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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Sep 28, 2026 · 16:10
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…
Sep 25, 2026 · 26:29
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,…
Sep 24, 2026 · 22:59
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,…
Sep 18, 2026 · 16:27
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…
Sep 18, 2026 · 26:30
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…
Sep 17, 2026 · 22:57
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…
Sep 11, 2026 · 16:26
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann reflect on the legacy of the 9/11 attacks 25 years on, examining their lasting impact on US society and foreign policy, and…
Sep 10, 2026 · 22:59
In 1964, a group of seven-year-olds appeared in a TV documentary about class in Britain. The cameras returned every seven years to see how their lives had changed. Now, more than…
Sep 4, 2026 · 1:02:51
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann answer your questions on Trump’s presidency and examine the key issues that could shape the midterms, from his approach to…
Sep 3, 2026 · 22:58
“Meat proxy” is a new term coined to describe someone who acts as a human conduit for material generated by AI. Software engineer Niklas Gruhn, who came up with the phrase, joins…
Aug 28, 2026 · 16:31
Mark Carney’s tough response to Donald Trump signals an escalation to the trade war between Canada and the United States. What does the dispute could mean for people and…
Aug 27, 2026 · 22:58
A special show from the Edinburgh TV Festival, where some of the industry’s biggest players have gathered from around the world to debate the future of television. YouTube now…
Aug 21, 2026 · 15:46
Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Courtney Subramanian explore how President Trump is reshaping America's relationships with allies and adversaries. They discuss Trump's…
Aug 20, 2026 · 22:58
The death of Cambridge academic Jason Arday has prompted intense debate about media conduct, following weeks of reporting on allegations of plagiarism and questions about aspects…
Aug 14, 2026 · 16:17
Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Courtney Subramanian discuss how AI data centres are becoming an important issue for voters ahead of the midterms. They look at concerns…
Aug 13, 2026 · 22:57
For years, YouTube was largely seen as the home of creators who built their audiences online. But increasingly it's becoming a destination for established TV presenters too.…
Aug 7, 2026 · 15:55
Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann discuss President Trump's efforts to balance AI innovation and regulation, the divisions within his cabinet over AI policy, and the challenges…
Aug 6, 2026 · 22:59
More film studios are making films for audiences they believe are not well served by mainstream Hollywood. Many are aimed at Christian viewers or people with more traditional…
Jul 31, 2026 · 16:28
Caitríona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss President Zelensky's visit to Washington, where he pushed for greater US support to bolster Ukraine's air defences. They examine…
Jul 30, 2026 · 22:58
The Economist's interview with Elon Musk attracted global attention before Musk then described interviewer Zanny Minton Beddoes as a "traitor to the West". The interview followed…
Jul 24, 2026 · 16:40
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitríona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss what we know about the US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal, the implications for the fragile balance of power in the Middle…
Jul 23, 2026 · 22:58
An AI-generated actor called Tilly Norwood has been cast in the lead role of a forthcoming film, adding to the debate about artificial intelligence in filmmaking. The…
Jul 17, 2026 · 16:26
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitríona Perry and Bernd Debusmann give their immediate reaction straight after Trump's primetime address, discussing the president's claims of Chinese…
Jul 16, 2026 · 22:59
The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists following reporting about alleged security concerns involving President Trump's new Air Force…
Jul 10, 2026 · 16:03
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann examine the renewed fighting between the US and Iran, and the potential political implications for Americans and President…
Jul 9, 2026 · 22:58
Nigel Farage has accused parts of the British media of mounting a politically motivated campaign against him after reports about his financial interests prompted an investigation…
Jul 3, 2026 · 24:31
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann reflect on where America is at, 250 years in. The team discusses a visit to the Great American State Fair in Washington DC,…
Jul 2, 2026 · 22:59
Wimbledon is under way and some of the sport's biggest names are increasingly becoming media businesses in their own right. Jamie Murray has joined the BBC's Wimbledon coverage…
Jun 26, 2026 · 25:22
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann look at the preparations and events to mark America’s 250th anniversary. As the country looks to the big day, there are…
Jun 26, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the factors behind the latest resignation of a British prime minister,…
Jun 25, 2026 · 22:58
The shop workers union USDAW says the filming of retail staff by customers for social media has become increasingly common, with concerns about videos being uploaded without…
Jun 19, 2026 · 25:15
Caitríona Perry is joined by White House reporter Bernd Buzman and CBS News political director Fin Gomez to unpack the memorandum of understanding with Iran, signed with a…
Jun 19, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the new deal aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran, analyses…
Jun 18, 2026 · 22:58
Following the sentencing of 13 people for violent disorder during protests in Southampton, attention has turned to the role of content creators who film demonstrations and public…
