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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1,002 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes1002

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Oct 11, 2024 · 29 min
USA '24: A storm of misinformation as early voting begins
It's less than a month to go until the US election, and Sky News' team of US correspondents have been reporting on the campaign trail across the country. Martha Kelner is in the swing state of Arizona, where early voting is under way. Abortion is a key issue here, and as well as their presidential vote, Arizonans have the option to vote on whether to enshrine the right to choose abortion in the state constitution. With the full force of Hurricane Milton hitting Florida, James Matthews and Mark Stone are in the west of the state, with James in Sarasota and Mark in St Petersburg. They discuss the impact of misinformation, and if the response from Biden's administration could sway votes. And, as US vice president Kamala Harris goes on a media blitz - what do the podcasts and TV panel shows she's chosen to appear on tell us about who the Democrats are targeting ahead of the 5 November vote. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Oct 10, 2024 · 17 min
Milton: The hurricane scientists were dreading
Hurricane Milton has torn through Florida bringing 100mph winds, flooding and storm surges with it. Several people have lost their lives, and more than three million homes and businesses have been left without power. On today’s Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our US correspondent James Matthews from the heart of the storm in Tampa, Florida, about the scale of the damage so far. He’s also joined in the studio by science and technology editor Tom Clarke to explore why this part of the US is so susceptible to hurricanes, and why scientists were so worried about this storm in particular. 👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Oct 9, 2024 · 19 min
What's gone on with the Tory leadership contest?
On Tuesday afternoon, James Cleverly got the most votes from Tory MPs in the party’s leadership contest. One day later and the next round of voting went a different way. Cleverly failed to make the final two. Party members will now choose between Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick in a clear indication that the party will shift towards the right in the months after its election defeat. So, what happened with Wednesday’s vote, and who will the Tory membership be most attracted to as they decide the party's new leader? Niall Paterson and our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh discuss it all on this episode. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth
Oct 8, 2024 · 19 min
Can special advisers be too powerful?
The departure of Sue Gray, as Sir Keir Starmer's most senior adviser in Number 10, has shone a spotlight on the role of special advisers in government. So on today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our deputy political editor Sam Coates to find out exactly what role these advisers, often known as SpAds, play in the running of the country. Niall also speaks to former Conservative special adviser, and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers, Peter Cardwell, about what it was like to do the job. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth
Oct 7, 2024 · 20 min
Can there be a peaceful solution in the Middle East?
It's one year on since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, which was followed by Israel's mission to eradicate the terror group in Gaza. In short, what followed was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Iranian attacks on Israel, and Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. With the region yet to find a sustainable path away from conflict, on the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a step back and asks if a peaceful solution can ever be found. Niall is joined by Alistair Bunkall, our Middle East correspondent, and our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke, to discuss if Israel can keep up its fighting against Hezbollah and Hamas, and deal with the rising tensions with Iran, against the backdrop of a continuing crisis in Gaza, with hostages still being held there. Producer: Soila Apparicio
Oct 4, 2024 · 31 min
USA 24: Vice Presidents, hurricanes, and war in the Middle East
With only a month to go until the US election, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what voters in key swing states make of the choice for president. This week a series of unexpected events have been derailing the campaign. Iranian ballistic missiles poured into Israel, putting foreign policy at the top of the agenda at the vice presidential debate as Democrat pick Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance went head to head for the first time. Plus, Martha Kelner and Mark Stone have been tracking the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Will the destruction, and the response from the candidates, shift the polls in this key swing state? Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont .
Oct 3, 2024 · 20 min
On the ground in Lebanon and Israel: What happens next?
With the Middle East on the edge of an all-out war, Sky News Daily takes a look at how the situation looks for civilians on the ground, and what could happen next. Niall Paterson is joined by special correspondent, Alex Crawford, who is on the ground in the old city of Tyre in the south of Lebanon. He also speaks to Deborah Haynes, our security and defence editor, who is near the Israel-Lebanon border. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker
Oct 2, 2024 · 14 min
Beneath the Iron Dome: How Israel's air defence system works
Israel has a layered air defence system, which has acted to protect the country from the latest wave of incoming missiles from Iran. The more well-known Iron Dome brings down frequent incoming short-range rocket systems fired at Israel by both Hezbollah and Hamas. David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3, are built to tackle medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles, but how does Israel's defence system work? Niall Paterson sits down with Sky's military expert Professor Michael Clarke to learn more about the range of defences. Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont
Oct 1, 2024 · 27 min
The Tory final four: Could any of them be PM in 2029?
Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are contenders to become the next Conservative Party leader. With infighting already playing out among the candidates, and outgoing leader Rishi Sunak calling for party unity, can whoever is successfully chosen last until, and even win, the next general election in 2029? On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is at the Tory party conference in Birmingham, and with political editor Beth Rigby, they discuss the leadership hopefuls' campaigns, and the mood among members for their chances against Labour. Plus, Niall catches up with Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory MPs Penny Mordaunt, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former special adviser to Boris Johnson Tim Montgomerie, and Conservative commentator Iain Dale. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth
Sep 30, 2024 · 18 min
What can the rest of the world do to stop a Middle East war?
