Today in Focus
The Guardian
Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 5, 2026 • 11min
Is this the end for Starmer? – The Latest
Alexandra Topping, Guardian political correspondent known for Westminster reporting, breaks down the Mandelson–Epstein furore and its fallout for Keir Starmer. Short takes cover the Hastings apology, MPs’ fury over vetting, the Commons moment when Starmer admitted knowledge, and how Morgan McSweeney became a lightning rod. They also discuss the mechanics and timing of any Labour challenge.
16 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 31min
A survivor on the Epstein Files
Moira Donegan, Guardian US columnist who has tracked the scope of the released Epstein documents. Lisa Phillips, former fashion model and survivor turned advocate pushing for transparency and accountability. They discuss the scale of the files, why more revelations may emerge, the shocking tone of some materials, survivor organizing and demands for document release.
12 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 12min
Could Mandelson face jail time over Epstein ties? – The Latest
Archie Bland, Head of National News at The Guardian, gives concise reporting on the Mandelson–Epstein revelations. He outlines released private emails and documents that suggest sharing of Downing Street and market-sensitive information. He explains why private accounts matter for transparency. He also discusses police referrals, potential legal consequences and the political fallout for senior figures.
9 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 25min
The people betting on catastrophic world events
Sahil Desai, Senior editor at The Atlantic and politics and media journalist, guides a deep dive into prediction markets. He traces their rise, explains how platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi operate, and maps the strange range of bets from trivial to catastrophic. He also explores regulatory differences, anonymity risks and how markets can shape news and real-world outcomes.
Feb 3, 2026 • 10min
Hope in Gaza? Vital crossing reopens under Israeli restrictions - The Latest
Emma Graham-Harrison, Chief Middle East correspondent at The Guardian, reports from Gaza with frontline experience. She discusses Rafah's limited reopening and who it actually helps. She outlines the scale of medical need, daily transfer limits, and what happened at the crossing. She also considers ongoing violence despite pauses and the challenges for moving into the next phase of the ceasefire.
53 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 28min
Will China replace the US on the world stage?
Tanya Branigan, long-time China correspondent and author of Red Memory, explores shifting global ties with China. She discusses why middle powers are courting Beijing. She covers trade wins, human-rights tensions, technological pull and Beijing’s more assertive diplomacy. She examines how US unpredictability and China’s institutional ambitions are reshaping world order.
24 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 12min
Epstein files: has Trump really been ‘absolved’? – The Latest
Jonathan Freedland, columnist and Politics Weekly America host, offers political analysis of newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. He unpacks why Trump says he is 'absolved' despite repeated mentions, the scale and redactions of the release, and fresh links to high-profile figures like Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson. The conversation focuses on implications and what may happen next.
13 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 43min
Fatima Bhutto on secrets, lies and surviving coercive control
Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani writer and memoirist known for chronicling her family’s political history, tells how lockdown and vulnerability led her memoir. She recalls secrecy, early trauma and meeting a man who seemed to fix her anxiety. She describes manipulation, gaslighting, control over children and fertility, the pandemic moment that helped her leave, and finding kindness and a new family afterward.
17 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 12min
Is it time to break up with US tech? – The Latest
Chris Stokel-Walker, technology journalist and author who covers tech industry risks, discusses European dependence on US tech. He explains France ditching Zoom for a local alternative. He outlines fears of US firms cutting access, the challenge of building independent infrastructure, and Europe’s limited AI champions.
7 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 27min
Minneapolis citizens on protecting their neighbours from ICE
Patti O'Keefe, a Minneapolis legal and raid observer who documents ICE activity and was once detained. Wintana Melkin, director at Groundwork Action who builds grassroots rapid-response and aftercare networks. They discuss ICE deployments, how daily life changed, grassroots mobilization from George Floyd protests, rapid-response tactics and community solidarity to protect neighbors.