Jun 12, 2026 · 24:36
Sumi, Caitríona and Bernd dig into a big week for President Trump, who is celebrating his 80th birthday - just weeks ahead of America's 250th - with UFC Freedom 250, an…
Jun 12, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores the impact of Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon, analyses the flotation of…
Jun 11, 2026 · 22:58
The men’s football World Cup begins this week in the US, Mexico and Canada. With matches being played in three different time zones, it presents an unprecedented challenge for…
Jun 8, 2026 · 24:58
Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann unpack the extraordinary falling-out between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - a reportedly…
Jun 5, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores the feelings of ordinary Iranians about the conflict with the United States,…
Jun 4, 2026 · 22:59
A new Netflix documentary follows the final stage of Rafael Nadal's tennis career. The series is the latest high-profile sports documentary made for a streaming platform. Zachary…
May 29, 2026 · 24:54
Caitriona Perry, Bernd Debusmann and CBS News' Fin Gomez look at how the Iran War is causing consumers to feel the pinch at the gas pump and the supermarket. They also take a…
May 29, 2026 · 26:27
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the possibility of the US forcing regime change in Cuba, examines the effect…
May 28, 2026 · 22:58
More than 600 actors, writers and directors have signed a letter raising concerns about the influence of French billionaire Vincent Bolloré over the country’s media and…
May 22, 2026 · 24:59
Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at why President Trump — just back from China — is suddenly turning his attention to Cuba. The Department of Justice has…
May 22, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether there has been a significant shift in the relationship between the…
May 21, 2026 · 22:58
A Channel 5 documentary filmed inside El Salvador’s Cecot prison has drawn attention to the country’s tough approach to gang crime and the questions around filming in tightly…
May 15, 2026 · 25:06
Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at President Trump's trip to China. A lot of people in both the Republican and Democratic parties don't want a deal with…
May 15, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what is preventing the United States and Iran from reaching an agreement to…
May 14, 2026 · 22:58
Munya Chawawa found viral fame during the lockdown for his satirical videos on social media. Now he has a new Channel 4 documentary, Wrestling with Trump, which looks at the…
May 8, 2026 · 24:49
Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Fin Gomez talk about the ongoing war in Iran and the upcoming midterm elections. Trump's presidential approval rating has been steadily…
May 8, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the Iranian position in its confrontation with the United States in the Gulf,…
May 7, 2026 · 22:58
Twenty years ago a man arriving for a job interview at BBC Television Centre was taken into a live TV studio and asked to comment on a legal story. The clip quickly spread on…
May 1, 2026 · 25:11
Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at the safety of President Donald Trump following the attempted attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. They…
May 1, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the pressure on President Trump to find an end to the confrontation with Iran,…
Apr 30, 2026 · 22:58
A dispute around the latest series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here has drawn attention to how reality television is edited. Some contestants have said that footage was cut…
Apr 24, 2026 · 24:33
Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann talk peace. They discuss the differences between the JCPOA agreement and today’s peace talks. It seems unlikely a peace deal…
Apr 24, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the confrontation between Iran and the United States in the Gulf, looks at the…
Apr 23, 2026 · 22:59
Uncanny, the BBC podcast about paranormal stories, has grown way beyond radio. There's a live theatre tour, a fan convention, it’s on YouTube and now a new series called Uncanny…
Apr 17, 2026 · 24:57
Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Courtney Subramanian discuss the ongoing war in Iran and look at what it means for President Trump's legacy - balancing the 'win' of the…
Apr 16, 2026 · 22:59
The Artemis II mission has been presented as a major milestone in human spaceflight, with global audiences following live coverage and access provided by NASA. Questions have…
Apr 10, 2026 · 24:48
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss how The president's attitude towards the people of Iran has changed - from saying he would help them to threatening…
Apr 9, 2026 · 22:59
Ronan Farrow, perhaps the world’s most prominent investigative journalist, has turned his attention to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The investigation, published by The New Yorker,…
Apr 3, 2026 · 22:45
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss the impact the US-Israel war with Iran is having on the US and President Trump’s relationship with his allies. With…
Apr 2, 2026 · 22:59
Artificial intelligence is starting to change how some journalists work, as newsrooms test whether it can help produce more content. One reporter says AI is now helping him write…
Mar 27, 2026 · 24:53
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss how US-Israel strikes on Iran have developed into an economic conflict, too – a battle over energy, with a small body…
Mar 27, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to call a halt to US attacks against Iran’s power…
Mar 26, 2026 · 22:58
Donald Trump’s phone number is apparently not impossible to come by – but there’s also a strategy as to what time of day to call. Edward Luce of the Financial Times and Max Tani,…
Mar 20, 2026 · 25:15
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss the impact the US-Israel war with Iran is having on ties with some of Washington’s closest global allies. Nato…
Mar 20, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the economic effects of the war in the Middle East, explores how the conflict…
Mar 19, 2026 · 22:58
A small number of international journalists have been allowed into Iran following the start of conflict involving the US and Israel. CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen describes his…
Mar 13, 2026 · 25:06
Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss the latest on the US-Israel war with Iran. They take stock of the Trump administration’s changing messaging on…
Mar 13, 2026 · 26:27
Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores what life in Iran is like as the war intensifies, analyses what the US…
Mar 12, 2026 · 22:57
Ros Atkins is in Washington DC speaking to some of the most influential voices in American journalism. Together, they reveal how very different media organisations are covering…
Mar 6, 2026 · 8:58
The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that carries 20% of the world’s oil — is now an active war zone. What in the World tracks the disruption and explains who’s feeling the…
Mar 6, 2026 · 26:29
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the Iranian regime will survive, looks at what Israel and the United…
Mar 5, 2026 · 22:58
Events in Iran have led news bulletins, alongside ongoing wars in Ukraine and Sudan. As crises compete for attention, questions are being raised about whether reporting captures…
Feb 27, 2026 · 25:04
Sumi Somaskanda, Courtney Subramanian and Fin Gomez look at one of the most talked-about Senate races - the Texas primaries. For Republicans, it is about who can win the…
Feb 27, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores the mood in Ukraine after four years of war, examines how the war has changed…
Feb 26, 2026 · 22:59
An image of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor leaving police custody made front pages around the world. It quickly became the defining picture of the latest stage in the crisis linked…
Feb 24, 2026 · 25:06
On this episode: Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Fin Gomez look ahead to next week’s State of the Union address. It’s a chance for President Trump to talk up his…
Feb 20, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the state of the transatlantic alliance, explores whether the Iranian regime…
Feb 19, 2026 · 22:58
Ros Atkins sits down with MTV co‑founder Tom Freston to explore how the channel became a global cultural force, the turning points of his career, and the themes of his new book.…
Feb 13, 2026 · 25:18
Can President Trump keep Republican lawmakers on side? Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look back at a week where we saw Congress push back against President…
Feb 13, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores who is actually governing Gaza at the moment, analyses the landslide election…
Feb 12, 2026 · 22:58
A new book focuses on the future of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire after a legal dispute within his family. The case has renewed attention on Murdoch’s long-standing influence in…
Feb 6, 2026 · 22:58
The latest batch of documents linked to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been released by the US Department of Justice. There are millions of files for journalists to…
Feb 6, 2026 · 24:54
The release by the Department of Justice of a new tranche of Epstein files has put more political pressure on President Trump. On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Bernd Debusmann…
Feb 6, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the dangers facing the Iranian clerical regime, explores whether peace talks…
Jan 30, 2026 · 25:31
Minneapolis unrest deepens as protests spread after Alex Pretti killing. Donald Trump signals plans to de-escalate as protests and political tensions mount. On this episode,…
Jan 30, 2026 · 26:28
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the relationship between the EU and the United States after the row over…
Jan 29, 2026 · 22:58
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during ICE operations in Minneapolis has intensified scrutiny of how events are recorded and reported, as video filmed by members of the public…
Jan 24, 2026 · 49:25
In this episode of The Evidence, Claudia Hammond is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the science of anaesthesia. It’s estimated that around the world, more than 250…
Jan 23, 2026 · 25:27
Davos 2026 discussions underscore strains in US-Europe relations, as trade and security differences resurface and Donald Trump’s influence shapes debate over the future of…
Jan 23, 2026 · 26:29
Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks back at the first year of Donald Trump’s second term, analyses the…
Jan 22, 2026 · 22:58
A public statement by Brooklyn Beckham has prompted extensive media coverage and online debate about how celebrity families manage press narratives. Katie Razzall is joined by…
Jan 16, 2026 · 25:28
Trump orders fresh sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials accused of directing the violent suppression of protests, while European allies deploy troops to Greenland amid…
Jan 15, 2026 · 22:58
Ongoing protests in Iran have prompted scrutiny of how international media organisations report events in a highly restricted environment, with criticism focused on prominence…
Jan 9, 2026 · 24:53
Trump's actions in Venezuela and the removal of Nicolás Maduro sparks talk of further US operations in the region. In this episode Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd…
Jan 8, 2026 · 22:58
Reports that major US newspapers delayed publishing details of the US raid in Venezuela have prompted renewed scrutiny of how journalists handle sensitive national security…
Jan 1, 2026 · 22:58
Have you ever wondered how reality TV gets made? Why some shows become instant classics, while others vanish without trace? In this special edition of The Media Show, four of the…
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