Today in Focus
Episodes
Reform and Greens surge in local elections: what next for Labour? – The Latest
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green party made su...
The AI jailbreakers
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Jamie Bartlett on the people trying to get AI to say things it shouldn’t … for the safety of us all. Help support our independent journ...
Outrage as oil giants profit billions from Iran war – The Latest
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Shell has made $6.9bn in profits since the Iran war began, cashing in on soaring energy prices. The enormous profits have reignited calls for higher t...
An Infowars insider on the warped world of Alex Jones
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the satirical online newspaper the Onion waits for court approval to take over the conspiracy website Infowars, Helen Pidd speaks to a former staff...
Hantavirus hell: deadly virus takes hold of cruise ship – The Latest
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Three people have died and several others have been medically evacuated after the outbreak of a deadly hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship. There are s...
Is Europe ready for a future without the US?
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Trump has threatened to pull 5,000 troops from Germany – while European leaders worry this is just the start of a US withdrawal from the continent. ...
Has Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ reignited war with Iran? – The Latest
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has launched a new operation, which he called ‘Project Freedom’, to try to open the strait of Hormuz. Could it spark a re-escalation ...
Fake fans, fake buzz? How your favourite band got big
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Shaad D’Souza explains how bands such as Geese have faced a backlash since a marketing company revealed its tricks for pushing them into the limelig...
Why the Bezos-backed Met Gala is so controversial – The Latest
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the grandest and glitziest event in the fashion calendar, but this year’s Met Gala has sparked backlash thanks to its new honorary chairs, Je...
The women who took their own lives after domestic abuse
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Geraldine McKelvie and Hannah Al-Othman tell the stories of women who died after enduring sustained campaigns of cruelty. Help support our independent...
Why has the world lost sight of the suffering of Palestinians? – The Latest
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the six months since a ceasefire was announced in Gaza, more than 800 civilians have been killed and living conditions have remained dire. Meanwhil...
Will the Greens win over Hackney?
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Pidd and Peter Walker on the local elections and why the Green party has surged in the polls. Help support our independent journalism at theguar...
‘An epidemic’: is antisemitism out of control in the UK? – The Latest
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north-west London, has become the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks. So is rising antisemitis...
Iran’s wartime executions
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last six weeks, the Iranian regime has carried out a spate of executions of political prisoners. The Guardian journalist Daniel Boffey report...
Has King Charles salvaged special relationship with Trump? – The Latest
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It was a historic day for King Charles as he became the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress in 35 years, before enjoying a la...
Siri, where does Apple go next?
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Guardian US tech editor Blake Montgomery talks about the future of Apple after the resignation of its longtime CEO Tim Cook. Help support our independ...
Starmer staves off mutiny over Mandelson mess… but for how long? - The Latest
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has endured another bruising day as the saga surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador continues. The prime minister f...
The secretive billionaire bankrolling Nigel Farage
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The crypto tycoon has given millions to Farage’s political parties. But who is Christopher Harborne and what does he want in return?. Help support o...
‘Sense of disbelief’: how White House press dinner attack unfolded – The Latest
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Details about the shooting at the White House correspondents gala have started to surface as the alleged shooter is set to be charged. The suspect was...
Sanae Takaichi’s push to change Japan’s pacifist constitution
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin McCurry on the political rise of the Japanese prime minister and her plan to amend rules constraining the country’s military. Help support ou...
Is Starmer on borrowed time? - The Latest
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life as the Mandelson vetting scandal threatens to end his premiership. With no end to the Mandelson saga i...
Will the backlash against AI turn violent?
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An attack on the home of OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman – and on the company’s headquarters – has led to concerns the backlash against AI could becom...
Is the tide turning for Ukraine in war with Russia? – The Latest
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With the EU approving a €90bn loan for Ukraine, a surprise visit from Prince Harry, and data suggesting Russian troops made almost no territorial ga...
What the new Michael Jackson biopic leaves out
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new blockbuster film about the controversial singer could make $1bn worldwide. Owen Myers and Lanre Bakare explain what it says about Jackson’s le...
Trump extends Iran ceasefire – can a deal be made? – The Latest
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the US ceasefire with Iran after talks looked increasingly uncertain between both sides. Trump said he would ‘...
The security report the UK government doesn’t want you to see
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fiona Harvey tells Nosheen Iqbal why the climate crisis is a threat to national security. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/i...
Blame game deepens over Mandelson vetting scandal - The Latest
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal has finally given his side of the story in an explosive appearance b...
Starmer addresses the Mandelson vetting saga
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Freedland on what Keir Starmer said – and didn’t say – to the House of Commons about the Mandelson vetting failure. Help support our in...
Iran war energy crisis: how bad could it get? – The Latest
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Oil and gas prices have jumped again as shipping through the strait of Hormuz came to a virtual standstill after Iran closed the waterway over the US ...
Stonewall’s new chair on trans rights, JK Rowling and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An exclusive interview with Kezia Dugdale on the charity’s mistakes and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement. With reporting by Libby Brooks. Help supp...
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer says it is ‘staggering’ and ‘unforgivable’ that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before taking up the ...
Will Trump regret taking on the Pope?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The president’s posting of an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus horrified many Christians. Sarah Posner tells Annie Kelly why evangelical voter...
Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire –The Latest
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US president, Donald Trump, has said Israel and Lebanon will begin a 10-day ceasefire. In a post on Truth Social, he said he had spoken to the lea...
When the ‘Dubai dream’ goes wrong
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Will Coldwell tells the story of how a British businessman was imprisoned in Dubai – and how his family finally got him home. Help suppor...
Big oil making $30m an hour from Iran war - The Latest
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, accord...
Is the EU back in vogue?
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa O’Carroll reports on the ‘resetting’ of the relationship between the UK and the EU. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian....
Trump and Iran in battle of the blockades – The Latest
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US blockade of ships using Iranian ports has come into force but several Iran-linked tankers have passed through the strait of Hormuz since it beg...
After four decades, Lebanon and Israel finally talk
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With the US and Iran in deadlock, could historic talks between Lebanon and Israel help steer the Middle East towards peace? William Christou reports. ...
Will Orbán’s defeat in Hungary be a turning point for Europe? – The Latest
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule has come to an end after the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won the Hungarian election by a landslide. O...
Meta‘s AI glasses and the dawn of wearable tech
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Elle Hunt on her month wearing Meta’s smart glasses and the privacy concerns around the technology. Help support our independent journalism at thegu...
Trump’s war, Melania and Epstein, with US editor Betsy Reed – The Latest
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Melania Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House on Thursday to announce that she ‘never had a relationship’ with the late child sex of...
Why the UK banned Kanye West
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lanre Bakare on the UK government’s decision to revoke Kanye West’s visa after Wireless festival booked him as a headliner. Help support our indep...
Will deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon shatter US-Iran ceasefire? – The Latest
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in Lebanon, prompting Iran to warn it could withdraw from the ceasefire agreed with the US. Hundreds have ...
JD Vance’s endorsement of Orbán
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Flora Garamvolgyi on JD Vance’s visit to Hungary in the run-up to the country’s elections on Sunday. Help support our independent journalism at th...
US-Iran ceasefire: has Tehran played Trump? – The Latest
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire thanks to a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan. The conditions includ...
North Korea’s ‘most beloved daughter’
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Jean H Lee on Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of Kim Jong-un, and the future of North Korea. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian...
Trump threatens to ‘take out’ Iran … again – The Latest
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump says the US will bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran fails to meet his latest deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz. The U...
George Monbiot on our fragile food system
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Guardian columnist speaks about why we need to tackle global food insecurity. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Move over Murdochs, here come the Ellisons
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Margaret Sullivan on the the billionaire father and son buying up the US media. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The families torn apart by the Minab school bombing
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tess McClure reports on the US bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Iran, and the families who lost loved ones in the attack. Help support our i...
War without a plan?: What Trump’s latest speech revealed – The Latest
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump’s primetime address on Wednesday evening provided little clarity on the US’s strategy in its war against Iran. Trump said that, while...
