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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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August 20 · 19 min
Why now? Inside Harry and Meghan’s UK return
Six years after stepping back from royal life to live in California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK this month. After years of public rows, explosive interviews and a bitter rift with his father and brother – King Charles and Prince William – could this be a chance for Prince Harry to rebuild relations? In this episode of This is Why, Tom Cheshire is joined by Sky News’ royal correspondent Laura Bundock to unpack the Sussexes’ dramatic return and consider whether more is at play.
August 19 · 17 min
Why Trump’s split with South Korea is damaging his allies
Donald Trump is threatening to scale back US military commitments in South Korea - at the risk of wider instability across Asia. At the same time, the US president reaffirmed his “good relationship” with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. So, why is Washington apparently willing to change its approach to diplomacy and security in the region? In this episode of This Is Why, Niall Paterson is joined by Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo to examine the shifting balance of power on the Korean Peninsula and what a reduced US military presence could mean for their allies across the Asia-Pacific. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk.
August 18 · 19 min
Why Russia is threatening the UK... again
"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer." This was the short and not-very-sweet response from the Russian Embassy, after it was confirmed British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia. Drone strikes have been used to great success by Ukraine recently, causing serious damage to military, economic and industrial infrastructure in Russia. The Ministry of Defence defended the use of its weaponry, claiming the UK will continue to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine against "Russian aggression". It’s not the first time Russia has used this sort of threat – so how seriously should we take it this time? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk.
August 17 · 16 min
Why the government defended its wildfires alert
Where were you at 7pm on Friday? Wherever you were, it’s likely you heard a loud alert activated on millions of mobile phones. It was the biggest use yet of the government’s emergency alert system, warning of the dangers posed by wildfires across England and Wales. Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the use of the measure, encouraging the public to take it seriously. But was it more red herring than red alert? Should the system only be used if there is an imminent threat to life? Did it expose vulnerable people to potentially more danger? And what does it tell us about the way the Burnham government communicates? Niall is joined by Jo Tanner, a former adviser to Boris Johnson and now a director at PR firm Rud Pedersen.
August 14 · 15 min
Why we should all be worried about wildfires
If you thought wildfires were confined to the countryside, it's time to think again. Several homes have been destroyed across the West Midlands and Staffordshire as the country swelters in yet another heatwave. Scorching temperatures and a lack of rain mean most parts of the UK are at threat of fires. So what can you do to stay safe? And are the emergency services suitably prepared to deal with sustained infernos? Niall Paterson is joined by retired London Fire Brigade commander Steve Dudeney, who now works as a fire and resilience consultant.
August 13 · 17 min
Why record A-Level results won’t stop universities from struggling
As envelopes were ripped open up and down the country, university vice-chancellors were as eager to find out the results as hundreds of thousands of anxious students. So, a record number of undergraduates heading to campus this autumn might seem like good news for the higher education sector. But do frozen tuition frees, rising costs, and reduced investment for universities tell a different story? And with the prime minister encouraging more teenagers to take up vocational training, what does the future look like for universities? Niall Paterson is joined by Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 12 · 20 min
Why early prison release is an increasing burden for Burnham
You do the crime, you do the time… or a third of it if you’re part of the early release scheme. The move has been controversial since it was first introduced two years ago - but public anger has been reignited over the scheduled release of two men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is now under huge pressure to ensure they remain behind bars - but is there anything he can actually do? And why was this scheme introduced in the first place? Niall Paterson is joined by home affairs commentator and former adviser to Yvette Cooper, Danny Shaw. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk For more from our Insider podcasts such as Electoral Dysfunction – including ad-free listening, exclusive bonus episodes, and much more – become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction
August 11 · 18 min
Why the eclipse has captured the country’s imagination
In what might feel like a rare break from sunshine, the UK is preparing itself for the most spectacular solar eclipse in a generation. The cosmic phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, meaning the country will be slowly plunged into darkness. So, how can you watch safely? What is it about an eclipse that fascinates us? And with the Perseid meteor shower also taking place, what other celestial wonders might you witness if you make a habit of gazing up at the night sky? Niall Paterson is joined by Dr Jenifer Millard, co-presenter of the Awesome Astronomy podcast. To find your nearest eclipse event, click here. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 10 · 18 min
