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

Newest first

Oct 13, 2025 · 13 min
What next for Israel’s released hostages?
All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas – after more than two years in captivity. Now the slow process of recovery and rehabilitation begins. For each of them, that journey will be different. What kind of support will they receive? And will the trauma ever truly be over? Niall discusses the needs of the released hostages with Stephen Regel – a former senior psychosocial practitioner with the British Red Cross and founder of the Centre for Trauma Resilience and Growth. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 10, 2025 · 18 min
No laughing matter: Is Saudi festival a case of ‘comedy washing’?
Can you put a price on freedom of speech? Comedy royalty including Dave Chapelle and Jimmy Carr, famous for defending their right to say whatever they want, have been paid big money by the Saudi government to appear at the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival. But there's a catch.... they're not allowed to say anything that could cause "embarrassment" to Saudi Arabia, its royal family or any religion. The outcry has given you a new phrase to learn - "comedy washing". What is comedy washing and what evidence is there Saudi Arabia is trying to carry it out? Why have comedians agreed to perform at the festival and how can they defend their decision? Niall is joined by stand-up comedian and host of the Pod Save The UK podcast Nish Kumar. Producers: Tom Gillespie, Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 9, 2025 · 14 min
Presidents, peace deals and how to win a Nobel prize
Donald Trump has claimed the credit for ending seven wars and with the developments in Gaza it could soon be eight - surely then he's a dead cert for this year's Nobel Peace Prize? Unsurprisingly, with this bombastic US president, it's not quite that simple... no matter how much he insists that he deserves it. As the world prepares to find out who has won this year's prize, the self-styled peacemaker-in-chief is likely to be among those paying the closest attention. What is the Nobel Peace Prize and why does Trump want to win it so much? How is the winner decided, who else is nominated and what are the US president's chances? Niall is joined by Jay Nordlinger, author of Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 8, 2025 · 17 min
Starmer, spies and China’s threat to national security
The prime minister’s been asked to ‘explain himself’ after the UK’s top prosecutor blamed the collapse of a China spy trial on the government - for not labelling China a risk to national security. But Sir Keir Starmer blames the previous Tory government. A parliamentary researcher and his associate were accused of passing on “politically sensitive” information to a member of China’s ruling politburo – so why won’t it go to court? Niall is joined by political correspondent Mhari Aurora and the former head of MI6 Richard Dearlove. Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 7, 2025 · 18 min
Lewis Moody and living with MND
In September, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody received a devastating diagnosis that changed his life forever. The 47-year-old Rugby World Cup winner is the latest retired professional player to be told he has the fatal muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease. What do we know about the possible causes of MND? Is there a link between extreme exercise and developing the disease? And are we any closer to a cure? Niall is joined by Moody’s World Cup-winning team-mate Will Greenwood and Dr Mike Rogers, director of research and innovation at the MND Association. Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 6, 2025 · 18 min
Wargame Day: Is the UK ready for a real Russian attack?
It's the morning of Monday 6 October 2025 and Russia has launched a missile strike against the UK. That was the scenario of The Wargame - a gripping five-part Sky News podcast that brought together former government ministers, military chiefs, and top defence experts to explore how the UK might respond to a modern-day crisis. On the real 6 October, we speak to some of the makers of the series to get a sense of whether our leaders are taking the threat of Russia seriously enough. Would the United States come to the UK's aid if bombings began on British soil? And what do we need to do to improve our defence capabilities? Niall Paterson is joined by The Wargame's co-creators - Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, and Rob Johnson, head of Oxford University's Changing Character of War Centre - as well as Keir Giles, a leading expert on the Russian military who portrays the Russian president in the simulation. You can listen to The Wargame here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4lHtW6x1D6R0E1QmGLkBK1 Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 3, 2025 · 16 min
Sarah Mullally: The former nurse chosen to lead the Church of England
Could the historic appointment of a first female Archbishop of Canterbury cause a split within the Anglican Church? Dame Sarah Mullally has been chosen for the role while the Church is arguably in a state of crisis - but also at a time when there has been a surge in attendance among young people. She's the first woman to lead the Church of England in its almost 500-year history - the question now is, what impact she will have on its future. Who is Dame Sarah and why was she chosen? How big a moment is this for the Church? What challenges will the new archbishop face and what qualities will she need to address them? Niall is joined by Ruth Gledhill, religious affairs commentator and assistant editor of The Tablet. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 2, 2025 · 17 min
Manchester synagogue attack: 'We knew this day would come'
Communities in Manchester are once again reeling following a terror attack - this time on a synagogue in Crumpsall during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The prime minister has announced extra security for synagogues, but there had been previous warnings of a rise in religious hatred across the UK. Niall speaks to Sky's home editor, Jason Farrell, about the attack and the wider state of national security. Warning: This episode contains audio of the moment leading up to police shooting the suspected attacker. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Oct 1, 2025 · 14 min
Are asylum fears a distraction in the fight for women's safety?
The senior police officer in charge of preventing violence against women and girls has warned the political discourse around asylum seekers risks being a distraction from the "real threat" to women's safety. Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Helen Millichap made the remarks after a summer of protests outside hotels housing migrants across the country. Will the row undermine the government's ambitious target to halve violence against women and girls within a decade? And where should the real focus be when it comes to protecting communities? Niall is joined by the former victim's commissioner Dame Vera Baird KC and Sky correspondent Mollie Malone. Producers: Emily Hulme and Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. Alternatively, you can call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111. If you suspect you are being abused and need to speak to someone, there are people who can help you. The National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Women's Aid Respect, the helpline for male domestic abuse victims: 0808 8010 327 Galop, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity: 0800 999 5428
Sep 30, 2025 · 18 min
Immigration and the problem with ‘progressive patriotism’
The government has continued to grapple with the subject of immigration during the Labour Party conference - where a desire to fight Reform UK's rhetoric has come up against the political reality of public opinion. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has openly called Reform UK's policies "racist" - at the same time as his new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has highlighted the need to review the rules over indefinite leave to remain. Nowhere is this paradox more acute than in Glasgow, where an apparent rise in anti-immigrant sentiment is as much a worry for the SNP as it is for the Westminster government - with both struggling to counter the rise of Nigel Farage's party. Many are now more comfortable voicing legitimate concerns over housing and other social pressures, but are some people using the current debate as an excuse to stoke racial stereotypes and hatred? Niall is joined by Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies in Glasgow - while political correspondent Rob Powell also speaks to the podcast from the Labour conference in Liverpool. Producers: Araminta Parker and Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 29, 2025 · 17 min
Ed Conway on Rachel Reeves - what her conference speech reveals
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her keynote speech to the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool. In an address where there were multiple standing ovations in the hall, she explained she won’t take risks with the public finances and warned the UK will "face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds". But were there any significant policy announcements? And does the speech signal the choices she will make in November, when her autumn budget is widely expected to include tax rises. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s economics editor Ed Conway to discuss the most important points from the address and what it can tell us about the economy's direction of travel. Producer: Araminta Parker & Natalie Ktena Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 26, 2025 · 16 min
Sarah Ferguson: Debts, deceit and the downfall of a duchess
Just as they were for her ex-husband, revelations about her relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have proved highly embarrassing for Sarah, Duchess of York. Several charities have now dropped her as a patron after it emerged she had emailed Epstein to apologise for publicly disavowing him following his conviction. In messages dating back to 2011, the duchess described the late financier as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend", and said sorry for criticising him in public. However, it's far from the first time the former wife of Prince Andrew has given the Royal Family a headache. Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall Of The House of York, joins Niall in remembering the key moments in the duchess's public life. Audio credit: @sarahferguson15 on Instagram Producers: Soila Apparicio, Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 25, 2025 · 16 min
How to survive a cyber attack
Despite Jaguar Land Rover announcing some of its systems are back online, not a single car has rolled off the production line since the end of August. And there's still no date set for the factories to reopen. All because of a cyber attack, costing hundreds of millions of pounds and threatening thousands of jobs. JLR is just the latest British company harassed by hackers – with Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Co-op all suffering major (and expensive) outages in recent months. Airports and national institutions have also been attacked. It all raises serious questions about the UK's vulnerability to cyber terrorists. Who has been targeting these companies and why? What can companies do to defend themselves? Are we heading for a cyber attack pandemic? And what can your business do to prepare for the inevitable? Niall is joined by James Hatch, chief digital officer at BAE Systems, and Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 24, 2025 · 14 min
Natalie's story: The life-prolonging surgery that became a 'death sentence'
A woman left with an incurable brain disease following a NHS operation says she feels like she's "living with a death sentence". Natalie Bralee-Brett was born with the birth defect spina bifida - but doctors told her mother about a new procedure that could improve and prolong her life. Instead, medical experts now say that operation - which implanted a graft made from a membrane taken from a dead body into her spine - left Natalie with a rare brain condition called iatrogenic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (ICAA). How did the NHS end up introducing this procedure and how many others are affected by ICAA? Are they entitled to compensation and could something similar happen again? Niall is joined by Sky's health correspondent Ashish Joshi following his investigation into Natalie's plight. There is more information from Great Ormond Street Hospital here: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/statement-regarding-recent-media-coverage-september-2025/ Producer: Araminta Parker Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 23, 2025 · 18 min
