This Is Why

Sky News

The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why  takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you.

Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.

Available every weekday afternoon.

This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk

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1,001 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes1001

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Nov 6, 2025 · 18 min
Doom scrolling: How Elon Musk is boosting the British right
Have you been feeling a bit more right wing recently? If you're an avid user of X then it appears Elon Musk is trying to make that the case. For the first time, a Sky News investigation has uncovered how the social media platform's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content. Niall is joined by Sky News data and forensics journalists Tom Cheshire and Kaitlin Tosh. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Nov 5, 2025 · 19 min
Is the Brazil climate conference a COP out?
With the leaders of some of the world's most polluting countries - the US, China and India - set to skip it, is the COP climate conference irrelevant? The event in Brazil next week marks three decades of target-setting and financial pledges - yet temperatures are still rising and so are emissions. Were all those promises a load of hot air? Have dreams of net zero gone up in smoke? Niall is joined by our science and technology editor Tom Clarke who is at the summit. Producer: Araminta Parker Editor: Mike Bovill
Nov 4, 2025 · 15 min
Forgotten victims: How do first responders deal with trauma?
Fatal crashes caused by young drivers inflict untold suffering on survivors and the loved ones left behind. But what about the trauma experienced by first responders? They are part of the so-called ripple effect caused by the aftermath of tragedies on UK roads - and their stories are rarely told. Niall is joined by Sky correspondent Dan Whitehead, who spoke to NHS workers about their experiences. Producers: Tom Gillespie and Araminta Parker Editor: Mike Bovill
Nov 3, 2025 · 17 min
Is it safe to travel on Britain’s railways?
From stabbing attacks to assaults and antisocial behaviour, do you still feel safe taking the train? On Saturday evening, 11 people were injured on board a high-speed train travelling between Doncaster and London. The rampage might well have been worse if it wasn’t for the actions of the staff on the train and the swift response from the emergency services. But can we every truly be prepared for such an attack? Niall discusses whether similar incidents are unavoidable with policing commentator Graham Wettone and Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt. Producers: Tom Gillespie & Araminta Parker Editor: Mike Bovill
Nov 3, 2025 · 11 min
Cheat Sheet | Huntingdon train stabbing, Air India survivor and Women's cricket victory
Police are still trying to work out the motive for Saturday’s mass stabbing on a train from Doncaster to London. Sophy has spoken to the sole survivor of the Air India crash which killed 241 people back in June. And Wilf has heard from the US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, who wants the UK to keep drilling for oil and gas.
Nov 1, 2025 · 4 min
Cheat Sheet: A New Morning Podcast From Monday!
From Monday, Sky News has a new podcast for your morning commute. Sophy Ridge and Wilf Frost will be up early to get across the news so you don't have to. Cheat Sheet is a 10 minute briefing of all the big stories as you start your day. And you'll still have the Sky News Daily to drill down into one topic as you come home. In your feeds around 6am every weekday, from Monday November 3rd.
Oct 31, 2025 · 15 min
What’s next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?
The King has announced that his brother, Andrew, will lose the title of ‘Prince’ which he was born with, and will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The unprecedented move comes after ongoing revelations about Andrew’s relationship with the paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. It also comes after the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, a woman who claimed to have had sex with Andrew when she was underage. Once the ‘golden boy’ of the royal family, Andrew was widely thought to be his mother – Queen Elizabeth’s favourite child. But continuing scandal and revelations has resulted in this week’s move by the King. Gareth Barlow is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills to understand what’s next for Andrew and whether the Royal Family can finally draw a line under the matter. Producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Philly Beaumont
Oct 30, 2025 · 12 min
Sudan's war: Is it a genocide?
Tens of thousands of people were killed in the Sudanese city of Al Fashir in the days after it was captured by a paramilitary group, analysts believe. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war with Sudan's army since 2023 and have been accused of carrying out ethnically-motivated mass killings and other atrocities. Now, new satellite images appear to show ground stained with blood and scattered corpses around Al Fashir. Are these images evidence of a genocide? Mark Austin is joined by Sky News' Africa Correspondent, Yousra Elbagir. Producers: Tom Gillespie and Araminta Parker Editor: Philly Beaumont
Oct 29, 2025 · 17 min
Why did the Home Office pay Hadush Kebatu £500 to leave the country?
Why did the Home Office pay Hadush Kebatu £500 to leave the country? Sky News has spoken to migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu hours after he was deported to Ethiopia. He claims he tried to hand himself in to police after he was released accidentally from prison last Friday but they ignored him. Responding to Kebatu's claims, the Metropolitan Police told Sky News: "The Met is not aware of any evidence to support the claims that Kebatu approached officers on Saturday morning. "The actions of officers who responded to the sighting of him on Sunday morning show how seriously they were taking the manhunt. Kebatu's actions on the morning of his arrest were more like those of someone trying to avoid officers, not trying to hand himself in." Gareth Barlow speaks to home affairs journalist Danny Shaw and Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag - who has been in Epping, Essex, where Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman. Producers: Tom Gillespie and Araminta Parker Editor: Wendy Parker
Oct 28, 2025 · 14 min
Punishing Prince Andrew – would losing Royal Lodge be enough?
Less than two weeks after Prince Andrew announced he was giving up most of his royal titles he is now facing mounting calls to leave his 30-room home in Windsor. Public anger over the prince’s links to Jeffrey Epstein has been reignited following revelations in the posthumous memoir of his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre. Andrew continues to deny all the allegations against him – but the King continues to be under pressure to do more. Would moving the prince out of Royal Lodge be enough to quell public anger? Gareth Barlow is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills. Producer: Emily Hulme and Tom Gillespie Editor: Wendy Parker
Oct 27, 2025 · 13 min
Into the 'kill zone': How Ukraine fights a war of the future
Ukrainian soldiers sprint away from a disabled tank on the battlefield while their control room desperately tries to help them evade the Russian drones pursuing them. Later, a Russian soldier waves a white flag from the basement entrance of a gatehouse which was targeted by Ukrainian quad-copter drones. It's become a war of the future in the so-called "kill zone" in the Donbas region of Ukraine - where the trench lines are gone and drones rule the skies. Tom Cheshire speaks to Sky's international correspondent John Sparks - who spent 24 hours watching the life-or-death drama from a high-tech control hub where a Ukrainian unit runs their operations. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Wendy Parker
Oct 24, 2025 · 18 min
From Iron Maiden to the Iron Lady: Japan’s first female prime minister
A former television presenter and heavy metal drummer has become the first woman to be elected prime minister of Japan. Sanae Takaichi is known for her right-wing views and cites Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration. But it's not just her political beliefs that are controversial – Ms Takaichi has a love of hard rock and motorbikes, despite her deeply conservative background. Why has it taken so long for Japan to elect a female PM? And what challenges does she face domestically, as well as on the world stage? Niall is joined by Dr Kristin Surak, associate professor of political sociology at the London School of Economics and a leading expert on Japanese politics. Producers: Natalie Ktena & Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 23, 2025 · 11 min
Cool cows: The cattle challenging climate change
Whether they are providing the beef for your roast dinner or the milk for your cup of tea – cows are undeniably useful animals. The problem is they also enjoy burping and breaking wind and it's having a huge impact on global warming. The steaks couldn’t be higher and that’s why an agricultural college in Scotland has developed the Cool Cows programme to breed the animals in a way that means they expel less gas. Niall is joined by our udderly brilliant science correspondent, Thomas Moore. Producers: Natalie Ktena & Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 22, 2025 · 19 min
Shadowing the storm: Is Britain being dragged into war?
With Ukraine highlighting the use of UK hardware in strikes against Russia and the US insisting British military personnel join a team monitoring the Gaza ceasefire, are we at risk of ending up in a wider conflict? The possibility, however slim, that UK soldiers could be engaged in fighting in the Middle East follows Ukraine's very public revelation that British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles were used in a "massive" attack inside Russia.Less than two weeks ago, the foreign secretary said there were no plans to send troops to monitor the Gaza ceasefire - so is the UK being dragged into a situation it doesn't want to be in? What is the extent of its role in these conflicts and what are the implications for our national security? Niall is joined by Sky's military analyst Professor Michael Clarke. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 21, 2025 · 17 min
Is the AI bubble about to burst?
The rise of AI has been hailed as a new industrial revolution - a huge economic success story (depending on your point of view) with massive implications for energy, materials and jobs. In the US, artificial intelligence has accounted for the vast majority of economic growth so far this year - not least because of the patronage of Donald Trump, who's also fond of taking AI-generated jibes at his critics. But does the US have enough access to the infrastructure and materials needed to fuel this economic boom? Has it become too dependent on AI and could the bubble be about to burst? Niall is joined by Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway - who has been in the US visiting the largest concentration of data centres in the world. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 20, 2025 · 16 min
Titles and entitlement: Prince Andrew’s unanswered questions
The downfall and disgrace of Prince Andrew has taken another dramatic turn after he announced he was giving up some of his royal titles. Reports have emerged that Andrew asked his personal protection officer to help with a smear campaign against Virginia Giuffre years before she filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault. The prince continues to deny any wrongdoing. What role did the King and other members of the Royal Family play in Andrew's decision to give up his titles? Why is this happening now and does the move go far enough? And could this lead to calls for a rethink over the future of the monarchy? Niall is joined by Sky's royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills for the latest on the long-running scandal. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill To watch Niall's earlier interview with Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall Of The House of York, follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I13zzJ-WJM
Oct 17, 2025 · 17 min
Thatcher 100 - why Margaret Thatcher is still shaping politics a century on from her birth
The UK's first female prime minister undoubtedly transformed the country as she achieved electoral success her Conservative successors could only dream of. Evidence of her enduring influence is the fact that it's not just Tories who claim a debt to her but also opposing politicians, with Rachel Reeves recently branding herself the "iron chancellor". She was also a very divisive figure, with lasting anger over her handling of the miners' strike and the controversial poll tax. So, what is Baroness Thatcher's legacy to both her party and the country? What would she have made of Brexit and the rise of Reform UK? Will she still be talked about in another 100 years? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig. Producers: Tom Gillespie and Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker
Oct 16, 2025 · 19 min
'Divide and rule': The gangs rivalling Hamas for control of Gaza
A ceasefire may be in place, but violence continues to plague Gaza. As Hamas attempts to keep some control, a rival group has told Sky News they plan to fight to the end. With internal fighting and power struggles ongoing, can peace hold within Gaza for the Palestinians hoping to begin rebuilding their lives? Dominic Waghorn, our international affairs editor, and digital investigations journalist Ben van der Merwe join Niall to explain who these groups are and what role they are playing. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 15, 2025 · 15 min
Are the police getting it right on rogue officers?
Dishonesty, discrimination, and misconduct – just some of the reasons why more than 730 police officers were sacked and barred from service last year. Of those, 21 were struck off for child sexual offences. But can our police forces recover from falling public trust and reputational damage? Martin Brunt, our crime correspondent, joins Niall to explain what’s gone wrong – and assess whether ‘bad apples’ in the police are an institutional issue. Plus, Jamie Klingler – co-founder of Reclaim These Streets and campaigner for women’s safety and police reform in the UK – discusses what needs to change. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 14, 2025 · 19 min
The communities combatting a rise in religious hate crime
Members of minority religious groups say they feel less safe in the UK than ever before. A summer of protests outside asylum seeker hotels and a renewed debate about immigration have led to concerns British society is becoming increasingly fragmented. And last week, figures released by the Home Office showed that religious hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales had reached a record high. Some members of the Sikh community in the West Midlands have been escorting elderly people to their local gurdwara due to concerns about physical and verbal abuse. What are the causes behind this rise in hate crime? How are minority groups responding, and what can be done to rebuild fragile communities? Niall is joined by Rabbi Josh Levy, the co-lead of Progressive Judaism, and Sky's communities correspondent Lisa Holland. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill