The Explanation
Episodes
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...
Unspun World: Israel's war cabinet fragments
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether the Israeli government will survive the re...
The Media Show: How to interview a Prime Minister
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The art of interviewing political leaders with a journalist who recently interviewed Rishi Sunak. Also in the programme, as the alleged subject of the...
Unspun World: The new threats to global peace and security
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the new threats to peace and security on the 80th ...
The Media Show: The Business of News
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the age of social media, how easy is it to get people to pay for news? Editors from some of the world’s biggest news brands explain their strateg...
Unspun World: Will the UK's election change its place in the world?
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, considers how a snap general election might change the UK’...
The Media Show: Is this the TikTok election?
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we look at Big Tech and its role in a crucial election year around the world. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, who sat on the board of X (formerly ...
Unspun World: How has the Russia-China relationship changed?
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines how the relationship between Russia and China has ...
The Media Show: Reporting ringside at Usyk v Fury
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become boxing's undisputed heavyweight champion. The high-profile match was held in the Kingdom Arena i...
Unspun World: Why are US-Israel relations at an historic low?
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's range of experts across the world, analyses why Israel’s government is deliberately flouting the wishes o...
The Media Show: Netflix and the Baby Reindeer Fallout
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Baby Reindeer is the Netflix drama that purports to be a true story – but a woman has come forward to say it’s based on her, and that she’s been...
The Global Jigsaw: How China sees itself in Africa
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“China is not buying Africa, it is building Africa” is the view from Beijing. How is this landing with local audiences? There have been hints of a...
Unspun World: What is Israel's plan for Gaza?
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for Gaza is now, ...
The Media Show: Reporting the US campus protests
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
US university campuses have been the scene of pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the last month. We assess the challenges of reporting the protests a...
What is the dark web?
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The secret club which keeps illegal content hidden, using encryption and anonymisation tools. But can it also be a force for good? The dark web is a h...
The Global Jigsaw: Turkey's foothold in Africa
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A dive into the narratives surrounding Turkey’s ambitions in Africa, where Ankara is touting itself as a “non-colonising” alternative to Western...
The Media Show: Behind the information iron curtain
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Across large parts of the globe, access to impartial news reporting and information has never been more difficult, creating an information iron curtai...
Goodbye to the International Space Station
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It was a triumph of international collaboration - a laboratory for hundreds of astronauts - but was the 120 billion dollar investment worth it? Consid...
The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’: Part two
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Iran's loose coalition of allies and proxies, sworn against Israeli and US influence, that has been shaping events in the Middle East for decades. Its...
The Media Show: Secrets of the Celebrity Interview
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Decca Aitkenhead is the Chief Interviewer of The Sunday Times and has interviewed countless big names, from Hillary Clinton to Madonna. As she wins ye...
Nuclear weapons - which countries have them?
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We look at the nuclear powers and those who want to join their club. Are nuclear weapons a deterrent or a strategic show of strength? We examine what ...
The Global Jigsaw: How drones have changed war
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Drones have reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine - and created new challenges, raising concerns about the nature of future warfare. Drone technology ha...
The Media Show: How Taylor Swift conquered the media
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Taylor Swift is a media phenomenon. News outlets now have dedicated “Swift Correspondents”, Disney paid a record sum to stream her Eras tour, and ...
How does the New York Stock Exchange work?
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, valued today at over $25 trillion - but does it spread wealth or increase inequality? And wha...
The Global Jigsaw: Sudan: A year of war
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As it marks a year of war with no end in sight, Sudan faces the largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world. There are fears that if not...
The Media Show: Building Trump's social media app
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, continues to make headlines with its public listing. Billy Boozer, its former Chief Product Office...
The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran’s 'Axis of Resistance': Part one
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The origins of the Iran-cultivated alliance of like-minded states and groups taking aim at Israel and the US. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (I...
The Media Show: Fear, threats and intimidation
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have US diplomats been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry? Unexplained symptoms such as dizziness reported by personnel working around the globe have ...
The Global Jigsaw: Moscow attack: disinfo wars
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who is behind the Crocus City Hall attack? Within an hour of last week’s deadly attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, a campaign was gathering mo...
The Global Jigsaw: Contested waters: Helmand
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The water dispute driving the turbulent relationship between Afghanistan and Iran is in an area faced with worsening climate change. The waters of the...
Unspun World: What's next for President Putin after winning re-election?
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what’s next for Vladimir Putin after winning re-...
The Global Jigsaw - Contested waters: Crimea
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How water is used as a weapon of war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin’s order as a project of ...
Unspun World: Has Russia turned the tide in its war in Ukraine?
16 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Russia has turned the tide in its war in U...
The Global Jigsaw: What hope for Haiti?
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a “living nightmare”, with rapes, kidnappings and killings a daily occurrence. More than ...
Unspun World: What's life like on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank?
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, analyses what ...
Unspun World: Is a ceasefire in Gaza within reach?
02 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, examines D...
Unspun World: What Alexei Navalny's death means for Vladimir Putin's grip on Russia
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at Vladimir Putin’s position after the death of Ale...
Unspun World: Can Israel win its war in Gaza?
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, talks to Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's international editor, who analyses whether Israel can win its war in Gaza. He examines what is really h...
Unspun World: How Russia's economy has survived despite sanctions
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses how the Russian economy has thrived despite Wester...
Unspun World: Is Ukraine losing Western support?
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Ukraine can win its war with Rus...
Unspun World: Is the war in Gaza slipping away from Israel?
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, asks whether the war in Gaza is beginning to slip away from...
Unspun World: What's the West's strategy for the Houthis?
20 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the strategy behind the US and UK attacks on the H...
What does the World Bank do?
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The World Bank was originally established after World War Two with the goal of eradicating poverty and establishing shared prosperity. With new challe...
What is sportswashing?
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, many sports have received huge investment from oil-rich petrostates, and while the term ‘sportswashing’ is relatively new, the id...
What is BRICS?
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa make up what is currently called BRICS, a group of emerging economies which is challenging the Western-d...
How does the World Health Organization work?
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many global health experts believe we should brace ourselves for more epidemics and pandemics in the future. But deadly diseases are not exactly new. ...
Unspun World: Can anything break the stalemate in the Ukraine war?
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can anything break the stalemate in the Ukraine war? Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, tells the BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, abou...
What is Five Eyes?
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A secret intelligence pact between the UK and US began during the Second World War, focused on intercepting communications and breaking codes. Expandi...
Unspun World: How migration is changing European politics
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wilders’ Dutch victory sends tremors around Europe so why is migration now top of the European political agenda? Europe editor, Katya Adler, gives w...
Unspun World: A pause in fighting in Gaza
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A ceasefire in Gaza but BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, asks Yogita Limaye - who has been gathering material from the area - what it is like fo...
The Global Jigsaw: Global perspectives on the Israel Gaza war
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Israel Gaza conflict has commanded attention in every corner of the globe and has created what media present as unprecedented polarisation. Leader...
Unspun World: Can the US and China get along?
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China and the US make deals on the military and fentanyl trafficking. The BBC's World Service's Asia Pacific editor, Celia Hatton, explains why the tw...
The Global Jigsaw: Israel and Gaza special
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The war of narratives reflecting power tilts in the Middle East. Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October, which is said to have killed a...
Unspun World: What's Israel's endgame in Gaza?
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Security correspondent, Frank Gardener, gives his take on the future of the region. The BBC's World Affairs editor, John Simpson, also asks Mini Al-La...
Unspun World: Tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
BBC World Affairs editor, John Simpson, is in Lebanon - a country deeply nervous it might get sucked into yet another war with Israel. So what are the...
Unspun World: Will Israel invade Gaza?
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Israel launch a ground assault in Gaza and, if they do, what is at stake? BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson gets the latest from Middle East ...
The Global Jigsaw: Who’ll be Argentina’s next president?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a shock primary win, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to up...
Unspun World: Israel declares war on Hamas after deadly attack
14 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Israel starts 'a prolonged and powerful campaign' in Gaza. What might be the consequences? BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson analyses the fallout....
Unspun World: Are democracies hindering the fight against climate change?
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Short-term politics gets in the way of dealing with an ever-warming planet. The BBC's climate editor, Justin Rowlatt, discusses the problems with how ...
Unspun World: Can anyone in Russia challenge Putin now?
30 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Now Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead, can anyone in Russia challenge President Putin’s power? BBC Russian news editor Famil Ismailov gives us his vision of...
The Global Jigsaw: Wagner after Prigozhin
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What next for the notorious Wagner group after the plane crash that wiped out its leadership? The Russian private military group that’s left boot pr...
Unspun World: What has changed for women in Iran, a year after Mahsa Amini's death?
23 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Iranian women are still fighting for freedom, despite government crackdowns. World Service correspondent Faranak Amidi speaks to the BBC’s world aff...
The Global Jigsaw: Grain deal special
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Russia and Turkey failed to reach an agreement to bring Ukrainian grain to countries that desperately need it, at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of...
Could Puerto Rico become America's 51st state?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a US territory, Puerto Rico uses the dollar, its people are US citizens and they can move freely back and forth. However, it isn’t a US state, an...
Kosovo–Serbia relations
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After unilaterally declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has been recognised by many countries, but not Serbia, which still claims it as one of its p...
What is Nato?
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nato members agree to support each other if they come under attack. That’s the fundamental purpose of Nato, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organizatio...
Venezuela crisis
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How has Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves, become crippled with food and medicine shortages, hyper-inflation, violence and corruptio...
The EU
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With its foundations in the ashes of World War II, the European Union was initially formed to avoid further wars and remove trade barriers. It grew fr...
Who are the Rohingyas?
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2017, a deadly crackdown by Myanmar's army resulted in the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh. Years later, many of ...
What is a war crime?
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the difference between a war crime, a crime against humanity and genocide? And who holds those responsible to account?Anna Holligan, the BBC's...
Unspun World: Is it time to return looted art?
08 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What should we done with stolen treasures? The BBC's culture editor, Katie Razzall, confronts colonialism's legacy with world affairs editor John Simp...
Haiti's gang crisis
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Since Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, the country has been in turmoil. Some 200 gangs have taken control in the absence of a functioning sta...
Unspun World: Is Putin's time up?
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
President Putin's days might well be numbered, BBC Russian service editor Famil Ismailov tells world affairs editor John Simpson. John also hears from...
How Lebanon’s economy collapsed
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Protests, power cuts and bank hold-ups – Lebanon was already struggling before the 2020 port explosion that devasted its capital, Beirut, but now it...
Unspun World: Xi Jinping: President or emperor?
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese service editor Howard Zhang speaks to world affairs editor John Simpson about Xi Jinping's growing ambition and what it means for China - and ...
What is the Wagner Group?
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Wagner group has been linked to military conflicts around the world, but who are they?The Russian mercenary organisation is believed to have been ...
Unspun World: Who can challenge Trump?
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, asks defence correspondent Jonny Beale where the war in Ukraine is heading and what victory might look l...
Unspun World: What's it like reporting on the war from inside Russia?
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, asks Russia editor Steve Rosenberg what the mood is like in Russia as the war gets closer to home; finds...
Unspun World: Can the US transform the world's economy?
03 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can the US transform the world's economy? We get the detail - and why it matters for the rest of us - from economics editor Faisal Islam. And our host...
Unspun World: Could AI outsmart humanity?
27 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Unspun World provides an unvarnished version of the week's major global news stories with the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson and the BBC's un...
Unspun World: Is Ukraine's counter-offensive a turning point?
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Unspun World provides an unvarnished version of the week's major global news stories, with the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson and the BBC's u...