Paracetamol, President Trump and the myths about autism
The scientific community has condemned comments made by Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, linking autism to the use of everyday painkillers during pregnancy. The claim has been refuted by medical experts in both the US and UK - with some saying his comments are dangerous. Is there any evidence linking paracetamol with autism? What damage could be done by the spread of misinformation? And has this set back the campaign for a better understanding of neurodiversity? Niall is joined by Jessie Hewitson, a mother of two autistic children who is also the author of “Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child”, and Sky's science editor Tom Clarke. For more on what Donald Trump said in the White House, listen to Trump 100: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p6KWPOkUpGvrCPRQwbISb?si=20bcf885d0574ed1 If you have any questions or concerns about autism, more information is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/ Producers: Emily Hulme & Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 22, 2025 · 17 min
Starmer and the risks of recognising Palestine
Nearly two years on from the October 7 attacks by Hamas and subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza, Sir Keir Starmer has joined other world leaders in recognising a Palestinian state. The UK prime minister made the decision after months of pressure from dozens of his own MPs – but will it be enough to appease those in Labour who want to go even further? What does he hope the move will achieve and could it lead to the UK banning arms sales to Israel? Niall is joined by Sky's security and defence analyst Michael Clarke and former Labour adviser Scarlett MccGwire. Producer: Emily Hulme and Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 19, 2025 · 30 min
Trump and Starmer quizzed on Epstein
On this episode we are showcasing two of Sky News' other podcasts as we go over Donald Trump's second state visit. Electoral Dysfunction's Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman are joined by Trump 100's Mark Stone to tackle a news conference with potential ramifications to the world order. From the pomp and pageantry to the slightly uneasy division between the President and Prime Minister, the group give their special and unique insight on the historic visit. But who was the winner and are any of the leaders better off? Listen and follow Electoral Dysfunction and Trump 100 wherever you get your podcasts.
Sep 18, 2025 · 19 min
Land of the free? Jimmy Kimmel and the death of discourse
US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been taken off air by the Disney-owned ABC network for making "offensive" comments relating to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. ABC announced the show would be shelved indefinitely - a move welcomed by Donald Trump, who has criticised many of America's most popular chat show hosts for their views on his presidency. What does the decision to pull the show say about freedom of speech in the US? And should we now be worried in the UK? Niall is joined by British comedian Tom Walker - best known for playing fictitious news reporter Jonathan Pie, whose rant blaming "the left" for the rise of Trump went viral in 2016. Content warning: This episode contains strong language. Producers: Olivia McGhie and Jim Farthing Editor: Mike Bovill Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs https://www.instagram.com/p/DOr2BQTidbi/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTyX9JC-rhA
Sep 17, 2025 · 16 min
Is the NHS ready for an AI revolution?
Scientists say they have created an AI tool that could predict a patient's risk of hundreds of diseases years before they develop symptoms.The technology, if it works, could help revolutionise a health service which is always looking for ways to reduce costs and offer better patient care.However, with many people feeling the NHS can often struggle to implement new technologies - how ready is the health service for such a potentially groundbreaking tool?Who will be accountable if it gives a wrong diagnosis? And should people be scared AI is about to replace the human touch of their local GP?Niall is joined by Sky's science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore, who explains how the technology works and how prepared the NHS might be to introduce it. Dr Ben Maruthappu, founder of healthtech company Cera and former innovation adviser to NHS England, also reveals what other AI tools are on the horizon. Producers: Emily Hulme and Natalie Ktena Editor: Mike Bovill
Sep 16, 2025 · 16 min
The migrant return scheme: One-in, none-out?
A government deportation deal with France – designed to deter small boat crossings – has been beset by delays and legal challenges. The first few migrants detained in Dover as part of the so-called one-in-one-out scheme were meant to be on a flight to France on Monday. That didn’t happen. And even when the first deportations do begin, there is a cap on the number of people who can be returned. So, what is the government trying to achieve? Danny Shaw, former adviser to Yvette Cooper – who was home secretary until last week – explains what the policy is and how it should work. Niall is also joined by Sky’s community correspondent, Lisa Holland, who is awaiting arrivals in France. Producer: Natalie Ktena and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill