The Explanation

BBC World Service
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The Explanation

The Explanation is a snackable audio guide giving you the backstory behind the headlines. In each episode, presenter Claire Graham meets a BBC News correspondent who has lived and breathed these stories. She’ll hear clear analysis along with powerful archive. The Explanation will go back in time to unpack complex chains of events and will make the stories in question easier to understand.

  1. The President's Path: Why are Epstein files dividing MAGA and Trump?

    1 DAY AGO

    The President's Path: Why are Epstein files dividing MAGA and Trump?

    Under mounting pressure from his own base, US President Donald Trump says he has ordered the Justice Department to release additional documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pro-MAGA supporters and media outlets are now divided, torn between a grassroots push for transparency and a party leader eager to move on. Trump has even turned on his own allies, declaring that “some stupid Republicans, some foolish Republicans, have fallen into the net.” On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann Jr explore what it means to be MAGA today and how the Epstein files have unexpectedly exposed deep fractures within Trump’s political base. Every Friday, 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: [email protected] Producer: Stefano Fasano Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
    25 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media

    A legal order known as a superinjunction prevented UK media from reporting a government data breach that exposed nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to relocate after the Taliban takeover. Larisa Brown, Defence Editor at The Times, recounts the legal constraints she faced and the broader implications for press freedom. A new ITV format blends natural history with reality TV by placing celebrities in shark-infested waters. Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters was produced by Plimsoll Productions. Creative Director Andrea Jackson outlines the development process. This year’s Tour de France marks the final edition available on free-to-air television in the UK before coverage moves behind a paywall. Rouleur journalist Rachel Jary reports from Toulouse on life inside the media zone, while Chris Boardman - Olympic gold medallist, commentator and now England’s Active Travel Commissioner - reflects on how cycling is covered and the visibility challenges it faces. In regard to the story on the Tour de France we need to point out that the viewing figures quoted by Chris Boardman cannot be verified with TNT. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lucy Wai Assistant Producers: Martha Owen and Emily Channon
    23 min

  3. 10 JUL

    The Media Show: Oasis concert photo row

    Oasis returned to the stage in Cardiff for the first time in over a decade, drawing both fan excitement and media access concerns. While audience members were able to livestream from inside the venue, accredited press photographers faced time-limited licensing agreements on how long their images could be used. Andy Moger from the News Media Coalition and Metro’s Danni Scott discuss the band’s approach. During President Macron’s state visit to the UK, attention turned to the media's role in covering migrant crossings of the English Channel. A report by the BBC captured footage of French police deflating an inflatable boat on a beach in northern France. Reporter Andrew Harding gives the background to his story and Catherine Norris Trent from France 24 explains what coverage the issue gets in the French press. There is growing interest in how fact-checking is approached within the book publishing sector after claims about a best-selling book were made by The Observer newspaper last week. Heloise Wood of The Bookseller explains why in publishing, legal responsibility usually rests with the authors themselves. Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producers: Lucy Wai and Martha Owen
    23 min
  4. Unspun World: Donald Trump's foreign policy

    4 JUL

    Unspun World: Donald Trump's foreign policy

    John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses US President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term, examines reaction in Israel to the country’s conflict with Iran, and looks at the controversial new project to create artificial human DNA from scratch.
    26 min

  5. 3 JUL

    The Media Show: Gaza documentary controversy

    The BBC’s decision not to broadcast a Gaza war documentary, later picked up by Channel 4, has prompted scrutiny over its editorial standards. The film, made by Basement Films, features testimony from medical staff in Gaza. Former Channel 4 executive Dorothy Byrne critiques the BBC’s stance. A live-streamed Glastonbury performance by punk band Bob Vylan included chants that Keir Starmer called "appalling hate speech", leading to a BBC apology for not halting the stream sooner. Chris Banatvala, a former Ofcom head of standards, raises questions about the effectiveness of the BBC’s editorial oversight in live broadcasting situations. The complexity of reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict while managing personal identity is addressed by BBC journalist Tim Franks. Reflecting on his experience as a Jewish former Middle East correspondent, Franks considers public assumptions about bias and the pressure on journalists to separate identity from reporting. He also discusses themes from his new book, The Lines We Draw. Formula 1 celebrates 75 years, but footage from its first three decades remains largely unseen. Broadcaster Steve Rider is spearheading efforts to recover and digitise this early archive, while journalist Rebecca Clancy reports on the sport’s global strategy and expanding social media presence. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lucy Wai Assistant producer: Emily Channon
    23 min
  6. Unspun World: Has Iran weathered the storm?

    27 JUN

    Unspun World: Has Iran weathered the storm?

    John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the Iranian regime has successfully weathered the storm caused by the attacks by Israel and the United States, examines the state of the NATO alliance, and looks at the ferocious gangland culture of Cape Town in South Africa.
    26 min

  7. 26 JUN

    The Media Show: Iranian harassment of BBC journalists

    Iranian authorities are accused of targeting journalists at BBC Persian by intimidating their family members in Iran. Correspondent Behrang Tajdin outlines the psychological toll, allegations of harassment and surveillance in London, and the broader campaign affecting relatives of BBC staff, which the National Union of Journalists has called “proxy punishment.” Hong Kong’s diminishing press freedom is starkly represented by the case of Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily. The pro-democracy paper was shut down after raids and arrests under a national security law. Sebastien Lai describes his father’s continued solitary confinement and the implications for the rule of law in Hong Kong. Netflix, known for revolutionising streaming, has announced a surprising shift: live TV channels in France via a partnership with TF1. Minal Modha, from Ampere Analysis, explains why France’s strong preference for linear TV and local content prompted the move. Gossip website Tattle Life has lost a major libel case brought by a Northern Irish couple. The site’s anonymous founder, Sebastian Bond, has been unmasked. Persephone Bridgman Baker, partner at Carter-Ruck, discusses how the case brings attention to how anonymous online commentary can cross into harassment. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant producers: Lucy Wai and Emily Channon
    23 min

  8. 20 JUN

    Unspun World: Where is the conflict between Israel and Iran heading?

    John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel’s attacks on Iran could lead to regime change, assesses the effectiveness of the G7 in dealing with international crises, and examines what the consequences might be of a global drop in human fertility.
    26 min
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About

The Explanation is a snackable audio guide giving you the backstory behind the headlines. In each episode, presenter Claire Graham meets a BBC News correspondent who has lived and breathed these stories. She’ll hear clear analysis along with powerful archive. The Explanation will go back in time to unpack complex chains of events and will make the stories in question easier to understand.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    208
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    The Explanation

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