The Story

The Times has discovered that thousands of migrants are using a new, hybrid route to try to come to the UK: legal flights and visas, combined with illegal border crossings. But most don’t make it; the smuggling gangs detain them in Libya, to use them as slaves or for organ harvesting. Our reporter went to meet them. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and...

In his second administration, Donald Trump has so far pardoned or released approximately 1,800 convicted criminals. That includes rioters who stormed the Capitol, fraudsters who stole millions from their victims, and people with connections to the president. So why is Trump on a pardoning spree? And what impact might it have on his support?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the suppo...

It’s the diet Trump’s inner circle are said to swear by: protein, fermented food and... not much else. Its creator, Sean O’Mara, promises that it works magic on your gut. The Times' feature writer Damian Whitworth’s spoke to him, and tried out the diet. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory...

This is episode five of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. In the final episode of our county lines series, we hear how county lines drug gangs are continuing to shift their business model to avoid detection. Policing minister, Sarah Jones, explains how the government is planning to fight back. Plus, The Ti...

Harry and Meghan are reportedly moving back to Britain with Archie and Lilibet, more than six years after leaving royal life for California. But why now — and how will their return work in practice? Roya Nikkhah is joined by Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent of The Sunday Times , to discuss the Sussexes’ shock decision, the King’s reaction and what it could mean for Prince William. They als...

This is episode four of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. Mike started selling drugs for a county lines gang when he was just a teenager. After being arrested and getting stabbed, he left that life behind. But he's been willing to share his experiences with The Times’ crime editor David Woode for the first...

This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves. Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitati...

This is episode two of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. Today we go inside Operation Titan, as North Yorkshire Police fight back against county lines drugs gangs. But with each line the police shut down, another pops up in its place, sometimes within days. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins i...

This is episode one of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. Today we reveal how police took down the family controlling the drug trade in one British city, creating a power vacuum that was filled by a new breed of violent, criminal operation - county lines. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins is g...

Karen Carter was murdered outside her home in the tranquil Dordogne village of Trémolat. The police launched a manhunt, and slowly a story of obsession, romance, and unrequited love started to come to light. So, why would someone murder a well-liked member of the community? And what’s the latest development in the police investigation? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reade...

While recovering from a heart attack, Times sports journalist Owen Slot distracted himself by watching a summer of thrilling sport. He was still hooked up to a heart rate monitor, so he decided to run an experiment: how would his heart react to the drama?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/t...

Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel. But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christ...

It’s been five years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s capital. Since then, the country has been plunged into economic crisis and women have all but disappeared from society. The Times’ special correspondent Anthony Loyd has been reporting from Afghanistan for 30 years. He’s been back on the streets of Kabul and on patrol with the Taliban’s morality police finding out what life is like for...

A Scientology whistleblower told Times journalist Tom Ball that the church’s Edinburgh branch had children as young as thirteen working there during school hours. The church denied the allegation. Tom went undercover to investigate.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guest: Tom Ball...

Andy Burnham is facing the first big test of his premiership. With jails reaching a crisis point, the government has announced an emergency early release scheme to avoid running out of prison spaces by the end of this year. But Burnham’s proposals have faced an outcry from victims. So what options are left? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunda...

Nigel Farage has had a tricky summer. With his party down in the polls and beset by scandal, it hasn’t been ideal preparation for Thursday’s by-election. So Times Radio's Rosie Wright heads to the seaside in Essex to see how locals are feeling about the vote, before asking one of our politicos if the whole stunt has actually backfired. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reade...

The UK produces around half of the food we eat but this year's droughts have led to shriveling crops and farmers struggling to feed their animals. Is our changing climate jeopardising our food security? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guests: Olly Harrison, cereals farmer. Ben Cooke, e...

This week, Jason Arday, who made history as Cambridge’s youngest black professor, resigned after facing serious allegations of plagiarism. How did Arday's dramatic downfall unfold? And why has this academic row sparked global headlines?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guest:...

The Norwegian mountaineer Kristin Harila smashed the speed record for the world’s 14 highest peaks. But soon after, her career unravelled. Could she have done more to help another mountaineer in trouble? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read by: Matthew Campbell, foreign features editor...

In the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, citizens are facing escalating missile attacks from Russia and the country is out of interceptor missiles to prevent them. But behind the scenes, Ukraine has been plotting to bring down Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries. If successful, it could be ruinous for the Russian economy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Time...

After breaking the story of a secret scheme to sell off the World Cup, our reporter unpacks the growing rebellion threatening to end Gianni Infantino's presidency. But how did Infantino’s plans unravel so quickly? And can FIFA be redeemed after yet another leadership scandal? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http:/...

‘There’s something wrong when aspirational high achievers see no future for themselves here,’ says Times columnist Cindy Yu. The exodus is small, but growing - the Office for National Statistics says there’s been a fivefold increase in 25-to-34-year-old British nationals leaving the UK since 2022. But why are they off, what are they searching for, and could anything encourage them to stay? This po...

The largest single illegal border crossing in the history of the European Union took place last week as 60,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish city of Ceuta on the north coast of Africa. But why did they all come at once? Was a Spanish legal change to blame, or foreign actors annoyed at Spain’s lenient migration policy? And how did it reignite questions about migration in the UK? This podcast was...

A six-part investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde has portrayed the luxury conglomerate LVMH as in the midst of a Succession-style drama, controlled by an ageing king: Bernard Arnault. Arnault made his first appearance on X to post a three-page sarcastic takedown of the piece. So what’s really going on?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and...

President Trump wants American women to have more babies. But despite policies like offering a baby bonus of a thousand dollars, birthrates continue to fall. So why are fewer Americans choosing to have children? And what does the answer reveal about the country today? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetime...