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

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January 18 · 16 min
Prince Harry vs The Daily Mail: What can we expect in court?
Bonus Episode: Prince Harry's final showdown with the British media is due to start this week. The duke is set to give evidence in court on Thursday in his case against the Daily Mail publishers. Harry, alongside a group of claimants including Sir Elton John, Liz Hurley and Baroness Lawrence, has accused Associated Newspapers Limited of hiring private detectives to place listening devices inside cars and of accessing private records and phone conversations. Associated Newspapers denies all the allegations, calling them "preposterous smears". What does this case mean for his stated aim of cleaning up the British press? And how will it further affect his relationship with the rest of the royal family? Niall speaks to Sky correspondents Laura Bundock and Katie Spencer, who will be covering the case. Producers: Natalie Ktena & Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
January 16 · 18 min
From Remainer to Reform: Can Jenrick and Farage really get along?
The reinvention of Robert Jenrick reached what could be a career-defining milestone after he was sacked from the Tory party and walked into the arms of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The manner of his departure created a political earthquake - but his defection will surprise few who have been following his career. From his drastic weight loss to climbing lampposts with flaggers - who is Mr Jenrick and how has he tried to scale the political ladder? Niall is joined by co-host of Politics at Sam and Anne’s, Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates, and Nottinghamshire Live editor Natalie Fahy. Producers: Tom Gillespie & Natalie Ktena Editor: Mike Bovill
January 15 · 17 min
Is Antarctica a time bomb for Trump?
While the world's attention has been on Greenland, should Antarctica also be in the geopolitical spotlight? The US has been withdrawing its influence over the continent, allowing Russia and China to expand their presence. Meanwhile, Antarctica's vast ice sheets keep melting and its research community is in a battle against time to understand why it's happening so quickly. Sky's science editor Tom Clarke speaks to Niall about his recent trip to the seventh continent. Producers: Natalie Ktena & Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
January 14 · 15 min
Will wind power end up costing us more?
The government claims the UK is on track to meet its clean power targets for 2030 following a record offshore wind auction. However, in a world where the price of so many things is going up, it turns out wind is no exception. Energy secretary Ed Miliband hopes the UK’s reliance on natural gas will be gone with the wind - but are consumers willing to pay the price? Niall is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso. Producers: Tom Gillespie and Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
January 13 · 17 min
Is TikTok why Gen Z is finding God?
More young people now believe in God than any other demographic, according to research which also shows a rise in church attendance amongst 18 to 24-year-olds. The leap in faith has emerged as a growing number of young TikTok influencers – from Christian content creators to reality TV stars – are spreading the word of God online. Is social media solely behind this divine intervention or could other factors be playing their part? Niall speaks to Christian vlogger and influencer Chrissy George and Sky’s digital video reporter Holly Beaumont. Producers: Tom Gillespie & Natalie Ktena Editor: Mike Bovill
January 12 · 19 min
Why are protests on the rise in China?
Any kind of public dissent in China is both dangerous and difficult to document. But that hasn’t prevented a dramatic increase in the number of protests taking place across the country. Police and other security forces act swiftly to shut them down – as a Sky News team learned first-hand when they were forced into cars and driven away whilst trying to film a factory strike in Shenzhen. What is the significance of the protests in China and could events in Iran be making Beijing nervous? Niall is joined by Sky’s Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith. Producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Mike Bovill
January 9 · 13 min
Was Cilia Flores the real brains of the Maduro regime?
Cilia Flores was one of the most powerful figures in Venezuela. She and Nicolas Maduro met through their close connection to Hugo Chavez and once Maduro succeeded him as president, she helped him maintain his more than a decade-long grip on power. Flores has been accused of corruption, nepotism, and links to organised crime and has been sanctioned by the US and Canada. Niall is joined by Venezuelan-American journalist Jose Enrique Arrioja, who is the managing editor of Americas Quarterly and has covered politics in Latin America for over two decades. They discuss why Flores was such a central figure to the Maduro regime. Producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Wendy Parker
January 8 · 18 min
Why is Sudan still at war?
Friday marks 1,000 days since the outbreak of a brutal war in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has devastated the country – leaving more than 150,000 people dead, about 12 million people believed to have been displaced, and human rights groups accusing fighters in Darfur of ethnic cleansing. Niall speaks to Sky's Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir – who has reported on the simmering tensions in Sudan for a decade. She shares her personal reflections on the country of her birth, as well as explaining the current situation on the ground and what the future could look like for the Sudanese people. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
January 7 · 19 min
Why is Trump obsessed with Greenland?
Could the USA really seize Greenland? And just as importantly, why does it want to? President Trump has sent shivers through the NATO alliance by doubling down on his threat to seize the island. The White House is also refusing to rule out military action as part of its ambitions to annex the autonomous Danish territory – and recent events in Venezuela suggest such a threat should be taken seriously. Why is the American president interested in Greenland? What would an attack on a fellow NATO member mean for the alliance? And how do Greenlanders themselves feel about all this? Niall is joined by Sky’s international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn from the country’s capital, Nuuk. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
January 6 · 17 min
Will Brigitte Macron ever silence the conspiracy theorists?
The French first lady may have had her day in court, but can she win an even bigger case in the US to finally clear her name following the spread of online conspiracy theories? After years of abuse, ten people have been found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron. Their claims included outright lies about her gender as well as allegations around the nature of her relationship with her husband, President Emmanuel Macron. But the legal action won't stop there, with the couple also suing the American right-wing influencer Candace Owens for amplifying the same accusations. So, who began spreading these theories and why? What is their enduring appeal to the public? And can the Macron trial prove to be a landmark moment in the fight against cyberbullying? Niall speaks to Emma-Kate Symons, a Paris-based journalist at Conspiracy Watch and contributing editor at The New World, about where these theories start and why they catch on. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
January 5 · 18 min
Why Trump’s action in Venezuela is no surprise
Should we be shocked by Donald Trump's intervention in Venezuela – or is it simply an extension of 200 years of Washington foreign policy? The US stunned the world with the military strikes which led to the capture of the Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro. Trump then went further by suggesting the US will now 'run' the country for the foreseeable future. For a leader who's positioned himself as a 'President of Peace' does this move mark a significant shift for Trump? And is this a continuation of the sort of US interventionist foreign policy that has shaped the world for decades? Niall is joined by Dr Stephen Tuffnell, associate professor of modern US history at St Peter’s College, Oxford, to discuss how this move fits into the history of US foreign policy and which countries could be affected next. Producers: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 31, 2025 · 21 min
Revisited: From accidental to absolute leader – who is Ayatollah Khamenei?
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking. In June, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s often reclusive supreme leader, surfaced 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 programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, about how Khamenei is viewed inside Iran and how his policies contributed to the current crisis. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker
Dec 30, 2025 · 17 min
Revisited: Sarah Ferguson: Debts, deceit and the downfall of a duchess
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking. In October, the royal previously known as Prince Andrew, lost his titles over his association with convicted pedofile Jeffrey Epstein. His ex-wife – Sarah Ferguson – was also in Epstein's network, and she was dropped as a patron of several charities at the time. But it wasn’t the first time Sarah – Duchess of York had caused the Royal family a headache. Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall Of The House of York, joins Niall in remembering the key moments in the duchess's public life. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 29, 2025 · 18 min
Revisited: What’s the truth of The Salt Path?
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking. In July, the author of bestselling book The Salt Path was the main character in her own seismic plot twist. Was the story - based on Raynor Winn's life-affirming account of how her husband's illness and losing their money and home put them on a 630-mile coastal walk - true? Since the initial bombshell that it wasn’t quite all that, there’s been news accusations alleging Raynor Winn took money from relatives. And the Sky Documentaries team has followed the story too, in a new film out for your festive viewing. You can make up your own mind on the real Salt Path, for now, here’s our revisit to: What's the truth of The Salt Path? Niall goes through the original claims with Sky News arts and entertainment Jayson Mansaray and hears from a journalist who has interviewed Raynor, Charlotte Lytton. Producers: Emily Hulme and Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth
Dec 23, 2025 · 21 min
2025 Moments: Flags - pride or prejudice?
Coming soon to a lamppost near you? That was the feeling over the summer, as flags started appearing on buildings, bridges and posts – but the undertone was unclear. For some, flags were about national pride, for others, it felt like a nationalist warning. While patriotism and pride can be expressed in inclusive ways, the current political climate has made it a more polarised and contentious issue. So, how has the debate changed? In our final festive episode looking back at the biggest moments of the year, Niall is joined by director of the British Future thinktank and author of ‘How To Be A Patriot’ Sunder Katwala and our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 22, 2025 · 26 min
2025 Moments: What changed after Trump's clash with Zelenskyy?
Nobody expected a sit-down meeting between two world leaders to become one of the most explosive encounters of Ukraine’s war with Russia. When President Zelenskyy walked into the Oval Office to face Donald Trump back in February, their White House meeting descended into a fiery, confrontational, openly hostile clash. But did that showdown shift the course of the conflict? Niall is joined by military analyst Michael Clarke and Sky’s international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to look back at the bust up, and how it impacted the push for peace in Ukraine. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 19, 2025 · 23 min
2025 Moments: What Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor does next
It's arguably the biggest royal scandal since 1992's "annus horribilis" - Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, stripped of his titles and set to be evicted from Royal Lodge in Windsor. Now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his downfall was caused by more revelations over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In the first of our festive episodes looking back at the biggest moments of the year, Niall is joined by ex-BBC royal watcher Jennie Bond and Sky's royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills. They discuss why the King decided to take such a drastic step by ostracising his brother and whether it's enough to limit the damage done to 'The Firm'. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 18, 2025 · 20 min
The fake spy who loved me: The life and crimes of Mark Acklom
Most of us have told the odd tall tale from time to time – but not many people would pretend to be an MI6 agent or a wealthy Swiss banker. Those are just a couple of the outlandish lies told by notorious British conman Mark Acklom - whose life of deception started as a teenager and took him all over Europe. Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt spent years on Acklom’s trail, after one of his devastated victims contacted him asking for help. As Acklom’s latest court hearing gets underway, Martin tells Niall why some stories are stranger than fiction. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 17, 2025 · 18 min
Final frontier: The race to control space
It’s been 25 years since a crew of astronauts first stepped foot on the International Space Station – and it’s been occupied ever since. The station itself will be “de-orbited” in 2030, but naturally humankind’s ambition to explore the universe remains as limitless as ever. What will the new space race between the US and China look like? Or could the ambitions of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos take us into another dimension? Niall is joined by Sky’s science correspondent Thomas Moore. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill
Dec 16, 2025 · 14 min
Can’t work, won’t work: Why is youth unemployment so high?
Work Christmas parties might be in full swing - but many young people are simply wishing they had a job to go to. Figures show the unemployment rate has risen again and those aged between 16 and 24 have been hit the hardest. Nowadays it seems not even a degree is enough to land you a job - so what’s causing youth unemployment and what can be done to reduce it? Niall is joined by social media influencer and careers adviser Soshanna Davis - better known as the Fairy Job Mother. Producer: Tom Gillespie Editor: Mike Bovill