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 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
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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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Path: Trump's diplomacy
Fri 19 Sep 2025
President Trump鈥檚 visit tests Sir Keir Starmer鈥檚 handling of the 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥�
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Unspun World: President Trump鈥檚 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鈥檚 killing
Thu 18 Sep 2025
How journalists have covered the murder of a polarising figure
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The President鈥檚 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鈥檚 1985 adventure is remembered as a turning point for video games
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump's troubles
Fri 5 Sep 2025
Trump enters a new political season as Congress returns from its summer recess
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The Media Show: France鈥檚 political crisis
Thu 4 Sep 2025
Coverage of Fran莽ois Bayrou鈥檚 political gamble and the rise of 鈥楤loquons Tout鈥�
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump鈥檚 law and order
Fri 29 Aug 2025
Trump鈥檚 decision to deploy the National Guard draws equal parts praise and concern
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The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Thu 28 Aug 2025
Outlets remove articles amid suspicions AI was behind a freelance byline
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump the peacemaker?
Fri 22 Aug 2025
Trump鈥檚 quest for peace and a shot at the Nobel Prize
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The Media Show: Trump, Zelensky and the cameras
Thu 21 Aug 2025
Journalists on covering Zelensky鈥檚 White House talks with Donald Trump
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump鈥檚 Latino base
Fri 15 Aug 2025
Will Trump鈥檚 Latino base hold in the 2026 midterms?
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The Media Show: Interview of an AI avatar
Thu 14 Aug 2025
How the AI avatar of a school shooting victim was made 鈥� and interviewed.
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The President鈥檚 Path: Democratic offensive
Mon 11 Aug 2025
The Democrats鈥� new playbook to reshape America鈥檚 political map
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The Media Show: Taiwan鈥檚 war drama tests political boundaries on screen
Thu 7 Aug 2025
A fictional Chinese attack sparks debate over Taiwan鈥檚 media and censorship
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump鈥檚 grievances
Fri 1 Aug 2025
From Biden to windmills: Who鈥檚 on Trump鈥檚 grievance list?
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The Media Show: Is AI polluting the internet beyond repair?
Thu 31 Jul 2025
鈥淒ead internet theory鈥� raises questions about trust, authenticity and AI鈥檚 role in news
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The President鈥檚 Path: Trump鈥檚 first six months back in office
Fri 25 Jul 2025
Navigating trade wars, immigration policies, and rising international tensions
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The Media Show: YouTubers and the migrant hotel protest
Thu 24 Jul 2025
Footage from citizen journalists challenges traditional news coverage of Epping disorder
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The President's Path: Why are Epstein files dividing MAGA and Trump?
Fri 18 Jul 2025
Trump faces backlash from his base as demands grow for Epstein file transparency
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The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media
Thu 17 Jul 2025
A government data leak led to press blackout. How journalists challenged the court order
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The Media Show: Oasis concert photo row
Thu 10 Jul 2025
Photographers hit out at Oasis for limiting use of pictures from comeback gig
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Unspun World: Donald Trump's foreign policy
Fri 4 Jul 2025
John Simpson analyses Donald Trump鈥檚 approach to foreign policy in his second term
