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

February 26 · 22 min
The Media Show: The Andrew photo
The backstory of an image that has defined the Royal crisis.
February 24 · 25 min
The President's Path: Inside Trump’s State of the Union
What’s taking centre stage in Trump’s State of the Union speech?
February 20 · 26 min
Unspun World: What’s the future of US-Europe relations?
John Simpson analyses the state of the transatlantic alliance
February 19 · 22 min
The Media Show: MTV’s co‑founder on reshaping pop culture
Ros Atkins interviews MTV co‑founder Tom Freston about his career and new book
February 13 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Is Trump facing a Republican rebellion in Congress?
Is President Trump facing a GOP rebellion in Congress?
February 13 · 26 min
Unspun World: Who is in control of Gaza now?
John Simpson explores who is actually governing Gaza at the moment
February 12 · 22 min
The Media Show: Bonfire of the Murdochs
Gabriel Sherman on the Murdoch family succession battle and the company’s direction
February 6 · 22 min
The Media Show: The Epstein files
How journalists are reporting the latest Epstein data dump
February 6 · 24 min
The President’s Path: Epstein files
Political pressure on President Trump after the release of more Epstein files
February 6 · 26 min
Unspun World: Is time running out for Iran's supreme leader?
John Simpson looks at the dangers facing the Iranian clerical regime
January 30 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Minneapolis unrest
Minneapolis unrest grows after federal agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti
January 30 · 26 min
Unspun World: Is Europe toughening its stance on Trump?
John Simpson analyses EU-US relations after the row over Greenland
January 29 · 22 min
The Media Show: Netflix’s skyscraper live stunt
Is a live broadcast of a climber on a skyscraper without a rope the future of television?
January 24 · 49 min
The Evidence: Anaesthesia
What happens to our brains and our consciousness when we’re put to sleep?
January 23 · 25 min
The President’s Path: US-Europe breakup
Is Trump driving a breakup between the US and Europe?
January 23 · 26 min
Unspun World: Trump's return, one year on
Caroline Hawley looks back at the first year of Donald Trump’s second term
January 22 · 22 min
The Media Show: The battle for brand Beckham
The Beckham’s family fallout reignites questions on how celebrities shape press coverage
January 16 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Trump’s world domination
Trump warns Iran and pushes US control of Greenland
January 15 · 22 min
The Media Show: Iran protests and international coverage
Questions over how global media report unrest in Iran and the constraints on verification
January 9 · 24 min
The President’s Path: After Venezuela, what next for Trump?
US seizes Maduro, while Trump eyes up next targets