President Biden has said "all-out war" in the Middle East has to be avoided after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. The White House has tried to tread carefully to contain tensions between Israel and both Hamas and Hezbollah, who are backed by Iran. But the strikes which killed Nasrallah happened hours after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the United Nations - raising questions about the effectiveness of diplomacy and what the international community can do to avoid escalation. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by military analyst Michael Clarke and Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to ask what the world's biggest powers can do to prevent war in the region. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth
Sep 27, 2024 · 34 min
USA 2024: Scandal for North Carolina and voting in Virginia
Sky News’ team of US correspondents bring you original stories and analysis from their reporting across the country in the build-up to the presidential election. This time – what will the scandal involving Donald Trump-backed candidate Mark Robinson mean in North Carolina? They are at early voting in Virginia and discuss what Hurricane Helene means for the campaign in Florida. Mark Stone is in Washington, Dominic Waghorn is in New York after his trip to Virginia and Martha Kelner is in Florida. Producers: Rosie Gillott, Emma Rae Woodhouse, Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 26, 2024 · 19 min
What is Hezbollah and how powerful is it?
The threat of an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah seems to be edging closer after Israel rejected Lebanon ceasefire plans. The Iranian-backed militant group has been a force in Middle East politics and conflict for decades, but has suffered heavy losses in the last few weeks after Israeli attacks. Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn about how much support Hezbollah has within Lebanon and Iran's role with the group. Plus, defence and security editor Deborah Haynes talks to Niall about how significant Hezbollah's military capabilities are. Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Wendy Parker
Sep 25, 2024 · 20 min
How sanctioned goods are getting into Russia
Sanctions on Russia were introduced two years ago shortly after the start of the country’s Ukrainian invasion. The purpose? To limit the Russian war machine and starve Russian oligarchs of access to luxury items. Our economics and data editor Ed Conway noticed that sales of British luxury vehicles to Russia had fallen away to almost nothing, yet sales to former Soviet states such as Azerbaijan and Georgia have massively increased. The suspicion was that these cars would then somehow make it into Russia, but we did not know how. In this episode, Niall Paterson sits down with Ed to find out the process by which sanctioned luxury European cars find their way to Moscow. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
Sep 24, 2024 · 18 min
Will Starmer's 'no pain, no gain' strategy pay off?
As Sir Keir Starmer delivers his first leader's speech as prime minister to a packed-out conference hall in Liverpool, can he convince his party, and the country, that Labour's promise to deliver "national renewal" in return for short-term pain will be worth it? Niall Paterson gets the reaction of Labour's front bench from the conference floor and sits down with Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates. They discuss if Sir Keir can convince the public that austerity is not a possibility. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 23, 2024 · 18 min
Labour’s trust issues and can Rachel Reeves fix them?
As the UK's first female chancellor delivers her speech to the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, the Sky News Daily asks why the new government is already fighting to regain the trust of the public. Host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby and economic and data editor Ed Conway in the conference hall to comb through Rachel Reeves's speech. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 20, 2024 · 31 min
USA 2024: Who's to blame for political violence?
With seven weeks to go until the US goes to the polls, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what citizens in key swing states make of the choice for president. This week they focus on the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Mark Stone travels to Florida where the foiled attack took place, James Matthews has been finding out more on the would-be assassin in his home town of Greensboro, North Carolina. Plus, Martha Kelner attended a Trump townhall in Flint Michigan to hear him speak for the first time after the attempt on his life, and asks voters if it will impact the way they vote in November. Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 19, 2024 · 18 min
Can you fix the prison service?
In a rare insight into the prisons crisis, a serving governor at one of the UK's crowded jails has spoken anonymously to Sky News about conditions inside, the reality of early release and why we should rethink who is put behind bars. "There is a smell that you would always associate with prison. It's the smell of unwashed bodies," they told Sky News. On this episode, Niall Paterson speaks to former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson, author of the book 'Screwed - Britain's Prison Crisis and How to Escape It', about the prison environment, and how systemic a problem it has become. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 18, 2024 · 19 min
The riots have gone but the anger remains…
In Hull, in the aftermath of summer riots that saw an asylum hotel attacked, shops looted, and cars burned, two strong feelings remain. Resentment over a perceived strain placed on local services by asylum seekers and anger from the feeling that politicians are ignoring their concerns. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by producer Sarah O’Connell, who recently visited Hull to meet residents who witnessed the violence in the city on 3 August. They discuss how locals feel that they aren’t listened to, and the deprivation that some in the city experience every day. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth
Sep 17, 2024 · 23 min
'Let’s finish the job’ - Ed Davey at the Lib Dem conference
Ed Davey told the Liberal Democrat party conference that he would "cut through the government's doom and gloom" and plans to "vanquish what's left of the Conservative Party". With attention-grabbing stunts, which this week extended to arriving at the conference on a jet ski, and a record-breaking 72 seats in parliament making them the third biggest party, can the Lib Dems keep the momentum going? Niall Paterson sits down on Brighton's pebble beach with our political correspondent Rob Powell, to debrief on the gimmicks, the conference, and Ed Davey's speech. Plus, Niall catches Lib Dem MPs Tim Farron, Layla Moran, and Calum Miller to get their reaction to Davey's speech and their party's ambitions. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
Sep 16, 2024 · 20 min
'Never surrender!' - Trump defiant after another assassination attempt
Donald Trump has faced a second assassination attempt while playing golf in Florida. The accused, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, is said to have fled the scene but was eventually arrested and charged with federal gun crimes. With just seven weeks out from election day, how will voters react to the apparent second bid on Trump's life? Niall Paterson is joined by Scarlett Maguire, director of JL Partners pollsters, to explore what the polls suggest about the race for the White House, and what the latest attempt on Trump could mean for them? Plus, Sir Keir Starmer is in Rome to meet with his Italian counterpart, right-winger Giorgia Meloni. On the agenda is tackling illegal migration, and the prime minister has said he is "interested" in an offshore migration deal Italy has struck with Albania. But the home secretary has said it is not on the cards "at the moment". Our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is in Italy and discusses with Niall what Sir Keir seeks to learn from Meloni's approach to immigration, and the unease some in his party have to strengthening their relationship. Producers: Tom Pooley, Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont