The Explanation

The BBC’s decision not to broadcast a Gaza war documentary, later picked up by Channel 4, has prompted scrutiny over its editorial standards. The film, made by Basement Films, features testimony from medical staff in Gaza. Former Channel 4 executive Dorothy Byrne critiques the BBC’s stance. A live-streamed Glastonbury performance by punk band Bob Vylan included chants that Keir Starmer called "app...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the Iranian regime has successfully weathered the storm caused by the attacks by Israel and the United States, examines the state of the NATO alliance, and looks at the ferocious gangland culture of Cape Town in South Africa.

Iranian authorities are accused of targeting journalists at BBC Persian by intimidating their family members in Iran. Correspondent Behrang Tajdin outlines the psychological toll, allegations of harassment and surveillance in London, and the broader campaign affecting relatives of BBC staff, which the National Union of Journalists has called “proxy punishment.” Hong Kong’s diminishing press freedo...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel’s attacks on Iran could lead to regime change, assesses the effectiveness of the G7 in dealing with international crises, and examines what the consequences might be of a global drop in human fertility.

Coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict has been shaped by restricted access and challenges for international journalists. With few media outlets able to base reporters inside Iran, coverage often relies on external analysis, satellite imagery, and information that is difficult to independently verify. Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor at The Economist, and Shayna Oppenheimer, Journalist at BBC Monitori...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to deploy troops to tackle protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, examines the impact at home of Russia’s war casualties in Ukraine, and looks at shocking evidence of life in Syria’s prisons under former leader, Bashar al-Assad.

The advertising industry is facing dramatic change, after Meta announced new AI tools that will let anyone make ads. Sir Martin Sorrell, Executive Chairman of S4 Capital, and Alex Dalman, Co-chair of the Advertising Association’s AI Taskforce, discuss whether the industry faces an existential threat. Dan Snow is the TV historian turned media mogul, whose network History Hit celebrates its 10th ann...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the impact of the election of a right-wing president in Poland on the country’s government, examines the long-term effects of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, and looks at the ongoing attempts by the Chinese authorities to suppress the memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Producer: Kate Cornell E...

NPR, one of America’s most prominent public broadcasters, is facing potential funding cuts following moves by President Trump. The administration alleges a lack of impartiality, prompting legal action by NPR to defend its editorial independence and mission. Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, outlines the organisation's stance and shares her plan for survival. The Hajj in Mecca has become a huge media ev...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether criticism from within Israel will force Netanyahu’s government to change its approach to the war in Gaza, examines the impact Russia’s latest onslaught is having on Ukrainian citizens, and looks at the conflict between security forces and armed separatists in Cameroon over the independence o...

Joe Kahn, Executive Editor of the New York Times, outlines how the newsroom prioritises stories, handles editorial pressure, and navigates the challenges posed by political figures like Donald Trump. Also on the show, Simon Reeve, BBC travel presenter, and Alfie Watts, a digital travel content creator, reflect on the changing landscape of travel media. Reeve shares the motivations behind his new B...

James Landale, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU, looks at the possible impacts of the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, and examines scientists’ attempts to discover the origin of life itself.

Gary Lineker, a former England football captain and longtime presenter of the BBC’s football highlights programme Match of the Day, has left the corporation after sharing a controversial post on social media. His exit followed years of internal debate over his political commentary online and the BBC’s impartiality rules. Steve Ryder, former BBC sports presenter, reflects on Lineker’s elevated stat...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza, assesses China’s efforts to lessen its reliance on the United States for trade, and looks at attacks against critics of the Iranian regime on foreign soil.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have reignited an information war, not just on social media but also in mainstream outlets. Shayan Sardarizadeh from BBC Verify explains how false reports of military actions, such as attacks on Karachi or high-level casualties, have circulated with little evidence. An Australian court case involving Erin Patterson, accused of murdering three relatives and attem...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Russia’s current strategy in Ukraine, looks at the preparations the Polish are making for a possible Russian invasion of their country, and examines the escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank. Producer: Kate Cornell Executive producer: Benedick Watt Commissioning ed...

Tina Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has joined Substack, a self-publishing platform for independent writers. Speaking in the week of the Truth Tellers summit, which she founded in memory of her husband Sir Harold Evans, she highlights concerns about press freedom, particularly in the face of legal and financial pressure from media owners. Chris Best, co-founder of Substa...

Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish is...

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the role Donald Trump played in the Liberal Party’s election victory in Canada, looks at the extent of the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, and examines whether the legacy of Pope Francis will endure under his successor. Producer: Kate Cornell Executive producer: Benedick Watt Commissioni...

Piers Morgan explains why he has stepped away from traditional television to focus exclusively on YouTube. He outlines the commercial and editorial logic behind the move and his plans to expand the Uncensored brand across digital platforms, including Substack. A UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman has prompted a wider examination of how British media report on gender identit...

Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish is...

The death of Pope Francis has drawn intense global media coverage as journalists gather in Rome. Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent for The Times, describes press access within the Vatican and reflects on the Pope's evolving relationship with journalists. The Pentagon continues its hunt for officials behind recent high-profile leaks involving sensitive military plans. David Smith, Washington DC Bure...

Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish is...

A critical moment emerged in northern England as the UK government intervened to prevent the closure of a major steelworks, one of the last of its kind in the country. The intervention followed the discovery that blast furnaces were on the brink of shutdown due to the site's Chinese owners halting essential raw material orders. Ed Conway, Economics Editor at Sky News, and Jo Makel, Senior Reporter...

Ben Brown in London and Sumi Somaskanda in Washington, examine the key questions about the Trump tariff rollercoaster of the last few days. Why has the US doubled down on China with even steeper tariffs of 145%?