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

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Apr 13, 2023 · 18 min
Rana Plaza Factory Collapse: 10 years on, how much has changed?
On 24 April 2013, a tower block in Bangladesh collapsed killing 1,134 people and leaving thousands more with life-changing injuries. Most of those killed and injured were factory workers, who had been making clothes for some of the world's biggest fashion brands. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to journalist and author of The Anti-Capitalist Book Of Fashion, Tansy Hoskins and Amy Powney, the creative director of sustainable fashion brand Mother of Pearl and star of the documentary Fashion Reimagined, about how the fashion industry has changed in the last decade, and what still needs to be done. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Paul Stanworth
Apr 12, 2023 · 16 min
Pentagon leak: The secret Ukraine files explained
Classified US documents purportedly about the war in Ukraine have been circulating online, in what's been called by some the most damaging intelligence disaster in a decade. It is believed some of the documents may have doctored - but the US has admitted they are likely to be authentic. So how does America deal with a security leak relating to war? And how can we tell what's true or not? On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to Jack Taylor from Sky's data and forensics unit about the verification of leaked documents. She's also joined by security and defence expert Michael Clarke to discuss what impact the leak could have in the conflict. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Paul Stanworth
Apr 11, 2023 · 18 min
Are Labour’s attack ads working?
The Labour Party have launched a series of 'attack ads' taking aim at the Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. The adverts attack his stance on gun crime, sexual assault perpetrators and his personal tax status but they’ve been criticised for their tone. On The Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto asks political correspondent Liz Bates why Labour are getting personal in the build-up to the local elections, and speaks to Conservative peer, Lord Saatchi, who was the brains behind a number of hugely successful political attack ads, about why simple messages often win in election campaigns. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Paul Stanworth
Apr 10, 2023 · 18 min
Why do so many US presidents like to say 'I'm Irish'?
Almost every US President since John F Kennedy claims to come from Irish ancestry - and it's not just the White House. Some 45 million Americans claim Irish heritage, 10 times more than the population in Ireland. The two countries have been politically aligned for decades, so why is their relationship so enduring? On the Sky News Daily Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins with political journalist Aoife Moore are in Belfast to explore what's in it for both countries. Plus David speaks to Dr Richard Johnson, senior lecturer in US policy at Queen Mary about the countries special relationship. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Apr 6, 2023 · 28 min
The Good Friday Agreement: 25 years of peace, hope and paralysis
The seismic Good Friday Agreement brought Northern Ireland's long period of violence to an end. It set out fundamental rights for the people of Northern Ireland about identity and citizenship. It set out in law that people from both Catholic and Protestant communities had equal rights after decades of discrimination. But did the Good Friday Agreement achieve everything it set out to? On its 25th anniversary, Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins and political journalist Aoife Moore are in Belfast to examine the legacy of the historic deal on the Sky News Daily. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Apr 5, 2023 · 20 min
Hidden victims: What happens to the children of sex offenders?
A senior police officer has told Sky News that children of sex offenders are "hidden victims" and called for services, especially mental health provision, to be improved. Research shared with us shows around 300 families a month in England and Wales are affected by a parent being arrested for online child sex offences. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to our correspondent Katerina Vittozzi who has been investigating this issue for months after she was tipped off by a police contact. We hear harrowing accounts from a mother and children who have experienced the trauma of it, and from Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child protection. Plus, Sally speaks to Sarah Burrows, who set up the charity Children Heard and Seen to support young people with a parent in prison. Read more about Katerina’s investigation here. You can also watch her report here. Annie Joyce – Senior podcast producer Stephanie Oliver - North of England news editor Philly Beaumont – Daily editor
Apr 4, 2023 · 19 min
What’s life in witness protection like?
Police praised her bravery, and they described the evidence she gave to a court as "powerful and emotional". This woman helped them convict the drug dealer who shot 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead in her own home in Liverpool. But her courage comes at a huge cost. It’s reported that she’s had numerous death threats against her. She’s been granted anonymity and faces a decision on entering witness protection for years to come. On this Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood discusses how witness protection works with our crime correspondent Martin Brunt and Simon McKay, a barrister who has advised government on witness protection. Plus, she hears from Reece, who spent several years on a witness protection programme during his childhood. Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Alex Edden – interviews producer Paul Stanworth - editor
Apr 3, 2023 · 20 min
Donald Trump indictment: A help or hindrance for his 2024 ambitions?
Donald Trump is the first former US president in history to face criminal charges. The charges stem from an alleged $130,000 (£105,000) hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign for the White House. Mr Trump still wants to be the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election. One survey has suggested the majority of Republicans think he should still be allowed to run again – regardless of the case against him. So why does he remain such a champion for them? On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to our US correspondent James Matthews. Plus, we also hear from Amy Tarkanian, a Republican strategist and former chair of the Nevada Republican Party, and Sarah Elliott, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK. Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Simon Windsor - archive researcher Paul Stanworth - editor
Apr 2, 2023 · 22 min
Andrew Tate released from jail: Why does his appeal continue?
For months, Andrew Tate has been in prison in Romania. Along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women, the controversial influencer is being investigated over claims of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. They all deny all the allegations. Court papers say the Tate brothers are now under house arrest for 30 days. On this Sky News Daily – Niall Paterson looked at why Andrew Tate still has so many loyal supporters. He's joined by the Observer's Shanti Das, chief executive of the Centre For Countering Digital Hate Imran Ahmed and features editor at Mashable and author of 'Rough', Rachel Thompson.
