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: Electoral battlegrounds 2025
Friday
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
Friday
John Simpson analyses President Trump鈥檚 approach to dealing with China
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The Media Show: Advertising race row
Last Thursday
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 蜜芽传媒 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
