The Explanation

BBC World Service

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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346 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes346

Newest first

Friday · 16 min
The President's Path: Does Zelensky have the upper hand in the Ukraine war?
Are relations between Trump and Zelensky warming?
Thursday · 22 min
The Media Show: Interviewing Elon Musk
The Economist's editor-in-chief on the interview that sparked Musk's "traitor" attack.
July 24 · 16 min
The President's Path: The US-Saudi nuclear deal
What do we know about the US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal?
July 23 · 22 min
The Media Show: Can an AI actor win over Hollywood?
The creator of AI star Tilly Norwood explains why she's casting her in a feature film
July 17 · 16 min
The President's Path: Trump accuses China of US election 'meddling'
Donald Trump accuses China of interfering in the 2020 US election
July 16 · 22 min
The Media Show: Trump's New York Times subpoenas
The media implications of subpoenas over reporting on President Trump's new Air Force One
July 10 · 16 min
The President's Path: US-Iran conflict reignites
The US and Iran are once again trading strikes
July 9 · 22 min
The Media Show: Farage's fight with the Media
Nigel Farage accuses the media of targeting him amid scrutiny of his financial interests
July 3 · 24 min
The President's Path: America at 250
How does the US of today measure up to what the country’s founders had envisioned?
July 2 · 22 min
The Media Show: The Murray brothers' media game
Jamie Murray on launching a YouTube tennis channel with his brother Andy
June 26 · 25 min
The President's Path: Has Trump taken over America’s big birthday?
The US marks its 250th birthday - but who's throwing the party?
June 26 · 26 min
Unspun World: Has Britain become ungovernable?
John Simpson examines the factors behind the resignation of Britain’s prime minister
June 25 · 22 min
The Media Show: How Shop workers became content
Retail staff report a rise in filming by customers for social media videos.
June 19 · 25 min
The President's Path: What did America actually win in the Iran deal?
Trump signs a US-Iran deal at Versailles. But what has America actually won?
June 19 · 26 min
Unspun World: Winners and losers of the US-Iran agreement
John Simpson examines the new deal aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran
June 18 · 22 min
The Media Show: Citizen journalists at protests - reporting or activism?
The growing role of online creators at protests and public disorder in the UK
June 12 · 24 min
The President's Path: Why is Trump hosting the UFC at the White House?
Trump marks his birthday with a White House cage fight as the World Cup comes to America
June 12 · 26 min
Unspun World: Fighting resumes between Israel and Hezbollah
John Simpson explores the impact of Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon
June 11 · 22 min
The Media Show: Reporting the World Cup
BBC Sport and football journalists set out how the biggest tournament will be covered
June 8 · 24 min
The President's Path: Why did Trump and Netanyahu clash over the Iran war?
Trump's blazing row with Netanyahu over the Iran war. Is the alliance cracking?