Jun 23, 2025 · 15 min
TI
News
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
- 1,001 episodes
- Updated Yesterday
Episodes1001
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Jun 20, 2025 · 20 minFrom accidental to absolute leader – who is Ayatollah Khamenei?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s often reclusive supreme leader, surfaced this week to hit back at Donald Trump’s demands for an unconditional surrender. Khamanei first came to power as President of Iran in 1981, and he was a surprise choice for supreme leader eight years later. But since then, with the help of the Revolutionary Guard he has had almost complete control of Iran and its anti-Israel and anti-American foreign policy agenda. Sky’s Tom Cheshire speaks to Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC about how Khamanei is viewed inside Iran and how his policies contributed to the current crisis. Producer: Soila Apparicio Assistant producer: Araminta Parker Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 19, 2025 · 17 minCould there be another Post Office scandal?
The Horizon scandal captured the nation after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office. And now, more faulty Post Office accounting software has been uncovered, in what some are calling a second Post Office scandal. Today, the government’s announced details of a compensation scheme for postmasters who suffered through using Capture in the 1990s. In today’s episode, Sarah-Jane Mee is joined by news correspondent Adele Robinson, who has unearthed new evidence to show the system was faulty and speaks to families devastated by the scandal. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Jun 18, 2025 · 14 minIs Labour facing big backlash over welfare reforms?
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced new protections in a bill which will attempt to cut benefits to more than three million households. In its current form, the government faces a big rebellion from dozens of Labour MPs over concerns that changes to welfare will drive families into poverty. On today's episode, Matt Barbet is joined by political correspondent Tamara Cohen to discuss the backlash from inside the Labour Party and the wider public. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Soila Apparicio
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Jun 17, 2025 · 15 minTrump’s doing it his own way on Iran – could it work?
After leaving the G7 early, Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was seeking what he’s calling a “real end” to the conflict between Israel and Iran and wants to do “better” than just a ceasefire. His defence secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed the US is moving “additional capabilities” to its Middle East bases. So, will Trump’s unconventional approach to diplomacy work or fuel the crisis in the Middle East? On today’s Sky News Daily Mark Austin speaks to Sky’s security and defence analyst Michael Clarke about Trump’s unpredictable approach to world affairs, and whether he’ll be able to strike a deal. Producer: Natalie Ktena & Araminta Parker Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 16, 2025 · 17 minWas there a Whitehall cover-up of the grooming gangs scandal?
Whitehall officials tried to convince Michael Gove to go to court to cover up the grooming scandal in 2011. That's according to Dominic Cummings, who was working for Mr Gove at the time. In an interview with Sky's political correspondent Liz Bates, Mr Cummings has revealed how officials in the Department for Education wanted to help efforts by Rotherham Council to stop a national newspaper from exposing the scandal. On the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin speaks to Liz Bates about the scandal and what Mr Cummings told her. Podcast producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Jun 13, 2025 · 17 minIsrael v Iran – what's next?
On today's Sky News Daily, we're sharing the latest episode of The World. Israel has attacked Iran and its operation will continue for "as many days as it takes", according to Benjamin Netanyahu – meanwhile, Iran's leader has vowed "severe punishment" in return. In this extra episode of The World, Yalda Hakim is joined by Sky News' international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to ask why Israel decided to launch these attacks now and whether this is the start of something much bigger. He's standing in for Richard - who is on his way to the Middle East. Yalda reveals what she's hearing from Mossad agents in Israel and Dominic - who has just returned from Iran - explains why the leaders there are boxed in a corner. Also - Yalda and Dominic discuss whether the initial response from the rest of the world will hold. Can Donald Trump stay out of any escalation? And what does it mean for the UK? To get in touch or to share questions, email theworld@sky.uk
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Jun 12, 2025 · 10 minWhat happened to Air India flight 171?
An Air India plane bound for Gatwick has crashed seconds after take-off. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had taken off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat in the northwest of India. On board were 242 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals. On today’s episode Matt Barbet is joined by Ian Petchenik, Flightradar 24’s communications director and co-host of the AV Talk podcast, to discuss what we know so far as well as looking at the safety record of the both the plane and airline.
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Jun 11, 2025 · 20 minSpending review: What does it mean for me?
The chancellor has unveiled her long-awaited spending review, which sets out detailed plans for how individual government departments are funded over the next three years. Rachel Reeves says departmental budgets will grow by an average of 2.3% a year, prioritising health, defence and infrastructure projects - but how will this be paid for? And does this make a change for working people as promised by her government? In today’s episode, political correspondent Tamara Cohen speaks to economics and data editor Ed Conway about the ambitious figures. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Jun 10, 2025 · 19 minThe making of The Wargame podcast with Sir Ben Wallace and Deborah Haynes
The Wargame was designed to test the state of the UK's defences and national resilience after decades of cuts to military spending after the end of the Cold War. A year in the making, the podcast was recorded in just one day with a cast of politicians and their advisers, all of whom had worked at the top levels of the British government. In today's episode, Dominic Waghorn talks to security and defence editor Deborah Haynes who created and wrote The Wargame about why she thought it was so important to make the podcast - and to former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace, who plays the prime minister. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 9, 2025 · 12 minGreta and Gaza – what did she achieve?