Mar 30, 2023 · 18 min
Jeremy Corbyn: Life after Labour
Labour's governing body has voted to block Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election. Mr Corbyn is already suspended as a Labour MP and sits as an independent following a row over antisemitism. In a statement, he said the decision to block him showed "contempt" for the voters who had supported the party at the 2017 and 2019 elections while he was party leader. On the Sky News Daily, politics correspondent Liz Bates speaks to Jon Lansman, the co-founder of Momentum who ran Mr Corbyn’s successful leadership campaign in 2015, and to Luke Akehurst, a member of the National Executive Committee which voted Mr Corbyn out. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 29, 2023 · 16 min
Is AI becoming too clever?
The government is unveiling a new approach to regulating AI in the UK in the hope of building public trust in the technology it hopes can benefit the economy. But what does the future look like with reliance on artificial intelligence? And can we keep it under control? On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by science and technology editor Tom Clarke to explore the benefits and pitfalls of the technology and speaks to machine learning scientist Catherine Breslin, who helped develop Alexa, about how much the technology has evolved in the last few years. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 28, 2023 · 17 min
Israel protests: Is its democracy on the brink of a crisis?
Protests have broken out in Israel by many of the country’s secular Jews against the government’s plans to “radically” reform the legal system which would remove checks and balances in its democracy. On the Sky News Daily, host Sally Lockwood is joined by our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall to explore how the movement started and why these protests could become a defining moment for the country. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 27, 2023 · 19 min
Humza Yousaf promises independence: What can new SNP leader deliver?
Humza Yousaf made a few big promises as he succeeded Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader – including healing divisions in his party, redoubling efforts to lift people out of poverty and, of course, Scottish independence. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies and Shona Craven, columnist at The National, as we look at what we can expect from his leadership and discuss how he will measure up against his predecessors. Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Philly Beaumont – editor
Mar 26, 2023 · 19 min
Prince Harry V The Press
In the next 12 months, Prince Harry will be launching multiple lawsuits against multiple newspapers, as part of what he describes as his ‘life’s work’ to reform the British media. He is accusing some of the country's most popular newspapers of hacking phones, tracking cars and even bugging hotel rooms in order to get stories and photographs of him and his family and friends. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood speaks to royal correspondent Laura Bundock about the accusations, and Graham Johnson, who ‘blew the whistle’ on phone-hacking at the Sunday Mirror in 2014, on why he believes some newspapers thought it was worth breaking the law to get the scoop. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 24, 2023 · 19 min
Local tree rows and why they’ve become a big deal
Some councils in England have come under fire for unnecessarily felling old healthy trees to make way for regeneration projects. In Plymouth more than a hundred mature trees were chopped down despite public disapproval, and in Sheffield an independent inquiry found that the council's destruction of thousands of trees was misjudged. National Highways, the government agency responsible for England's main roads, has also admitted that more than half a million trees it planted beside a single 21-mile stretch of new carriageway have died - with the cost of replanting them now £2.9m. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood finds out what is going wrong with regeneration schemes in Plymouth and Sheffield with local campaigners, and speaks to our people and politics correspondent Nick Martin about why local tree rows have become such a big deal. Producer: Soila Apparicio Interviews Producer: Alex Edden Digital Producer: Jada Kai-Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 22, 2023 · 20 min
"Hand on Heart": Boris Johnson swears he’s telling the truth
The former prime minister has been questioned by a cross-party group of MPs for more than three hours, with Boris Johnson's political career on the line over COVID rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown. He's given evidence to the privileges committee's inquiry, set up after the House of Commons referred the matter last April. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Sally Lockwood is joined by our chief political correspondent Jon Craig as we examine what's been said, by whom and when, plus - what could happen next? Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Philly Beaumont – editor
Mar 22, 2023 · 21 min
Misogyny, racism and homophobia – it's not just the Met police’s problem
The Metropolitan Police is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic, according to the independent police review conducted by Baroness Casey. She was appointed to carry out the review following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our home editor Jason Farrell to go through what the report reveals and the recommendations for reform. Also, Mina Smallman, mother of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry who were murdered in 2020 and had photos of their murder scene shared by police in a WhatsApp group, explains why the force needs to accept its failures. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 21, 2023 · 14 min
Credit Suisse: Are we teetering on the edge of a banking crisis?
Credit Suisse, one of Switzerland's largest banks, has been swallowed up by its rival UBS for £1bn. The shotgun merger happened less than a week after the UK financial authorities saved the British arm of Silicon Valley Bank which had collapsed in the US. These troubles either side of the Atlantic have spooked investors - the concern now is other banks could follow. On the Sky News Daily Sally Lockwood speaks to economics and data editor Ed Conway about what this means for investors and whether we are teetering on the edge of a banking crisis. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 20, 2023 · 15 min
Cost of living: Why are more women turning to gambling?
Pandemic lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis have driven more people to gambling to help ease financial struggles - with support helplines this year receiving a record-breaking number of calls for help. A third of those calls are now from women. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to former gambler Lisa Walker about her story, who now works as a peer support worker for the charity BetKnowMore and runs their women-only programme New Beginnings. Also, Lisa Patton, a treatment service manager at the charity GamCare, explains how people get into gambling and what’s being done to help. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
Mar 17, 2023 · 16 min
The real cost of childcare
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has expanded free childcare for working parents in England to cover all children under five. The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce according to the government’s independent forecaster. While the move has been welcomed by parents, there's been criticism from the childcare sector, which is struggling with a workforce shortage and financial pressures that are forcing businesses to close. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to political correspondent Tamara Cohen about the plans, as well as getting the reaction of Sharon Birch who used to run a nursery in Hartlepool but was forced out by the costs and Steph Barrett, manager of BeBright Pre-School, in Spalding in Lincolnshire. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interview’s producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont