
Advertise on podcast: The Explanation
Rating
4.5from
This podcast has
373 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
BBC World ServiceExplicit
No
Date created
2023/05/10
Latest episode
2026/10/16
Average duration
22 min.
Release period
3 days
Description
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.
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from The Explanation podcast
The President's Path: Will affordability decide the US midterms?
2026/10/16
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss how the issue of affordability is playing out in different parts of the US - and shaping voters' views. Will voters punish the president and his team at the ballot box?
Every weekend, 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]
Senior producer: Ellyn Duncan
Editor: James Kraft
Executive producer: Anna Holford
Unspun World: Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine
2026/10/16
John Simpson explores the effect on civilians of Russia’s intense bombardment of Ukrainian cities, looks at how Turkey has become a more authoritarian state, and analyses China’s decision to regulate AI chatbots.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
The Media Show: TV screenwriter Russell T Davies
2026/10/15
Writer and producer Russell T Davies reflects on his career, from the groundbreaking series Queer as Folk to the revival of Doctor Who, Years and Years and his latest Channel 4 drama Tip Toe.
The BBC has issued an apology for making false and defamatory allegations about the founder of PinkNews and his husband. Katy Searle, Head of Opinion at The i, and legal expert Clive Coleman assess the editorial and legal implications of the case.
Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Tim Bano
Content Producer: Lucy Wai
Editor: Gavin Poncia
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Sound: Adrian Bhargava
Technical Coordinator: Mark Dickins
The President's Path: Could Trump deliver Democrats a midterm victory?
2026/10/09
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann look at the Democrats' race to the midterms. The party is eyeing some key victories in races across the country, to secure control of either the House or Senate – or both – come November. Recent polls appear promising, but what is deciding voters’ minds about who will get their vote – or if they will even head to the polls?
Every weekend, 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]
Senior producer: Ellyn Duncan
Editor: Magnus McGrandle
Executive producer: Anna Holford
Unspun World: Israel marks three years since 7 October attacks
2026/10/09
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores how Israeli attitudes have changed three years on from the 7 October attacks, analyses the possible impacts of the midterm elections on the Trump presidency, and examines the civil war in Yemen.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
The Media Show: Hungary and the battle for press freedom
2026/10/08
Six months after Péter Magyar’s election ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule, Hungary’s new government faces scrutiny over its promised press reforms. BBC East and Central Europe Correspondent Nick Thorpe reports from Budapest on how the country’s media is changing.
Broadcaster Anneka Rice reflects on fifty years since joining the BBC as a trainee, tracing her career across television and radio and the changes she has witnessed in British broadcasting.
As the Cornell rape investigation continues, journalism experts including Dr Robert Topinka of Birkbeck, University of London, and Professor Kathleen Bartzen Culver of the University of Wisconsin–Madison consider the ethical and legal responsibilities of reporters covering sensitive cases.
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Lucy Wai
Content Producer: Emily Channon
Editor: Gavin Poncia
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Sound: Mike Campbell
Technical Coordinator: James Cherry
The President's Path: Do Trump's endorsements help?
2026/10/02
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann examine the role President Trump is playing in the race to November’s midterm elections. They discuss whether his endorsement is helping Republican candidates, look at the key battleground races, and explore the issues likely to matter most to voters.
What effect are Russian drone strikes having on Ukraine?
2026/10/02
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the impact of intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine, analyses the state of the relationship between China and the United States, and examines the possibility of renewed civil war in Ethiopia.
The Media Show: Reporting the Man City scandal
2026/10/01
The Premier League alleges that Manchester City arranged sham contracts with commercial partners to conceal more than £830 million in funding. BBC Sport’s Laura Scott, Der Spiegel journalist Christoph Winterbach, Nick Harris from Sporting Intelligence, and Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris explain how the story developed and the media’s role in reporting it over time.
Also on the programme With Celebrity Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing returning to television, celebrity talent executive Stefania Aleksander describes the process of selecting the personalities who help make these entertainment formats successful, and the behind-the-scenes work that shapes some of the UK’s most-watched shows.
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Lucy Wai
Assistant: Emily Channon
Editor: Gavin Poncia
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Sound: Chris Lovelock
Technical Coordinator: Akik Rahman
The President's Path: Trump on the world stage
2026/09/28
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann discuss President Trump's big week on the international stage, from the United Nations General Assembly to hosting China's president at the White House. They examine how the US president is managing friends and rivals, and grappling with an increasingly complex global landscape.
Unspun World: The state of Germany's government
2026/09/25
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the state of Germany’s government after resounding regional election defeats, looks at the effect of American cutbacks on the of future of the United Nations, and examines what we can learn from the tightly controlled elections in Russia.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
The Media Show: Earl Spencer, the Palace and the Press
2026/09/24
The publication of Earl Spencer’s book about Princess Diana, serialised by the Daily Mail, has reignited debate over who shapes her legacy. BBC Royal Correspondent Sean Coughlan, Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson and media lawyer Mark Stephens discuss the competing narratives in the press and legal implications.
The small village of Piddington in the UK has drawn global attention over plans to house more than a thousand asylum seekers. Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman and BBC South’s Jamie Morris report on how a local dispute became an international story.
Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Lucy Wai
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Margherita Campanaro
Sound: Mark Pickett
The President's Path: Is Canada's EU relationship a threat to Trump?
2026/09/18
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann discuss the European Union's ambition for Canada to become its first-ever "associate member", a status that does not currently exist. They examine what such a partnership could mean for Canada, President Trump’s reaction, and whether deeper ties with Europe could reshape Canada's future relationship with its neighbour.
Senior producer: James Kraft
Editor: James Kraft
Executive producer: Anna Holford
Unspun World: Yemen hostilities escalate
2026/09/18
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the impact of the latest outbreak of hostilities in Yemen, examines whether there is any hope for a Palestinian state in the Middle East, and explores the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.
Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editors: Silvia Costeloe and Paul Royall
The Media Show: Is the right of reply under threat?
2026/09/17
The right of reply has long been a cornerstone of journalism, giving those involved in a story the chance to respond before publication. But with politicians and public figures now using social media to publish their own version first, is this principle being undermined? Guto Harri, former Downing Street Director of Communications, Professor Karen Fowler-Watt from City St George’s, University of London, and journalist Matt Shea assess how the practice is changing.
As streaming services compete for attention, TV remotes usually now include buttons for platforms like Netflix and YouTube, often paid for by the services themselves. UK broadcasters argue this disadvantages British platforms and have called for a dedicated ‘British’ button. Technology historian Edd Thomas and Professor Catherine Johnson from the University of Leeds explain why the remote has become such a significant battleground.
Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Lucy Wai
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Production Assistant: Cameron Taylor
Technical Coordinator: Samuel Iyiola
Sound: Nicola Brough
Podcast reviews
Read The Explanation podcast reviews
avm1406 2023/07/13
John Simpson is a legend
Listen if only for John Simpson’s pithy, deeply felt wrap up monologue.
midwestBlue 2023/06/29
good program
i like the program but claire graham speaks too softly compared to the guests. please speak up claire. thank you
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