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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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44 episodes
Avg 22 min
English

Episodes 44

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Friday · 16 min
The President's Path: Could Trump deliver Democrats a midterm victory?
Democrats are looking to pick up crucial seats at November’s midterms
Friday · 26 min
Unspun World: Israel marks three years since 7 October attacks
How Israeli attitudes have changed three years on from the 7 October attacks
Thursday · 22 min
The Media Show: Hungary and the battle for press freedom
Nick Thorpe reports on Hungary’s media landscape six months after the election.
October 2 · 16 min
The President's Path: Do Trump's endorsements help?
Republicans are weighing whether Trump's backing can help them win crucial midterm votes
October 2 · 26 min
What effect are Russian drone strikes having on Ukraine?
John Simpson looks at the impact of intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine
October 1 · 22 min
The Media Show: Reporting the Man City scandal
The journalists who tried to blow the whistle on Manchester City
September 28 · 16 min
The President's Path: Trump on the world stage
From the UN to a White House summit with China, Trump faces a pivotal diplomatic week
September 25 · 26 min
Unspun World: The state of Germany's government
John Simpson analyses the state of Germany’s government after regional election defeats
September 24 · 22 min
The Media Show: Earl Spencer, the Palace and the Press
How did Earl Spencer's revelations about the royal family play out in the media?
September 18 · 16 min
The President's Path: Is Canada's EU relationship a threat to Trump?
As trade tensions with the US continue, Ottawa seeks a "unique alliance" with the EU
September 18 · 26 min
Unspun World: Yemen hostilities escalate
John Simpson analyses the impact of the latest outbreak of hostilities in Yemen
September 17 · 22 min
The Media Show: Is the right of reply under threat?
How social media is reshaping the right of reply in journalism.
September 11 · 16 min
The President's Path: How 9/11 changed America and the world
As America marks 25 years since 9/11, we discuss its lasting legacy
September 10 · 22 min
The Media Show: A television experiment that lasted 60 years
After more than 60 years, the groundbreaking Up documentary series comes to an end
September 4 · 1 hr 2 min
The President's Path: Trump's second term: How America and the world sees him
With the midterms just two months away, we answer your questions on Trump’s second term
September 3 · 22 min
The Media Show: Meet the 'meat proxies'
The humans who’ve become mouthpieces for text written by AI
August 28 · 16 min
Heated rivalry: US v Canada
The US-Canada trade war deepens with tit-for-tat tariffs between the historic allies
August 27 · 22 min
The Media Show: Is YouTube the new TV?
A special from Edinburgh, where TV’s biggest players debate the future of the industry.
August 21 · 15 min
The President's Path: Trump redefines America’s friends and foes
President Trump is reshaping America's relationships with allies and adversaries
August 20 · 22 min
The Media Show: The death of Jason Arday
Questions over press scrutiny of Jason Arday following the academic’s death

Showing 1–20 of 44 episodes