Why Netanyahu rejected Trump's Gaza peace plan
Some leaders have gone to extreme measures to save their jobs - but is allowing a deadly war to rage on indefinitely a step too far? That is what many believe Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing after he rejected Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza. The proposal was designed to end more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas - so why has Netanyahu rejected it? And can there ever be peace in Gaza with him in power? Niall Paterson is joined by Middle East expert Dr H. A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 7 · 26 min
Why a British 'Silicon Valley outsider' is one of AI's biggest players
Artificial intelligence is already changing how we work, communicate and find information. But could its biggest impact be on science? Demis Hassabis is one of the most influential figures in AI. An artificial intelligence researcher and entrepreneur, he is the co-founder of Google DeepMind, having recently stepped down as chief executive to become the company's chair and chief scientist at its parent company Alphabet. His is also co-founder and CEO of Isomorphic Labs, and an AI adviser to the UK government. DeepMind has used AI to predict the structure of proteins, a breakthrough that helped Hassabis win a Nobel Prize and could accelerate the development of new medicines. And the ambition goes much further: using AI to tackle some of the biggest unanswered questions in biology, physics and beyond. Niall Paterson speaks to Sebastian Mallaby, journalist and author of The Infinity Machine, about the extraordinary ambition behind DeepMind, why its approach to AI is different from some of its Silicon Valley rivals, and whether the technology could ultimately become the world's smartest scientist. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us at: why@sky.uk. You can also watch This Is Why on YouTube.
August 6 · 18 min
Why Infantino is clinging on to power at FIFA
UEFA has said it is not lifting its boycott of the World Cup after FIFA president Gianni Infantino held a crisis meeting in Morocco. This appears to be in defiance of the letter issued by FIFA at the end of the meeting, which said it would "no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity". The letter said Infantino had continued to have the support of everyone who attended the meeting, but some of FIFA's management team who had been critical of him were not there. For now, he seems determined to hang on to power, but with UEFA also not backing down, is his position still under threat? Mhari Aurora is joined by Rob Harris, Sky News' sports correspondent, to discuss what happens next. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 5 · 18 min
Why the drought could threaten national security
Britain is on track for one of its worst harvests on record, according to new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank. It's bad news for farmers whose businesses are struggling, bad news for consumers who could see higher prices and potentially bad news for the country. We are far from being self-sufficient in our food production, already importing 40% of what we eat. So what should the government be doing to help farmers deal with the effects of climate change and protect our food security? Mhari Aurora is joined by Sky News climate reporter Victoria Seabrook, and Martin Lines, a farmer in south Cambridgeshire who leads the Nature Friendly Farming Network. Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 4 · 18 min
Why we should think before having a conversation about Ariana Grande
The 33-year-old star has announced that she is taking a break from public life due to “endless scrutiny”. In recent years her weight and health have been the subject of much speculation and concern. Grande has endured a series of traumatic events. In 2017 a suicide bomber killed 22 people at her Manchester Arena show, and in 2018 her musical collaborator and ex-boyfriend Mac Miller died of an accidental overdose. Her latest music video Petal - in which she takes a chainsaw to her critics - sparked controversy as she looks visibly underweight. But what’s the balance between ghoulish voyeurism and concern? And does she have a responsibility to her young impressionable fans? Mhari Aurora is joined by journalist and author of Toxic: Women, Fame And The Noughties, Sarah Ditum. If you or someone you know needs support with disordered eating, you can contact Beat, the eating disorder charity, via their website beateatingdisorders.org.uk. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
August 3 · 16 min
Why Reform is hardening its position on small boats
Nigel Farage has held his first press conference in months as he launched his party's new policy to tackle small boat arrivals, if it formed the next government. It would see the Royal Navy intercepting boats carrying migrants and return them "under escort" to France or Belgium. Reform's opponents have branded the plan unworkable, with the Tories saying the policy is not credible. But with Nigel Farage’s approval rating collapsing by 10 points in a fortnight, and Reform UK losing ground in recent elections to Labour and Restore, will this announcement help win back Reform's lost voters? Or is it more about distracting people from talking about Farage's finances? Mhari Aurora is joined by Alain Tolhurst, chief reporter at Politics Home, to discuss how significant this policy announcement is. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
July 31 · 17 min
Why stuff matters...
