The Story

While Ukrainian cities are being bombarded with Russian fire, it might be of little comfort but Ukraine is winning the information war. Whether it's inspiring daily clips of the president rallying the country's morale or phone footage showing ordinary Ukrainians doing extraordinary things, what do two Ukrainians still in the country make of their country’s resistance so far? This podcast was broug...

Did the British military see Putin’s war in Ukraine coming? What more should Britain be doing? And how might the war end? Manveen Rana speaks with the former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: Gene...

What is going through his mind? Where will this end? And would he press that button? There's a view of Putin which says these are impossible questions to answer, which paints him as a mysterious, mercurial figure. But today, we take the other view: that for quite some time, the Russian president has told us exactly who he is. If only we'd been listening. This podcast was brought to you thanks to t...

One year ago this week, Sarah Everard was kidnapped by a serving police officer as she walked home in south London and then raped and killed. Her murder sparked global outrage and shone a harsh light on police culture and violence against women. But, a year later, has anything changed? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe tod...

He describes himself as the enemy’s number one target. So, as a plot to assassinate the Ukrainian President was reportedly thwarted by the nation’s armed forces, and the assault on the Ukrainian capital intensifies, we ask how Volodymyr Zelensky came to lead his country in its darkest hour since the Second World War. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and...

The war in Ukraine is forcing countries to reconsider their relations with Europe's easternmost neighbour. As Germany prepares to almost double its spending on its military, following the postponement of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia, are we seeing a sea-change in Russo-German relations? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Su...

As thousands flee the bombing to get to safety, we hear from two local journalists about what it's like to watch and report as your home country comes under attack. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests:   Natalie Gryvnyak in Kyiv. Kateryna Malofie...

As Ukraine’s capital Kyiv continues to come under fire from Russian forces, a 36-hour curfew has been imposed and residents have taken shelter. One likely reason for that curfew: 400 Russian mercenaries already operating in Kyiv with orders from the Kremlin to assassinate President Zelensky, as Manveen Rana exclusively reports. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of Th...

Following the announcement of Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Guiffre, the Queen was diagnosed with Covid and Prince Charles faced questions over an alleged cash-for-honours scandal. We speak to the Times' New York correspondent and Sunday Times royal editor about the fallout from a less-than-vintage week. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and T...

Last weekend police swept through Ottawa, clearing a settlement of protestors. For three weeks, truck drivers from all over the country gathered in the Canadian capital. They were furious with covid laws, and with Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. With the protests gone, where does that anger go? And with American truckers planning to shut down Washington D.C. next week, how far has this mo...

When a home video was leaked back in 1995, the intimate lives of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee were available for all to see in a way that had never previously happened. So, looking back, was it a moment that changed celebrity culture forever? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.u...

The drumbeat of war has been ringing loudly in the last few days. Last night it reached fever pitch, as President Putin addressed Russia and the world. Has war now arrived in Europe? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest:  Catherine Philp,...

Despite various legal battles closing in on him, Donald Trump remains a looming presence and the de facto leader of the Republican Party in the US. But will the party support a second presidential run in 2024? Or could another challenger displace him? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: theti...

Last week a small mob filmed themselves shouting abuse at the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, including the offensive call of ‘paedo protector’. But who exactly were the abusers and where had they come from? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: &...

The resignation of Dame Cressida Dick leaves a vacuum at the top of Britain's biggest police force. What eroded London mayor Sadiq Khan's confidence in the former commissioner? And what does it mean for the future of the Met? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtime...

Today marks six months since the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, to the Taliban. They now control the entire country and life there has transformed beyond recognition. So what is it like being a woman in the new Afghanistan? A young doctor tells us her story. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month...

As Covid swept the world, it also swept The Times. For some colleagues it was mild; for others it meant months in intensive care. And for a third group, including foreign correspondent Jane Flanagan, it left them with symptoms that just wouldn't go away. But nor would Jane's curiosity. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe tod...

They're illegal Class A drugs in the UK - right alongside cocaine and heroine. But new research is exploring whether magic mushroom micro-dosing can treat depression and addiction. So what are the facts? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Dr David N...

It began last month when a number of musical titans began to leave Spotify, accusing Joe Rogan's podcast of spreading Covid misinformation. Rogan's name hasn't left the headlines since. Calls for the streaming platform to drop its most popular podcaster intensified after old clips emerged of Rogan repeatedly using a racial slur. What responsibilities do Rogan, and a mainstream platform like Spotif...

For years, the Sackler family were one of the go-to philanthropic organisations in the UK, but now, as they face lawsuits in the US for their role in the opioid crisis which has claimed half a million lives, many arts institutions are rethinking their financial assistance.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and...

Stories of sexual harassment and assault are emerging in the health professions and some are now speaking out for the first time. We hear what happened to two surgeons and ask how widespread the issue is. If you or or someone you know has been affected by anything in today's episode, you can find advice and support at https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/   This podcast was brought to y...

Over 100,000 Russian troops have amassed on the Ukrainian border, stoking fears across the West that President Putin is posturing for an invasion. But what is he really after? And how did we get here? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Catherine Phi...

It's been a year since Myanmar's violent military junta overthrew the country's democratic experiment and seized power in a coup. With thousands of civilians imprisoned or killed, what has the past year in the country looked like? WARNING: some listeners may find some of this episode's content disturbing This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday T...

Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman takes us inside the halls of Westminster as a pared-down update on Sue Gray's investigation into partygate is published. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent, The...

The Winter Olympics is just a few days away, but before the games have even begun they’re already mired in controversy. Several countries are boycotting the event in a stand against China’s human rights record. But will it have any effect on the games themselves? We speak to two Times journalists -- one in the host country and one packing his bags to go. Guests: Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent, T...