The Explanation
Episodes
Unspun World: Where is the conflict between Israel and Iran heading?
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel’s attacks on Iran could lead to...
The Media Show: Israel-Iran coverage
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict has been shaped by restricted access and challenges for international journalists. With few media outlets able to...
Unspun World: Trump's immigration crackdown
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to deploy troops to ta...
The Media Show: Will AI kill the advertising industry?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The advertising industry is facing dramatic change, after Meta announced new AI tools that will let anyone make ads. Sir Martin Sorrell, Executive Cha...
What does a new president mean for Poland?
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the impact of the election of a right-wing presi...
The Media Show: Can NPR survive Trump’s cuts?
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR, one of America’s most prominent public broadcasters, is facing potential funding cuts following moves by President Trump. The administration al...
Unspun World: Will Israeli criticism change Netanyahu's Gaza stance?
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether criticism from within Israel will force ...
The Media Show: NYT editor Joe Kahn, and travel presenter Simon Reeve
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Kahn, Executive Editor of the New York Times, outlines how the newsroom prioritises stories, handles editorial pressure, and navigates the challen...
Unspun World: The UK's new EU deal
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James Landale, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the UK’s new deal with the EU, looks at the p...
The Media Show: Full-time for Lineker at the BBC
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gary Lineker, a former England football captain and longtime presenter of the BBC’s football highlights programme Match of the Day, has left the cor...
Unspun World: What's next for Gaza?
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza, asses...
The Media Show: Misinformation and the India-Pakistan Standoff
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reignited an information war, not just on social media but also in mainstream outlets. Shayan Sardarizadeh fr...
Unspun World: Vladimir Putin’s game plan
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Russia’s current strategy in Ukraine, looks at...
The Media Show: Tina Brown on her fight for quality journalism
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tina Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has joined Substack, a self-publishing platform for independent writers. Speaking in th...
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part three
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah...
Unspun World: What part did Trump play in Canada’s election?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the role Donald Trump played in the Liberal Part...
The Media Show: Piers Morgan’s YouTube bet
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Piers Morgan explains why he has stepped away from traditional television to focus exclusively on YouTube. He outlines the commercial and editorial lo...
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part two
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah...
The Media Show: Washington leak culture
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The death of Pope Francis has drawn intense global media coverage as journalists gather in Rome. Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent for The Times, descr...
The Global Jigsaw: The Kurdish issue: Part one
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah...
The Media Show: Britain's steel crisis and SNL’s leap across the Atlantic
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A critical moment emerged in northern England as the UK government intervened to prevent the closure of a major steelworks, one of the last of its kin...
Trump's tariffs explained
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Brown in London and Sumi Somaskanda in Washington, examine the key questions about the Trump tariff rollercoaster of the last few days. Why has th...
The Media Show: Trade wars, tariffs, and Trump’s media strategy
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs has disrupted global markets and challenged journalists tasked with explaining complex financial implicat...
The Media Show: What teenage boys are watching online
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Netflix drama about a boy accused of murder has sparked global attention over the content consumed by teenage boys online. Claire Holubowskyj of End...
Unspun World: How might Gaza be governed in the future?
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines how Gaza could be governed in the future, analyses...
The Media Show: Are pirated books powering AI?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new lawsuit has intensified scrutiny over whether artificial intelligence models are being trained using pirated books. Authors and publishers are r...
Unspun World: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin negotiate over a ceasefire in Ukraine
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the negotiations between the United States and Rus...
The Media Show: Investigating Michael Jackson
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Documentary maker Dan Reed returns with Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, following Wade Robson and James Safechuck as they continue the...
Can Germany's ailing economy get back on track?
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Joachim Nagel isn't just Germany's chief central banker, he's one of the most powerful economic policy-makers in Europe.In this exclusive interview...
The Media Show: Revealing Facebook
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Wynn-Williams describes her seven years at Facebook as a “front-row seat” to one of the most powerful and influential companies in the world...
Unspun World: How will Donald Trump’s tariffs affect global markets?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether jitters in the world markets suggest an ec...
Unspun World: Can Ukraine continue to rely on US support?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what Ukraine can do to win back American military ...
The Media Show: Jeff Bezos' Washington Post shift
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Bezos’ growing influence on the Washington Post has reached a turning point, with changes to its opinion section prompting resignations from se...
Unspun World: Is Russia’s war in Ukraine nearing an endgame?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an en...
The Media Show: Mehdi Hasan on journalism, opinion, and independence
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mehdi Hasan’s career has taken him from the UK to becoming a high-profile journalist in the US. In this extended conversation, he discusses social m...
The Media Show: Diplomacy and the media and 100 years of The New Yorker
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The future for Ukraine is fought not just on the battlefield but in the media. Governments carefully craft messages to influence global opinion, and m...
Unspun World: Is Western support for Ukraine holding firm?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether Western support for Ukraine is holding fir...
The Media Show: Understanding the attention economy
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk’s presence at a White House press conference surprised journalists when President Trump gave him the stage to address questions about his ...
Unspun World: Donald Trump’s whirlwind start to his second term
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines Donald Trump’s first few weeks in office, analys...
The Media Show: Bill Gates on tech and politics
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Gates sits down with presenter Katie Razzall in Seattle to discuss technology’s impact, from social media to AI, as he reflects on themes from ...
Unspun World: How will Trump's second presidency affect the war in Ukraine?
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson visits Russia's neighbour Latvia for a special episode of Unspun World where he reflects on how the collapse of the Soviet Union has shap...
The Media Show: China’s AI rise
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese technology is making headlines with the rise of DeepSeek, an AI chatbot that has surged to the top of US app downloads. Its development cost i...
Mindu Hornick: Interview with an Auschwitz survivor
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"We thought we had entered hell." These are the recollections of Auschwitz survivor Mindu Hornick. In an interview with the BBC's Tim Franks, she reca...
Unspun World: What's behind the growing tensions between China and Taiwan?
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson is in Taiwan for a special episode of Unspun World, where he reflects on the extraordinary rollercoaster of Chinese politics over the las...
The Media Show: Prince Harry’s legal victory and TikTok’s future
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prince Harry has settled his legal battle against Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, securing a formal apology and substantial damages. Joshua Rozenbe...
The Media Show: Reporting the LA fires
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The devastation caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles has been profound, with homes and communities left in ruins. Jonathan Hunt, Fox News correspond...
The Media Show: Meta drops fact-checkers and Grand Theft Auto 6 hype builds
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of President Trump’s return to The White House, Meta is replacing its US fact-checking program with a new “user-driven” approach called Co...
The Media Show: media trends in 2025
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We explore the key media trends shaping 2025. From the rise of AI in journalism to how social platforms are transforming news, challenges in media fun...
The Global Jigsaw: The language of war: Ukraine
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kyiv’s answer to the Kremlin’s warspeak. In part one of this miniseries, we focused on Russia’s case, trying to see through Moscow’s war propa...
The Media Show: Jeans, cars, deodorant
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Advertising executive Sir John Hegarty has created campaigns for some of the world's most famous brands including Levi's, Lynx, and Audi. He was a fou...
The Global Jigsaw: The language of war: Russia
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Decoding the Kremlin’s warspeak to understand the power of propaganda as a weapon of war. “Let’s cut dill”, “a pop of cotton”, “meat ass...
The Media Show: CNN’s Syria report controversy
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A report by CNN from inside a Syrian prison has become a flashpoint for media scrutiny after the featured prisoner, initially presented as a victim, w...
The Media Show: Reporting Syria and reaction to Luigi Mangione
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed, Syrian media enters a new chapter. Kholoud Helmi, co-founder of the independent paper Enab Baladi, reflect...
The Media Show: Reddit's rise
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reddit bills itself as the “home to endless conversation and authentic human connection”, and it is now one of the fastest growing social networks...
The Media Show: BBC presenter defection
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mishal Husain, one of the most recognisable voices on the BBC, is leaving after 26 years to join Bloomberg. Known for presenting Today and high-profil...
Unspun World: Could Russia's war with Ukraine escalate?
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the risk of escalation in Russia’s war with Ukra...
The Media Show: Jake Paul v Mike Tyson
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friday’s Netflix boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was more than a fight; it was a media moment. Evan Shapiro, media commentator, sees i...
Unspun World: What can the world expect from a second Trump term?
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson explores the implications of a second Trump term for US foreign policy, the role of Saudi Arabia in the search for stability in the Middl...
The Media Show: US Election and its impact on media
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US election has brought about significant challenges for the mainstream media. Edward Luce of the Financial Times, Megan McArdle of The Washington...
Unspun World: What does the US election tell us about America?
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines how the US Presidential campaign has highlighted t...
The Media Show: Trump's winning media strategy
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Much of the traditional media were blindsided by Trump’s election victory. To discuss why, Katie is joined by James Harding, Founder, Tortoise Media...
The Global Jigsaw: Russia’s “special demographic operation”
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is the Kremlin worried about population decline? President Putin has made the increase of human capital a national priority. Decision-makers have ...
Unspun World: What will Iran do now?
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses how the Iranian regime might respond to Israel’s...
The Media Show: Ballots, bias and big tech
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ros Atkins is in Washington DC and asks what what the upcoming election tells us about the role the media plays in modern America.The Washington Post ...
The Global Jigsaw: Turkey’s anti-LGBT drive
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s behind the evolution of President Erdogan’s narrative on LGBT issues, and how did Turkey’s Islamic conservatives find common ground with ...
Unspun World: The Middle East: The regional perspective
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the attitudes of other countries in the Middle Eas...
The Media Show: The king of reality TV
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Cohen is the executive producer behind the Real Housewives TV franchise. He tells Katie how it became a global phenomenon. Also in the programme,...
Unspun World: Israel's Middle East strategy
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's experts around the world, analyses Israel’s long-term strategy in the Middle East, examines whether the U...
The Media Show: ISIS Prisons Museum
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ISIS Prisons Museum was established in 2017 when a group of journalists, filmmakers and activists entered deserted Islamic State prisons to collec...
The Global Jigsaw: Yemen: A frozen conflict
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ten years on, where do the warring parties stand? And is there a way out of the stalemate? This is not just a civil war - it’s a battle between riva...
Unspun World: The Middle East, a year on from the October 7th attacks
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the prospects for the Middle East on the anniversa...
The Media Show: Reporting from inside Gaza
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s it like to report from Gaza? The BBC’s Rushdi Abualouf discusses the editorial and practical challenges, keeping his family safe while repo...
Unspun World: What will Iran's strategy be?
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what Iran’s strategy will be in the wake of Isra...
The Media Show: Secrets of The Sidemen
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the Israeli offensive against targets in Lebanon continues, we discuss the challenge for journalists reporting the story with the BBC’s Lyse Douc...
The Global Jigsaw: Yemen: A tale of three cities
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ten years after the start of the civil war in Yemen, Sanaa, Aden and Taiz are stuck in a “no war, no peace” limbo. The three ancient cities are ru...
The Media Show: Reporting the Predator at Harrods
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mohamed Al Fayed was the flamboyant billionaire whose investments once included the luxury department store Harrods and a Premier League football club...
The Media Show: Trump’s Pet-eating Conspiracy Theory
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump’s false claim that migrants are eating pets in Springfield Ohio will go down in history as one of the most memorable political soundbit...
The Media Show: Russia’s alleged influencer propaganda plot
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Department of Justice says it has busted a Russian plot to recruit popular right-wing influencers to convey its messages. Maggie Miller, Cybersecu...
The Media Show: Why Korean TV rules the world
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Squid Game to The Masked Singer, some of the most popular TV formats of recent years have come from South Korea. InSoon Kim, a Korean TV producer...
The Media Show: Telegram founder arrested
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has been arrested in France. For an executive of a big social media company to face a criminal enquiry...
The Media Show - TV’s Hidden Dilemma
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To many, we're living through a golden age of TV. But behind the rich offerings for consumers lie several growing structural issues, from a market ove...
US Supreme Court
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As one of the smallest Supreme Courts in the world, do nine justices fairly represent the diversity of views in the US? Host Claire Graham talks to t...
The Media Show: Social media as crime scene
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In recent weeks parts of the UK saw violent riots fuelled by misinformation online and anti-immigration sentiment. Some rioters have since been senten...
What is the United Nations?
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Consisting of 193 member states, the United Nations is a global organisation which strives for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. Found...
The Global Jigsaw: The Taliban’s war on women
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan has led to the erasure of women from public life. There’s a UN-led campaign to recognise it as “gende...
The Media Show: Online rumours and real-world consequences
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In parts of the UK, violent protests broke out after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in the English town of Southport – rumours had spread t...
Big Tech – too big to hide from?
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We find out how Big Tech companies may know more about you - than you do.Host Claire Graham talks to the BBC's cyber correspondent for the BBC World S...
The Media Show: Who will inherit the Murdoch empire?
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
News emerged last week that Rupert Murdoch is attempting to change his family’s legal trust to preserve the editorial stance of his media outlets af...
The global arms trade
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Which countries supply weapons and which countries buy them? We learn how uncertainty, tension and conflict are leading to increasing military spend ...
The Media Show: Can memes win the US election?
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do memes hold the key to the White House? Supporters of Kamala Harris hope so. Already online communities have sprung up to boost her campaign and the...
Why is the Gulf Stream and AMOC so important to our climate?
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Complex ocean currents keep Europe warm and bring rain to Africa, but could they come to an end?The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)...
The Media Show: Reporting from the scene of the Trump shooting
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Media Show hears from journalists who were witness to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Gary O'Donoghue was reporting live on the BBC W...
What makes a good peace mediator?
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brokering peace between warring nations, how does it work and what causes failure? We look at Qatar’s role in the Middle East and at insight gained ...
The Media Show: The war reporter who stopped to help
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Oz Katerji was reporting from outside the children’s hospital in Kyiv that was hit after Russia launched a wave of missiles on Ukraine earlier this ...
The Media Show: Reporting Biden’s Health
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the aftermath of his halting debate performance, the editorial boards of some major US newspapers have called on Joe Biden to withdraw from the pre...
Unspun World: The UK election
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the key issues for voters in the UK’s imminent g...
The Media Show: Julian Assange - journalist or activist?
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the week that Julian Assange walks free, we explore the story of WikiLeaks' unprecedented data releases and how he and his organisation changed the...
Unspun World: Is Ukraine preparing for a deal?
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether Ukraine is now preparing for a deal, asses...
The Media Show: How podcasts took over the world
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the space of 20 years, podcasting has gone from hobby to big business. What’s the secret of success for the best in the industry? Also on the sho...
The Global Jigsaw: The evolution of the Islamic State Group
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a lull in activities, in 2024 the Islamic State Group claimed to be behind several major attacks, showing the world they haven’t gone away. Am...