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: 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
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The Media Show: Gaza documentary controversy
Thu 3 Jul 2025
Channel 4 airs Gaza film dropped by the 麻豆社 over impartiality concerns
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Unspun World: Has Iran weathered the storm?
Fri 27 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses where Iran stands now a ceasefire seems to be in place
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The Media Show: Iranian harassment of 麻豆社 journalists
Thu 26 Jun 2025
鈥淧sychology warfare鈥� waged against staff at 麻豆社 Persian
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Unspun World: Where is the conflict between Israel and Iran heading?
Fri 20 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses whether Israel鈥檚 attacks on Iran could lead to regime change
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The Media Show: Israel-Iran coverage
Thu 19 Jun 2025
Challenge in reporting Iran-Israel conflict due to limited access and state restrictions
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Unspun World: Trump's immigration crackdown
Fri 13 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses the US president鈥檚 decision to deploy troops to California
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The Media Show: Will AI kill the advertising industry?
Thu 12 Jun 2025
Meta鈥檚 plan for new tools that will let anyone make ads
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What does a new president mean for Poland?
Fri 6 Jun 2025
John Simpson analyses what Karol Nawrocki鈥檚 victory means for Poland鈥檚 government
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The Media Show: Can NPR survive Trump鈥檚 cuts?
Thu 5 Jun 2025
CEO of US public radio sets out survival strategy
