The Explanation Podcast
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin.
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.
Episodes to download
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The President’s Path: US-Venezuela boat strikes
Fri 14 Nov 2025
Why the US is striking Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean and Pacific
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Unspun World: Are Russian forces on the brink of seizing Pokrovsk?
Fri 14 Nov 2025
Why is Russia so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk?
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The Media Show: Trump’s billion-dollar BBC threat
Thu 13 Nov 2025
As the President vows to sue, two BBC bosses quit amid crisis
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The President’s Path: Elections fallout
Fri 7 Nov 2025
How Republicans and Democrats fared in this year’s elections
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Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
Fri 7 Nov 2025
John Simpson explores war-weariness in Russia and the problem it poses for the Kremlin
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The Media Show: Lessons from Top Gear
Thu 6 Nov 2025
Producer Andy Wilman on success and fallout at TV’s biggest car show
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The President’s Path: Electoral battlegrounds 2025
Fri 31 Oct 2025
What will the first big elections of Trump’s second term reveal?
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Unspun World: Donald Trump’s China strategy
Fri 31 Oct 2025
John Simpson analyses President Trump’s approach to dealing with China
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The Media Show: Advertising race row
Thu 30 Oct 2025
How race and representation in adverts became a political issue.
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The President’s Path: Shutdown and teardown
Fri 24 Oct 2025
Trump tears down the White House's East Wing as the federal shutdown continues
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Unspun World: Will Hamas really give up control of Gaza?
Fri 24 Oct 2025
John Simpson analyses whether Hamas will lay down its weapons in Gaza
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The Media Show: When the Royals lose control of the story
Thu 23 Oct 2025
What renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew reveals about royal-media dynamics
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Weight loss jabs: A medical game changer?
Sat 18 Oct 2025
Do weight loss injections have far-reaching benefits beyond weight management?
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The President’s Path: How many wars has Donald Trump ended?
Fri 17 Oct 2025
How many wars has President Trump ended?
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Unspun World: Who will run Gaza?
Fri 17 Oct 2025
John Simpson analyses who will actually be running Gaza in the wake of the ceasefire
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The Media Show: The Gaza Ceasefire
Thu 16 Oct 2025
How newsrooms are covering Gaza as access remains blocked
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The President’s Path: Supreme Court shapes Trump's powers
Fri 10 Oct 2025
How Supreme Court could define the scope of Donald Trump's presidential authority
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Unspun World: Is peace in Gaza now possible?
Fri 10 Oct 2025
John Simpson analyses whether peace in Gaza is now possible
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The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Putin’s Russia
Thu 9 Oct 2025
Steve Rosenberg on reporting truth and staying safe as a BBC journalist in Moscow
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The President’s Path: Trump’s power
Fri 3 Oct 2025
Trump is testing the limits of his power over executives and the military.
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The Media Show: Is Larry Ellison the new Rupert Murdoch?
Thu 2 Oct 2025
Tech billionaire’s media deals fuel debate over political influence
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The President's Path: Silencing voices
Fri 26 Sep 2025
Jimmy Kimmel’s return and the fight over free speech
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Unspun World: World leaders formally recognise Palestinian statehood
Fri 26 Sep 2025
John Simpson analyses what effect the recognition of Palestine as a state might have
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The Media Show: Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension
Thu 25 Sep 2025
Treatment of the US talk show host raises questions about US media and political pressure
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The President’s Path: Trump's diplomacy
Fri 19 Sep 2025
President Trump’s visit tests Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the “special relationship”
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Unspun World: President Trump’s second state visit to the UK
Fri 19 Sep 2025
John Simpson examines the relationship between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump
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The Media Show: Reporting Charlie Kirk’s killing
Thu 18 Sep 2025
How journalists have covered the murder of a polarising figure
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The President’s Path: The killing of Charlie Kirk
Mon 15 Sep 2025
The killing of Charlie Kirk and reaction from across the political divide
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Unspun World: Protests hit France as new PM takes office
Fri 12 Sep 2025
Is France's latest political crisis a signal of long-term decline?
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The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Thu 11 Sep 2025
Why Nintendo’s 1985 adventure is remembered as a turning point for video games
