The Explanation
The Explanation is a snackable audio guide giving you the backstory behind the headlines. In each episode, presenter Claire Graham meets a BBC News correspondent who has lived and breathed these stories. She’ll hear clear analysis along with powerful archive. The Explanation will go back in time to unpack complex chains of events and will make the stories in question easier to understand.
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 24 minutes
- Episodes
- 222
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
The Media Show: Telegram founder arrested
Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has been arrested in France. For an executive of a big social media company to face a criminal enquiry is highly unusual. Mike Isaac, Tech Corresponden…
The Media Show - TV’s Hidden Dilemma
To many, we're living through a golden age of TV. But behind the rich offerings for consumers lie several growing structural issues, from a market oversupplied by streamers desperate for subscription…
US Supreme Court
As one of the smallest Supreme Courts in the world, do nine justices fairly represent the diversity of views in the US? Host Claire Graham talks to the BBC's senior North American reporter Anthony Z…
The Media Show: Social media as crime scene
In recent weeks parts of the UK saw violent riots fuelled by misinformation online and anti-immigration sentiment. Some rioters have since been sentenced using evidence from social media. Nazir Afzal…
What is the United Nations?
Consisting of 193 member states, the United Nations is a global organisation which strives for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. Founded in 1945, it provides a forum for the world's n…
The Global Jigsaw: The Taliban’s war on women
The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan has led to the erasure of women from public life. There’s a UN-led campaign to recognise it as “gender apartheid”, but the international community is divi…
The Media Show: Online rumours and real-world consequences
In parts of the UK, violent protests broke out after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in the English town of Southport – rumours had spread that the suspect was an asylum seeker. Maria Breslin…
Big Tech – too big to hide from?
We find out how Big Tech companies may know more about you - than you do.
Host Claire Graham talks to the BBC's cyber correspondent for the BBC World Service Joe Tidy, about how Big Tech companies not…
The Media Show: Who will inherit the Murdoch empire?
News emerged last week that Rupert Murdoch is attempting to change his family’s legal trust to preserve the editorial stance of his media outlets after his death. Several of his children are fighting…
The global arms trade
Which countries supply weapons and which countries buy them? We learn how uncertainty, tension and conflict are leading to increasing military spend across the world. Host Claire Graham talks to the…
The Media Show: Can memes win the US election?
Do memes hold the key to the White House? Supporters of Kamala Harris hope so. Already online communities have sprung up to boost her campaign and they’re chopping up her speeches and appearances to …
Why is the Gulf Stream and AMOC so important to our climate?
Complex ocean currents keep Europe warm and bring rain to Africa, but could they come to an end?
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a system of ocean currents within the Atlanti…
The Media Show: Reporting from the scene of the Trump shooting
The Media Show hears from journalists who were witness to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Gary O'Donoghue was reporting live on the BBC World Service when the shots were fired, and Hadri…
What makes a good peace mediator?
Brokering peace between warring nations, how does it work and what causes failure? We look at Qatar’s role in the Middle East and at insight gained from the Northern Ireland peace process. Host Clair…
The Media Show: The war reporter who stopped to help
Oz Katerji was reporting from outside the children’s hospital in Kyiv that was hit after Russia launched a wave of missiles on Ukraine earlier this week. He explains how he reached the decision to st…
The Media Show: Reporting Biden’s Health
In the aftermath of his halting debate performance, the editorial boards of some major US newspapers have called on Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. We ask why this issue is only bei…
Unspun World: The UK election
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the key issues for voters in the UK’s imminent general election, explores the plight of women in Af…
The Media Show: Julian Assange - journalist or activist?
In the week that Julian Assange walks free, we explore the story of WikiLeaks' unprecedented data releases and how he and his organisation changed the way journalists and newsrooms operate. We also a…
Unspun World: Is Ukraine preparing for a deal?
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether Ukraine is now preparing for a deal, assesses what’s at stake as Nato members prepare for t…
The Media Show: How podcasts took over the world
In the space of 20 years, podcasting has gone from hobby to big business. What’s the secret of success for the best in the industry? Also on the show, why there’s trouble at the top of The Washington…