A boat carrying Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists with aid for Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces overnight. The Madleen was operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition and had set off from Sicily over a week ago with the aim of breaking the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza. It was intercepted by Israeli forces overnight and the country’s defence minister has said everyone who was on board will have to watch footage of the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel, before they return to their home countries. On today’s Sky News Daily, Darren McCaffrey speaks to Middle East correspondent Ali Bunkall about what Greta Thunberg and her fellow activists might have achieved. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 6, 2025 · 20 minRoman Abramovich: From rags, to riches, to 'ripping off' Ukraine
The government is threatening to take former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to court over the proceeds of the sale of the club. Three years after being sanctioned for the oligarch's links to the Russian president, £2.5bn remains frozen in a bank account. The funds are earmarked for Ukrainian aid, but where will they end up? In today's episode, Niall Paterson talks to the financier and author Bill Bowder and Sky's sports correspondent Rob Harris about how Abramovich went from orphan to oligarch and where sanctions leave him today. Lawyers for Abramovich did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Producer: Gabriel Radus and Emily Hulme Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Jun 5, 2025 · 10 minWeight loss jabs - what else don't we know?
The government's health agency, the MHRA, is warning women that they shouldn't use weight loss jabs while pregnant and that the drugs can also affect the reliability of the pill, which has led to a rise in so-called "Ozempic babies". On today’s Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Dr Nikita Kanani, a GP and former medical director for primary care at NHS England, about the risks, whether there are other concerns about using them and if there should be tighter restrictions on online sales of the jabs. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 4, 2025 · 14 minWhere’s Rachel Reeves getting her bus money?
The chancellor presents the spending review next week where she will outline how the budget will be divided for government departments between 2026 and 2029. Rachel Reeves says she has an extra £113bn of capital to play with. But with so many promises and projects dependent on the cash, how does she decide who will win and who will lose? On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News’ deputy political editor, Sam Coates, who has used AI to predict how the chancellor might spend the cash. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Rosie Gillot
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Jun 3, 2025 · 12 minWhy good weather isn’t to blame for small boat crossings
The Home Office says the doubling of good weather days this year compared to the start of 2024 "coincides with small boat arrivals being 46% higher" - but research by Sky's Data and Forensics team shows a rise in crossings during bad weather as well. On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News' political correspondent Ali Fortescue and senior data journalist Daniel Dunford to assess what the new data tells us about how well the government's plans to tackle small boat crossings are working and what they've learnt about how the smuggling gangs are adapting. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Wendy Parker
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Jun 2, 2025 · 15 minDefence review: 'War ready’ - but for what war?
The prime minister has launched a 10-year Strategic Defence Review setting out how Britain will operate in an ever-more worrying geopolitical environment. Sir Keir Starmer says "every citizen has a role to play" in "defence of the realm", but do we know what kind of war we're preparing for? On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's defence editor Deborah Haynes and military analyst Michael Clarke to discuss whether the defence review meets the mark. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Philly Beaumont
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May 30, 2025 · 13 min‘Le slap’: Brigitte Macron, schoolteacher to France’s first lady
Emmanuel Macron has played down a video of him being pushed in the face by his wife Brigitte, as the couple prepared to leave their plane to begin their tour of South East Asia. The French president said he was just joking with the first lady and the incident was "nothing". But the footage has put the pair and their relationship in the global spotlight. In today's episode, Niall Paterson talks to France 24's international affairs editor, Philip Turle, about who Brigitte Macron is, how the couple are viewed in France and the online rumours that have dogged them. Producer: Emily Hulme and Gabriel Radus Editor: Wendy Parker
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May 29, 2025 · 13 minIsrael's illegal settlements - and those fighting back
Israel has authorised 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including legalising unauthorised outposts.Such settlements are considered illegal under international law - a designation Israel disputes. There's nothing new about settlements, they've been popping up in the area since 1967. But since the Hamas attack on 7 October, tensions have intensified. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our international correspondent Alex Rossi and producer Orly Halpern, who have visited the Palestinian village of Ras al-Ayn, where activists on the ground have reported a surge in violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers aimed at driving Palestinian families from their homes. Editor: Philly Beaumont Producer: Jada Kai Meosa John
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May 28, 2025 · 26 minDominic Cummings: If Farage listens to me, he’ll be the next PM
Nigel Farage could "definitely" become prime minister at the next general election. That's according to Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief advisor, who says he has held meetings with the Reform UK leader and advised him on how to go from "one man and an iPhone" to holding the keys to Downing Street. On the Sky News Daily, Liz Bates speaks to Mr Cummings about the current state of British politics, why the public feels let down, and who Mr Farage needs to recruit if he wants to be the next prime minister. Warning: contains strong language.
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May 27, 2025 · 16 minLiverpool parade: Why were suspect details released so quickly?
The police's rapid announcement of the age, ethnicity, and nationality of the Liverpool parade suspect shows they've learned lessons from the 2024 Southport attack. Within two hours of a car hitting a crowd of Liverpool fans as they celebrated their team parading the Premier League trophy, Merseyside Police said they had arrested a "53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area". Last summer, the same force was criticised in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings when online speculation and misinformation filled a void after the same force released few details about a 17-year-old – later revealed to be Axel Rudakubana – that they had in custody. On today's Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet is joined by our north of England correspondent Katerina Vittozzi, who is in Liverpool, and Helen King, former assistant chief constable for Merseyside Police, who talks about the challenges of policing online speculation.