Listen to Stuff Matters and subscribe for members-only content You'll never think about a banana or look at your airpods in the same way after listening to this episode. It’s the podcast crossover the world has been waiting for. Niall Paterson sits down with Sky’s data and economics editor Ed Conway to discuss his six-part podcast Stuff Matters. The premise of the show is simple - Ed takes an everyday object before diving down a rabbit hole to explore what it tells us about the forces shaping our world. So - how did a banana trigger a CIA-backed coup? What do LED lights tell us about the future of humanity? Listen to this episode of This Is Why... and then listen to Stuff Matters. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
July 30 · 20 min
Why is FIFA selling the World Cup?
The beautiful game is up for sale, with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino trying to raise billions of dollars from private equity for a stake in the World Cup. It’s put him on a collision course with some of football’s most powerful bodies – including the Premier League and UEFA, which says it will boycott FIFA competitions if these plans go ahead. So, what is Infantino proposing and why is it being rushed through? Could England and other European nations really go for the nuclear option and pull out of the World Cup? And what is the involvement of Donald Trump and his family? Mhari Aurora is joined by Sky’s sports correspondent Rob Harris. Have you got a question for the podcast? Email us: why@sky.uk
July 29 · 15 min
Why the UK needs to learn from Europe’s wildfires
Continental Europe is ablaze. Could Britain be next? While we are yet to see the sort of devastation being experienced in France and Spain, record temperatures and drought conditions have already contributed to hundreds of wildfires across parts of the country. And experts are warning the UK can expect bigger and more dangerous fires in the future. So, what is causing this threat and how well prepared are we? Mhari Aurora hears from Sky correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury on France's frontline and speaks to wildfire safety expert Michael Bruce.
July 28 · 17 min
Why was key evidence ignored in the Suzy Lamplugh case?
What happened to Suzy Lamplugh? It’s a painful question her family and the police have been asking themselves for 40 years. The 25-year-old estate agent vanished four decades ago this week after leaving her office in Fulham to meet a client – the mysterious “Mr Kipper”. It’s now hoped previously ignored witness testimony could help solve the high profile cold case - but why wasn’t this potentially key evidence taken seriously at the time? Mhari Aurora and Sky’s crime commentator Martin Brunt discuss the impact of the case on women’s safety, whether there were police failings and what lessons – if any – have been learned.
July 27 · 18 min
Why Burnham benefits from the Zelenskyy visit
Week two of Andy Burnham's premiership and he's hosting his first foreign leader: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was a meeting with benefits for both leaders - as Mr Zelenskyy seeks support on defence, while Mr Burnham wants to show off his foreign policy credentials. They both may have got what they wanted after the UK prime minister announced support for Ukraine in relation to "Stone Cloak" drone jammers. So what is the technology and how might it help with the war effort? Mhari Aurora and Sky's military analyst Professor Michael Clarke also discuss how important the UK's support is for Ukraine and how long it can last. Have you got a question for Mhari? Email us: why@sky.uk
July 24 · 18 min
'Burnham’s power broker': Why is Louise Haigh back at the heart of government?
Less than two years ago, Louise Haigh resigned from government under a cloud. Today, she's back at the heart of power as Andy Burnham's first secretary of state, and one of the most influential figures in Westminster. Niall Paterson is joined by Bloomberg journalist Rosa Prince to trace Ms Haigh's journey from Sheffield to the Cabinet Office. They discuss the conviction that derailed her career, her role in Mr Burnham's rise to Number 10, and why those who know her see her as much more than the "Red Lou" label. They also ask what kind of politician she really is, and whether the woman many now describe as the power behind the prime minister could one day become a leader in her own right. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show: why@sky.uk

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