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

January 8 · 22 min
The Media Show: Reporting the Venezuela operation
How US newspapers delayed reporting military strike amid national security concerns
January 1 · 22 min
The Media Show: How to Make a Hit TV Show
Top producers reveal what works and what doesn't
Dec 26, 2025 · 49 min
The President’s Path: Year in review
A look back at the first year of President Trump’s second term in office.
Dec 25, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Meet The Tech Bros
The origin stories of a group of men who now wield an extraordinary level of influence
Dec 22, 2025 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Maga coalition cracks
A look at what the divisions in the Maga coalition mean for Trump.
Dec 18, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Reporting the Bondi beach attack
How journalists deal with online claims while confirming facts after the Sydney shootings
Dec 12, 2025 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Affordability
How the Trump administration is addressing affordability in America
Dec 11, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Netflix’s Hollywood takeover drama
The battle to control Warner Bros and what it could mean for movie fans
Dec 5, 2025 · 25 min
The President’s Path: The health of healthcare
The state of US healthcare under RFK Jr
Dec 4, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Why vloggers are accused of exploiting vulnerable people for clicks
Nov 28, 2025 · 24 min
The President’s Path: Trump v California
Donald Trump is challenging the state of California. Its governor is returning the favour
Nov 27, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?
A disputed Reith Lectures cut adds to questions over BBC governance
Nov 21, 2025 · 25 min
The President’s Path: Redistricting
The political pros and cons of redistricting
Nov 20, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Ed Sheeran’s one-shot film
Producer behind Ed Sheeran’s new live performance show on how they did it
Nov 14, 2025 · 25 min
The President’s Path: US-Venezuela boat strikes
Why the US is striking Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean and Pacific
Nov 14, 2025 · 26 min
Unspun World: Are Russian forces on the brink of seizing Pokrovsk?
Why is Russia so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk?
Nov 13, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Trump’s billion-dollar BBC threat
As the President vows to sue, two BBC bosses quit amid crisis
Nov 7, 2025 · 26 min
The President’s Path: Elections fallout
How Republicans and Democrats fared in this year’s elections
Nov 7, 2025 · 26 min
Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
John Simpson explores war-weariness in Russia and the problem it poses for the Kremlin
Nov 6, 2025 · 22 min
The Media Show: Lessons from Top Gear
Producer Andy Wilman on success and fallout at TV’s biggest car show