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

June 5 · 26 min
Unspun World: What's it like to live in Iran now?
How do ordinary Iranians feel about the conflict with the United States?
June 4 · 22 min
The Media Show: Inside Rafa Nadal's Netflix show
The director of Rafa on access, editorial control and sports documentaries.
May 29 · 24 min
The President's Path: The costs of the Iran war
War with Iran: How long will US consumers feel the pinch?
May 29 · 26 min
Unspun World: Is the US preparing to invade Cuba?
John Simpson analyses the possibility of the US forcing regime change in Cuba
May 28 · 22 min
The Media Show: The French Rupert Murdoch
Actors and filmmakers raise concerns about Vincent Bolloré’s media influence
May 22 · 24 min
The President's Path: Trump pivots to Cuba
Trump pivots to Cuba and takes on his own party in the primaries
May 22 · 26 min
Unspun World: Are US-China relations at a turning point?
John Simpson analyses whether there has been a shift in the US-China relationship
May 21 · 22 min
The Media Show: Filming inside El Salvador’s mega-prison
Richard Madeley on his documentary about El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison
May 15 · 25 min
The President's Path: Trump in China
Trump and Xi hold talks in China, but will there be a trade deal breakthrough?
May 15 · 26 min
Unspun World: Why can’t the US and Iran reach a peace deal?
John Simpson analyses what’s preventing the US and Iran from ending their conflict
May 14 · 22 min
The Media Show: Wrestling with Trump
Munya Chawawa on Trump, satire and the media
May 8 · 24 min
The President's Path: Trump’s midterm messaging
Trump's ratings are at an all-time low. What does that mean for the midterms in November?
May 8 · 26 min
Unspun World: What’s at stake for Iran’s regime?
John Simpson analyses the Iranian position in its confrontation with the US in the Gulf
May 7 · 22 min
The Media Show: The accidental BBC News star
How Guy Coma arrived for a job interview, ended up on live television, and created a meme
May 1 · 25 min
The President's Path: Is Trump safe?
The US president is arguably the world’s most protected person, but is he safe enough?
May 1 · 26 min
Unspun World: Trump's exit strategy from Iran
John Simpson looks at the pressure on President Trump to find an end to the Iran war
April 30 · 22 min
The Media Show: I’m a Celebrity… get me a lawyer!
Assessing allegations of misleading edits on ITV’s flagship reality show
April 24 · 24 min
The President's Path: Trump goes quiet
Is President Trump dialing down the rhetoric in order to get a peace deal over the line?
April 24 · 26 min
Unspun World: US-Iran standoff over Strait of Hormuz escalates
John Simpson analyses the confrontation between Iran and the United States in the Gulf
April 23 · 22 min
The Media Show: Building the Uncanny empire
Danny Robbins on how his paranormal podcast grew into a TV, stage and YouTube hit.