The Story

Sir Kim Darroch is the former UK ambassador to the USA and worked with Trump for two years during the President’s first term. So how should the UK deal with Trump 2.0? And as our former National Security Advisor - before his Washington post - how will the UK government be reducing the terrorism threat from Syria, and balancing trade opportunities versus security issues when it comes to China.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryHost: William Hague.Guest: Sir Kim Darroch, former UK Ambassador to the USA and former National Security Advisor.Image credit: The Times / Tom Jackson.Further listening: Putin’s ‘nuclear blackmail’Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous. This may be how we think of milk alternatives but new research is calling into question the ‘plant-based milk myth’. So what’s the truth? How good for you - and the environment - is your oat milk flat white?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guest: Libby Galvin, writer, The Times.Further reading: How good is your milk (for you and for the environment)?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a new leadership emerges in Syria, disparate groups remain in control of different parts of the country. In the midst of the fluctuating situation, what dangers might return?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mark Urban, Writer and Columnist, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC News, AP, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, CNN.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity when her husband - and dozens of other men - were charged with raping and sexually assaulting her. Her decision allowed journalists to cover the trial in full and made her a feminist icon in France. But as we await the final verdicts and sentencing, what does the case tell us about French attitudes to rape? And with the French government promising change, will this be a watershed moment? The episode contains discussion of rape and sexual assault. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryIf you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode or need help or support around issues involving sexual assault, you can contact womensaid.org.uk or malesurvivor.co.uk. You can also call Refuge's 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.Host: Manveen Rana.Guests:Constance Kampfner, Northern Correspondent, The Times.Katie Tarrant, News Reporter, The Sunday Times.Clips: Euronews, The Times, France24, Paris Match, Channel 4, BBC, Forbes.Image credit: Getty Images.Further reading: A disturbing encounter with one of Gisèle Pelicot’s 50 alleged rapists.I sat in court at the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial. This is what I sawGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, No 10 confirmed it wouldn’t stand in the way of a deal to return the Elgin Marbles to their original home in Athens. The comments came after a meeting between Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Our former host David Aaronovitch spoke to classicist and British Museum trustee Dame Mary Beard about how the Parthenon sculptures ended up in the UK 200 years ago.This episode was first broadcast on 5 December 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Dame Mary Beard, classicist.- David Sanderson, Arts Correspondent, The Times.With thanks to The British Museum.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, Times Radio, Reuters, CBC News, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, ITV Good Morning Britain, LBC, UK Parliament, LSE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode of our fellow Times podcast How To Win An Election.The prime minister wants to blame the last government for leaving the economy in a mess, just like David Cameron did in 2010 - but is the strategy working, and for how long?The political masterminds - and Hugo - discuss the whether voters will reward Starmer for being sensible, whether he should be more like Harold Wilson, and whether any Western government can get to grips with migration.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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nightclubs are closing their doors at an alarming rate. Research by The Night Time Industries Association shows that as many as three clubs a week have closed since 2020. Our journalist went to Manchester to find out why they’re struggling - but is the underground clubbing scene really as threatened as it might seem? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Gatens, Deputy Editor of News Review, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Saturday Night Live/NBC.Photo: Joel Goodman for The Sunday TimesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With wars raging in Israel and Lebanon, no one was watching neighbouring Syria. Until an alliance of rebel forces launched an astonishing offensive a week ago, sweeping the north and taking the prized city of Aleppo. But who are they, who backs them, and why now?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guest: Mark Urban, Writer and Columnist, The Sunday Times.Clips: Channel 4 News, SkyNews, ABC News, The Telegraph.Image credit: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Australia became the first country to block under 16s from social media. Age verification AI could be a crucial tool in the ban, so we spoke to our journalist who has been to the industry-leader’s HQ to find out if the technology actually works. And we ask, could the UK follow suit? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent, The Times.Helen Rumbelow, Feature Writer, The Times. Read Helen’s report: Can AI tell if a teen lies about their age?Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC News, 10 News First Australia, BBC Radio 4. Photo: Getty ImagesFurther listening: The myth of the X exodus The Times and The Sunday Times starter pack on BlueskyGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregg Wallace, the presenter of one of the BBC's most popular programmes 'MasterChef' has stepped back from the show while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated. Over the weekend, he said complaints came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” - a comment he has now apologised for. His lawyers say he denies behaviour of a sexually harassing nature but as the BBC faces pressure to pull the programme from the schedules, and even Downing Street has waded in, what now for the presenter - and for the BBC?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Gregg Wallace, Times Radio.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It started two years ago, when Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X. People fled the social media platform, citing a change in the algorithm and concerns over the unchecked spread of misinformation, conspiracy theories and hate speech. Following the US election and Musk's appointment to Donald Trump's team, millions more have departed - including The Guardian newspaper. So, does this signal a sea change in our social media habits? Or is this just a momentary tiff?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Danny Fortson, US West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, MSNBC, NBC News, TalkTV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ireland went to the polls in a general election where for the first time in the history of the republic, immigration was among the leading issues in voters’ minds as they cast their ballots. In August we looked at the rise of a new political movement in Ireland, inspired by American far-right groups and fuelled by anger over immigration.This episode was first broadcast on 20 August 2024.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: John Mooney, Investigative Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen RanaFurther listening: Inside the Kinahan crime cartel and their €1 billion empireClips: Gript Media, Irish Mirror, Cllr Gavin Pepper, RTE News, Irish Times, Euronews, The National Party — An Páirtí Náisiúnta, Tucker Carlson, , Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from Off Air with Jane & Fi podcast from The Times.General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA, discusses global security, amongst many other things...If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producer: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie CutlerThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Observers of Britain today might think of it as a more meritocratic and socially equal society than ever before. But, while the narratives have certainly moved on, the elites who run the political, economic and cultural life of the country remain much the same. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Sam Friedman, sociologist and co-author of “Born To Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite.”Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, MPs will vote on a Bill that, if passed, would allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live the right to take their own lives - a radical departure from the status quo. The debate has split parliament and the public. So, is it a kindness or the beginning of a dangerous and slippery slope?If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide, support and advice can be found with the Samaritans or SANE. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mark Mardell, broadcaster and writer, Movers and Shakers podcast and assisted dying correspondent, Prospect.Kaya Burgess, science reporter and religious affairs correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, ITV News, Two Women Chatting. Photo: Getty Images/Times illustration Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With six backpackers dead from suspected methanol poisoning, how did the remote town of Vang Vieng become the go-to destination for gap year hedonism, and will anything be done to close down the bars selling mushrooms, moonshine and opium?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times and the Sunday Times Alasdair Gill, chef and journalist.Host: Manveen RanaClips: Lucy Davidson/TikTok; 10 News First.Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sept 12, 2001, Blerim Skoro was approached by a man and a woman while he was in prison. They turned out to be CIA agents. That one meeting would change the course of his life and lead him on a journey across countries, inside terrorist groups, as he tried to make it home to his family.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josie Ensor, US Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Video filmed by Blerim Skoro, provided by ‘The Accidental Spy’, directed by Anthony Wonke.Photo: John Beck for The Times.Further reading: I gave my life to the CIA. They betrayed meGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past eight years, Sunday Times chief political commentator, Tim Shipman has written the story of British politics. From Brexit to backstops, deals to no deals, political self-harm to prorogation, economic meltdowns to an election. He takes us on a quick tour of the last part of his quartet which has covered our mad political life. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times and author of OutHost: Luke JonesPhoto: Illustration by Morten Morland. Further listening: Tim Shipman on the tears, plots and mating porcupines of Brexit  Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, over four years later, a report from the Charity commission concluded that Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter and her husband had committed “serious” misconduct and had gained “significant” financial benefit from links to that charity. The report said that it had not seen evidence of a crime committed by the couple. The family say "that there has never been any misappropriation of funds or unauthorised payments from the charity’s bank account, by any member of our family.Last year, Manveen spoke to Times social affairs editor James Beal about the whole affair. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: TalkTV, Times Radio, BBC News, ITV News, 5 News, You’ll Never Walk Alone/Captain Tom Moore, Michael Ball, and The NHS Voices of Care Choir/UMG.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story.In this special episode of Planet Hope we reflect on the insights shared in the series about the future of our planet from the individuals finding solutions to the challenges we face - the explorers, naturalists and conservationists who are ensuring a brighter future for Planet Earth. This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative.  This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The decision by the US to allow Ukraine to launch western long-range missiles into Russia has provoked a furious reaction from Moscow, and pushed tensions with Ukraine’s western backers even higher. In response, the Kremlin has updated its military doctrine to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons, provoking fears of a new Cold War, or even a nuclear confrontation. How worried should we be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Edward Lucas, Times columnist and Senior Vice-President at the Centre for European Policy AnalysisLt Gen Ben Hodges (US Army, Ret’d), Former Commander of U.S. Army forces in EuropeHost: Manveen RanaClips: Times Radio; BTTV; US DoD/RAND; PBSPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over ten thousand farmers marched on Westminster this week, protesting changes to inheritance tax. But does the government’s new policy mean the end of family farms or is it a sensible move that only targets the richest landowners? And as nearly 60% of the food we eat in the UK is home grown, if the farmers escalate their protest, and refuse to let food off their farms, what could it mean for your fridge and the nation’s 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.co.uk/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guests:Olly Harrison, Farmer and co-owner of T&O Harrison farm.Will Humphries, Southwest and Countryside Correspondent for The Times.Clips: Parliamentlive.tv, BBC, Olly Harrison / YouTube, Reuters.Image credit: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As inquiries about relocating to the Emirati city from the UK have risen four-fold in the past five years; what does its allure say about life back home?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryFurther reading: Dubai’s allure to UK youth should raise alarmhttps://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/allure-dubai-uk-youth-raise-alarm-xq7s8d8sgGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukGuest: Will Lloyd, reporter at The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Photo: Getty images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government should treat ultra-processed foods like cigarettes and alcohol - and bring in higher taxes on the companies that make them, says Professor Tim Spector. Labour has declared war on junk food as part of a drive to save the NHS by shifting from "sickness to prevention" but with our love of unhealthy eating costing us an estimated £286bn a year - will it be bold enough?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryHost: Luke Jones.Guest: Tim Spector, Professor of Epidemiology and co-founder of science and nutrition company ZOE. Clips: British Government / OstreFoczki / YouTube / Huntley Archives, BBC, Channel 4.Image credit: Getty Images.Further listening: The new science of ageing and the quest to live foreverGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No sex, no babies, no marriage, no men. In 2018 a niche feminist movement started in South Korea as a reaction to the country’s entrenched misogyny. It pledged four ‘nos’ when it came to men. Now it's spreading on social media to America as young women rebel against Donald Trump's election. But how impactful will it be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guests: Chiara Brown, Commissioning Editor, The Times Luxury. Meera Choi, Sociology Academic, Yale University.Clips: TikTok / trump-supporters01 / Sigma Nu Fraternity, Karim Jovian / Nick Fuentes / YouTube, OFF TOPIC SHOW / Nick Funetes / YouTube, Nick Funetes / brutamerica / Instagram, realityreelclips / TikTok, The Washington Post / Access Hollywood, thetimes / TikTok, CBS, CNN, The News Movement, Inside Edition, Arirang News.Image credit: Getty ImagesFurther listening: Are dating apps running out of steam? Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the health secretary has urged people to “think very carefully” before flying overseas for plastic surgery as the NHS is left to “pick up the pieces". Medical tourism to Turkey for ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ and liposuction is surging despite the risks. Our correspondent goes undercover to expose the firms recruiting customers in London.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: Charlotte Wace, Special Projects Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: TheStory@thetimes.com / investigations@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty images.Clips: ITV, Talk TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The election of Donald Trump has raised serious questions about the flow of American funds and weapons to Ukraine's forces. So what is the mood in Kyiv and on the front line, and might some form of peace be on the horizon?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen RanaClips: The Times & Sunday Times; ABC News (US); BBC News; CBS News; Channel 4 News; The Straits Times; Fox News; NBC News.Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned after being accused of mishandling abuse allegations against a man described as the “most prolific serial abuser” in church history. So what did the Archbishop know when? What fateful decision led to his downfall? And where does his departure leave the Anglican church - and the victims affected by abuse?If you or someone you know has been affected by sibling sexual abuse, support and advice can be found with the Samaritans or The National Association for People Abused in Childhood.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Kaya Burgess, Religious Affairs Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Channel 4 News, BBC News.Photo: Getty Images Further reading: Why did Justin Welby resign? The fateful decision that led to downfall Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has started to appoint key figures to his new administration, and one of the early picks is Tom Homan - his new ‘border tsar’. The president-elect says he wants to remove all 20 million people thought to be in America illegally. So how does he plan to do this, and what might the economic impact be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, Senior US Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Further reading: Tom Homan, the man who will ‘send in the troops’ to tackle migrationClips: Bloomberg, Fox News, CBC, Fox Business, Sky News, NBC News.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you get a decent night’s rest regularly, you’re likely to be slimmer, happier and healthier. But with research suggesting that the more we think and worry about our sleep, the worse it gets, is it time to throw away our sleep-trackers and unfollow the TikTok ‘sleepfluencers’? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryFurther reading: How to get a good night's sleep - and why you're not.Host: Manveen Rana.Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Clips: TikTok / milaandmike, TikTok / justin_agustin, TikTok / anastazia, TikTok / thesleepdoctor, TikTok / valerieribon, TikTok / alishaxnourie, TikTok / marjmaroket, TikTok / hanbanan.fit, TikTok / melfyx.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For weeks, we were told the polls were too close to call. But when the votes were counted, the Democrats lost every single swing state - and the popular vote too. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker and Democrat party grandee has blamed President Biden for Donald Trump winning the White House as a Democrat blame game intensifies. So how did it all go so wrong for the Harris campaign? And what does her party need to do to reconnect with middle America?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Christopher Hale, Democratic consultant and strategist.Nick Hanauer, tech entrepreneur and political economist.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Megyn Kelly; The View/ABC; NBC News; Instagram/realdonaldtrump; CNN; Votolatino; Newsnation; Hindustan Times; Al Jazeera English.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from our sister podcast, The Royals with Roya and Kate. They have been in South Africa covering Prince William’s Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. Speaking afterwards, the Prince of Wales described the last year as “dreadful”, “brutal”, and “probably the hardest year of my life”.Host: Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.Kate Mansey, Assistant Editor, The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk has aggressively backed Donald Trump in the US election, raising questions about whether he may be part of Donald Trump's new administration. But what has led the one-time political liberal to come out in support of the president-elect and a raft of conservative causes? This weekend, we revisit an episode from August, looking at how the billionaire Tesla and X owner became politically involved.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory  This episode was first published on 15th August 2024.Guest: James Ball, tech journalist and author.  Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: X.com/Kamala Harris AI generated audio.   Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do looks matter? Pulchronomics, the study of economics and beauty, says they do. But just how much impact does being attractive have on your love life, career and happiness? Are our fortunes really determined by our looks? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Times Poll: How attractive are you? Rate yourself out of fiveClips: Britain’s Got Talent ITV/Thames. Photo: Times Design, Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has stormed to victory, so what does his vision for the future of the US look like? Who will he take into the White House with him? And will his hard-talking rhetoric meet reality?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Middle East Eye, CNN, Forbes, ABC News.Photo: Getty Images.Further reading:Who will be in Trump’s cabinet? From ex-rivals to golf partnersWhat a Trump presidency means for Ukraine, Middle East, Europe and AsiaThe Times website will be free to read until midnight on Thursday 7th November.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two years of campaigning, Americans have cast their votes, with Trump riding a growing wave of momentum. This is how the night unfolded.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Tom Newton-Dunn, covering the US election for The Times.Louise Callaghan, US Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Alistair Dawber, Washington Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Tom Calver, Data Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC News, Fox News, PBS News, CNN.Photo: Getty Images/Times IllustrationGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An investigation by the Sunday Times’ Insight team has revealed for the first time the extensive property empires of the King and Prince of Wales. The information includes details of the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall’s business deals with the NHS, schools and military that help fund the royals.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.George Arbuthnott, Insight Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Channel 4, Parliament.Photo: Getty Images/Times illustration.Further listening: The SAS murders and the conspiracy to cover them up and Cash for places: The backdoor for overseas students into Britain's top universitiesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch grew up in Nigeria and - as the state failed - was forced to complete her homework by candlelight. So how has that shaped her politically? What are her policies and can she resurrect the Tories and mount a challenge against the twin threats of Labour and Reform?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Host: Luke Jones.Guests:Janice Turner, Columist and Interviewer, The Times.Daniel Finkelstein, Contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Clips: The Conservative Party, BBC, Sky, Times Radio.Image credit: GettyFurther listening: What happens if the American election is a tie? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from the new Money Podcast from The Times. Rachel Reeves’ first budget raised taxes by more than expected, borrowed more than predicted, and brought higher taxes on employers than forecast. But now, Holly is at hand with a podcast pick-me-up! It is time to get down to brass tacks as she is joined by experts whose job is to help you understand money better.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Chris Etherington, tax analyst.Tom McPhail, pensions expert.Jo Noble, Money Editor, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Holly Mead, Deputy Money Editor, The Times and Sunday Times. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off tonight in their first TV debate, it’s more than just a political showdown - it's a battle of the sexes. The polls are too close to call with women heavily favouring Harris, while men lean towards Trump. Could the hot-button topic of abortion prove the issue that shifts the electoral balance?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Sarah Baxter, former Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Further listening: Why tech billionaires are backing TrumpFurther reading: Why Donald Trump is suddenly talking about cocaineGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: NBC, Fox, AP Archive.This episode was first published in September 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As polling day approaches, fears are growing that the result will not be accepted by the losing side. The potential consequences range from election denialism to violence, and even civil war.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Newton Dunn, covering the US election for The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: MSNBC, CBS, New York Post, NBC News.Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has raised taxes by £40 billion in the first Labour budget in fourteen years. Does it ‘fix the foundations’ or does it punish ‘working people’?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament live. Photo: Times Photographer Richard Pohle. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The One Direction star is alleged to have died with a substance known as ‘pink cocaine’ in his system. This popular, dangerous high could mark a new phase in the world of drugs. So what is it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Kate Spicer, Writer, The Times. Substack: https://katespicer.substack.com/Clips: E! News, Virgin Radio, ABC7 News.Further reading: Liam Payne, drugs and the rise of pink cocaine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamala Harris’ campaign is pulling out all the stops to woo black and Latino Americans, over concerns that voters from these groups are signalling their support for Donald Trump in record numbers. Polling suggests some of the Democrat’s core base will peel away to vote Republican in this election – so what’s Trump’s appeal? And could their votes decide the election?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Newton Dunn, covering the US election for The Times. Read Tom’s reporting:Can Kamala Harris win back Arab-American voters lost to Gaza?Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Kamala Harris, Univision Noticias, Washington Post. Photo: Getty Images Further listening: Why tech billionaires are backing Trump What happens if the American election is a tie? Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sean O’Neill’s daughter Maeve died aged 27 from malnutrition caused by severe ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis - he faced years of waiting for an inquest to find out why the system failed her. That inquest has just ended, but will its ground-breaking conclusion change things for the hundreds of thousands of ME sufferers in the UK?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeInformation and helpline services for ME are available at Action for ME and The ME Association.Further reading: My daughter died of ME. I had to fight the NHS for answers A scandal waiting for its Post Office momentGuest: Sean O’Neill, Maeve Boothby O’Neill’s father and Senior Writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Image credit: O'Neill family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from the new Tech Podcast from The Times. Presenters Katie Prescott and Danny Fortson are joined by Microsoft boss Satya Nadella. On a whistle-stop AI tour of the world and in his only UK interview this year - this exclusive conversation with Satya Nadella covers the dangers, pitfalls and growth of AI.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive, Microsoft.Hosts: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former first lady’s new ‘tell all’ memoir addresses everything from her nude modelling and her husband’s policies to her surprising stance on abortion. But why is she doing it now — and will it help or hinder Donald Trump’s presidential campaign?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Josie Ensor, US Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: Fox News, CBS, ABC, CNN, X.com/@melaniatrump. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Rivals' hit our TV screens this month; it’s the first adaptation of a Jilly Cooper ‘bonkbuster,’ the 87 year old Dame who taught a generation about sex and posh people. Her uber-popular romance novels sell in their millions, so what’s behind her popularity (aside from all the bonking) and how is she changing how we see, and show, sex.This podcast contains lots and lots of talk about sex and other themes of an adult nature. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Sarah Ditum, writer, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke JonesClips: Rivals / Jilly Cooper / Elliot Hegarty / Happy Prince / Disney+; ITV; BBC; Addicted To Love / Robert Palmer / Bernard Edwards / Island. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Image credit: Robert Viglasky / Disney / PA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When news dropped that a member of Ireland’s parliament was a suspected Russian agent, chaos ensued in the Irish parliament as politicians stood up to declare it wasn’t them. Today we hear from John Mooney, The Sunday Times investigative reporter who broke the story, on why Russia sees Ireland as Europe’s ‘Trojan horse’.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: John Mooney, investigative reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: RTÉ News, RTÉ Radio.Photo: Illustration by James Cowen.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anger is building on both sides after a Met police officer was found not guilty of the murder of an unarmed black man. Chris Kaba was shot dead in 2022, but The Times can now reveal Kaba’s alleged involvement in a gang shooting just days before he was killed. What does the verdict mean for policing?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Woode, crime correspondent, The Times.Read David’s reporting: Inside Chris Kaba’s criminal past: from knives at 13 to gangland gunsWhat happened to Chris Kaba? The ‘chaotic’ night he was shotHost: Manveen Rana. Clips: The Times, Sky News, The Guardian, Channel 4 News, Bruk It/Itch (67)/Prod. QUIETPVCKxBKayBeats/SBTV: Music, Numerous Times/67 (R6xSTxItch)/Prod. Carbs Hill/Link Up TV.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Israel released pictures of an underground bunker, furnished with flat screen TV and a hot shower. It was the place where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had lived with his wife and children until he was killed by the IDF. So, how was he tracked down and what does his death mean for the conflict in Gaza?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe  Guest: George Grylls, Defence and Political Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CBS, Sky News, ABC, Al Jazeera.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One tiny ‘blue dot’ in Omaha, Nebraska could result in a tie between Trump and Harris. Why? And what happens then to decide who wins?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Tom Newton Dunn, Broadcaster and Journalist. Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Clips: News 5 Cleveland, News4JAX, KGW News, Photo: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has announced a five-year trial of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro to consider whether its use could reduce unemployment and relieve pressure on the NHS. So this weekend, we revisit an episode from last year looking at another weight loss drug that’s already been approved for use by clinically obese individuals in the UK. But is an injection our best option for tackling obesity?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuests: ·        Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer, The Sunday Times. ·        Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and Broadcaster.Host: Manveen Rana. Article: How celebrities’ favourite drug Ozempic made Denmark enormously rich.Clips: Global News Canada, CBS, E News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis episode was first published in September 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from the new Tech Podcast from The Times. Presenters Katie Prescott and Danny Fortson are joined by Al Gore, former US Vice-President and now an environmental activist, as they discuss Artificial Intelligence and climate change.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Al Gore, Former US Vice President.Host:Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday night it was announced that Liam Payne had died in Buenos Aires aged 31, where he was on holiday. What does his death say about the music industry? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Will Hodgkinson, chief rock and pop critic, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Further reading: Liam Payne and the curse of too much fame too youngGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: Sky News, Times Radio, X Factor, Columbia / SycoPhoto: Getty Images  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tensions are escalating between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy militia in Lebanon. Attacks on both sides have led to thousands dead and over a million people internally displaced. The latest confrontations come after decades of conflict, so where did it all begin? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Lina Khatib, associate fellow at Chatham House, director of the SOAS Middle East Institute, and contributor to The Times. Read more from Lina: Why killing of Hassan Nasrallah marks ‘beginning of the end’ for Iran Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, ITV News, NBC News, Binyamin Netanyahu, AP, CBS News, BBC News.Photo: Getty Images Further listening: Who are Hezbollah and are they heading for all-out war? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new era of violence is erupting in the French city of Marseille between rival drug gangs. Deaths are soaring - with 49 murders in the first half of this year already. We go inside the city to find out how social media is helping to recruit children as young as 14 to carry out the killings.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Further listening: Cocaine Inc.Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Image credit: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2020, the US Justice Department sued Google, alleging it illegally monopolised the online search market. The US government won, and is now threatening to break up the tech giant, with wide-reaching implications for us all. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe  Guest: Dominic O’Connell, Business Presenter, Times Radio.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The Justice Department, AP Archive, CNBC, CBS.  Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamala Harris may become the first female president of the United States – but who is she? Megan Agnew rode through the hills of San Francisco, talking to everyone who knew her fresh out of law school, to tell the story of how she conquered California.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Megan Agnew, senior features writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you a conversation from our fellow podcasters and Times Radio broadcasters Jane & Fi.This week marked a year since the October 7 attacks by Hamas and Israel's military operation in Gaza, beginning of a tragic new chapter in the violent history of the Middle East. Since then, thousands have died and the ongoing war threatens to engulf the wider region. It's left policy makers questioning how, if ever, the conflict can be resolved. Two former leaders with a potential road map for peace joined Jane and Fi to discuss. Guests:- Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister.- Nassr al-Qudwa, former Palestinian foreign minister.Producer: Guy EmanuelSubscribe to Jane and Fi 'Off Air'This week the Story covered the October 7th anniversary in two podcasts:How I survived October 7A diary from Gaza - what happened nextThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/thestory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has been prime minister for 100 days. It's the point in any premiership that's considered a measure of how a new leader is performing, ever since the days of Franklin D Roosevelt. So how is Starmer doing compared to his predecessors? Two authors of multiple biographies of former PMs - William Hague and historian and author Sir Anthony Seldon - discuss.This episode was recorded live at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Host: William Hague, Times columnist and former leader of the Conservative Party.Guest: Sir Anthony Seldon.Image credit: Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year on from the October 7th attacks in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Our colleague Amal Helles was one of the few Palestinians to escape Gaza earlier this year. So what’s life been like for her since, and for her friends and family who remain in Gaza?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryFurther listening: How I survived October 7 Further listening: A diary of war: Three months in GazaGuest: Amal Helles, journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Photo: Abdel Hakim Abu Dagen for The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the publication of his memoir “Unleashed”, Boris Johnson sat down with Times Radio’s Stig Abell to talk about Donald Trump, Brexit, and refusing to rule out a political comeback.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister and author of Unleashed.Host: Stig Abell. Photo: Times photographer Jack Hill. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray resigned amid weeks of bad headlines for the government over freebies. Labour’s troubles arguably began when The Sunday Times revealed a major donor, Lord Alli, had a security pass to Downing Street. Today we speak to Sunday Times Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund about how he got the story. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times. Gabriel’s reporting:No 10 pass for Labour donor who gave £500,000 How we revealed the Downing Street donor scandal rocking Labour Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News, ITV News, Talk TV, The Times. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many take a break from booze for Sober October, the writer Hannah Betts marks ten years since she gave up alcohol. It’s given her a moment to reflect on her father’s death from his own alcohol addiction and to consider why Britain apparently has such a destructive love of booze.If you or someone you know is affected by alcohol addiction support and advice can be found through the NHS and Drinkaware. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hannah Betts, writer, The Times and https://hannahbetts.substack.com/ Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago today, 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed in an orchestrated terrorist attack by Hamas. 251 were taken hostage. Today, we hear their stories of survival, and of their loved ones, who were not so lucky. It will not be suitable for all listeners.This episode is the first part of a series marking the anniversary of October 7. Later this week, we will explore a year of devastation in Gaza, in part two.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeHost: Manveen Rana.Guest: Venetia Menzies, Assistant Data Editor, The Sunday Times.Photo: Venetia MenziesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Parliament will look at proposals to give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to choose to end their lives. To better understand this controversial topic, we’re revisiting our episode from March, where we explored what we can learn from Canada, often referred to as the world’s assisted dying capital since it legalised the practice in 2016.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Sarah Baxter, former deputy editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV, Global News, Reuters. Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 30, 1980, six gunmen stormed the Iranian embassy in London, taking everyone inside hostage. The ensuing siege would change the course of history. But what really happened behind barricaded doors? In a new book, Ben Macintyre tells the real story of those six days for the first time.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: Ben Macintyre, author of The Siege: The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV.Photo: Times Media Ltd.Further reading: How the SAS were ordered to end Iranian siegeGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel has vowed that Tehran will ‘pay’ after Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, following an Israeli ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In a week of escalating violence in the Middle East, how might Israel retaliate - and what lies ahead for the region at this dangerous moment?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: George Grylls, Defence Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Luke Jones. Clips: CBS, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the competition between the leadership candidates - Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat - heats up as the four make their key speeches on the main stage at Conservative Party conference. Manveen Rana is in Birmingham to join the media scrum - and to witness the battle for the soul of the party. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Daniel Finkelstein, columnist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, GB News, Sky News. Episode artwork: Times Photographer Richard Pohle. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 40 years, Professor Allan Lichtman has honed a near-perfect system for picking the next American president. It was inspired by a Soviet seismologist - but how does he do it? And who is he putting his money on this time?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe  Guest: Professor Allan Lichtman, author of Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: France 24, Fox News, CNN, ABC News.Episode artwork: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She's a fashion icon - known for her sharp bob and dark glasses. As Paris Fashion Week wraps up, we consider the enduring influence of the Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. How does the woman who has edited the fashion magazine for nearly 40 years stay relevant in a world of TikTok trends and social media influencers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe  Guest: Harriet Walker, Fashion Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS Late Show with David Letterman, Disney+ In Vogue: The 1990s, YouTube/OxfordUnion. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yuval Noah Harari’s books Sapiens and Homo Deus sold millions around the world. His latest - Nexus - examines information and how we share it, from campfire stories in the Stone Age to the AI networks of today. But as the way we share information gets evermore complicated, could this be the end of a history controlled by humans?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: William Hague.Guest: Yuval Noah Harari, author and historian.Photo: Penguin Random House / Yuval Noah HarariGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukRead the Times' review of Nexus: here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As fighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah, who is the Iranian-backed group and could this new conflict break out into a wider, regional war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Oliver Marsden, journalist, The Times.Rami Khouri, journalist.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITN, CBS, 13News Now, TMJ4 News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, PBS, AP.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Further listening: Exploding pagers and Israel’s new phase of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sydney and her 23-month-old son turned to the council for temporary accommodation, they were housed in an old office converted into a studio flat. A Sunday Times investigation into her block found residents complaining of sweltering heat and mould. This type of housing has been labelled Britain’s ‘slums of the future’ - so why are families still ending up there? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hugo Daniel, News Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC Breakfast. Episode artwork: Matthew Chattle for The Sunday Times. Read Hugo’s full report: The forgotten families who have to live in old office blocksFurther listening: Undercover: The Times investigation into Turkish plastic surgery clinics Undercover at one of the UK's most dangerous prisonsGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prime minister has told his party’s conference that there is ‘light at the end of this tunnel’. But after weeks of bad press about his top adviser’s pay and freebies - are Labour in danger of becoming a one-term government? And what’s going on in Downing Street - has dysfunction led to this series of own-goals?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News.Episode artwork: Times Photographer Jack Hill. Read more:Labour aides unionise over pay cuts and conditionsSleaze, quarrels and austerity: Labour is looking a lot like the ToriesFurther Listening: Politics Unpacked Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Normal People and Conversations with Friends author Sally Rooney is a publishing sensation and became a huge star whilst still in her twenties. Her new book Intermezzo, published today, follows two grieving brothers in complicated relationships. Will it cement Rooney’s reputation as the voice of millennials - or is she overhyped?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Normal People/BBC Three/Hulu, Manchester EUDC 2013, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Denmark, Fox News.Episode artwork: Getty Images.Further listening: What 50 years of best-selling books says about usGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Labour’s party conference gets into full swing in Liverpool this week, we look in detail at a key part of the government’s employment rights package: working from home. Keir Starmer says flexible and hybrid working is better for productivity while large companies like Amazon have ordered their staff to return to the workplace five days a week. Who's right? And what does it mean for where you will work in future?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Harriet Minter, author of WFH (Working From Home): How to build a career you love when you're not in the office.Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: LBC, Times Radio. Episode artwork: Getty Images Get in touch: TheStory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies targeting Hezbollah members have killed dozens of people and injured thousands in Lebanon and Syria. Israel hasn’t commented on the blasts, but the country’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called it "a new phase in the war". What’s next for the region? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Samer Alatrush, Middle East Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: NBC News, The Sun, Sky News, Al Jazeera. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the UN General Assembly next week, Ukraine's President Zelensky will present his 'plan for victory' to world leaders. Key to that victory, he thinks, is being allowed to shoot British-made 'Storm Shadow' missiles into Russian territory. Keir Starmer agrees, Joe Biden does not. Is Biden right to be worried - or is this all part of a wider plan by the president to bring us closer to some kind of peace?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mark Urban, writer and columnist, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BFBS Forces News, CBC, FT.Episode artwork: Getty Images Further reading: Are Russia and Ukraine edging towards an endgame?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a new TV drama re-examines Prince Andrew’s controversial 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, it's understood King Charles is losing patience with his brother over his financial support of him. What is the Duke of York’s future within the Royal family?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Kate Mansey, Assistant Editor and Royal Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC Newsnight, Scoop/Netflix, A Very Royal Scandal/Amazon, CBS News. Photo: Getty Images - Prince Andrew and King Charles in 2012. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you live in a society where you can’t speak in public? Where you can’t travel to work without a chaperone? Where you can’t leave the city with your family? We speak to a young woman in Afghanistan who tries to explain. And as Afghanistan’s national cricket team faces off against South Africa this week – how is the nation enforcing a gender apartheid not facing boycott?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guests:Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent, The Sunday Times.A female doctor in Afghanistan.Clips: Afghanistan Cricket Board, Sky Sports.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comEpisode artwork: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shiny, indestructible metal saw its fortunes wane in the postwar years, but investors and central banks are again flocking to it, with its value hitting new records. What’s fuelling this demand? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones Clips: The Italian Job (1969) Paramount Pictures, ITV News, YouTube/@MengerCenterPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week that thousands of inmates were freed early from prison, we revisit our recent undercover investigation which prompted an urgent investigation by the Ministry of Justice. Our reporter revealed a worrying lack of security at HMP Bedford which houses dangerous criminals. He witnessed fights and drugs - and heard of a prison escape that happened because doors were left unlocked. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Times Radio, BBC.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical tourism to Turkey for ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ and liposuction is surging despite the risks. The UK government says at least 28 people have died since 2019 as a result of medical tourism to the country. Our correspondent goes undercover to expose the firms recruiting customers in London.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: Charlotte Wace, Special Projects Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: TheStory@thetimes.com investigations@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty images.Clips: ITV, Talk TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris came straight after a strong performance against the former President, Donald Trump. Our correspondent was in the spin room watching on as the two candidates clashed over foreign policy, immigration and the economy in their televised debate. But will last night shift the dial of the presidential election?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 Newton Dunn, broadcaster and journalist.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: TheStory@thetimes.comFurther listening: Trump vs. Harris: The battle of the sexes & Why tech billionaires are backing Trump Clips: ABC, NBC News. Photo: Getty images.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hard-right Alternative for Germany party won its first state election earlier this month in Thuringia. Anti-immigrant, anti-woke and anti-green, its popularity has brought back uncomfortable comparisons with the rise of the National Socialists in the 1930s.On Monday, Berlin announced that controls at all German land borders will be introduced for six months to stop illegal migrants entering the country.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: Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: TheStory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty images.Clips: BBC, DW News, AFP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off tonight in their first TV debate, it’s more than just a political showdown - it's a battle of the sexes. The polls are too close to call with women heavily favouring Harris, while men lean towards Trump. Could the hot-button topic of abortion prove the issue that shifts the electoral balance?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Sarah Baxter, former Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Further listening: Why tech billionaires are backing Trump Further reading: Why Donald Trump is suddenly talking about cocaineGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: NBC, Fox, AP Archive.Photo: Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the Duke of Sussex turns forty. A milestone for anyone - but for Harry, could this moment of natural reflection be a turning point? There are reports the King’s second son wants to come back to the UK with his wife Meghan Markle. So, as he begins to assess his legacy, what next for him?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryArticle: Prince Harry stayed at Diana’s family home in latest UK visit Guest: Kate Mansey, Assistant Editor and Royal Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Jack Hill, Times photographer.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: ITV News, ITV X, BBC News, ITN Archive, 5News, Sky News, 7 News Australia, TODAY Australia.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoe Blaskey, author of Motherkind, didn’t realise that she was unprepared for the huge psychological and physiological changes that motherhood brought. Now she’s spreading the word to other mothers. But why are we still not talking about this?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Zoe Blaskey, author of the book 'Motherkind' and host of the podcast 'Motherkind'Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Peanut and Motherkind, Motherkind podcast.Episode artwork: Getty Images Further listening: What two gay dads can teach fathers about parentingGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? How should we interact with China, Russia and Europe? And how does the man who took the UK into the Iraq war look back on his legacy? William Hague talks to his former adversary from across the dispatch box, Tony Blair.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tony Blair, former prime minister.Host: William Hague.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Photo credit: Times photographer Richard Pohle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has condemned the British government’s decision to suspend some arms sales as ‘shameful’. But what was the UK sending, and can its policies really impact the war in Gaza?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times. George Grylls, Defence and Politics Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament Live, Sky News, LBC, BBC Radio 4 Today, BBC News.Episode artwork: Getty Images Further listening: Why there’s talk of civil war in IsraelGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk and other tech billionaires in Democrat-leaning Silicon Valley are backing Donald Trump in 2024. What’s driving this shift, and what could it mean for the presidential race?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Danny Fortson, West Coast correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.  Further listen: The political transformation of Elon MuskClips: ABC News, X.com/Elon Musk, Bitcoin Magazine, The Ben & Marc Show.  Photo credit: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conspiracy theories have swirled around the former nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies. But now some experts have also raised concerns about the safety of her conviction. We talk to one of them.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Ali Mitib, News Reporter, The Times.William Thompson, Professor Emeritus of Criminology, Law and Society, UC Irvine.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, ITV, The Telegraph, Parliament TV.Episode artwork: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Public Inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower will publish its final report on Wednesday. Ahead of its findings, we're re-visiting a two-part series that looked into the failings that lead to the tragedy - and the stories of the families who lived in the tower.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Grenfell Inquiry, BBC News, ABC News Australia, OnDemand News, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Public Inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower will publish its final report on Wednesday. Ahead of its findings, we revisit a two-part podcast from June 2022. In part one, we remember the night of the fire on June 14, 2017, through the stories of three families who called the tower home.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, the Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4 News, ITV News, BBC News, Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.A year on from the original series, James sits down with his producer, Will, to go over all the latest developments on the case, as Kenneth Law is expected to go on trial in 2025 accused of 14 counts of murder.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published in 2023.Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.On Tuesday night, police in Canada announced the arrest and charge of a 57-year-old man on two counts of aiding or counselling suicide.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published in 2023.Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.James goes to Canada to track down Kenneth Law and confront him over his operation.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published in 2023.Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.In this episode we learn of a man called Kenneth Law who’s based in Canada.Law appears to be selling a substance to young, vulnerable, adults in the UK, some of whom are using it to take their own lives.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published in 2023.Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide.In October, 2021 David Parfett’s 22-year-old son, Tom, took his own life. We hear from David about the events that led up to the university student’s death.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two doctors and a dealer known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’ have been charged in connection with the Friends actor's drug overdose in October. What does his death reveal about substance abuse in Hollywood and those who allegedly exploit it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Keiran Southern, West Coast Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Reuters, Warner Bros., BBC, Sky News, Fox News, 9News, Fox 11 Los Angeles. Further listening: Inside the fentanyl tradeGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five bodies were found yesterday inside a shipwrecked yacht in the search for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and fellow missing passengers. Just hours before the sinking, the party had been celebrating a spectacular legal victory - so what led to this moment?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Danny In The Valley, TalkTV, GB News, LeadersIn. Further listening: Danny In The Valley: Mike Lynch’s first post-acquittal interview Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Gaza has put Israeli society under unprecedented strain, exacerbating political, religious and ethnic divisions. While Netanyahu told a news conference in June, 'there will be no civil war' in Israel, some fear he may be proved wrong.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dr Dahlia Scheindlin, journalist, political analyst and author of "The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel".Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Telegraph; Al Jazeera; Global News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new political movement is fomenting in Ireland, inspired by American far-right groups and fuelled by anger over immigration.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: John Mooney, investigative reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen RanaFurther listening: Inside the Kinahan crime cartel and their €1 billion empireClips: Gript Media, Irish Mirror, Cllr Gavin Pepper, RTE News, Irish Times, Euronews, The National Party — An Páirtí Náisiúnta, Tucker Carlson, , Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Democratic National Convention begins today, the Harris campaign is riding a wave of momentum. Why has Trump struggled to find a foothold?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Editors podcast, The Guardian, CBS News, The Daily Show, MSNBC, Forbes, AP, Fox News, Sky News.Further reading: America's No 1 pollster Nate Silver on his US election betsGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sunday Times bestsellers list celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend - so what do Britain’s favourite books say about who we are?A 20 per cent discount is available for Times+ members at timesbookshop.co.uk.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Johanna Thomas-Corr, Chief Literary Critic, The Times and The Sunday Times.Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Virgin Radio, TikTok/@sextedmyboss, Hodder Books, CNN/Larry King Live, BBC/Delia Smith's Cookery Course, BBC/I’m Alan Partridge. Further listening: Our guide to your summer reading Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether amplifier of far-right voices or dogged defender of free speech, Elon Musk divides opinion. But what’s led the one-time political liberal to come out for Donald Trump and a raft of conservative causes? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory  Guest: James Ball, tech journalist and author.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: X.com/Kamala Harris AI generated audio.   Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government says it wants to make the UK a global hub for crypto firms. But with the NHS warning it’s being left to ‘pick up the pieces’ as people get addicted to crypto gambling, are Labour’s plans wise?Our reporter visits one of the first clinics in the world, near Edinburgh, that is treating people who have cryptocurrency problems.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryIf you’ve got any concerns about gambling, you can contact the national problem gambling charity GamCare's helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit www.gamcare.org.uk for confidential support, advice and free counselling.Guest: Lily Russell-Jones, Senior Money Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ukrainian advance into Russia is a bold gamble that may change the course of the war. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Ball, reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Reuters, VOA, NBC, Al Jazeera, Moscow Times. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times investigates how easy it is to buy weight loss jabs online, despite the risk of serious side effects for those of a healthy weight.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Poppy Koronka, Health Correspondent, The Times.Eleanor Hayward, Health Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. If you're struggling with an eating disorder, please consider contacting Beat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Alex Campbell suggested to his high school sociology class that they would be investigating a 40-year-old cold case, he had no idea where it would lead. Within a year, a serial killer had been identified. In his next class, they decided to try and overturn a wrongful conviction. And they did. So just how did Mr. Campbell breed a class of super sleuths?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.Clips: WBIR Channel 10, NewsNation, WKRN News 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz as her running mate. The Minnesota governor is seen as a safe choice who can appeal to white working class voters in swing states.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hugh Tomlinson, Washington reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: AP, NBC, MSNBC, Tim Walz, CNN, ABC, Tim Walz, USA Today, Fox Sports.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riots have engulfed Britain after the stabbing of three girls in Southport. The far-right are being blamed for inciting the violence and disorder - but how has the far-right gained momentum and what does it stand for? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, ITV News, BBC News, BBC Question Time, X/@TRobinsonNewEra.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, 24 prisoners, spanning seven countries, were exchanged in the biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War. Is this a triumph for diplomacy, or just a triumph for Putin?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Grainne McCarthy, Chief Digital Editor International, The Wall Street Journal.Mark Galeotti, director of Mayak Intelligence and honorary professor at UCL.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ABC News, The White House, Sky News. Further reading: Prisoner swap doesn’t mean Cold War 2.0 has eased. It may get worseGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Rooney, confessions of guilt, and fist fights - two of our books editors take you through their four golden rules for what to read on your holidays this summer. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Robbie Millen, Literary Editor, The Times and Sunday Times.Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Books mentioned:A 20 per cent discount is available for Times+ members at timesbookshop.co.uk.The Neapolitan Novels - Elena FerranteThe Flashman Papers -  George MacDonald FraserLine of Beauty - Alan HollinghurstThe Ministry of Time - Kaliane BradleyWellness - Nathan HillLife after Life - Kate AtkinsonThe Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret AtwoodLolita - Vladimir NabokovOn Beauty - Zadie SmithAmericanah - Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieClose to Home - Michael MageeAbsolutely and Forever - Rose TremainDecline and Fall - Evelyn Waugh The Mortdecai Trilogy - Kyril BonfiglioliAll Our Yesterdays - Natalia GinzburgThe Safekeep - Yael van der WoudenJames - Percival EverettLong Island - Colm ToibinOur Evenings - Alan HollinghurstIntermezzo - Sally RooneyThe City and Its Uncertain Walls - Haruki MurakamiRead our critics 100 best summer reads for 2024Further listening:Why young women are falling out of love with the pill 2023's best books: Victorian sex, apocalypse and Prince Harry Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.In a world undergoing a rapid transformation due to climate change, a big question remains- is it possible to undo the damage to our planet? Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by National Geographic photographer and acclaimed conservationist Paul Nicklen to hear how he endeavours to safeguard our planet through photography. This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. Will he go to prison and could this latest scandal topple the BBC Director General?This podcast contains brief descriptions of child sexual asault. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Host: Luke Jones. Guests: Andrew Billen, feature writer, The Times.Ros Urwin, media editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.  Clips: BBC, SKY, TalkTV, Times Radio, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of tourists flock to Europe each year - with some hotspots completely flooded by visitors. Locals are fighting back - in one extreme case even starving themselves in protest. But is the backlash righteous or self-defeating?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Tom Kington, Rome Correspondent, The Times. Lottie Hayton, Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Channel 4 News, Inside Edition, CBS Evening News, NBC News, The Guardian.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves' first statement as the new Chancellor has kicked off a huge political row. She accused her predecessor Jeremy Hunt of lying about the 'true state' of the UK's finances - and he hit back calling her ‘shameless’. So was there actually a ‘cover up’ by the previous government? And the big question: Does this mean higher taxes?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Clips: Parliament TV, Sky News, Times Radio.Further listening: Labour: Meet Starmer's top advisors Further reading: 'Is Rachel Reeves right to rule out China tariffs?' by Mehreen Khan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1969, 55-year-old Muriel McKay, the wife of a Sun newspaper executive, was abducted for a million-pound ransom. She was killed, but her body was never found, and two men were jailed for her murder in the country’s first conviction without a body. But more than fifty years on, what happened to Muriel remains a mystery, and the McKay family have been desperate for answers. Their quest for the truth brings them face to face with Muriel’s killer.This is the second part of a two-part investigation into the case. Listen to Part 1This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ben Ellery, Crime Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ITN Archive, Met Police, Sky News. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 29th of December in 1969, the wife of a Sun newspaper executive was abducted from her home. In a case of mistaken identity, Muriel McKay was then murdered and dumped on a farm but her body was never found. Two men were jailed for life. More than fifty years on, what happened remains a mystery that the McKay family want to solve.Today and tomorrow on The Story, we bring you a two-part investigation into the case. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Guest: Ben Ellery, Crime Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ITN Archive, AP Archive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and vibrant ecosystems on our planet. Occupying less than 0.1% of the ocean floor, they are home to a quarter of all marine life and play a crucial role in protecting coastlines. However, over the last three decades the world has lost half of its reefs from a combination of climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing and pollution. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by marine environmentalist and entrepreneur, Titouan Bernicot to hear how he’s offering a life line to reefs through coral gardening. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his monthly episode for The Story, former foreign secretary and Times columnist Lord Hague sits down with Lord Sebastian Coe - gold medal winning Olympian, president of World Athletics, former Tory MP and William’s old chief of staff - to discuss how to tackle doping, should athletes from pariah nations be banned and finding a place for transgender competitors.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Host: William Hague.Guest: Lord Sebastian Coe, president, World Athletics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s thirty years since Amazon launched. What began as a website selling books has become an online juggernaut - where you can buy just about everything. So how did it become one of the most powerful companies in the world? And has it changed our lives for the better - or worse?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dana Mattioli, author of "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power" and Amazon reporter, The Wall Street Journal.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNBC, PBS, NDTV Profit, KIRO 7 News, Reuters, NBC News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the BBC's flagship Saturday night entertainment show and is a cash cow for the corporation but in recent weeks allegations of physical and verbal abuse have emerged. Yesterday, the head of the BBC apologised to celebrity contestants but ruled out a wider review into the culture of the show. So what now for Strictly Come Dancing? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryFurther reading: Tim Davie apologises over Strictly Come Dancing bullying scandalStrictly ‘needs intimacy coaches to stop dancers crossing boundaries’Video shows Strictly dancer slapping partner’s bottomGuests: Laura Pullman, Arts and Entertainment Editor, The Sunday Times.Richard Coles, broadcaster and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC, Sky News, GB News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden has stepped down as the Democrat’s nominee for president, endorsing his vice-president Kamala Harris. So, what happens next? Are there others in the running? And crucially, can she beat Donald Trump?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana. Guest: Josh Glancy, Editor of News Review, The Sunday Times.Clips: X / @KamalaHarris, NBC, CNN.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of social media users are flocking to follow the Trad Wives: stay-at-home mothers who champion a life making meals from scratch and serving their husband’s and children’s every need. Our reporter goes to meet the woman behind the most popular account: Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm. Is she selling a feminist dream or an unattainable lifestyle? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Megan Agnew, Senior Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: TikTok/esteecwilliams, TikTok/naraazizasmith, TikTok/ballerinafarm, ABC News. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The ocean's twilight zone is one of the most important marine areas you’ve most likely never heard of. Home to marine life yet to be discovered and integral to carbon sequestration, it is vital that we protect this layer of ocean that spans across the Earth. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by ocean explorer, Luiz Rocha to learn more about his pioneering diving expeditions in the depths of our oceans and how he is safeguarding this area for the future of our planet.This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we bring you the first episode of a new eight-part series.Cocaine Inc. is hosted by Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter at The Times, David Collins, northern editor at The Sunday Times, and Stephen Drill, national correspondent at News Corp Australia.Inside the global cocaine industry, where profits are counted up in millions and losses measured out in murders.This worldwide investigation from The Times, Sunday Times and NewsCorp Australia, reveals how the drug business works like any multi-billion dollar corporation.To listen to the full series just go to Cocaine Inc. wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is the last day of the Republican National Convention, where Donald Trump has been officially crowned as his party’s nomination for president and where there is a ‘devotional’ mood inside the halls. Trump has chosen firebrand JD Vance as his running mate. What does it tell us about his confidence, just days after surviving an assassination attempt?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:John Pienaar, Times Radio presenter, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: NBC Chicago, Fox News, CNN.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The King unveils Labour’s plans for government today surrounded by pomp and ceremony. What is Labour looking to achieve, does it live up to the promise of change for the country - and can the country afford it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Geri Scott, Senior Political Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament, Talk TV, C-Span. Further listening: The UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it? Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, 37-year-old Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of a plot to kidnap, rape and murder the TV presenter, Holly Willoughby.What does this trial tell us about a world that some men inhabit? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryFurther reading: I caught the Holly Willoughby plotter as an undercover officer Who is Gavin Plumb? The man found guilty of Holly Willoughby kidnap plotGuest: David Woode, Crime Correspondent at The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Essex Police, BBC News, ITV, hollywilloughby instagram, GB News, Sky News, Manchester Evening News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, news broke that Donald Trump had been the victim of an attempted assassination during a political rally in Pennsylvania. Our reporter was at the scene where the presidential candidate almost lost his life and talks with Manveen for a special episode taking in the breaking news. What happened and what do we know about the 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks?Further reading: I was at the Trump rally shooting — there was silence, then chaos https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/trump-shot-what-happened-shooting-video-27z8w70m5Guest: Tom Newton Dunn, broadcaster and political journalist.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England are through to a historic second Euros  final in as many tournaments - but for Gareth Southgate it hasn’t been an easy journey. The football manager faced calls for his resignation during this tournament. Have the team’s recent poor performances clouded our memories of this once national hero?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: TalkSport, The Independent, ITV, PA, Optus Sport, Daily Mail. Listen to The Game football podcastGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The infighting has already begun as party leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch called one of Rishi Sunak’s private secretaries a ‘buffoon’ at a shadow cabinet meeting following their electoral disaster. And with Nigel Farage’s Reform party splitting the Tory vote, how will they deal with his threat?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Steven Swinford, Political Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Further listening: The UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Clips: BBC, Parliament Live, UN, LBC, GB News, TalkTV, SKY. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent days Sir Keir Starmer has been appointing his cabinet as the country’s new leadership takes shape. But who are the people you won’t see who helped get Labour elected and prepared the party for power? Patrick Maguire profiles Morgan McSweeney, Labour's campaign director, and Sue Gray, the former civil servant who is now chief of staff.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Patrick Maguire, Columnist and Senior Political Correspondent, The Times and Times Radio.Host: Luke Jones.Further listening: The UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Clips: BBC, ITV, SKY, Channel 4, keirstarmer.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Against all predictions, France’s left wing coalition won more seats than Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France’s parliamentary elections. With Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party losing seats and power, what now for French politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaClips: France 24, Public Sénat, CGTN.Further listening: Young, French, and voting hard-rightGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Sir Keir Starmer begins his first full week in Downing Street, he must win over a jaded public and see off the twin challenges of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and the pro-Palestinian Left.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, White Hall Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFurther reading: Labour celebrated election success - now they’re targeting ReformFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Clips: BBC News, The Telegraph, Sky News, The Sun, LBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.Just as humans depend on sound for survival and expression, animals too rely on auditory cues to navigate their environments. However, nature is increasingly disrupted by human generated noise, from roaring engines to clanking machinery, disturbing the delicate balance of sound in the natural world. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by bioacoustics scientist and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Michel André as he strives to restore the balance of human-generated noise and wildlife survival.This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A clear landslide. But underneath, the tectonic plates of British politics are shifting; Labour was punished in a string of seats for its stance on Gaza, while Reform saw MPs elected for the first time, turning a Tory defeat into a catastrophe. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times.William Hague, The Story presenter, former leader of the Conservatives.Peter Kellner, Political Journalist and Pollster.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News, BBC Radio 4.See the UK results in full.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story team will be up all night watching as the results roll in. A special episode will be dropping into your feed at dawn with reaction from William Hague, Tim Shipman and Peter Kellner.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secretary John Kerry served as Obama’s secretary of state and Biden’s climate envoy. He was a senator for decades, a Navy officer and is a three-time purple heart winner. In his monthly series for The Story, Times columnist and former foreign secretary William Hague sits down with Secretary Kerry to discuss the prospects of a Trump presidency, how to reach peace in the Middle East and why he believes climate change can be fixed.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: John KerryHost: William HagueGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: Rafah, red lines, and the Biden presidency Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been nearly a week since President Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump. The resulting panic over a Trump presidency intensified amongst Democrats when the US Supreme Court ruled he has some immunity from prosecution. As the pressure mounts for a last-minute change of candidate, Biden and his family are so far not heeding the call. Is it too late for a change? And if he steps aside, how would he be replaced?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ben Hoyle, Foreign Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNN, The Hill, MSNBC, Fox News, Michigan Senate Democrats.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As France’s hard-right National Rally take the lead in the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections, will the political spectrum unite to stop them taking over or could next week see the first hard-right government since the Second World War? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaClips: Bloomberg, France 24. Further listening: Young, French, and voting hard-rightGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2019, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives upended decades’ of traditional voting behaviour, as lifelong Labour seats in the north and midlands fell to the Tories. But with Brexit delivered and Johnson gone, the Tories are being challenged from the right by a resurgent Reform, as Luke Jones heard in Ashfield.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Peter Kellner, Political Journalist and Pollster;Debbie Soloman, Parliamentary Candidate, Conservative and Unionist Party;Lee Anderson, Parliamentary Candidate, Reform UK; andRhea Keehn, Parliamentary Candidate, Labour Party. Also standing in Ashfield are: Jason Zadrozny, Ashfield Independents; Daniel Holmes, Liberal Democrats; Alexander Coates, Green Party.Host: Luke JonesClips: Sky News; Boris Johnson/Facebook.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The acclaimed ocean explorer, scientist, conservationist and Rolex Testimonee, Sylvia Earle shares how her global network of ‘Hope Spots’ are transforming ocean conservation. Sylvia tells Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor of The Times, how our oceans span over 70% of the Earth’s surface, and serve as a crucial life source - providing oxygen, sustenance, and climate regulation - and yet escalating human activities now threaten this vital ecosystem. This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From his school days to how he made his money, the friends he’s made (and lost) to his wives, mistresses, and allegations of facism and racism, which he denies, who is the real Nigel Farage?The full list of Clacton candidatesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Further listening: Keir Starmer: Up close and personal Host: Manveen Rana.Guest: Michael Crick, broadcaster and journalist. Clips: Channel 4, BBC, ITV, TikTOk/@nigel_farage, Without Me / Eminem / Shady / Aftermath and Interscope, Sky, European Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight, in the first of only two presidential debates, the two oldest candidates in history have a lot to prove. Joe Biden faces serious questions about his mental and physical fitness, Donald Trump may have to conduct part of his campaign from behind bars. Could this debate prove pivotal for the campaign ahead - and the November election itself?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: Ben Hoyle, Foreign Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Joe Biden's Twitter, Guardian News, The Telegraph, CTV News, TPM TV, Bloomberg TV, AP Archive, MCamericanpresident Youtube. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five Conservative politicians are now being investigated by the Gambling Commission for allegedly placing bets on the date of the general election. Hundreds of pre-election bets are now being trawled for connections to the party. Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support from two of those under investigation but how bad could this get for the Tories?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: https://www.thetimes.com/podcasts/the-storyGuest: Harry Yorke, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC News, The Sun.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After centuries of dismissing the rest of the animal kingdom as non-sentient beings, scientists and philosophers are starting to make a new declaration in favour of animal consciousness. So what does that even mean, and what does it change?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Netflix/My Octopus Teacher.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Critics say the Labour leader is robotic, boring and hard to read, but is that all there is to the man in the running to become the next prime minister? The Sunday Times has spent three months on the campaign trail in search of the real Keir Starmer. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Times, Spiked, Talk TV, Sky News, Channel 4 News. Further listening: Hague talks to Rishi Sunak about being a dad, AI, and a terrible political inheritanceGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The Southern Cone of South America is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems in the world. However, decades of exploitation have taken their toll. Expansive lands left destroyed from ranching and species like the jaguar teetered on the brink of extinction. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by one of the most successful conservation philanthropists in history, Kris Tompkins, to hear how she’s committed her life to making this corner of the world wilder.This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1993 the Canadian Conservative party went into the election in power but lost all but two of its seats. A party called Reform came to dominate right wing politics, and went on to merge with the Conservatives. Could the same be about to happen in the UK?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: -Wayne Hunt, Professor of Politics and International Relations, Mount Allison University in Canada,  and,-Danny Finkelstein, columnist, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, BBC, CBC, CPAC.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s being described as the UK’s first TikTok election - so can a flying pig, Cilla Black, and Nigel Farage have the power to change the result on the night?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests:Matilda Davies, Data Journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.Lara Spirit, Red Box Editor, The Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: TikTok/@uklabour, Sky News, TikTok/@ukconservatives, TikTok/@libdems, TikTok/@nigel_farage, Twitter/@rishisunak. Further listening: Could the 'blue wall' fall?The Green vote, it’s not (only) about the environmentThe UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it? Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s voting Green in this election? There’s the fruit bowl analogy - mangos, melons and figs (we’ll explain) - and, more unkindly, the carpark. With sky-high levels of disenchantment driving support, could this be their breakthrough moment? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: -Janice Turner, columnist, The Times and,-Joe Twyman, co-founder and director, Deltapoll.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News Australia, Times Radio.Further listening: Could the "blue wall" fall?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The super-rich are trialling innumerable whacky theories to radically extend their lives, from not eating after 11pm to taking hundreds of supplements a day and even blood transfusions from their children. But what does the science tell us? Could some of these ideas actually prove effective? And why are we still so obsessed with the quest that is as old as mankind itself: immortality?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dr. Venki Ramakrishnan, scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge and author of Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: WIRED UK, Valuetainment Clips, Diary of a CEO, TalkTV. Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surrey has always been a bastion of support for the Conservatives but this election the Liberal Democrats believe they stand a chance of taking some of the truest of blue seats. So, what’s changed? We visit Guildford to find out.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Anne Milton, Conservative MP for Guildford 2005 - 2019. Host: Manveen Rana.Further Listening: The UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it? Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukThe candidates standing in Guildford are – Angela Richardson - Conservative. Sarah Gillinson - Labour. Zoe Franklin - Liberal Democrat. Dennis Saunders - Reform UK. Sam Peters - Green. John Morris - The Peace Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.Amidst a population of 8 billion, a staggering quarter silently live with hidden hunger every day. And with over a billion people living in Africa struggling to afford a healthy diet, a crucial question remains - how can hidden hunger be eliminated? Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by social entrepreneur and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Felix Brooks-Church to hear how his ingenious system is on track to eliminating hidden hunger.This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Election Day looms, the one thing everyone can agree on is that the British economy is in a pretty parlous state. So, what's Labour offereing to get Britain out of its stagflation doom-loop, and will it work?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC; Sky News; The Independent; ITV; Forbes; Bayes Business School; Daily MailFurther listening: If the economy’s doing better, why are the ‘vibes’ still off?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City, England's top club, has launched unprecedented legal action against the Premier League - the league it plays in. With such vast sums at stake, what does it mean for the future of British football - and what of the consequences beyond the pitch? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, Sky Sports News, Talk Sport. Further listening: Cocaine and kids: The new face of football hooliganismGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French president Emmanuel Macron has called a snap election after his party was soundly defeated by the hard-right opposition in Sunday’s EU elections. The National Rally has been boosted by young voters, personified by the 28-year-old president of the party Jordan Bardella. So why are France’s youth shifting to the right? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: TikTok/@rnational_off, Jordan Bardella, Reuters, AFP, Financial Times, TikTok/@jordanbardella, ABC News, NBC News. Further listening: The far-right plot to overthrow the German stateHow Italy’s hard-right claimed JRR TolkienGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one of the world's biggest killers but cancer is usually more associated with people in the later stages of life. While that's still largely the case, increasing numbers of younger people seem to be getting the disease. So what could be behind the rise?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Molly Guinness, Times Radio Executive Producer.Eleanor Hayward, Times Health Editor.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC; You, Me and the Big C.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Pennsylvania to New Jersey to Tennessee, The Times’ Megan Agnew spent three weeks on the Taylor Swift trail, discovering the origins of the supersonic star. How does someone go from teenage guitarist to pop phenomenon? Was her fame just luck and talent, or was there a master plan behind it all?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Megan Agnew, Senior Features Writer, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Further listening: Taylor Swift and the ‘Super Bowl plot’ to swing the election Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The Agumbe, known as one of the rainiest places in India and a sanctuary to king cobras, holds one of the last surviving low-land rainforests. However, after years of logging and hunting native reptiles the rainforest, which plays a crucial role key to India’s rain patterns, is under threat. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by one of India’s leading conservationists and renowned herpetologists, Romulus Whitaker, to learn more about the research centres that are bringing hope to the future of the Agumbe and beyond. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark 80 years since D-Day, we revisit the remarkable story of a young man who travel the world to interview surviving World War II veterans. 25-year-old Rishi Sharma sleeps in a rental car and eats one meal a day, but says it's worth it as he wants the next generation to remember the sacrifices made during the Second World War.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times. Rishi Sharma. You can watch Rishi’s interviews on his YouTube channel, ‘Remember WWII with Rishi Sharma’: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRikw4uCjS8ck3O9Mj-N35Q Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: YouTube, CBS, Participant. This episode was first published on 6th March 2023.This weekend, The Times & Sunday Times have opened the paywall. Read Will Pavia's original report here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the #MeToo movement first emerged in America in 2017, women in France spoke out about their own experiences, but it’s taken until this year to feel things might be changing. Is France’s glittering cinema industry, and society in general, ready to address cultural issues of consent and historical sexual abuse? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Caroline Séquin, Assistant Professor of History at Lafayette College.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: France 24, Euronews, Golden Globes Youtube, Le Monde, AP News, France Inter, France 2.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Is Labour as safe as it seems? Why do some of our votes matter ‘more’ than others? And what do polls tell us about who we really are? We take a deep dive into it all from the man behind the concept of the ‘red wall' - including why Mondeo Man and Worcester Woman aren't all they're cracked up to be.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Guest: Pollster James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer, Focaldata.Host: Manveen Rana.Further listening:Sir Keir Starmer, the man who could be Prime Minister. Nigel Farage is standing. Are the Tories in deep trouble? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage has promised to lead a “political revolt” as he announced his return to frontline politics as the new leader of Reform UK - and as a candidate in the Essex seat of Clacton. The Conservatives are already well behind in the polls - so with the general election now just four weeks away, could this mean disaster for the Tories?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryThe other candidates announced as standing in Clacton so far are:Giles Watling, Conservative Party.Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, Labour Party.Matthew Bensilum, Liberal Democrats. Natasha Osben, Green Party. A full list will be published after nominations close on Friday. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Guest: Harry Yorke, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC Radio 4 Today, Sky News, The Telegraph, Reform UK.Further listen: Sir Keir Starmer, the man who could be Prime Minister  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He's the first ever former president in American history to be a convicted felon. Found guilty on 34 separate counts, Donald Trump could now face jail. So what does the verdict mean for him personally, for the presidential election and for a deeply divided America?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Guest: David Charter, Assistant Editor (US), The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC News, Sky News, BBC News, Fox News, RealAmericasVoice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week into the election campaign, Labour is leading the polls by around twenty points. If Labour do win on 4th July, Keir Starmer will be moving to No 10. So, what do we know about the party leader? And, after a week of difficult headlines around the selection of candidates, just how has he changed Labour?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times and co-author of Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, BBC, Labour Party, Plain Jaine' / 'Keep It Light Media, Parliament, LBC.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.If the current trajectory continues, fast fashion emissions are set to surge by 50% by 2030. And with textile production becoming a greater contributor to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined, a crucial question remains - how can the textiles industry harness the power of the circular economy to make global change. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by social entrepreneur and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Denica Riadini-Flesch, live at the Royal Geographical Society, to hear how she is rekindling our connection to the land and creating societal and environmental change, one stitch at a time. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Israeli airstrike that killed at least forty-five displaced Palestinians in Rafah has once again focused the world’s attention on the war in Gaza. The White House insists no red lines have yet been crossed. So where is Biden's red line?Guests: Robert S. Ford, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, and former U.S. Ambassador to Syria.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News; CNN; NBC; C-SPAN; The Guardian; X/Twitter.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Listen back: What if there’s no ceasefire? Manveen Rana reports from Jerusalem (06 March 2024) - https://pod.fo/e/2242e1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two of the century’s biggest artists are exchanging diss track blows in a beef that has engulfed the internet. But how has rap moved on since the violence of the 1990s? With the rappers’ fiery verbal blows raising allegations of domestic violence and sex abuse – how has it got so out of hand? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Guest: Blanca Schofield, Assistant Editor of Culture & Books, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Clips: TikTok, YouTube. Music credits:Alright - Kendrick Lamar/To Pimp a Butterfly/Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope.One Dance - Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla/Views/Young Money/Cash Money/Republic.Hotline Bling - Drake/Views/Young Money/Cash Money/Republic.All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar/SZA/ Crowd Pleasers, Vol. II/Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope.Swimming Pools (Drank) - Kendrick Lamar/Good Kid, M.A.A.D City/Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope.Humble - Kendrick Lamar/Damn/Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope. First Person Shooter - Drake featuring J. Cole/For All the Dogs/OVO/Republic.Like That - Kendrick Lamar, Future and Metro Boomin/ We Don't Trust You/Wilburn Holding Co./Boominati/Epic/Republic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the election now just around the corner, Labour says that if it wins, it’ll take away the tax breaks Britain’s private schools have benefited from for years. The introduction of VAT could push fees up by twenty percent, forcing middle class parents out and putting severe pressure on the sector. So why is Labour making this such a key part of its manifesto, and what could it mean for the future of education?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: Nicola Woolcock, Times Education Editor; and,Oliver Wright, Times Policy Editor.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News; Herald Institute Media.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The state of our rivers is set to be one of the discussion points of the election and time’s ticking on Thames Water’s request for a 56 per cent increase in customers’ bills. As Ofwat mulls that one, it might ask how a company which leaks raw sewage into our rivers managed to rack up unsustainable levels of debt while also paying out dividends to shareholders. Warning: this podcast includes exclusive interviews from those brave enough to take a dip in The Thames.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Dominic O’Connell, business presenter, Times Radio.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: 5 News, Sky News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our modern world is built on chips; they control everything from our cars to the stock market, dishwashers to missile systems, computers to - potentially soon - augmented humans. But with China and America battling for control over production - and about ninety percent of advanced chips made in geo-politically sensitive Taiwan - how secure is the future of our world?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Chris Miller, author of Chip War: the Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology and Professor of International History at Tufts University in Boston.Host: William Hague.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.In Côte d’Ivoire, the Tanoé-Ehy Forest stands as one of West Africa’s last untouched rainforests, a refuge for unique flora and fauna. Despite boasting West Africa's highest biodiversity, aggressive human activities have spared only 2% of the country’s forests. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by Primate Conservation Biologist Inza Koné, a 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate, as he strives to restore the balance between nature's resilience and humanity's unchecked greed, offering hope to the endangered wildlife and surrounding communities that thrive in the Tanoé-Ehy Forest.This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s 'hush money' trial is in its final stages as the prosecution and defence teams have both now rested their cases. The jury will return on Tuesday for closing arguments - and maybe even a verdict. This is ultimately a trial of two competing stories. So who told theirs best?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent for The TimesHost: Luke Jones. Clips: ABC News, WPRI, Forbes, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Michael Cohen's TikTok.  Listen to Jane Mulkerrins discussing Stormy Daniels here.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for July 4 after a day of fevered rumour in Westminster. The prime minister addressed the nation from outside No 10 and pledged to “fight for every vote" while Sir Keir Starmer urged people to vote Labour to "stop the chaos". Manveen Rana was at the heart of it all in Westminster. Why now? And are the parties ready?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: Daniel Finkelstein, Conservative Peer and columnist for The TimesPeter Mandelson, Labour PeerTim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio.Follow the election campaign live on Times RadioGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Raisi’s death has been met with celebrations by those who hate the regime and mourning by those who love it. But could the vacuum left by his passing create a moment of danger for the regime’s hardline clerics and open up an opportunity for Iran’s reformers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Guest: Rana Rahimpour, freelance Iranian journalist.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, BBC News, TODAY, i24 News, Daily Mail.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After decades of buck-passing and over 3000 deaths the infected blood inquiry published its final report finding that patients were betrayed by 'cover-up'. The chairman of the inquiry said the ‘scale of what happened is horrifying’ and the prime minister has apologised. So, as ministers prepare to pay out billions of pounds in compensation, will this be enough for the families of those affected? Has justice finally been achieved? We ask Sunday Times’s Caroline Wheeler, who helped bring the inquiry about.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen RanaClips: Parliament TV, Sky News, ITV, 5 News, Infected Blood Inquiry, World in Action, Lord Mayor of Treloar.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom''Death in the Blood' by Caroline Wheeler is available from the Times Bookshop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hinduja family still leads the Sunday Times Rich List. But this year’s list records the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 36-year history. So why is it happening now and where are the billionaires moving to? Alfie Best, who remains on track to become Britain's first Romany gypsy billionaire, could have the answer. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Robert Watts, Contributor, The Sunday TimesHost: Luke Jones Clips: Sky News, Victorian Plumbing YouTube channel, CEOCAST YouTube channel, News GuardianThe Sunday Times Rich List can be found here, with a subscription. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The High Andes are one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world, but without urgent intervention, this landscape and its surrounding natural beauty will be lost. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by conservationist and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Constantino Aucca Chutas to hear how he is working with local communities to restore ancient cloud forests on the Andean mountain range, which play a vital role in the fight against climate change.This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Shockingly poor quality” is the verdict of a parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s maternity services. It found a system that lacked compassion and concluded, "poor care is all too frequently tolerated as normal". How did this happen? Hannah Barnes talks to Manveen about the birth that left her traumatised and her work to bring it to light. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Hannah Barnes, Associate Editor, New Statesman. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Clips: Parliament, Channel 4, Sky News. Birth trauma inquiry report Support and help: The Birth Trauma Association Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you the first episode of the Times's newest podcast 'The Royals'. Our hugely experienced Royal Editors Roya Nikkhah from The Sunday Times and Kate Mansey of The Times explore the ever-evolving world of the British monarchy. This week, it's all about the children. King Charles and the Duke of Sussex were both in London but no meeting took place - why?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Times investigation into leaked records has identified convicts, fugitives and bankrupts who have secretly invested millions in the Emirates. More than £200 million of property in Dubai has been bought by criminals convicted in British courts and people who have failed to pay debts in the UK. What makes Dubai so attractive to criminals? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests:George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times.Emma Yeomans, News Reporter, The Times.Clips: Visit Dubai. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of nine suspects accused of plotting to overthrow the German government has begun in Stuttgart. The leaders of the far-right group is a 72-year-old self-styled aristocrat and a former AfD MP who was found with a bullet proof vest and night vision goggles. So who exactly are these people? And could the AfD's likely success in the upcoming European elections pose a real threat to German democracy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: DW NEWS, Sky News, AFP. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Open relationships are more popular than ever - but what's it like being in one? And what’s the history of non-monogamous, consensual, romantic relationships - from prehistoric times, via the Second World War to the modern internet age?This podcast contains descriptions of sex and sexual acts.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Further listening:  Are dating apps running out of steam?Guests:Molly Roden Winter, author of More: A Memoir of Open Marriage.Dr Elisabeth Sheff, sociologist, author and polyamory expert.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: Challengers / Luca Guadagnino / Warner Bros. Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios, Couple to Throuple / NBCUniversal / Naked Television / Peacock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.Even for countries with adequate water resources, water scarcity is not uncommon. But for those who live in remote and poverty-stricken areas of the world, water scarcity can be the difference between life and death. With reports suggesting that by 2025 half of the world's population could be living in areas facing water scarcity, is there a way to turn the tide? Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by Kenyan entrepreneur and Laureate of the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise Beth Koigi to learn more about her commitment to provide water access for those in need with her innovative solution, harvesting drinking water from the air. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an international manhunt, the FBI and Interpol say they have found a man wanted on multiple charges in four US states, who faked his death before fleeing America for Scotland. But the Glasgow resident at the centre of the case insists he is the victim of a "monstrous" miscarriage of justice – that he is not Nicholas Rossi, but is Arthur Knight, an Irish-born orphan who has never visited the United States. Our reporter investigates.This episode was first published in October 2022.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: Marc Horne, News Reporter, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro-Palestinian protests that started at US campuses weeks ago have now spread to the UK and many parts of Europe. The US student protests are reminiscent of the 1968 Vietnam War protests which resulted in a political shift to the right and the election of Richard Nixon. Could Donald Trump leverage this civil unrest for political gain, just as Nixon did in 1968? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Guest: Josie Ensor, US Correspondent, The Times. Mark Naison, Professor of History, Fordham University.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, PBS News, CNN, ITV News, Al-Jazeera, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sunday Times’ investigative team, Insight, has combed through 6,000 top secret documents to piece together the story of multiple military and government cover ups into the murder of civilians during the Afghan conflict. Today, in part two, we hear about the methods used to stymie, block and obstruct the course of justice. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: - Jonathan Calvert, Insight investigative team editor, The Sunday Times- George Arbuthnott, Insight investigative team deputy editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sunday Times’ investigative team, Insight, has combed through 6,000 top secret documents to piece together the story of multiple military and government cover ups into the murder of civilians during the Afghan conflict. Today, in part one, we hear about the senior special forces commander, codename N1466, who blew the whistle. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: - Jonathan Calvert, Insight investigative team editor, The Sunday Times, and- George Arbuthnott, Insight investigative team deputy editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Military.com.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former MI5 double agent, Anthony Blunt, was unmasked as a Soviet mole in 1979 but the full extent of what he did isn’t known. Could he have been more dangerous than we thought? A new book has uncovered how he may have helped Hitler during the Second World War. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Robert Verkaik, Author of The Traitor of Arnhem. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Channel 4, UK Parliament/Hansard, Netflix/The Crown Season 3, AP Archive.  Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Bank Holiday Monday listeners of The Story are treated to an episode of another podcast from The Times 'Off Air with Jane & Fi.' In this episode they are joined by author Salman Rushdie to discuss his new memoir 'Knife' where he talks about the vicious attack he survived in New York in 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix's latest hit, Baby Reindeer, is a fictional account of a real-life stalking, which our guest has experienced, too. So what happens in complicated stalking cases, when the lines between criminality, complicity and consent are blurred?If you've been affected by any of the issues we've talked about today, do have a look at Paladin, the charity that Sarah used for help at paladinservice.co.uk.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest:  Sarah Ditum, writer for The Times and The Sunday Times, and author of Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Baby Reindeer © 2024 / Official Trailer / Netflix / creator: Richard GaddGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Further listening: Sextapes, gossip blogs, and Paris Hilton: How the noughties went toxicFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They were some of the most turbulent years of British politics as Prime Minister Theresa May steered her Brexit deal, via unprecedented disasters and triumphs, through parliament. The ultimate insider, Tim Shipman, Sunday Times’ chief political commentator was there throughout and shares new revelations and his unfiltered reflections on the politicians who led us through it all.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Tim Shipman, chief political commentator, The Sunday Times and author of No Way Out: From the Backstop to BorisHost: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC News, Channel 4 News and 5 News.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 13 months in power, First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned - and for the second time in as many years the SNP is looking for a new leader. So, how did it come to this for the once-dominant party? And what could it mean for the general election and the campaign for Scottish independence?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-storyGuests: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: STV News, The Guardian, Sky News, ITV News, SNP, Financial Times, The Sun.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Gaza grinds on, and US President Joe Biden comes under increasing pressure to curb Israel's most serious military excesses, his administration has - for the first time ever - announced it's considering imposing sanctions on one specific Israeli Army unit. So what is the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, and why is it in America’s sights?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-storyGuests: Gabrielle Weiniger, Times Correspondent based in Israel.Host: Manveen RanaClips: ILTV News; France 24; Global News; AP; All Israel NewsGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prospect of internal conflict, as depicted in Alex Garland’s new film ‘Civil War’, is no longer regarded as an impossibility in America. With millions of guns in circulation, militia membership on the rise, and citizens relocating along ideological lines, could the US descend into a new civil war?Guests:Sarah Baxter, Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.Barbara F Walter, Rohr Professor of International Affairs at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California in San Diego.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Civil War © 2024, A24  / Entertainment Film Distributors, Director Alex Garland, The Telegraph, The Washington Post, The Evening Standard, CNN, The Independent, CBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of former teachers and a cryptocurrency trader are teaching at a suspected illegal school, Universallkidz in Manchester, in which children are being educated to become the next generation of conspiracy theorists. The Times’ Tom Ball went undercover as a teacher to find out more.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Tom Ball, Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Mentioned in this episode: Hope Sussex school trains next generation of conspiracy theorists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William Hague sits down with Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor and one of the world’s leading thinkers on artificial intelligence, to discuss how tech could be the great equaliser, how we must control it and how the world will be unrecognisable in 5 years time. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor, author, thought leader.Host: William Hague.Further listening: Artificial intelligence: Our bright new future or the end of humanity?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two years of legal disputes and political debate, Parliament has approved the government's Rwanda bill to send asylum seekers from the UK to be processed in east Africa. The question now: when will the first plane to Kigali depart? And will this be a political win for Rishi Sunak who says he wants to 'stop the boats'? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Clips: BBC Parliament, ITV, BBC News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With young people in Britain and across the world increasingly reliant on smartphones, and many teens now openly admitting they’re addicted to social media, could an entire generation be suffering serious and irreversible damage, and what should we as a society do to stop it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Times Feature Writer and Columnist.Host: Manveen Rana. Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Clips: NBC News, ITV News, Bloomberg Technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India's PM Narendra Modi is favoured to win a third term as 970 million voters hit the polls in a six-week general election. Using an aggressive digital campaign, he’s doubling down on Hindu nationalism and promising more development. However, crackdowns on opposition and the press have intensified during his decade-long leadership, raising concerns about the future of India's secular democracy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Guest: Philip Sherwell, Asia correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Maveen Rana. Clips: ANI, Reuters, DW News, BBC, CNN, The Wire, Brut India.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The call came in the dead of night. “Are you on your own?” the man said. “I’ve got in with some bad people and they’ve locked me in a flat and they want £5,000 to release me.” The caller was Mark Menzies, the Conservative MP for Fylde in Lancashire. The Times investigation reveals a litany of allegations involving sex, drugs and a drunk dog. Mark Menzies disputes all the allegations, and says he “fully complied with all the rules for declarations.”This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Billy Kenber, Senior Investigations Reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Further listening: The council house row Angela Rayner can't shake.  Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has made history yet again, as the first American president to face a criminal trial. It’s one of four criminal cases against him - and the legal arguments already have experts divided. But what about the woman at the centre of it? What’s her story?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-storyGuest: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times Magazine.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Forbes, Fox News.Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Police are investigating whether Labour’s deputy leader broke “any offences”, including under electoral law, after Tory MPs alleged that she may have given false information about her main residence - an ex council house she purchased - a decade ago. Rayner, who has promised to resign if she is found to have committed a crime, said she “followed the rules at all times”. But how damaging could this row be to her - and to her party.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-storyGuest: Kate McCann, Political Editor, Times Radio.Host: Luke JonesClips: BBC, Newsnight, ITV, 5 News, Sky News.Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Israeli government is considering its response to Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack over the weekend. Israel’s allies – led by the US – have called for restraint, so, as the world tries desperately to de-escalate the situation, what could happen next?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Samer Al-Atrush, Middle East Correspondent, The Times, andGabrielle Weiniger, correspondent based in Israel, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CBS News; Israeli Defence Force; United Nations; UK Prime Minister; Sky News; ABC News; Al Jazeera; DW News, Parliament.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world’s most successful rappers, Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs is facing multiple lawsuits, with accusations from rape to sex trafficking. So what’s going on and who are the other famous faces being named? This podcast contains descriptions of sexual assault.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Keiran Southern, West Coast correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Good Morning America, The Recording Academy / The Grammys, Law&Crime Network, ABC, FOX, Firstpost, FREEDOMNEWS TV, New York Mickey, Vogue, J Nolan, CBS.Further listening: Will the mystery of Tupac’s death finally be solved?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Music: Burna Boy, 21 Savage, Brandy / On Form / City Boys / Atlantic Records; Been Around The World / Puff Daddy & The Family feat. The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase / Bad Boy Records; I’ll Be MIssing You / Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 112 / Bad Boy Records; Notorious B.I.G / The Notorious B.I.G feat. Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy / Bad Boy Records; Family Affair / Mary J. Blige / MCA; No More Drama / Mary J. Blige / MCA; Bad Boy for Life / P. Diddy, Black Rob and Mark Curry / Bad Boy Records, Arista; Hypnotize / The Notorious B.I.G. feat Pamela Long / Bad Boy Records, Arista; Nasty Girl / The Notorious B.I.G. feat Jagged Edge, P. Diddy, Avery Storm, Nelly / Bad Boy Records, Atlantic; Lady Marmalade / Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink / Interscope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 2019, a teenager pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch was found dead by the river Thames. Police investigated but the parents of 19-year-old Zac Brettler felt they still lacked answers. Now a Sunday Times' investigation has uncovered evidence that raises serious questions about the Metropolitan Police's handling of the case. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manven Rana.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As police investigate the sending of explicit text messages to dozens of politicians, staff and political journalists, and the man at the centre of the scandal – Conservative MP William Wragg - resigned the party whip. The Times Chief Political Correspondent, Aubrey Allegretti, tells us what he’s discovered about the Westminster sexting scam, how many people could be involved, and who might be behind it. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: Aubrey Allegretti, Times Chief Political Correspondent.Host: Manveen RanaGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Bates, the campaigner who took on the Post Office to expose flaws in its IT systems which led to wrongful convictions, has appeared before the public inquiry into the scandal. Can this crucial stage of the inquiry take the victims a step closer to justice?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Tom Witherow, news and special projects reporter, The Times.  Host: Luke Jones. Further listening: The Post Office scandal: How a TV drama delivered justiceClips: Channel 4 News, ITV. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's new slogan, "develop new productive forces," aims to bolster the expansion of high-tech sectors to drive economic growth. China already dominates the world of electric cars and controls more than 80 percent of the global solar panel manufacturing market. So, what could China’s technological dominance mean for the West? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory Guest: Richard Spencer, China Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: AP Archive, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, YouTube/RUSI, Sky News, Reuters, BYD Europe, ABC News, CBS News.   Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Kinahan is the head of a billion dollar international crime cartel and one of the world's most wanted men but he's been sharing his whereabouts and opinions through Google reviews. What is the normally security conscious man doing, and could the information ultimately lead to his capture?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: John Mooney, crime and security correspondent, Sunday Times Ireland.Host: Calum Macdonald.Clips: Raidió Teilifís Éireann, US State Department.Further listening: Inside the Kinahan crime cartel and their billion euro empireGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden has called for an immediate ceasefire and Rishi Sunak is facing pressure to stop arms sales to Israel after an IDF strike killed aid workers in Gaza. This comes days after the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. What does this mean for Israel as the world marks 6 months since the October 7 terror attacks?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times. Gabrielle Weiniger, Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Reuters, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Times Radio, IDF.  Further listening: What if there’s no ceasefire? Manveen Rana reports from JerusalemA diary of war: Three months in Gaza  Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government says their much anticipated childcare reform, offering two-year-olds 15 hours a week of free childcare, is hitting targets. But parents and providers say the scheme’s rollout has been chaotic. Today, we go to a pre-school to find out what the reality looks like. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuests:Rachel Mortimer, Assistant Money Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Josephine Godbold, owner and director, Sunny Kids Pre-Schools.Special thanks to Desiree Chantarasak, and the children and teachers at Sunny Kids. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: UK Parliament, BBC Breakfast. Further listening: Childcare is a mess. Who will tidy it up?Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into force on Monday - and within 48 hours at least 800 'hate crimes' had been reported to Scottish police. So, what's in it? And why has it put Scotland once again at the centre of the culture wars?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory Guest: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times & Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, Sky News, This Morning, JRE, The Daily Mail, ITV News, BBC, TalkTV, BBC, GB News, Police Scotland, Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's official: With Donald Trump confirmed as the Republican nominee, the US presidential race will be a Trump v Biden rematch. And with the primary contest over, Trump seems to be courting chaos again with some of the most infamous personalities from his 2016 presidential campaign slated to make a comeback. So just who is on Team Trump? And what do they tell us about the kind of race he will run?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: David Charter, Assistant Editor (US), The Times.Host: Calum Macdonald.Clips: Associated Press, NBC News, ABC News, C-SPAN, Guardian News, Lara Trump, BBC News.Further listening: What to expect from President Trump 2.0Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Times investigation has revealed a worrying lack of security at a prison housing dangerous criminals, prompting an urgent investigation by the Ministry of Justice. The journalist who went undercover at HMP Bedford tells The Story about witnessing fights and drugs - and hearing of a prison escape because of doors being left unlocked.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGuest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Times Radio, BBC.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our new monthly series of interviews, former foreign secretary and Times columnist William Hague speaks to his first guest, prime minister Rishi Sunak in Downing Street about juggling work and life as a dad, the threats and opportunities of AI, and inheriting ‘the worst hospital pass in many decades.’ This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory. Guest: Prime minister Rishi SunakHost: William HagueEmail us at our new address: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As President Putin repeats his assertion that Ukraine and the West are behind the terrorist attack last week that killed 137 Russians, the evidence is only growing that this was the work of ISIS. The culprits come from a faction that have risen out of the ashes of the former ISIS Caliphate: ISIS-K. So who are they? And how worried should the rest of the world be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory. Guest: Mark Galeotti, historian, journalist and author of ‘We Need to Talk About Putin,’ ‘Putin’s Wars’ and ‘A Short History of Russia.’Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Telegraph, PBS Newshour.Email us at our new address: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer has promised he will hold a vote on assisted dying if he wins the general election. In Canada - where it was made legal in 2016 - over 50,000 people have already been helped to die. So with momentum growing in Britain, could the Canadian experience hold important lessons for us?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guest: Sarah Baxter, former deputy editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV, Global News, Reuters. Email us at our new address: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fentanyl kills 200 people a day in America, a deadly epidemic felt throughout the country. We trace the journey of chemicals from China, to the drug labs of Mexico to the streets of the United States. Can the tide be stemmed?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guests: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent, The Times & The Sunday Times, and Keiran Southern, West Coast correspondent, The Times & The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNBC, NBC News, ABC News, C-Span.Further listening: China’s deadly role in America’s fentanyl epidemicGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Saturday morning we're sharing an episode of Times podcast How to Win an Election with listeners of The Story.In the US, Taylor Swift could have the power to swing the presidential election. As famous faces come out to back Keir Starmer's plans for the arts, we ask when a celebrity endorsement can boost a campaign... and when it can go badly wrong.The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss star power, and who could be the next Conservative leader - could the runners and riders include Michael Gove and even David Cameron? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The whereabouts of the Princess of Wales is still under intense scrutiny after footage of William and Kate shopping failed to provide reassurance - and instead led to even more conspiracy theories. Does the obsession with Kate echo the days of Diana? And could the frenzy permanently damage Kensington Palace's brand?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guest: Kate Mansey, Assistant Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, Fox News, The View, Anderson Cooper 360. Further listening: Kate, that photo, and a PR nightmareGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Data journalist Matilda Davies opened her first Facebook account when she was 11 years old. Years later, she requested all the information the social media behemoth had been collecting on her. What she uncovered shocked her. So, how exactly does the data gathering work? And what can we all do to reclaim some privacy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guest: Matilda Davies, data journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC, The Guardian.  Students can subscribe to The Times for £9.99 a year for 3 years. Click here to access this special offerEmail us at our new address: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHS has announced a ban on puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria. This week, Parliament will debate a bill sponsored by Liz Truss that would make it a criminal offence to prescribe any drugs to children for treating gender dysphoria, including in private clinics. But the story behind this overhaul in treatment began five years ago, with an explosive investigation from The Times’ Lucy Bannerman.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guest: Lucy Bannerman, News feature writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News Australia, X/Daniel ShelveyGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The aviation giant, Boeing, is facing intense scrutiny after a series of incidents involving their commercial planes. The company was once a pillar of America's post-WW2 industrial empire - so what’s gone wrong?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory.Guest: Dominic O’ConnellHost: Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC News 4, Reuters, Prelinger Archives, NASA, BBC News, The Sun, US National Archives, ABC News, NBC TODAY, KING 5 Seattle, KATU News. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. The family member most likely to sexually abuse a child is their brother or sister. For years sexual abuse by siblings has been too much of a taboo to discuss but more survivors of abuse come forward to discuss their experiences. We hear from one of them on today’s podcast. If you or someone you know has been affected by sibling sexual abuse support and advice can be found Sibling Sexual Abuse Support and the Sibling Sexual Abuse Resource Centre.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Decca Aitkenhead, chief interviewer, The Sunday Times, andLiz Roberts, sibling sexual abuse survivor.and advocate, www.liz-roberts.co.uk.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Russia going to the polls this weekend, and President Putin’s grip on power tighter than ever, any semblance of meaningful opposition has been suppressed or driven out. One notable exception was the brief but bloody attempted mutiny last summer by the mercenaries of the Wagner Group. So with its challenge to Putin crushed, and its leadership dead…what came next for Wagner?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute.Host: Manveen RanaClips: Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, BBC, NBC, AfricanewsGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haiti’s acting prime minster has resigned, bending to pressure from the US. The move leaves a power vacuum into which has apparently stepped Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier. So, with much of the country's capital now a no-go zone, how did Haiti get here? And how did gang leader ‘Barbecue’ get his nickname? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent for The Times.Mario Delatour, Haitian-American documentary filmmaker.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, BBC, CNN, France 24, WPLG Local 10, ABC, Biographics.If you enjoyed this episode, you might like this one: Haiti: a failed state? https://pod.fo/e/16785cEmail us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Odysseus lander touched down on the lunar surface last month, it became the first US presence on the moon in more than fifty years. But unlike the Cold War space race between two global superpowers, we now see a growing roster of nations - and private companies - vying to announce their presence on the moon. So with competition for rare resources looking set to intensify…who owns the moon, and could conflict there mean war on earth?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Professor Anthony Grayling, Principal of Northeastern University, London, philosopher and author of Who Owns the Moon?Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNBC News, Fox News, NASA, BBC News, CBS News, ABC News, C-SPAN, NBC News, CBC News.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new photo of the Princess of Wales released after months of social media speculation about her health has further fuelled conspiracy theories. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Kate Mansey, Royal Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC, Inside Edition. Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Tuesday 19th March, Stories of our times will become The Story. Manveen Rana and Luke Jones will be joined on the podcast by Times columnist and former foreign secretary William Hague, who once a month will sit down with a prominent newsmaker or thinker, with his first episode available later in March. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After she resigned in 2022, everyone thought Liz Truss would disappear. Not a bit of it. She’s earned more than £300,000 from speeches, has a new book out and is a favourite of America’s alt-right. Rachel Sylvester asks Westminster insiders: is the former PM deluded or planning a comeback? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Rachel Sylvester, columnist, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: WarRoom.org, ITV News, Parliament, GB News, Sky News, Times Radio, CPAC, Conservatives, IoG, CNN.Further listening: The untold story of Liz Truss's chaotic 49 days in No 10 Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One in four drugs that are prescribed to adults in England are dependency-forming drugs. And while prescriptions for opioids have fallen following the epidemic in the US, two dependency-forming drug groups have seen prescriptions rise: pregabalin and antidepressants. Do we really understand how these drugs are affecting patients? Or are we sleep-walking into a new addiction crisis?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you've been prescribed any of the drugs mentioned in this podcast, do not stop taking your prescription without consulting your doctor first. And if you are concerned about dependence on prescription or other drugs, talk to your GP. If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600. Guest: Venetia Menzies, Data and Digital Journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tax burdens are at the highest level in living memory, yet public services are falling apart. That's why the rich should pay more tax, says our guest: economist and millionaire Gary Stevenson, a working-class kid who went from being expelled at school to becoming Citibank’s most successful trader. But would a wealth tax work?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Lily Russell-Jones, senior money reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.- Gary Stevenson, economist, millionaire former trader and author of The Trading Game: A Confession. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: GB News, parliamentlive.tvIf you enjoyed this episode, you might like this one: 'Who is Britain's richest person?' https://pod.fo/e/17d4b3Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We report from Israel during a critical week which might mark a tipping point in the Gaza war. If there isn't a ceasefire by the start of Ramadan this weekend, could violence erupt far beyond Gaza? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Tamir Hayman, managing director of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies. - Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel. - Samer Sinijlawi, chairman of the Jerusalem Development Fund. Clips: Reuters, News9 Live, CBS. Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK - a fringe political party founded by Nigel Farage - is unlikely to win many seats, it has little money and its leader has a low profile. But the Conservatives are still nervous about the Farage effect following a bruising by-election. Could the rise of Reform be the nail in the coffin for the Tories? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Harry Yorke, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.  Clips: YouTube, Reform UK. GB News.  Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, Operation Kenova, a long running investigation into a man known as Stakeknife, the British Army’s top spy within the IRA, will finally be published. Did the British government knowingly allow murder in order to protect its man on the inside? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sean O’Neill, senior writer, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ITV News, Policing Board, Thames TV, BBC.Further listening: An unsolved murder, the Troubles, and the British stateGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He's been skewering those in power with his drawings for The Times since 1992. In an age where finding the balance between satire and offence can be a fraught, Peter Brookes, our award-winning political cartoonist, discusses his brush with Boris Johnson, why he appreciates a loathsome politician, and the challenges of drawing Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Peter Brookes, political cartoonist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, NBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate now looking all but certain, Donald Trump's grip on his party seems to get stronger with every primary. On Tuesday night, he added another emphatic victory to the list in Michigan. But with Super Tuesday just days away, he still has one opponent left standing. So who is Nikki Haley? And what's motivating her to keep going in the face of almost impossible odds? Register here for Times US Election Live Q&A: https://times-event.com/us-election/ This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, Assistant Editor (US), The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Fox News, Sky News, BBC News, CBS News, C-SPAN, NBC News, CNN. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamas has been sent a proposal for a new pause in military operations in Gaza, including the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, one month on from the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel must let more aid into Gaza – has this happened? We speak to a British paramedic in Rafah.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Iain Campbell, paramedic and aid worker in Gaza.- George Grylls, defence and political correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ICJ, The Times/US Network Pool, Forbes, Reuters, CBC News, BBC News, France24, TRT World.  Further listening: A diary of war: Three months in GazaGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Thursday, Rochdale voters will be asked to cast their vote in a by-election following the death last month of MP Sir Tony Loyd. There is technically no Labour candidate standing, though three former ones are. So what’s happening? And as the by-election is being framed by some as a referendum on Gaza - what of the other issues facing the town?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Darryl Morris, Presenter, Times Radio.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'A full list of the candidates for the Rochdale by-election can be found here: https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/elections-voting/statement-persons-nominated-notice-poll Clips: Sky News, BBC, Daily Mail, George Galloway, Good Morning Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the contraceptive pill was introduced in the 1960s, many considered it to be one of the most significant inventions of the 20th Century. Sixty years on, a generation of young women are questioning the pill - but why? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Sunday Times. Kate Muir, Author, Everything You Need to Know About The Pill.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS, ITV, TikTok, Channel 4.   Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you murder someone, you get a life sentence. But what does a life sentence actually mean in practice? We speak to a bereaved parent fighting to end one of the justice system’s most egregious sentencing disparities.Murder sentencing consultation (closing date: March 4, 2024): https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/murder-sentencing-consultation/This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Carole Gould, mother of Ellie Gould, and co-founder of Killed Women. - Lucy Bannerman, News Feature Writer, The Times.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With ever-increasing house prices across the country far outstripping the rate at which earnings are rising, millions of young people are now being forced to either live at home with their parents, or pay extortionate rent in a market where landlords have all the power. So what hope is there for Generation Rent?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Lily Russell-Jones, Senior Money Writer, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: GB News; The Independent; BBC Radio 4; Times Radio.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza will be debated in the House of Commons today, all eyes are on Labour. The party has tiptoed around a position on the war in Gaza since the terrorist attacks of October 7th, causing divisions among MPs and supporters. Will Keir Starmer’s eleventh hour call for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” be enough to see off another rebellion and hold his party together in an election year? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Geraldine Scott, senior political correspondent, The Times, andRyan Watts, Data Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC News, Sky News, Parliament, Mayor of London, BBC News, LBC, AFP, Times Radio.Further listening: Keir Starmer’s Blairite playbookGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexei Navalny, Russia's opposition leader, is dead. His wife says that President Putin killed her husband while the Russian state denies any involvement. What does his death mean for the opposition, the Kremlin and the future of Russia?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Mark Galeotti, historian, journalist and author of ‘We Need to Talk About Putin,’ ‘Putin’s Wars’ and ‘A Short History of Russia.’Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: MEDIAZONE, BBC, SKY, @yulia_navalny / X.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An overwhelming demand for ADHD diagnoses has left the NHS struggling to keep up. What’s behind the rise?Content warning: This episode contains mentions of suicidal thoughts and eating disorders.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Kat Brown, journalist and author of It's Not A Bloody Trend: Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult.- Dr Ulrich Müller-Sedgwick, consultant psychiatrist.   Host: Darryl Morris. Clips: Times Radio, BBC.  Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Nolan has become a franchise unto himself; one of the few directors who can walk into a studio with an original idea and walk out with the millions needed to make it. His latest film, Oppenheimer, has grossed over a billion dollars and been nominated for 13 Oscars. Today he takes us inside the making of the film.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Christopher Nolan.Host: Tom Shone.Clips: Universal Pictures/Oppenheimer, Warner Bros. Pictures/Interstellar, Golden Globes.Closing music by Jason Mayo.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special counsel report in the US has again raised questions about Joe Biden’s mental faculties, describing the President as "a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." So, what are the mechanisms to replace him, were he to step aside or be removed?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, assistant editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An alleged Russian spy was an Afghan refugee who had worked his way into the British Foreign Office. According to court documents, he had met two Prime Ministers, the King and Prince William during the course of his work. The man, known only as ‘C2’ denies all the allegations.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Emma Yeomans, News reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With millions of people across the UK struggling to access NHS dental care, and many being forced to go private or even treat themselves at home, how did dentistry in Britain reach this point, how serious is the crisis, and what can be done to fix it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Dr. Paul Woodhouse from the Grange Dental Practice and, - Rachel Sylvester, Times Columnist and Chair of the Times Health Commission.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Channel 4 News, UK Parliament, AP (British Movietone).Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cheap drones, robots and AI have all shaped the conduct of the war in Ukraine. Ahead of its second anniversary on 24th February, Manveen talks to eminent war historian, Sir Lawrence Freedman, about how war will never be the same again.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Al Jazeera, Sky News, BBC News, DW News, CNN, Global News, ABC News, MGM/UA Entertainment Company/United International Pictures.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How King Charles’s cancer diagnosis will affect the monarchy and those in it, personally and professionally.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, Channel 4, BBC, Sky News, CNN, WION, CBS, TODAY, BBC, TalkTV, Fabulous Magazine, AFP, ABC, CBS, GB News.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday in America this weekend. But whispers from some corners of the internet suggest there’s a bigger game afoot. So just how did Taylor Swift find herself at the centre of a conspiracy theory involving America's biggest television event and a presidential election? And is there any truth to any of it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Hoyle, Foreign Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Recording Academy/GRAMMYs, MSNBC, NBC, NFLonFOX, Netflix, TikTok/NowThis, CNN, Taylor Swift, Restoring National Confidence SummitGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quarter of people watching pornography are women, but why do we find it hard to comprehend? We speak to the author of a new book who has interviewed one hundred women about their porn habits - what can we learn about women’s pleasure? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Fiona Vera-Gray, deputy director at the Child and Women’s Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University, and author of Women on Porn: One hundred stories. One vital conversation. Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: Times Radio, The Tomorrow Show/NBC. Listen to Megan Agnew’s account of being inside an orgasm ‘commune’ hereGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is increasingly embattled, amid protests by the families of hostages calling for him to go. Could this crisis lead to his downfall? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anshel Pfeffer, Times contributor in Jerusalem and author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, CBC News, NBC News, American Jewish Committee, CNA, Channel 12 News, News9 Live, Face the Nation/CBS, Channel 4 News. Listen to Amal Helles’s diary of life inside Gaza here. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an interview over the weekend, President Zelensky announced a major shake up in the Ukrainian army. It comes after a week-long battle between Zelensky and his top general. So after all of this internal disarray – how is the war seen right now by Ukrainians? Anthony Loyd returns from another trip to the country, where he embedded with brigades and met the men desperate to avoid conscription. This episode contains frank descriptions of warfare.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anthony Loyd, Special Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Telegram/Щоденник ВільногоGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hear the story of one woman who was stalked by her ex-boyfriend, as domestic abuse charities warn that young people are becoming accustomed to a high level of monitoring in romantic relationships. And one of our producers finds out first hand what it's like to be tracked. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. If you’ve been affected by issues in this podcast, you can find a list of organisations that offer support here. Refuge also runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women experiencing domestic abuse, their family, friends and others calling on their behalf. You can call them on their free 24-hour helpline: 0808 2000 247Guest: Constance Kampfner, News Reporter, The Times. Host: Will Roe. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Palestinian journalist Amal Helles has been reporting for The Times and The Sunday Times from Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel, and the beginning of the conflict in October. Foreign journalists aren't allowed unaccompanied into the territory, where she lives with her husband and two small children. So we’ve been talking to her via WhatsApp voice notes about life amid food shortages, bombing and evacuation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Amal Helles, journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Olivia Case.Clips: France 24, Inside Edition, BBC, WSL, NBC, The Guardian, ABC, Al Jazeera, CBS, CTV, TRT World, ABC, WION, 13News Now, 13WMAZ, Channel 4, AP, PBS, The National, Reuters, DW News, Middle East Eye, Democracy Now, MSNBC.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former adviser to the prime minister is working with a secretive group of Tories to remove him from office before the general election. MPs have been out publicly backing Rishi Sunak and denying their involvement, but it risks setting off yet another civil war in the party. So who are the rebels? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Steven Swinford, Political Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Times Radio, Parliament Live, 10 Downing Street, BBC News, BBC Radio 4 Today, Sky News, BBC Breakfast. If you enjoyed this episode, you might like this one too: Keir Starmer’s Blairite playbookGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, three American troops were killed in a drone strike on a US base in Jordan. At least 34 were wounded. The group responsible for the attack is one of the many Iran-backed militias that operate in the region, and they've now announced that they will halt further attacks on the US. So did Iran authorise the attack? And, at a time of such heightened tensions in the Middle East, is it a sign that Iran is losing control of its proxy forces - or preparing for war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Spencer, Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Fox News, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, BBC.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While UK students need straight As to get onto prestigious Russell Group degree courses, their international classmates can buy their way in through secret routes. An undercover Sunday Times investigation has already prompted an urgent review by the Department for Education. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times. - George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OneTaste, the organisation behind the practice 'orgasmic meditation', was hailed as visionary at its peak. Since then, its leader, Nicole Daedone, has been arrested by the FBI on forced labour charges and her group has been branded a 'cult' – allegations they deny vehemently. But what is it? Sunday Times reporter Megan Agnew was invited to their California compound, The Land, to find out.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: ABC7 News, YouTube/Rebecca Watson, Eros Platform @OneTaste, goop.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Russian-born trader and a billionaire who admitted to fraud have topped this year’s Sunday Times Tax List, but more than two-thirds of the 100 individuals and families on the list contributed less tax this year. So, at a time when the tax bill for most people is up, who is paying less, and why?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Robert Watts, Contributor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News, Sky Sports News, Bloomberg, YouTube - Ed Sheeran. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer is on the pre-campaign trail this week, promoting his five missions that Labour are pledging to achieve if they win the upcoming election. It comes after the most detailed polling yet predicted a landslide majority to rival Tony Blair’s 1997 win. So what would Starmer actually do in government? And what lessons is he taking from the Blairite playbook? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Philip Collins, Columnist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC Newsnight, Times Radio, ITV News, Sky News, The Rest is Politics, Labour, The Guardian, The Times, Novara Media, BBC News. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK health chiefs have declared a national incident following a surge in measles cases in the Midlands and London, and the World Health Organisation warned yesterday that it's spreading rapidly across Europe too. Measles is a disease many doctors thought they would never see again – so what's going on?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links: The Battle of the Beams by Tom WhippleClips: Times Radio, Sky News, Channel 4 News, CBS News, Right America Media, Vaxxed/Cinema Libre Studio.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise Callaghan has spent most of the last decade reporting from the Middle East. During that time she witnessed a coup attempt in Turkey, the battle to free Mosul, and was the first Western journalist to report on a gas attack in Syria in 2018. As she heads to the US to report on the election there, she reflects on the lessons she learned in the region.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Louise Callaghan, former Middle East Correspondent and current Senior US Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Euronews, TRT World, RTE, France 24, Al Jazeera.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following his seminal book Empireland, Times writer Sathnam Sanghera now looks at the legacy of colonialism for the billions of people Britain once ruled over – from houseplants to the state of democracy. He also tells us about the fallout from Empireland, and why the debate around our own history has become so toxic. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Sathnam Sanghera, Writer, The Times, and author of Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The British Council, BBC News, TODAY/NBC, Empire/Goalhanger, Parliament Live, Chatham House, Conservatives. Read more: Sathnam Sanghera: why I’m taking on the racist trolls againEmail us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After trying - and failing - to kill him via lethal injection, Alabama is planning to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith next week using an untested method - nitrogen suffocation. But why are they resorting to this? And could he get a last minute reprieve?Today's episode contains descriptions of death and execution, right from the start - so do consider if you want to listen.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, FOX, NewsNation.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three months into the war in Gaza, the conflict has reached a courtroom: the International Court of Justice in the Hague. South Africa says we are witnessing a genocide take place in real time. Israel has called the claims ‘preposterous’. A leading expert in international law walks us through the case and its possible consequences.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Holger Hestermeyer, Professor of International and EU Law, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: United Nations, Channel 4 News, LBC, Sky News.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years after Mean Girls introduced Regina George and her pink-clad Plastics to cinema screens, the high-school Queen Bee is back in a new musical film and a West End stage musical. So why is a film for teenage girls still so popular two decades later? And what did it expose about the complicated politics of girl world?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, pop culture historian and author of So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (And Why We’re Still So Obsessed With It).Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Mean Girls (2004)/Paramount Pictures, CBS Sunday Morning, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien/NBC, The Breakfast Club/Universal Pictures, Clueless/Paramount Pictures, Rosalind Wiseman/The Empower Program, Mean Girls (2024)/Paramount Pictures, Apex Predator/Barrett Wilbert Weed, Erika Henningsen/Mean Girls (Original Broadway Cast Recording).Read more:The enduring cult of Mean Girls That is so fetch! Reneé Rapp, the star of the new Mean Girls movieEmail us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis began firing missiles into Israel shortly after the invasion of Gaza. But when the rebels started targeting commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the US and UK hit back. So, who are the Houthis and can they be stopped?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Dr Elisabeth Kendall, Arabist & Middle East specialist and Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge University. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC, CBS, BBC, France 24, Al Jazeera, Reuters, YouTube/Dr Elisabeth Kendall. Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, thousands of court documents about Jeffrey Epstein were released, unredacted, for the first time. They include new names and allegations about a number of high profile figures. So what did we learn and will anyone go to jail?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC, Talk TV, News Nation, WFF News, BBC, NBC, MSNBC, AP, City News, E News.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, Taiwan heads to the polls. It’s the first election of a historic year, where more than half of the world’s population will vote. It could also be one of the most consequential. If the ‘wrong’ candidate wins, China may threaten the self-governing island which the US has pledged to defend.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: MSNBC, Atlantic Council, TaiwanPlus News, CNA, Bloomberg Television, CBS 60 minutes, Sky News Australia, Associated Press.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister has announced new legislation to quash the convictions of wrongly accused subpostmasters. It comes after a groundswell of interest - and outrage - in the story after an ITV drama was broadcast last week. How did a TV show achieve what years of journalism and a public inquiry had failed to? And what next for the convicted subpostmasters?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Witherow, news and special projects reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, ITV, Parliament, Talk TV, GMB.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American economy appears to be making a miraculous recovery from inflation and the pandemic. So why the bad economic vibes? Consumer sentiment is low, and the Biden administration is struggling to gain credit for dodging recession. The lessons from that could soon be felt here, as Britain heads towards an election.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNN, ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ - D:Ream/Magnet Records, Kyla Scanlon, Press Association, Sky News.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1972 a small plane with 45 souls on board crashed in the Andes mountains. Stranded for ten weeks in minus 30C, the survivors were eventually forced to eat the bodies of their friends. Their story has been made into a new film 'Society of the Snow'; we hear from a survivor.This podcast contains scenes of a graphic nature. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Blanca Schofield, assistant culture and books editor at The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: NBC News, 7NEWS, Ave Maria / Franz Schubert / Yehudi Menuhin & Adolph Baller / Paul Gordon & George Moskov / BBV Production / EuroArts Music.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1991, 26 year old Margaret Perry was murdered. A year later, the three men suspected of being responsible were themselves killed. All four deaths came during the latter years of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Will a long awaited investigation into the period finally reveal any answers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'Guest: Glen Keogh, Senior Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: BBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing of a senior Hamas official in Lebanon has further stoked tensions in the Middle East. Hezbollah’s supreme leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has warned Israel that it is ready for war “without limits” should the IDF attack. Meanwhile, Iran has blamed Israel for a twin bomb attack near the tomb of an Iranian general. What impact will these developments have on the war in Gaza?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Spencer, Correspondent, The Times.   Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, ABC, Sky, France 24, DW News, CBS, Global News.  Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite being banned from the ballot paper in two states (so far) and multiple legal hurdles, Donald Trump is the clear favourite to return as the Republican candidate for US president, and opinion polls also give him the edge in a rematch with Joe Biden. Trump has joked about becoming a "dictator" for a day if he wins, and says he would carry out mass deportations – and that’s just the beginning of his plans for a second term.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, ABC News, New York Post, CBS News, Trump 2024, The Economic Times, Fox News, The 700 Club, CNN, US Network Pool, Forbes, The Benny Show. Read more: Will Donald Trump still run in 2024? The Colorado decision explainedIf Donald Trump becomes US president again, here’s what he’ll doEmail us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Woode was 16 when he was first stopped and searched by police. As a black man, he is six times more likely to be stopped than white counterparts, but his job reporting on knife crime and violence has made him see the other side of stop and search.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: David Woode, Crime Correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: The News Agents, Parliament Live, ITN, BBC Newsnight. Read more: I’ve been stopped and searched by the police since I was 16Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Struggling to drift off? If your goal in the new year is to sleep better, neurologist and sleep expert Prof Guy Leschziner unlocks the mysteries of sleep and the impact of a good night’s rest on our overall health.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Guy Leschziner, Professor of Neurology and Sleep Medicine, King's College London. Host: Manveen Rana. Links: ‘The Secret World of Sleep: Journeys Through the Nocturnal Mind’ by Guy Leschziner https://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-secret-world-of-sleep-9781471176388Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.Vladimir Putin may have averted an armed rebellion by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin – but if the fall of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991 tells us anything, it's that even a failed coup can still spell ruin for a leader.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, Simon Marks Reporting, Perm Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.Jody Oliver deceived his wife, children and male fiancés while adopting a colourful array of identities, scamming those around him out of millions of pounds. Now that he’s in jail, his story can be told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: The seven lives of the £2m fraudster - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-seven-astonishing-lives-of-the-2m-fraudster-85mdvmxvsGuest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.The giant panda has become one of China’s diplomatic tools, after a pair were gifted to President Nixon as an act of friendship in the 1970s. But with US-China relations deteriorating - what can pandas tell us about the two superpowers’ modern relationship?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The National Archives, CNN, France 24, CCTV, NBC News, Richard Nixon Foundation, Action News 5, TikTok/@care2petitions, pandavoices.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.The UK is now Europe’s biggest consumer of cocaine. The drug has been linked to a surge in domestic violence and middle-class users are being warned it’s not a victimless crime. How is so much cocaine getting into the country? And what can the authorities do about it?You can read Dipesh's article (and see an image of charcoal soaked in cocaine) here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, BBC News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.A Times journalist went undercover to show that British Gas obtained court warrants to break into customers’ homes to force fit prepayment meters. The investigation led to immediate responses from the company, the regulator and from government. So how did the investigation unfold?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, BBC, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is a time to pause and reflect. So today we take the opportunity to speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, about his own memories of financial struggle, the cost of living crisis, and his role as president of the charity Feeding Britain. Donate to The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal: Visit thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal or call 0151 284 2336.Guests:- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.- Poppy Koronka, news reporter, The Times.Host: Kaya Burgess.Clips: Sky News.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not all wheelchairs are created equal… whether it’s colour, size, weight or power, wheelchairs can be built to fit the user’s needs. Which is where Whizz Kidz, one of this year’s Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal charities, comes in. On today’s episode - we meet two children who’ve been provided with wheelchairs by the charity to hear about the change it’s made to their lives.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gen Z voters are ramping up the pressure on President Biden to tone down his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. According to a recent New York Times poll, their support for the Palestinians far exceeds that of any other age cohort. So what sits behind this generational pivot, which is playing out not only in the US, but across the West more widely? The Sunday Times's Katie Tarrant, herself a Gen Zer, talks TikTok and campus antisemitism with Luke. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Katie Tarrant, news reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our literary editors give us the lowdown on what they’ve been reading this last year - from steamy sex to the end of the world - and what should be on your Christmas gift list.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Robbie Millen, Literary Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Johanna Thomas-Corr, Chief Literary Critic, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke JonesFor the full list of Times & Sunday Times best books of the year, read more: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-books-2023-gmbb8spb3 You can buy every book on the list at timesbookshop.co.ukProphet Song - Paul LynchThe Wren, The Wren - Anne EnrightOrdinary Human Failings - Megan NolanThe Bee Sting - Paul MurrayOld God’s Time - Sebastian BarrySoldier Sailor - Claire KilroyThe Future - Naomi AldermanBirnam Wood - Eleanor CattonFire Weather - John VaillantPolitics on the Edge - Rory StewartBut What Can I Do? - Alastair CampbellHow Westminster Works… And Why It Doesn’t - Ian DuntDemon Copperhead - Barbara KingsolverThe New Life - Tom CreweSpare - Prince Harry, Duke of SussexThe Woman In Me - Britney SpearsMy Name Is Barbra - Barbra StreisandParis: The Memoir - Paris HiltonErotic Vagrancy - Roger LewisThe Earth Transformed - Peter FrankopanPathogenesis - Jonathan KennedyEve - Cat BohannonThe Line of Beauty - Alan HollinghurstDecline and Fall - Evelyn WaughI Capture the Castle - Dodie SmithTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle ZevinLong Island - Colm TóibínKnife - Salman RushdieFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks after yet another attempted coup, veteran Times war correspondent Anthony Loyd returns to Sierra Leone, the West African country he first visited 26 years ago amid civil war. There he encounters a young woman from the streets, who would have long been dead by now, were it not for her survival skills and the conversation she shared with the occupants of a car one night 15 years ago. Guest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Donate to The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal: Visit thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal or call 0151 284 2336. Every pound donated to Street Child by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times will be doubled up to £225,000. Of this matched funding, £150,000 will be provided by From Babies with Love, the gift brand that donates 100 per cent profit to vulnerable children, and generous donations from Boodles, a luxury and fine diamond retailer, and an anonymous donor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, Rishi Sunak was in Rome meeting Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni. As well as being a fan of the British PM, she's also a devotee of one of the UK's most famous writers - author of The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien. An exhibition on his life and work has opened in the city, so how did he become a cultural icon for the for Italy’s hard-right?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke JonesRead more: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eye-of-meloni-turns-on-jrr-tolkien-exhibition-7xjcf08pq https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meloni-attends-tolkien-show-kkhj0dwl2 Clips: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/New Line Cinema, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/CBS, MiC Italia, Vista Agenzia Televisiva Nazionale, France 24, Facebook/Giorgia Meloni, Reuters, CGTN, Fanpage.it, DW News, Barbarossa/Martinelli Film Company International/Rai Fiction.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Times investigation has found that tobacco companies have been engaged in a secret lobbying campaign to try and boost their e cigarette sales. They've bankrolled scientific papers playing down the risks of youth vaping and funded so-called independent foundations, which then try and lobby the government. How has this gone unchecked?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Billy Kenber, Senior Investigations Reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: TikTok/studentbeams, TikTok/hellocallum, BBC News, C-SPAN.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon Venables was ten years old when he and another boy tortured and killed two year old James Bulger. He’s now been refused parole on his imprisonment for a separate charge. So how did he end up here? Did he get a fair trial in the first place? And are we getting it right when it comes to our treatment of children who kill?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David James Smith, Sunday Times contributor and author of The Sleep of Reason: The James Bulger Case.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ITN / Getty, Channel 4, BBC, Merseyside Police, Eyes of the Detective / Teresa Hunt / BBC, TalkTV, Liverpool Lullaby / Martin Wallace / Channel 4, CBS.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He's one of the most popular rappers in America: Young Thug is facing up to 120 years in prison for allegedly being the head of a violent criminal gang. State prosecutors in Georgia are using lyrics from his songs as 'proof' of acts they say he was involved in, including the murder of a rival. But with this line of courtroom argument, is artistic freedom of speech under threat? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'Guest: Keiran Southern, West Coast correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: 11Alive, CNN.Music excerpts:Camilla Cabello ft Young Thug - Havana (Epic/Syco)Young Thug - Stoner (Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Anybody (YSL/300/Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Slime Shit (300/Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Just How It Is (YSL/300/Atlantic Records)Lil Durk - Ahhh Ha (Alamo) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With no fewer than five separate Tory factions meeting to discuss whether or not to back the government on its revised Rwanda policy, Rishi Sunak finds himself fighting for his political reputation on two fronts: immigration and his handling of the pandemic. Yesterday, he faced the Covid inquiry. Our parliamentary sketch writer, Tom Peck, tells Manveen that Sunak may have survived the legal cross-examination, but his political fate is sealed. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Find out how to listen to our bonus episodes - 'Inside the newsroom': https://thetimes.co.uk/bonuspodcasts Guest: Tom Peck, parliamentary sketch writer for The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America’s opioid crisis is now in its third decade and has killed more people than the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam combined. Fentanyl, the most commonly used synthetic opioid, is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Made from chemicals manufactured in China, it’s then put into pill form in Mexico and smuggled across the border. As China and the US agree to crack down on the illegal trade, is China deliberately fuelling its rival’s opioid crisis? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Channel 4 News, PBS, Sky News, NBC News, AP, CBS News, CNBC, Arte, South China Morning Post, Fox News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past two days, Boris Johnson faced a grilling at the Covid Inquiry. His appearance came after weeks of testimony from senior officials, politicians and scientific advisers who hadn't held back in their assessment of his handling of the pandemic. So what did we learn about the crucial decisions made by the then Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: UK Covid-19 Inquiry.Insight's original investigation:Insight investigation: why was the UK so slow to lockdown?Failures of State: How Britain made the same mistake twice (Pt 2)Failures of State: The inside story of Britain’s battle with coronavirus (Pt 1)Read more: Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle with Coronavirus Find out more about our Apple bonus series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Net migration to the UK hit a record high in 2022 – 745,000 more people arrived in the country than emigrated. After 13 years of promising to cut immigration, the government introduced yet another plan this week to reduce numbers. We look at what it would mean for the economy.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: David Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The victory of Geert Wilders in Holland’s recent election has raised the spectre of a European Donald Trump. Now scrabbling to put together a coalition government, what does the return of an anti-Islamist, hard-right politician mean for The Netherlands, and for Europe more widely?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Bruno Waterfield, Contributor for The Times in Brussels. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, France 24, AP, Al Jazeera, BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran has built an intricate network of gangs, private investigators and assassins to target enemies of the regime around the world. An investigation by The Sunday Times has found that Tehran has launched at least 17 plots, including abductions and murders, against UK targets since the start of last year. So, what is it like to be one of these targets?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Forbes, Parliament TV, 60 Minutes, Guardian News, Kayhan Life, Sky News, ABC News, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza came to an end. But as hostilities resume, are war crimes being committed? We hear from a war lawyer.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Jennifer Maddocks, Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: DW News, the Guardian, MEMRI, BBC, NBC, Bloomberg, CBS, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, Middle East Eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A diplomatic row has broken out between Rishi Sunak and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the Elgin Marbles. Today, we’re revisiting an episode from last December, when David Aaronovitch spoke to classicist and British Museum trustee Dame Mary Beard about how the Parthenon sculptures ended up in the UK 200 years ago.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Dame Mary Beard, classicist.- David Sanderson, Arts Correspondent, The Times.With thanks to The British Museum.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, Times Radio, Reuters, CBC News, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, ITV Good Morning Britain, LBC, UK Parliament, LSE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is being paid £1.5 million to take part in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and is on the trail of Gen Z fans. Could a reality TV career-boost propel him back into politics? And if it does, how might that change the British political landscape?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: ITV, The Guardian, Fox News, GB News, Fortune & Freedom, Nigel Farage on TikTok, Channel 5, Nigel Farage on Cameo, Sky News, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Negotiations to extend the ceasefire continue. But what could happen when the pause in fighting eventually ends? We bring you the view from both sides, with our correspondents in Israel and Gaza.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Richard Spencer, foreign correspondent, The Times.Amal Helles, The Times’ correspondent in Gaza.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: NBC, Middle East Eye, Times Radio, MEMRI, France 24. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the royals hit the headlines again with the release of another “tell-all” book, what’s it like reporting on ‘The Firm’? Valentine Low, The Times writer on all things royal for the past 15 years has retired, but before he left, he shared some of the highlights of his career as part of the royal press pack. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Valentine Low, former writer for The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: BBC News, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, COP28 starts in Dubai. The conference will be chaired by Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, who happens to be the head of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company. Leaked documents suggest al-Jaber might even be using the climate summit as an opportunity to strike bilateral deals on fossil fuels. So is this year’s COP a farce? Or, beneath the troubling headlines, are there actually signs of progress?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: COP28 UAE, BBC, Associated Press, ABC News, Forbes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christy Kinahan is the former Dublin taxi driver who heads the world’s most wanted international gang. John Mooney, who has been pursuing Christy and his gang for a decade, considers if the net is finally closing in.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Read John’s Sunday Times magazine piece on the Kinahans in full. Guest: John Mooney, Investigative Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: RTE, Virgin Media News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend we're bringing you a documentary special from Times Radio's sister station, talkSPORT. British-Ukrainian journalist and reporter Andrew Todos looks at how football in Ukraine has found its feet again, even as the war continues. Featuring Ukrainian icons Andriy Shevchenko, Sergei Rebrov and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Sam Altman the CEO of OpenAI - the makers of ChatGPT - was sacked by his board. After a dramatic few days, he is back at the company along with a new board. But is it really business as usual at OpenAI?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: BBC, CNBC, PBS Newshour, YouTube - SimplyAI, Invest With Pluto, Daragh Walsh, PlayAlchemist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been nearly seven weeks since 240 Israeli hostages were seized in a terrorist attack by Hamas. The attack was followed by intense retaliatory bombings of the Gaza strip by the Israeli army and thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Finally, a deal for the release of some hostages has been brokered between Hamas and Israel, and a four-day ceasefire in Gaza may begin on Friday. So what has been happening behind the scenes to bring the deal about? And what does this pivotal moment mean for the future of the conflict?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Fox News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British director Sir Ridley Scott's new epic, Napoleon, is released in cinemas today. It comes as Marvel’s latest film suffered its lowest box office opening ever, raising questions about the future of superhero movies. Have audiences grown tired of the genre Scott has called "boring as shit"? Our critic gives his verdict on the new release, and assesses the state of cinema in 2023.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Shone, Sunday Times film critic and author of The Nolan Variations and Blockbuster: How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Summer.Host: Luke Jones.Two-for-one cinema tickets at Everyman for Times+ members: https://www.mytimesplus.co.uk/offers/two-for-one-cinema-tickets-at-everymanEmail us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: 20th Century Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lucasfilm/Disney, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Hovis, MGM, HBO Max. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will present his Autumn Statement to the Commons. For a government down in the polls, it may offer the opportunity for giveaways - and the Prime Minister says his government “can and will” cut taxes. But, with an economic recovery precarious, and coming before a general election next year, could a future Labour government be left paying the bill?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: ITV, Sky News, Reuters, BBC News, David Boothroyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polling ahead of next year’s election shows a majority of Americans think Biden is too old to be president. Rambling speeches, stumbles, and his advancing years are a cause for alarm in the Democratic Party. As he turns 81 today, is it time for him to step aside for another candidate?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Hoyle, Foreign Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: NBC News, CBS News, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, C-Span, Aspen Ideas Festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Sunday we're bringing you a bonus episode from a new podcast: Normal Women, from celebrated novelist and historian Philippa Gregory.Normal Women is a radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen – but of social and cultural change, powered by the determination, persistence and effectiveness of women, from 1066 to modern times. This is not a podcast about three or four well-known heroines. It is a story about millions of women: those who left records and those who were ‘hidden from history.’Find the rest of the series here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven years ago, Fifa introduced the VAR system: the video assistant referee. It was meant to help make quicker, more accurate decisions about on-field incidents like off-side and handballs. But after a series of recent errors, is it ruining the beautiful game?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: BBC, TNT Sport, Premier League, talkSPORT, Sky, ITV, Liverpool FC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final season of the hit Netflix series The Crown comes out today. The show has reanimated events lost to history, and put our fascination with the royals into overdrive, but it has also made liberal use of its creative licence. So what has it taught us? And does it matter if drama plays with the truth of real lives?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Andrew Billen, Feature Writer, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: NBC Today show, The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix/The Crown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Israel focuses on fighting Hamas in Gaza, tensions are rising in the other Palestinian territory, the occupied West Bank. Since October 7, violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers has led to the death of over 180 people, mostly Palestinians. With Israel now fighting on two fronts - Gaza and Lebanon - could it cope with a third? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Reuters, Al jazeera, CBS News, France 24, DW News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former prime minister David Cameron is back in the government after Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle. Pressure had been mounting on Sunak to sack Suella Braverman after a controversial opinion piece in The Times last week. So why is Cameron back? And what do the appointments mean for the Conservatives and their election strategy? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Steven Swinford, Political Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Music: 'Fantasy on David Cameron (Cameron's lament in C minor)' courtesy of Thomas Hewitt Jones. Follow Thomas at @thewittjones on Twitter and @thomashewittjonesmusic on Facebook. And you can hear the full track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhyORjJ00Rk Clips: Sky News, Times Radio, BBC News, BBC Radio 4, TalkTV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The head of Ukraine’s military says the war is at a stalemate. Meanwhile, Western attention is shifting to the Israel-Gaza conflict. So is a military victory off the table and should President Zelensky start negotiating with President Putin? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mark Galeotti, historian, Sunday Times contributor and author of Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: NBC, MSNBC, BBC, Forbes, WION, CBS, Times Radio, The Sun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“This really is the single weirdest book I have ever read, and anyone who does not reach the same conclusion after reading it should be sectioned.”That was our colleague Patrick Maguire’s verdict on ‘The Plot: The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson’ by former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, which was published on Thursday.So this weekend we’re bringing you an episode of another Times podcast, Red Box, in which Patrick journeys into Nadine Dorries's world with Times Radio presenter Matt Chorley.Plus: Matt speaks to Times columnist Danny Finkelstein (who Dorries accuses of being part of a cabal controlling the Tory party), and one of Boris Johnson’s political allies.Read more:Patrick Maguire’s review: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nadine-dorries-book-review-the-plot-ln7gfbvgz9 explosive claims from Nadine Dorries’s book: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nadine-dorries-book-the-plot-claims-summary-key-points-mpbzh9v68 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow is the Annual General Meeting of the National Trust - and battle lines are being drawn. Over the past two years, a protest faction called 'Restore Trust' has emerged to challenge the UK's biggest charity. They accuse the organisation of playing politics by highlighting links to colonialism and slavery. But The National Trust says that the history of Empire needs to be part of what we preserve and document. So, can the most quintessentially British institution weather the storm of the culture wars?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Ellery, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Channel 4 News, The Spectator, National Trust, BBC News, CBS News, Sky News, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suella Braverman has accused the Metropolitan Police of “playing favourites” with protesters as she clashed with Britain’s most senior officer over his decision to give the go-ahead to Saturday’s pro-Palestinian march. Her comments come after the government spent much of the past week on a collision course with protesters and the police over the protests planned for Saturday – Armistice Day – which Rishi Sunak confirmed last night would go ahead. Meanwhile, a Labour frontbencher has resigned over his party’s position on a ceasefire. So, a month into the Israel-Gaza war, we explore how the conflict in the Middle East is exposing divisions in the UK.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Trevor Phillips, columnist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Times Radio, Sky News, Chatham House, GB News, BBC Newsnight, Global, LBC, AFP.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a whistle stop tour of the Middle East earlier this week, as part of a frantic diplomatic effort to de-escalate the Israel-Gaza crisis. His visit comes as China calls for a ceasefire in a bid to position itself as the neutral arbiter in the region. US politicians have labelled Russia, China and Iran as the ‘axis of evil’ - so should the West be worried? And how have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza deepened those relationships? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ahmed Aboudouh, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CGTN, PBS Newshour, The Times, France 24, United Nations, C-SPAN, Sky News, BBC News, NBC News, The Telegraph, Fox News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scion of the Kennedy dynasty, Robert Kennedy Jr has ditched the Democrats and declared his candidacy in the 2024 US Presidential race, running as an Independent. But in a Biden-Trump run-off, who does Kennedy hurt most? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: PBS, CNN, Reuters, ABC News, Fox News, News Nation, AP, Yahoo! Finance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter has come under scrutiny after the Charity Commission opened an investigation into links between her family and the charity set up in his name, the Captain Tom Foundation. They are also facing questions over Captain Tom’s book deal, and over an unauthorised spa. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: TalkTV, Times Radio, BBC News, ITV News, 5 News, You’ll Never Walk Alone/Captain Tom Moore, Michael Ball, and The NHS Voices of Care Choir/UMG.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the parties prepare to do battle at the polls, The Times launches a new podcast, 'How to Win an Election', in which we bring together three of the most experienced political strategists of the past four decades: legendary architect of New Labour, Peter Mandelson; Daniel Finkelstein, who has worked alongside Tory leaders and prime ministers from John Major onwards as they fought to modernise the party; and Polly Mackenzie, a policy expert who helped negotiate the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition and spent five years working alongside deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in Downing Street. Today, we're sharing the first episode with listeners of Stories of our times: How to decide when to call an election.With Rishi Sunak still behind in the polls, will he wait a full year before calling a general election? And at a time when many voters feel pessimistic about the future, can either Sunak or Keir Starmer generate a sense of hope and change? Our three electoral masterminds join Matt Chorley for your insider's guide to the twists and turns of the next year in politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night Israel's military said its forces had "advanced another significant stage in the war" and encircled Gaza City, the most built-up area of the Gaza Strip and the heart of the Hamas tunnel network.Israel's government says the purpose of the war is to eliminate Hamas, but is that an objective that can be achieved? We speak to a former major-general who was once the UK's most senior commander in Iraq, tasked with eliminating Isis.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Major-General Rupert Jones (ret’d).Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Global News, Channel 4 News, BBC News, CNN, PBS NewsHour, Sky News Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German shoemakers Birkenstock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange at a valuation of more than $8 billion last month, and the sandals are top of John Lewis’ must-have Christmas list this year. So how did this nearly 250-year-old company go from orthopaedic footwear to a cameo in the Barbie film? And how did the shoe woo the fashion industry?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anna Murphy, Fashion Director, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Read more: Why fashion editors love Birkenstocks: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-fashion-editors-love-birkenstocks-times-luxury-n9tlpg9q7How ‘ugly’ Birkenstocks became an $8 billion brand: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-ugly-birkenstocks-became-an-8billion-brand-czr6050j8Clips: Birkenstock, DW News, Barbie/Warner Bros., MTV’s House of Style, New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, These Boots Are Made For Walkin’/Nancy Sinatra/Light in the Attic.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During a 34-hour communications blackout that began on Friday evening, Israel launched its ground invasion into Gaza. With thousands of Palestinians killed and conditions in the territory deteriorating, the UN secretary general has repeated his call for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian access. Israel has rejected this saying “calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas” and that it is committed to getting all its hostages back home. So, now that the IDF's troops have entered the densely populated strip -- what is the plan?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Spencer, foreign correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Clips: Sky News, Channel 4 News, Associated Press, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dominic Cummings gives evidence to the UK’s Covid inquiry today – the latest in a string of senior advisors to Boris Johnson to do so. The published evidence, including private WhatsApp conversations, is bringing to light internecine grudges between those in charge. We catch up on what’s been revealed so far.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Clips: UK Covid Inquiry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week world leaders and AI companies will gather for a summit at Bletchley Park, the Second World War code-breaking centre. It’s the most important attempt yet to formulate a shared view on what artificial intelligence might be capable of and how it should be regulated.But with elections taking place in both the US and the UK in the next year or so, could the threat posed by AI deepfakes to democracy be much more immediate, as the head of MI5 has warned?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Henry Ajder, Visiting Senior Research Associate, Jesus College, Cambridge.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Clips: Zach Silberberg on Twitter, Telegram, CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, WUSA9, BBC Radio 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday was a big day for Taylor Swift. She released the reimagined version of her 2014 album 1989, and was declared a billionaire by business news outlet Bloomberg. So this weekend we're listening back to our conversation with The Sunday Times' resident Swiftie, Charlotte Ivers. What is it about the pop princess that has the power to influence an entire generation and their politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Charlotte Ivers, Sunday Times columnist and Times Radio political correspondent.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC, PBS, BBC, ABC, Billboard, Fox, ET, SVT, CNBC, TikTok.Music excerpts: Love Story/Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records, LLC. Blank Space/New Romantics - Max Martin, Taylor Swift, Shellback, Big Machine Records, LLC. Outta the Woods - Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records, LLC. Betty/Delicate/Man/You Need to Calm Down/Only the Young - Taylor Swift, Universal Music Group.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Britney Spears released her new memoir, and is the latest celebrity to open up about the trauma of being a young famous woman in the 2000s. Post-MeToo and the Russell Brand allegations, there has been a collective re-evaluation of how stars like Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were treated. So why did we want to see them humiliated? And why did so many of us think it was normal? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties by Sarah Ditum (Fleet £22). Buy at timesbookshop.co.uk. Discount for Times+ membersGuest: Sarah Ditum, writer for The Sunday Times, and author of Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties. Host: Manveen Rana.Book extract: Being Britney Spears: inside the teen dream that turned toxic: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britney-spears-book-the-woman-in-me-justin-timberlake-jhnhgcxd6Stories of our times episodes:Russell Brand accused of rape: https://pod.fo/e/1eeeb0 Russell Brand investigation: What happened next:https://pod.fo/e/1f03f7 Clips: BBC Woman’s Hour, CBS, MTV VMAs, 60 Minutes/9Now, Channel 4 News, I am Paris, CBS News, …Baby One More Time/Britney Spears/SME, Blurred Lines/Robin Thicke, T.I., Pharrell/UMG, CNN, KRON4, BBC News, Pop Idol/ITV, The Simple Life/Fox, Saturday Night Live/NBC, This is Paris/YouTube.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Israel conducts 'wide-scale' retaliatory strikes against Gaza, the humanitarian crisis in the area has reached devastating proportions. Thousands are dead and food, fuel and water have almost run out. If this was part of the plan, what is the strategy and is there an end game?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The Sunday Times.- Dr. Tobias Borck, Senior Research Fellow for Middle East Security Studies, Royal United Services Institute.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: PBS Newshour, Al Jazeera English, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prisons in England and Wales are at full capacity. Exclusive reporting for the Times revealed judges were being advised to suspend sentences, rather than put prisoners away. After HS2, concrete in schools, and NHS waiting lists, where will this latest scandal leave the Tories’ reputation for competence?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Catherine Baksi, former barrister and Times contributor.- Matt Dathan, Home Affairs Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Sky News, Parliament, BBC, Centre for Social Justice, Institute for Government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the cost began to spiral, HS2 bosses allegedly shredded documents, sacked whistleblowers and used misleading projections to keep the scheme alive and the cash coming. We speak to the team behind a new investigation into the beleaguered rail project, and hear one whistleblower’s secret recordings. HS2 Ltd denies any wrongdoing.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.- George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Read more: HS2: The secret files that expose a multibillion-pound cover-up https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hs2-billion-pound-coverup-cost-files-investigation-skzv2nxwj Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Parliament, ITV News, BBC Panorama, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shoplifting offences have risen by 25 per cent in the past year alone, according to the Office for National Statistics. With some incidents turning increasingly violent, and many perpetrators going unpunished, business owners are calling for action. So what’s behind the rise? And what might be the solution?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Louise Eccles, Consumer Affairs Editor, The Sunday Times.Mo Razzaq, Vice President, The Federation of Independent Retailers.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: GMB, Sky News, PolicyExchangeUK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks into the current Israel-Gaza conflict, we take a moment to reflect on the events of October 7th and their aftermath. In this personal conversation, our colleagues Josh Glancy and Gabriel Pogrund discuss the impact on British Jews. Stories of Our Times will continue to cover this story from many different angles, including further conversations with members of the communities affected by the conflict. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times. - Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The attack on a hospital in Gaza, leaving at least 500 dead, has led to fears that the situation is spiralling out of control. With each side blaming the other for the bombing, how can a regional conflict be contained, and war on a global scale be averted?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: WSJ, BBC, Sky News, Reuters, CBS News, NBC, Channel 4 News, State Department.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says that bedbugs on the Underground are a ‘real cause for concern’, after fears that an infestation in Paris could spread to the UK capital and beyond. But how bad is the problem in France really? And what should you do if you spot one of the little creatures?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Natalie Steed, producer, Folk on Foot podcast. Charles Bremner, Paris Correspondent, The Times.Professor James Logan, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and CEO of Arctech Innovation. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: @americanfille/TikTok, Talk TV, ITV News, ITV’s Good Morning Britain, @iamholst/TikTok, @jawsolyn/TikTok, PoliticsJOE, Sky News, DW, France 24, @jimmysongcreative/TikTok, RMC, LCP-Assemblée nationale, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past century has seen the borders of Palestine and then Israel shift. From the Balfour Declaration in 1917 – when Britain first promised a Jewish homeland – a fierce struggle over land and nationhood has taken place. Whether you need a beginner’s guide to the history or just a reminder, we'll take you from that date through to the conflict today. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Kevin Connolly, former BBC Middle East correspondent. Host: Luke Jones. Links:- Six books to help you understand the Israel-Gaza conflict https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6eadf81c-691b-11ee-a4e7-0fb10af55688?shareToken=601ea5a0228cb764228ddd2e97c53a63- Why are Israel and Gaza at war? The history of the conflict explained https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-israel-gaza-palestine-war-conflict-history-explained-xz0jv3phq Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Clips: Sky News Australia, BBC News, Associated Press, Al Jazeera English, The Atlantic, Thames TV, Clinton Presidential Library. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This story is a disturbing illustration of how one man can seemingly go through life lying to women, abandoning them with children while paying no child support.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: Unmasked: the ‘infertile’ father of multiple children with different women https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unmasked-the-infertile-father-of-multiple-children-with-different-women-mg2x5lstfGuest: Ben Ellery, General News Reporter, The Times.Host: Will Roe.Clips: Mr Vegan YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer shocked the nation and eroded public trust in the police. Now The Times has exposed the scale of serious crimes committed by 145 by serving policemen and women - from rape and violence to corruption and fraud.Times subscribers can read more about the 145 police officers convicted of serious offences.This episode contains material that some listeners may find upsetting.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Fiona Hamilton, Chief Reporter, The Times.David Woode, Crime Correspondent, The Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: ITV News, BBC, Sky News, 5News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Modelling agencies are recruiting young people who have fled war-torn African countries and are living in extreme poverty. They are flown to Europe to take part in fashion castings, but some return within days or weeks, often laden with debt. We speak to the journalists behind the Sunday Times investigation. With thanks to Edwin Okoth who provided additional reporting on this investigation, and Mari Malek from Runways to Freedom. This episode contains material that some listeners may find upsetting. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Lisa Brinkworth, freelance journalist.Hugo Daniel, Reporter, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: 9 News Australia, The Times.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2023 conference season is winding down. But did the parties achieve what they wanted - and needed - to? And did they shift the dial when it comes to the result of the next general election? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Lara Spirit, Red Box Editor, The Times.Kate McCann, Political Editor and Presenter, Times Radio.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: The Labour Party, The Conservative Party, The Liberal Democrats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday the militant Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 900 people in Israel and taking up to 130 hostages.In response, Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, declared war and launched airstrikes killing almost 690 people in Gaza. His defence minister ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, which aid organisations have warned could end up amounting to “war crimes”. Meanwhile, Hamas has threatened to execute a hostage for every Israeli attack on Palestinian homes without “prior warning”.Our correspondent in Israel explains why all this has happened now – and what the consequences could be.Mentioned in this episode: You can find a map of the region here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anshel Pfeffer, Times correspondent in Israel.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera English, NewsNation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Disney celebrates its 100th birthday this month, a series of recent flops and gargantuan acquisitions has left people asking whether the shine is beginning to wear off. Plus, we look back at the studio’s past - including the time when Donald Duck dressed up as a Nazi.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ed Potton, Arts Commissioning Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Walt Disney Studios, Bloomberg, Rotten Tomatoes, Piers Morgan Uncensored, Talk TV, Walt Disney Productions, NBC, CBS.Music: Be Our Guest/Disney/Walt Disney Records, You’ve Got a Friend in Me/Randy Newman/ Walt Disney Records, Let It Go from “Frozen”/Multi Language Medley/Walt Disney Records, When You Wish Upon a Star/Cliff Edwards/Pinocchio (original motion picture soundtrack), Arabian Nights from “Aladdin”/Alan Menken/Walt Disney Records, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah-From “Song of the South”/James Baskett/Walt Disney Records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the polls are to be believed, Sir Keir Starmer is on track for a comfortable victory at the next general election – and just this morning, he has hailed a by-election win in the Glasgow seat of Rutherglen & Hamilton West as a "seismic result". But voters are less clear on what he and his party would do with power.This weekend the Labour Party's annual conference – perhaps the last before the next election – kicks off in Liverpool. Amid accusations of flip-flopping and u-turns galore, our resident Labour watcher explains the key tensions in Starmer's thinking as he prepares for the most important speech of his leadership so far.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Patrick Maguire, Times columnist and Times Radio senior political correspondent.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: BBC, Sky News, LBC, GB News, SPD, Sky News Australia, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost thirty years after hip-hop star Tupac Shakur was shot dead in a Las Vegas drive-by, a former gang leader has been charged with his murder. So how did new information come to light? And will this finally put to rest one of hip-hop’s lasting mysteries?Article: Will the mystery of Tupac’s murder finally be solved? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/will-the-mystery-of-tupac-s-murder-finally-be-solved-lvv2c9z3t This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: William Shaw, crime author and journalist.Host: Luke JonesGet in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: KTNV, Law&Crime Network, MTV, CBS News, CNN, BET.Music: Changes/2Pac/Universal Music Group, Dear Mama/2Pac/UMG, The Streetz R Deathrow/2Pac/UMG, Straight Outta Compton/N.W.A/UMG, California Love/2Pac/UMG, Hit ‘Em Up/2Pac/UMG, Life Goes On/2Pac/UMG. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night, for the first time in American history, the House of Representatives voted to remove its speaker from office. It was a victory for a group of Republicans who oppose giving Ukraine further American aid – which, for now, is on pause. Meanwhile in Europe, Slovakia's recent elections saw a new, pro-Russia, leader pledging to end support for Ukraine. What does all this mean for Kyiv's war effort?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: NBC News, C-SPAN, CBS, BBC News, DW News, Sky News, CNN, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, met Sam Bankman-Fried when his crypto exchange was rewriting the rules of global finance and was by his side when the empire imploded. Ahead of his fraud trial which starts today, this is the inside story of the crypto whizz kid at the heart of one of the 21st century's most spectacular financial collapses.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, Moneyball, The Blind Side and Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. Clips: CNET, CBS, CNBC, Fox, BBC, Yahoo Finance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe – and last week approved plans for its first drug consumption room to try and reduce deaths. It’s a step closer to the SNP’s goal of decriminalisation – so what can they learn from Portugal, which decriminalised drugs over twenty years ago?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- John Boothman, Political Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.- Dr João Goulão, Portugal's National Coordinator for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the Harmful Use of Alcohol.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Trainspotting/Miramax, Channel 4 News, STV News, 5 News, Sky News, UK Parliament.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From A-levels to net zero, the prime minister has new plans to bite into Labour’s poll lead. No 10 wants voters to meet the ‘real Rish’ – a decisive PM who focuses on our long-term problems. But, as Conservatives gather for their annual conference this weekend, is that enough to revive the party’s faltering popularity? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, The Guardian, BBC News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the summer of 1979, Ruth Shaw was a student in Bradford, walking alone one night when she encountered Peter Sutcliffe – the serial killer the papers had nicknamed the Yorkshire Ripper. But her encounter wasn’t recorded by police. 44 years later, this is her untold story.This podcast contains scenes of a graphic nature. Ruth’s story was first told to Michael Bilton in his book ‘Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper’ which is now being serialised on ITV on Mondays at 9pm. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Michael Bilton, author and former Sunday Times Northern Correspondent.- Ruth Shaw.Host: Josh Glancy.Clips: Andy’s Archive, ITN, BBC, Granada Television / ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We bring you the story of one Ukrainian command post as a patrol runs into chaos on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, with Anthony Loyd who returned from reporting there last week. Plus, what should we make of the state of the war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: A firefight erupts and soldiers watch on a drone feed as their comrades fall - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-firefight-erupts-and-soldiers-watch-on-a-drone-feed-as-their-comrades-fall-mv9tbnw0cUkraine draft dodgers dream up extreme ways to avoid the front - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-draft-dodgers-dream-up-extreme-ways-to-avoid-the-front-p87kdjxgj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past four years, the former Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands has been entrenched in a battle with the estate of the financier, paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Denise George reveals how she tracked down the moneymen who she says protected Epstein, and explains why she’s taking on one of America’s biggest banks.Article: Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘hell' island — and the woman who exposed its secrets: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeffrey-epstein-island-little-st-james-us-virgin-islands-7775nq58jThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Rosie Kinchen, Deputy News Review Editor and Senior Writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNBC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a diabetic drug that recently became a weight loss diet fad for the rich because of its ability to suppress hunger. Now, Wegovy, a drug similar to Ozempic, has been approved specifically for weight loss for the clinically obese in the UK. But is an injection our best bet at tackling obesity?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer, The Sunday Times. Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and Broadcaster.Host: Manveen Rana. Article: How celebrities’ favourite drug Ozempic made Denmark enormously rich: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-weight-loss-drug-ozempic-made-denmark-enormously-rich-bbv80sz06Clips: Global News Canada, CBS, E News.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the editors of The Times and The Sunday Times wrote to the justice secretary, calling for a crackdown on the misuse of libel laws by the super-rich. Together with more than 60 editors, reporters and lawyers, they called for a specific law to address Slapps – strategic lawsuits against public participation.In this bonus Saturday episode, we’re listening back to a conversation with Times Media’s editorial legal director Pia Sarma, first broadcast in January, in which she argues it's time to restore the balance between rich claimants and journalists pursuing the truth.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director, Times Media.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Read more: 'Editors call for anti-Slapp law to protect investigative journalism' https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/editors-call-for-anti-slapp-law-to-protect-investigative-journalism-wxhjt0kfcClips: Times Radio, France 24, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high speed railway HS2 has been quietly graded ‘red’ by the government’s infrastructure watchdog, meaning successful delivery appears unachievable. The cost of the line - planned to run between London, and central and northern England - is at £71 billion so far; nearly £2,500 for every UK household. So what went wrong? Who’s got rich off this? And will it ever be finished?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Channel 4, HS2 Ltd, GB News, BBC, Parliament Live, The Guardian, Sky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend The Times and The Sunday Times – together with Channel 4's Dispatches – broke the news of allegations against Russell Brand including rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations.So what happened next? Today we catch up with The Times’ head of investigations to answer listener questions and examine the fallout from the investigation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links: Decca Aitkenhead’s interview with Russell Brand, published in 2019:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-interview-russell-brand-on-his-hedonistic-past-marriages-and-becoming-a-father-wn6gjkwzd Get in touch: If you have any information you want to share with the team behind this investigation, email investigations@news.co.uk.You can contact the Stories of Our Times team on storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Clips: Sky News, ABC News, ABC News Australia, Russell Brand on YouTube, GB News, Times Radio, BBC Radio 2, Radio X, Mindhouse Productions/BBC Two, Love Productions/Channel 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the 1970s onwards, an estimated 5,000 NHS patients were given contaminated blood products, which contained deadly diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Today, half of those infected have died. How did this happen? As her new book is published, we hear from the Sunday Times journalist who unearthed the story, and followed it for 20 years to get answers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Infected Blood Inquiry, World in Action, Lord Mayor of Treloar.Caroline's book, Death in the Blood, is available from the Times Bookshop now: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/death-in-the-blood-the-most-shocking-scandal-in-nhs-history-from-the-journalist-who-has-followed-the-story-for-over-two-decades-9781035405244Have thoughts about this podcast? Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Temu, the world’s biggest bargain bin. Since launching just five months ago, the app has been downloaded more than nine million times in the UK alone. Our correspondent has spent a day shopping on Temu, and delves into the tricks the Chinese retailer uses to ruthlessly undercut its rivals.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Sam Chambers, Chief Business Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNN, BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio 4, GB News, ITV News, YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian women are making fake profiles on dating apps, matching with Putin’s lonely troops and tricking them into revealing information that could help Ukraine win the war. In a rare interview, we speak to one of the women who is dating for victory.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times.- ‘Angelica’, Ukrainian honeytrapper.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault. Following an exclusive investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches we hear how the comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse. Journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace reveal the harrowing stories of two of Brand’s alleged victims. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you have any information you want to share, you can get in touch with the team behind this investigation by emailing investigations@news.co.uk.Guests: Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor, The Sunday Times.Charlotte Wace, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuse - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-rape-sexual-assault-abuse-allegations-investigation-v5hxdlmb6 Comic, film star, YouTube guru: Russell Brand’s many lives - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-youtube-guru-wife-girlfriends-wealth-lrv8r36pnHow The Times and The Sunday Times investigated Russell Brand - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-investigation-sunday-times-video-watch-latest-news-x33ss0kmkVideo: You can watch our investigation on The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfCzB1BOlMClips: BBC, Channel 4, Universal Pictures UK, ITV News, ITV, Endemol, Russell Brand YouTube Channel, CBS.  Helplines: Rape Crisis England & Wales offers confidential support and information to women in England and Wales who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Phone: 0808 802 9999 https://rapecrisis.org.uk/Rape Crisis Scotland provides confidential support for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres.Phone: 0808 801 03 02 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/Rape Crisis Network Ireland supports anyone in Northern Ireland affected by rape and sexual violencehttp://www.rcni.ieSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a list of young British novelists to watch was released in 1983, many of them went on to become household names, thanks to both their talent and their sex appeal. A new list comes out every ten years, but has never recreated the same success as the original – so has it become harder for novelists to break through? And has the literary world lost some of its glamour? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Robbie Millen, Literary Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC Wales, ITV News, BBC News, Blue Monday/New Order/Factory Records, Granta Magazine, Booker Prize, CBS/Late Night with David Letterman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive investigation, The Times and The Sunday Times have revealed that a Tory parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China was the director of an influential policy group on Beijing. Chris Cash says he is “completely innocent”, and that claims that he spied for China are “extravagant” and “against everything I stand for”. Now, for the first time, the Sunday Times journalist who broke the story of Cash's arrest gives her behind-the-scenes account of how the investigation unfolded – and why we're choosing to name the suspected spy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: PoliticsHome, China Research Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriel Gatehouse breaks down the Hunter Biden conspiracy theories, which all centre around his infamous laptop. What’s actually on the laptop? Why might Hunter Biden be heading to trial? And, with the House of Representatives now pursuing impeachment over all this, is the president of the United States really implicated in the mess?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Gabriel Gatehouse, independent journalist and host of the BBC series The Coming Storm.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ABC News, Fox News, Sky News, Inside Edition, CBS, One America Network, CNBC, House Oversight Committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Women’s World Cup final last month, the president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed the national team’s star player - on the lips. She said it was not consensual and it sparked condemnation around the globe. Now that Luis Rubiales has resigned, what does it all mean - not just for football, but women’s rights on and off the pitch?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: BBC, TalkTV, ITV, SKY, ABC News, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, Jenni Hermoso, AFP, Reuters, Shescoresbanger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new investigation for The Sunday Times finds that unnecessary operations happen every year in private hospitals. And when that happens and patients try to get justice, they can find it impossible to get compensation. With NHS waiting lists thrusting more and more patients into the private provision, it begs the question: can we trust private hospitals?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News, 5 News, ITV, BBC.If you've been affected by subjects raised in this podcast, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 0800 689 5652. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The international premiere of Studio Ghibli’s latest film took place last night, after breaking box office records in Japan in July. The Boy and the Heron is the final film from one of cinema’s most influential animators, the reclusive genius Hayao Miyazaki. But does his retirement mark the end of the studio that inspired Disney and Pixar? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Great Ghibli! How one Japanese studio wowed the world: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/studio-ghibli-the-boy-and-the-heron-hayao-miyazaki-film-lzkxdtlzl10 best Studio Ghibli films: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/10-best-studio-ghibli-films-from-spirited-away-to-howls-moving-castle-dtrdpdsfgClips: Konbini, StudioCanal, BFI, Toho co, Ghibli Museum, 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki/NHK WORLD, GKIDS Films. Studio Ghibli clips: Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday the government published a list of over a hundred schools in England which are fully or partially shut because of safety fears over RAAC – a type of concrete that’s started to crumble. Has the government done 'a f***ing good job', as the education secretary put it? Or did it fail to heed the warnings?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Kate McCann, political editor, Times Radio.- Dr John Roberts FREng FIStructE, former president, Institution of Structural Engineers.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Sky News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, Parliament Live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago today, Liz Truss stood in Downing Street at the start of her premiership promising “action every day”. Over the tumultuous 49 days that followed, her time as prime minister was derailed by a series of U-turns, market shocks and a pervading sense of chaos. We go behind the scenes with Truss's biographer on the shortest ever stay in No 10.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of the readers of the Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Heale, political correspondent of The Spectator, and co-author of Out of the Blue: The Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss https://timesbookshop.co.uk/out-of-the-blue-9780008605780Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, Talk TV, BBC News, Parliament TV, Sky News, Spectator TV, Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jody Oliver deceived his wife, children and male fiancés while adopting a colourful array of identities, scamming those around him out of millions of pounds. Now that he’s in jail, his story can be told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: The seven lives of the £2m fraudster - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-seven-astonishing-lives-of-the-2m-fraudster-85mdvmxvsGuest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, one question has remained – and may always be – unanswered: why?In this episode we speak to an expert on female serial killers who outlines why we shouldn't be shocked by Letby and her crimes, and how Letby fits the profile of a female serial killer. But also – even more chillingly – how she doesn't.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Book: Just As Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/just-as-deadly/085C912B92AAD29C2B76251C56D91356Guest: Marissa A. Harrison, Professor of Psychology, Penn State Harrisburg.Host: Luke Jones.Helplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7)https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.orgChild Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign leaders’ families have been snapping up some of Britain's most expensive mansions and penthouses, but their identities were hidden from public view – until now. £250m of UK property is owned by the children of notorious autocratic rulers and their allies via offshore companies, an exclusive Times investigation has revealed. Our reporter visits some of London’s most desirable addresses and uncovers who owns what. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Al Jazeera English, Hromadske TV, DW News, BBC News, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, TRT World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vivek Ramaswamy - the rising star of the US Republican Party - wants to send troops to the Mexican border, abolish government departments and push for a deal to let Russia keep parts of Ukraine. Could the man nicknamed “Trump 2.0” beat the former president to be the party’s presidential nominee? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Jacobs, US political journalist. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Fox News, ABC, CBS, The Vivek Show, Lose Yourself/ Eminem, Shady Interscope.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has unmasked a Chinese government spy who’s targeting thousands of British professionals on LinkedIn. This person - and their team - are after military secrets and sensitive intelligence in exchange for money and business opportunities. So who are they? How do they operate? And what’s being done about it? For more on China’s influence in the UK, read Professor Steve Tsang's piece from this weekend's Sunday Times: Xi’s student spy army — and how they can be outsmarted https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/xis-student-spy-army-and-how-they-can-be-outsmarted-g3k6txc82This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Chief Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, ABC, Times Radio, CNA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite this week’s release of Prince Harry’s new series for Netflix, Heart of Invictus, this summer has been a chastening time for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their deal with Spotify was cancelled and a former executive called them “grifters”. Three years after leaving the royal family, can the couple make a success of their new lives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent, The Times. - Keiran Southern, US West Coast Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Netflix, CBS News, BBC News, THR News, NBC News, Nine Network, Spotify, The Ringer, ABC News, TalkTV, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences after a plane crash which is believed to have killed the boss of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Once close to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s relationship with the president had soured in recent months after an attempted mutiny. Is Putin to blame for the crash? And could Wagner retaliate against the Kremlin?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Aliide Naylor, Contributor, The Times, and author of The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front. https://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-shadow-in-the-east-9781788312523Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, X/@QalaatM, X/@christogrozev, Reuters, France 24, CNN, @vchkogpu, Sky News, Sky News Australia, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of the series, the woman who made an allegation against Martyn speaks out about intimidation by some of his supporters. And has Christ Church tried to hide the astronomical cost of the feud?This episode was first broadcast in November, 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martyn’s employer questions the Dean’s mental capacity as the feud shows no sign of abating. And he's in hot water over an article, published on his website, in which he references the Holocaust.This episode was first broadcast in November, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the pandemic a woman makes an allegation against Martyn that changes everything.This episode was first broadcast in October, 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: ITV, BBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years into his tenure as Dean, a student attacks a man at Christ Church. Dealing with the crisis, Martyn Percy questions how the university college is run, but has no idea the chain of events he is about to set in motion.This episdoe was first broadcast in October, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: Walt Disney Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2014 The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy walks into Christ Church as the new Dean of the Oxford college.But in this ‘Alice in Wonderland’ universe has this traditional institution met its match?In this five-part series, The Times' journalist Andrew Billen delves into the most bizarre story he's every covered.This episode was first broadcast in October, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – The Game football podcast.The Lionesses are now just one win away from lifting the World Cup trophy. Molly Hudson and Owen Slot share the latest from the England camp down under, as Sarina Wiegman prepares her squad for the biggest game of their careers.Lauren James is available to play after serving her two match ban – but should she come straight back into the starting line up? The team debates this huge decision with a little help from former Lioness and Times columnist, Casey Stoney.Spain are tough opponents with a lot of quality, but behind the scenes they're a team in turmoil. Molly shares tales of striking players, a coach that doesn't connect with the squad and how the team are looking to write their own history on Sunday.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Molly Hudson, football reporter, The Times.- Owen Slot, chief sports writer, The Times.Host: Tom Clarke, deputy sports editor, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 33-year-old neonatal nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder a further six, during a year-long period between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.Letby was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder.Why did she commit these unimaginably awful crimes? And what now for the hospital? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Ball, Northern Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Who is Lucy Letby? The nurse who became Britain’s most prolific child killer - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/who-is-lucy-letby-nurse-killed-family-babies-background-family-friends-education-s7njrswmcRevealed: the files that show how Lucy Letby was treated as a victim - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-files-nurse-hospital-evidence-rkxchgqh9Lucy Letby found guilty of murdering seven babies at trial - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-guilty-murder-babies-trial-sentence-verdict-bz695chqjHelplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7) https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.orgChild Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When The Crooked House pub near the West Midlands town of Dudley was consumed by fire and then demolished, much more was lost than just a quirky venue for a drink. Could the loss of yet another pub shine a light on something much bigger going on in Britain? And could it be rebuilt, brick by brick?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: - Lucy Bannerman, News Feature Writer, The Times.- Tom Rees, co-owner, The Carlton Tavern pub. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, The Guardian, 5 News, The Telegraph, Express & Star. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After inconclusive elections last month, today Spain's parliament reconvenes to try to form a government. But as Spanish politicians look to the future, questions from the recent past continue to haunt them. When it comes to the country's bloody civil war, and the repressive regime that followed it, who gets to decide how the past is remembered?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Marta Santiváñez, producer for Times Radio.- Sir Paul Preston, professor of international history at the London School of Economics.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Check out The Times' historic 1937 report on the brutal assault of Guernica here.Clips: British Movietone (AP). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, Times science editor Tom Whipple stood on what used to be a glacier, on rock that used to be below 40 metres of ice. Then, glaciologist Matthias Huss hacked out a chunk of ice to take home. By the end of this summer, that may be the last remnant left. This is the story of the glacier that no longer is – but which 15 years ago weighed a million tonnes – and a climate change milestone which is beyond dispute.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Tom Whipple’s new book is available at the Times Bookshop: The Battle of the Beams: The secret science of radar that turned the tide of the Second World Warhttps://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-battle-of-the-beams-9781787634138 Clips: BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is now Europe’s biggest consumer of cocaine. The drug has been linked to a surge in domestic violence and middle-class users are being warned it’s not a victimless crime. How is so much cocaine getting into the country? And what can the authorities do about it?You can read Dipesh's article (and see an image of charcoal soaked in cocaine) here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, BBC News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not long ago, the tiny nation of El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world. Now, it has the highest incarceration rate. President Nayib Bukele – who has described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator” – has detained 70,000 gang suspects without trial. His supporters point to the homicide rate, which is down 93 per cent. But Bukele’s critics warn that his hardline policies risk sacrificing democracy for security.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: NBC, CBS, Channel 4, Sky News Australia, ITV, Al Jazeera, CFR Education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop superstar Lizzo has said a lawsuit with claims of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment are ‘false’. Three former dancers have brought legal action against the singer, her dance captain and her production company. The allegations threaten to tarnish Lizzo’s brand, built on self-love and positivity – so can she survive the backlash? And is this a parable of modern celebrity and idol worship?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Megan Agnew, Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: TikTok/@bricksmagazine, TikTok/@shellywixted1990, Sky News, Big Boy TV, Twitter/@lizzo, Washington Post, ABC’s Good Morning America, Juice/Lizzo/Atlantic Records, British Vogue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With an election just around the corner, politicians are quitting Westminster in their droves, many of them under 40. Is the job broken – or are they just jumping before they're pushed? We meet the leavers and reluctant remainers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Charlotte Ivers, staff writer and columnist, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, ITV News, Global. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.