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
35 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 10min
Is Trump about to attack Iran? – The Latest
Devika Bhat, deputy head of international news at the Guardian, provides sharp analysis of rising US–Iran tensions. She outlines the US fleet movement and what military assets now in the region could enable. She discusses how action might affect Iranian protesters and the role of the Revolutionary Guards. She also examines the nuclear framing, domestic US motives, and regional consequences involving Israel.
19 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 33min
How did British Muslims become ‘the problem’?
Aamna Mohdin, Guardian community affairs correspondent reporting on British Muslim issues. Shaista Aziz, anti-racism campaigner and former councillor sharing lived experiences of Islamophobia. Miqdaad Versi, media-monitoring campaigner on representation. They discuss rising Islamophobia in Britain, online amplification and local threats, media bias and stereotypes, attacks on mosques, political shifts and why Muslim communities matter.
Jan 28, 2026 • 12min
Starmer visits China: should he trust Xi Jinping? – The Latest
Pippa Crerar, The Guardian’s political editor reporting from Beijing, gives on-the-ground analysis of Keir Starmer’s landmark China visit. She discusses security precautions and spying worries. She outlines how Starmer will balance human rights, trade ambitions and US sensitivities. She explores what China hopes to gain and the role of personal diplomacy.
Jan 28, 2026 • 28min
Can Syria keep the world safe from IS fighters?
Will Christou, Middle East correspondent for The Guardian reporting from northeast Syria, shares on-the-ground coverage of camps and prisons. He describes chaotic scenes at Al-Hol, dire humanitarian conditions and children trapped there. He outlines shifting control between Kurdish and Syrian forces, security risks from escapes and handovers, and the fragile prospects for stability and wider conflict.
25 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 11min
Melania: will Bezos-bankrolled documentary be a flop? – The Latest
Catherine Short, Guardian film editor and industry commentator, breaks down the Melania Trump documentary's high‑stakes financing and awkward rollout. She discusses why Amazon paid huge sums, Hollywood’s cozy ties with Trump circles, and the director’s controversial comeback. The conversation follows the film’s unusual promotional strategies and lukewarm ticket response.
25 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 30min
Starmer v Burnham: will it split Labour?
Peter Walker, Senior political correspondent at The Guardian, unpacks the clash between Starmer and Burnham and its implications for Labour leadership. He explains why Burnham tried for Gorton and whether the seat was winnable. He breaks down internal manoeuvres, electoral risks from Reform and Greens, and what the showdown reveals about factional tensions and leadership perception.
Jan 26, 2026 • 11min
Outrage grows over Alex Pretti shooting in Minnesota – The Latest
Moira Donegan, Guardian columnist known for sharp political analysis, breaks down the Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti. She walks through the footage and contested official claims. The conversation covers community reactions, calls for investigations, and the political fallout shaping federal-local trust.
21 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 25min
Why Germany is racing to rebuild its army
Kate Connolly, Berlin correspondent for The Guardian, explains Germany’s dramatic shift from postwar pacifism to large-scale rearmament. She outlines the scale of spending, why Russia’s 2022 invasion forced a rethink, and how public unease, recruitment drives and procurement choices are reshaping German defence and politics.
25 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 11min
Is this the week Trump went too far? – The Latest
Jonathan Freedland, Guardian columnist known for sharp political and international analysis. He dissects Trump’s Davos dominance and the theatrics of the so-called board of peace. He discusses Greenland, NATO insults and who Trump is playing to. He considers European pushback, Mark Carney’s warning about a shifting order, and how middle powers might regroup.
27 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 27min
Why are so many Tories joining Reform?
Peter Walker, Senior political correspondent at The Guardian, dives into the recent influx of former Conservatives joining Reform UK. He discusses the party's rising popularity in polls and its strategic candidate positioning. Walker highlights high-profile defections, including Robert Jenrick's controversial shift, and speculates on potential future exits from the Tories. He evaluates the risks of Reform losing its outsider status and the implications of a possible Tory-Reform alliance, while shedding light on the evolving state of UK politics.
