October 13 · 9 min
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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
- 90 episodes
- daily
- Avg 18 min
- English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
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October 12 · 13 minRussell Brand: On Trial – A New Podcast
In today’s episode of This Is Why, we’re introducing our new podcast – Russell Brand: On Trial Listen to Russell Brand: On Trial on your podcast app What happened on Russell Brand’s first day in court as the trial process got underway? Sky News’ Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer take us through the day- inside and outside the court. It starts with queues of journalists arriving early to get a seat on the press benches of court 3 at Southwark Crown Court. Outside photographers gather to get images of Russell Brand as he walks in with his wife. No broadcast cameras or recording are allowed inside so Katie Spencer - arts and entertainment correspondent for Sky and crime commentator Martin Brunt - are your eyes and ears in court. The first development: selecting the jury, the people who will decide if Russell Brand is guilty, or not guilty. He faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all charges and the trial continues. Follow the feed to get every episode. Email us with your thoughts skynewspodcasts@sky.uk
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October 9 · 30 minWhy didn’t Christa Pike die?
A notorious killer convicted of murder more than 30 years ago has finally faced the death penalty – execution by lethal injection. Except Christa Pike didn’t die. Investigative journalist John North was one of the few people allowed inside a maximum-security facility in Nashville, Tennessee, to witness Pike’s death. What happened next was one of the most extraordinary moments in America’s troubled history with the death penalty. Speaking to Niall Paterson, John describes in detail how the execution went wrong, why Christa Pike’s violent murder of Colleen Slemmer still resonates three decades later, and the heartbreaking response of her victim’s family. And as the country prepares for its first public execution in almost a century – with plans to livestream former US Army major Nidal Hasan’s death by firing squad – Niall and John discuss why state-sponsored killing remains such a divisive topic in American society. Warning: This episode contains graphic details of Christa Pike’s original crime and attempted execution, which some listeners may find distressing. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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October 8 · 18 minWhy the UK is in trouble if the gas gets turned off
Taking a hot shower, heating your home, cooking dinner – all things we take for granted. All at risk. Britain’s gas storage levels are at a decade-low, while the UK’s largest storage facility faces closure as its stockpiles near empty. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to constrain supplies and push up prices. And what if Donald Trump goes through with his threat to put "America first" and stop the flow of fuel abroad? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway, who was given exclusive access to a previously unseen emergency planning exercise – revealing what would happen if the country runs out of gas. You can watch Ed’s full investigation here. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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October 7 · 22 minWhy France’s school protests are a problem for president Macron
Imagine being tear-gassed and targeted with stun grenades – all for complaining about timetables, absent teachers and crumbling classrooms. That’s the experience of thousands of French students, whose initial demonstrations over high school conditions have evolved into a wider national protest across 40 towns and cities. Parents, teachers and a sympathetic public have all joined pupils on the barricades. But far-right groups have accused those on the left of politicising the movement. And while the use of stun grenades has now been suspended in France, the response from the police and government has been heavy-handed and heavily criticised – just months before a general election. Niall Paterson is joined by NBC News chief foreign correspondent and co-host of The World podcast, Richard Engel – and Ruby Celemenski, a 17-year-old student in Lyon who has witnessed the police response first-hand.
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October 7 · 11 minCan the Tories convince voters to trust them again?
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today’s episode, Wilfred Frost and Lucy McDaid discuss whether there could be a “Badenoch bounce” following the Tory leader’s party conference speech later. Meanwhile, a death row inmate is said to be “conscious and speaking” after surviving a failed execution attempt. Wilf and Lucy also discuss the student protests in France, the death of a Russian lab worker from suspected pneumonic plague, and England’s win over the Czech Republic in the Nations League.
