As the country looks to the big day, there are questions around just who is throwing the party – and what this milestone looks like, in the context of big current political divisions.

    Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics - in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

    Senior producer: Ellyn Duncan
    Editor: James Kraft
    Executive producer: Anna Holford
  • The Explanation

    Unspun World: Has Britain become ungovernable?

    2026/06/26 | 26 mins.
    John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the factors behind the latest resignation of a British prime minister, explores the state of US politics and society on the eve of the country’s 250th birthday, and analyses the results of the Colombian presidential election.
    Producer: Kate Cornell
    Executive producer: Benedick Watt
    Commissioning editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
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About The Explanation
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world. Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.
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