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鈥檚 Path: Affordability
Friday
How the Trump administration is addressing affordability in America
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The Media Show: Netflix鈥檚 Hollywood takeover drama
Thursday
The battle to control Warner Bros and what it could mean for movie fans
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The President鈥檚 Path: The health of healthcare
Fri 5 Dec 2025
The state of US healthcare under RFK Jr
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The Media Show: Manchester鈥檚 YouTube problem
Thu 4 Dec 2025
Why vloggers are accused of exploiting vulnerable people for clicks
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump v California
Fri 28 Nov 2025
Donald Trump is challenging the state of California. Its governor is returning the favour
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The Media Show: Another day, another 麻豆社 editing row?
Thu 27 Nov 2025
A disputed Reith Lectures cut adds to questions over 麻豆社 governance
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The Media Show: Ed Sheeran鈥檚 one-shot film
Thu 20 Nov 2025
Producer behind Ed Sheeran鈥檚 new live performance show on how they did it
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The President鈥檚 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鈥檚 billion-dollar 麻豆社 threat
Thu 13 Nov 2025
As the President vows to sue, two 麻豆社 bosses quit amid crisis
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The President鈥檚 Path: Elections fallout
Fri 7 Nov 2025
How Republicans and Democrats fared in this year鈥檚 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鈥檚 biggest car show
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The President鈥檚 Path: Electoral battlegrounds 2025
Fri 31 Oct 2025
What will the first big elections of Trump鈥檚 second term reveal?
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Unspun World: Donald Trump鈥檚 China strategy
Fri 31 Oct 2025
John Simpson analyses President Trump鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Russia
Thu 9 Oct 2025
Steve Rosenberg on reporting truth and staying safe as a 麻豆社 journalist in Moscow
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump鈥檚 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鈥檚 media deals fuel debate over political influence
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The President's Path: Silencing voices
Fri 26 Sep 2025
Jimmy Kimmel鈥檚 return and the fight over free speech