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October 6 · 16 minWhy Trump is worried about Russia’s plague ‘lab leak’
In the 14th Century, the Black Death wiped out up to half the population of Europe. So, no wonder world leaders, including Donald Trump, are keeping a careful watch on a plague scare in Eastern Russia. One laboratory worker from a plague research facility in Siberia has died, with fears they may have been exposed to pneumonic plague – the most virulent and dangerous form of the disease. A further 200 people were placed in quarantine. With the Covid pandemic still fresh in people’s minds, what is pneumonic plague and how worried should we be about a potential outbreak? Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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October 5 · 22 minWhy Zack Polanski has been banned from Israel
Green party members have backed a motion that “Zionism is racism” at their party conference. It has exposed deep divisions within the party’s membership - with many long-time members saying they are considering leaving - and within the leadership. Four of the party's five MPs opposed it, and leader Zack Polanski put forward amendments to the motion that were later rejected. Israel has responded by banning Polanski, who is himself Jewish, from entering the country. Niall Paterson spoke to the chair of Jewish Greens and long-time party member Vivien Lichtenstein, who has marched against the Gaza war but is now weighing up leaving. He was also joined by Sky News political correspondent Alexandra Rogers, who was at the Green Party conference this weekend. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
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October 2 · 23 minWhy there are concerns over Sir Ranulph Fiennes' health
The sister-in-law of the 82-year-old explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes travelled from her home abroad to check into a care home where his friends believed he was staying. She managed to meet him and told Sky News how delighted he was to see her. It was a rare visit as his friends and family continue to raise concerns that they are being blocked from seeing him. Cheshire Police though have said "no immediate safeguarding concerns have been identified at this time". Niall Paterson spoke to Arabella Pepper, who is the sister of Sir Ranulph's first wife, about that visit last year. He also spoke to friend and fellow explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams about Sir Ranulph's achievements. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
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October 1 · 20 minWhy do Man City think they can get away with it?
Guilty. The damning verdict in favour of the Premier League against one of its most successful clubs – Manchester City. The case concerned more than a hundred charges – from disguised funding to misleading accounts – with possible consequences ranging from points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League. But rather than backing down, the club has come out fighting – insisting an independent commission got it wrong and vowing to appeal. With City standing firm and the punishment still undecided, there could be a long way to go before the final whistle. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s sports correspondent Rob Harris, who has been following the case and putting questions to the club’s most senior figures for more than a decade. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 30 · 18 minWhy is Trump pulling troops out of Iraq (while at war with Iran)?
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein more than two decades ago, the US has had a near-continuous military presence in Iraq... until now. The last troops have been withdrawn, ending a process started by Joe Biden and endorsed by Donald Trump. But the timing of the departure has been questioned - with the US still at war with Iran. According to Iraqi security experts, the withdrawal could give Tehran and its proxies free rein, while also risking a comeback from the Islamic State terror group. So, why have Americans decided to leave Iraq now? And what will it mean for the future of the country - and stability of the wider region? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's military analyst Robert Clark, who served in the British military in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is more exclusive analysis and content on the conflict in the Middle East on the new Sky News Defence Insider app. Sky News Defence Insider is a subscription app designed for audiences seeking deeper insight into defence, security and global affairs. Download and subscribe here. Paid subscription required for full access. UK only. 18+. T&Cs apply.
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September 29 · 15 minWhy reforming the pension triple lock is ‘electoral suicide’
It’s long been seen as politically untouchable – but Andy Burnham has finally fired the starting gun on reforms to the state pension triple lock. First brought in by David Cameron’s coalition government, the measure of increasing pension payments by the higher of inflation, average wage rises or 2.5% a year was introduced to offset years of underfunding. But the new prime minister has used his first party conference speech as Labour leader to put the triple lock on the negotiating table – against the wishes of the unions, opposition parties and plenty of his own supporters. So, how does the triple lock work and what could take its place? What is the cost to the country and is reforming the system as straightforward as it appears? Niall Paterson is joined by Claire Moffat, a pension and tax expert at Royal London. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 28 · 16 minWhy the RAF Fairford 'plot' doesn’t add up
Who are you more likely to believe, Donald Trump or a farmer from the Cotswolds? Five UK nationals have been arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after a major incident was declared at an RAF airbase in Gloucestershire over the weekend. But they were later released on bail, as counter-terror police remain “open-minded” about whether the incident is linked to a foreign state such as Iran. So, why did the US president claim the group had been “under investigation” for a long time – while a local resident insists she was the one who alerted the police after spotting a group of masked men? What do we know about this investigation? And what does it tell us about how the UK is being targeted by proxies? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s home affairs editor Jason Farrell. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 25 · 17 minWhy is Ed Sheeran fighting for his reputation?
Ed Sheeran is used to thousands of people singing his songs back at him. But last week, he found himself addressing his audience in a very different way. After Macklemore left Sheeran’s tour following his comments about the war in Gaza, other performers on the bill also pulled out. Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia. Looking visibly upset, he addressed the crowd and apologised. But for a singer who has built his career on being the ‘nice guy’, can Ed Sheeran come back from this? Or has this controversy permanently damaged the image he’s spent years building? Niall Paterson is joined by musician and journalist John Robb. John’s memoir Punk Rock Ruined My Life is available to buy now. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 24 · 18 minWhy is Diana book still on sale despite Piers Morgan mistake?
Recollection may vary, but the facts do not. That’s something that was lost on Princess Diana’s brother in his new book about his sister’s life - which managed to squeeze in a mistake about Piers Morgan amongst its bombshell claims about the King. The former Daily Mirror editor is now suing Earl Spencer and calling for the book to be pulped. So, what checks take place when a memoir is written? And why does the format allow people to publish unproven claims? Niall is joined by the journalist Helen Brown, who writes about culture for The Telegraph. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 23 · 21 minThree reasons AI could ‘save us all’: This is why
There’s nothing like the warning of an AI apocalypse to ease you out of summer - but as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Of course, we can’t rule out artificial intelligence one day doing the unthinkable, as many experts have politely warned, but there are also reasons to believe it could actually save the human race. From breakthroughs in healthcare to helping tackle climate change, this episode explores how small steps for AI could bring about giant leaps for mankind. Niall Paterson reveals the reasons to be cheerful with Sky’s science and technology editor Tom Clarke. For a different view on the dangers of AI, you can watch our episode with Rowland Manthorpe here. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
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September 22 · 16 minWhy is Andy Burnham giving military support to Saudi Arabia?
It's been a busy week already for Andy Burnham - who approved his first military intervention as prime minister just hours before his inaugural meeting with Donald Trump. The RAF will now provide Saudi Arabia with "purely defensive" air support against attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, after Burnham agreed to Riyadh’s request. The Saudis had earlier been turned down by Trump – so why is the new PM so happy to help? And is it really due to cost-of-living pressures as he claims? Niall Paterson is joined by Dr H A Hellyer, an expert in geopolitics across the Middle East and Europe and a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence. There is more exclusive content on the situation in the Middle East on the new Sky News Defence Insider app. Sky News Defence Insider is a subscription app designed for audiences seeking deeper insight into defence, security and global affairs. Download and subscribe here. Paid subscription required for full access. UK only. 18+. T&Cs apply. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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September 21 · 19 minWhy TV’s The Wargame exposes some uncomfortable truths
The new Sky Original TV series The Wargame imagines a terrifying situation – and not just because Michael Gove is prime minister. Vladimir Putin and Russia haven’t yet launched a military attack on UK soil, but the threat is rising. That’s why the show picks a fantasy crisis team of real-life former ministers and ex-military chiefs to see how they might respond to such a potential attack. So, what does The Wargame tell us about the UK’s readiness for all-out Russian aggression? Niall Paterson is joined by the former Labour adviser Baroness Hazarika, who plays the government’s director of communications in the programme. The Wargame, available on Sky and Now, is based on the hugely successful Sky News podcast of the same name. You can find the podcast series here.
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September 18 · 17 minWhy Diana’s brother is making bombshell claims about the King
Lots of people have fallen out with their brother-in-law over the years - but it’s perhaps never been as explosive as the row between the King and Earl Spencer. In the latest royal drama involving the House of Windsor, the Palace has hit back at claims made by Princess Diana’s younger brother in a new book about his sister. Among them is that the King was “giddily elated” after Diana’s death. So, what else is in Earl Spencer’s memoir and why is he making these bombshell allegations now? Niall is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent Laura Bundock. Since recording this episode, Earl Spencer has told the BBC that he is 'telling the truth' about a phone conversation he had with the King after Diana's death. Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk Audio credit: BBC This episode contains reference to suicide. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK. Earlier this week, Niall interviewed Britain's most senior military official about why he believes this is the most dangerous moment for the UK in his 35-year career. Scroll back on your feed to find the episode.
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September 17 · 16 minWhy Canada courting the EU isn’t great news for Great Britain
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is looking for closer ties with Europe – but could an “associate” membership with the EU push the UK to the back of the queue? Addressing the European Parliament, Carney welcomed the idea of forming a partnership, which could potentially give Canada closer ties on trade, defence, and technology. The country is keen to strengthen its ties beyond the USA – with Donald Trump still intent on a punishing trade war. But what are the implications for the UK, as relations with Brussels continue to stall? What would associate membership mean? And could Canada become a blueprint for other countries? Niall Paterson speaks to director of the UK in a Changing Europe, Anand Menon.