‘Tinder for Nazis’ and the woman who hacked it
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anonymous activist Martha Root on how she hacked into, and took down, a dating site for white supremacists. With reporting from investigative journali...
Trump lashes out: will Europe stand up to him? – The Latest
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has said he is considering pulling the US out of Nato, likening the alliance to a ‘paper tiger’. It comes after weeks of denouncement...
The brilliant students the UK doesn’t want
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why has the UK introduced a ban on student visas for four countries? Today in Focus talks to affected students in Sudan and Afghanistan, as well as ou...
Israel passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians – The Latest
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel’s parliament has passed a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks - a measure sharply criticised as discrim...
Blast off! Nasa goes back to the moon
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Astronaut Tim Peake and Guardian journalist Richard Luscombe talk through Artemis II, the first manned mission to the moon for 50 years. Help support ...
Will Trump put boots on the ground in Iran? – The Latest
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As thousands of US soldiers and marines arrive in the Middle East, Iran is accusing Washington of privately plotting a ground assault while publicly t...
UK’s big, risky AI bet
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Reporter Aisha Down explores the UK’s ‘phantom investments’ in AI, and the risk the government has taken in betting so heavily on the technology...
What is Netanyahu’s endgame in Iran war? – The Latest
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Could Israeli public support for the war in Iran give Benjamin Netanyahu a boost before this year’s elections? The vote will be the first chance for...
Spring break: Culture worth catching this season
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Critics Catherine Shoard, Alexis Petridis and Hannah J Davies on what to watch and listen to this season. Help support our independent journalism at t...
Iran says Trump ‘negotiating with himself’: what next for war? - The Latest
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump insists Iran is still interested in cutting a peace deal despite Tehran rejecting the US plan. Iran has now put forward a five-point coun...
Is Cuba Trump’s next target?
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The journalists Ruaridh Nicoll and Daniel Montero report from Havana as Cuba suffers from a devastating oil blockade imposed by the US. Help support o...
Big tech reckoning: Meta ordered to pay $375m in landmark case - The Latest
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A court in the US has ordered Meta to pay $375m after a jury found that the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, enabled harm including child s...
The Maga divide over Iran
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Roth on why the war on Iran is unpopular with the US public and what it means for Maga insiders. Help support our independent journalism at the...
Antisemitic ambulance attack: what we know so far – The Latest
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An investigation is under way into an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in north London. Efforts are being made to verify ...
Israel’s second front: on the ground in Lebanon
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The conflict in the Middle East is being fought from the air – except in southern Lebanon where Israel and Hezbollah are fighting a bitter ground wa...
Trump chickens out on Iran deadline – The Latest
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has delayed his deadline for Iran to open the strait of Hormuz, saying he is postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for a five-day pe...
What the Epstein case teaches us about grooming
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lucia Osborne-Crowley on what we should learn from Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Off Duty: The Crime
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On the evening of 29 December 2011, the police officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a security guard at a Chicago minimart when two men walked in...
Fuel rations and cash handouts: Iran war energy shock hits Asia – The Latest
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Across south-east Asia, governments are scrambling to find ways to conserve energy and shield the public from soaring costs, as war in the Middle East...
Why Ireland is giving a basic income to artists
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rory Carroll reports on the Irish government’s initiative, as a musician and a writer relay their experiences on the scheme. Help support our indepe...
Why gasfield attacks are major escalation in Iran war – The Latest
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump is threatening to ‘blow up’ a major Iranian energy facility, as attacks on gasfields across the Middle East send gas and oil prices s...
Charlotte Nichols MP on her rape trial ordeal
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MP for Warrington North shares her experience as a complainant in a rape trial where the man she accused was acquitted. Help support our independent j...
Trump attacks Starmer: end of the special relationship? – The Latest
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch has described Donald Trump’s criticism of Keir Starmer as ‘childish’ and said it ‘sends the wrong signal to our opponents in Ira...
What Nigel Farage will say for money
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Reform UK leader has a lucrative extra gig sending paid-for Cameo messages. But an analysis of more than 4,000 show they include videos for a neo-...
Key Iran leader ‘killed’: what does it mean for war? - The Latest
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel claims it has killed the influential Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani in overnight strikes. If confirmed, Larijani’s death would ...
Will the strait of Hormuz torpedo Trump’s war?
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Events in the narrow waterway are causing chaos around the globe. Jillian Ambrose explains why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian...
Could Trump blow up Nato over Iran war? – The Latest
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump is pressuring European allies to protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a ‘very bad’ future if members fail to offer a...
‘El Guapo’: The Spanish PM standing up to Trump
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Madrid-based journalist Guy Hedgecoe explains why Pedro Sánchez has been one of the few European leaders to challenge the US president on Iran. Help ...
Oscars 2026: who should win… and who actually will? – The Latest
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After months of red carpets and awards season campaigns, it’s all eyes on Hollywood’s night of nights - the Academy Awards. It looks like it will ...
‘Let’s-a go!’ The story of Nintendo
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Video games editor Keza MacDonald traces the rise of Nintendo, and explains why its sense of fun matters in a world of big tech. Help support our inde...
Mandelson files: Starmer admits ‘I made a mistake’ – The Latest
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in making Peter Mandelson ambassador to the US due to his links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epste...
What teenagers really see on their phones
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Pidd talks to Abbey, 15, and Josh, 16, about their experiences of social media, and a growing divide between boys and girls. Help support our in...
Will Iran war make the UK cost of living crisis worse? – The Latest
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rising oil prices and market turmoil as a result of the war in the Middle East are fuelling fears the cost of living crisis could get even tougher. En...
Should we be boycotting ChatGPT?
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rutger Bregman on why he thinks consumers should cancel their ChatGPT accounts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Could Trump really end the war in Iran ‘very soon’? – The Latest
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has held an astonishing press conference in which he said the war in Iran was ‘very complete’ and could end ‘very soon’, but also...
Inside Iran as the bombs fall
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Annie Kelly speaks to ordinary Iranians about the attacks on their country, and peace strategist Sanam Naghari-Anderlini explains her fears for the fu...
Will Trump make a deal with Iran’s new supreme leader? - The Latest
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to replace his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader, while the country continues to be heavily bo...
Who really took one of history’s most famous pictures?
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The photo of a Vietnamese girl running away from a napalm strike is one of the most famous in history. But who actually took it? With conflict photogr...
Trump sacks Kristi Noem: what does it mean for ICE? – The Latest
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has fired his controversial US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, after weeks of bipartisan complaints about her leadership. As th...
The Jesse Jackson I knew
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Chicago prepares to bid farewell to Jackson, Today in Focus hears about the groundbreaking civil rights activist from those who knew him. Help supp...
Why does Trump want Kurdish fighters to join the war in Iran? – The Latest
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Intense waves of airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts and police stations along northern parts of Iran’s border with Ira...
Starmer, Trump and the shaky ‘special relationship’
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rafael Behr on why Donald Trump’s war on Iran presents a strategic dilemma for Keir Starmer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian....
Could the Iran war spark a global economic crisis? – The Latest
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that faci...
What do Netanyahu and Trump really want in Iran?
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Who’s calling the shots in the US-Israeli war on Iran? Chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison and international security correspondent...
Why is Israel attacking Lebanon? – The Latest
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel has deployed soldiers on the ground in southern Lebanon and is carrying out heavy airstrikes in the country as conflict in the Middle East cont...
Chaos in the Gulf
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After the US and Israel assassinated Iran’s Supreme leader, Tehran has hit back. Missiles have rained down on the Gulf. Will the region retaliate? J...
Iran war escalates: what’s Trump’s endgame? - The Latest
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with casualties and destruction reported across at least nine countries in under 10 hours. Israeli a...
The assassination of Iran’s ayatollah – and fears for a wider conflict
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran’s supreme leader was killed in a military strike on his compound as Israel and the US launched attacks on the country. Patrick Wintour reports....
Greens win Gorton and Denton: is this a turning point for UK politics? – The Latest
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Green Party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gordon and Denton byelection in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber...