The Story

He's one of the most popular rappers in America: Young Thug is facing up to 120 years in prison for allegedly being the head of a violent criminal gang. State prosecutors in Georgia are using lyrics from his songs as 'proof' of acts they say he was involved in, including the murder of a rival. But with this line of courtroom argument, is artistic freedom of speech under threat? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'Guest: Keiran Southern, West Coast correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: 11Alive, CNN.Music excerpts:Camilla Cabello ft Young Thug - Havana (Epic/Syco)Young Thug - Stoner (Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Anybody (YSL/300/Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Slime Shit (300/Atlantic Records)Young Thug - Just How It Is (YSL/300/Atlantic Records)Lil Durk - Ahhh Ha (Alamo) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With no fewer than five separate Tory factions meeting to discuss whether or not to back the government on its revised Rwanda policy, Rishi Sunak finds himself fighting for his political reputation on two fronts: immigration and his handling of the pandemic.Yesterday, he faced the Covid inquiry. Our parliamentary sketch writer, Tom Peck, tells Manveen that Sunak may have survived the legal cross-examination, but his political fate is sealed.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Find out how to listen to our bonus episodes - 'Inside the newsroom': https://thetimes.co.uk/bonuspodcastsGuest: Tom Peck, parliamentary sketch writer for The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America’s opioid crisis is now in its third decade and has killed more people than the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam combined. Fentanyl, the most commonly used synthetic opioid, is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Made from chemicals manufactured in China, it’s then put into pill form in Mexico and smuggled across the border. As China and the US agree to crack down on the illegal trade, is China deliberately fuelling its rival’s opioid crisis? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Channel 4 News, PBS, Sky News, NBC News, AP, CBS News, CNBC, Arte, South China Morning Post, Fox News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson faces a grilling at the Covid Inquiry, revealing his changing approach to COVID-19. Controversy surrounding 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme and delayed lockdown decisions discussed. Consequences of decision-making, anticipation of inquiry, and preparation for future pandemics explored.

David Smith, Economics Editor of The Sunday Times, discusses the UK government's plan to cut immigration and its implications on the economy, including the increase in net migration, the impact on the job market, and the contributions of migration to the economy.

Geert Wilders, a Dutch anti-Islamist politician, discusses his surprising electoral success and policy platform. The rise of right-wing populism in Europe and dissatisfaction with the political class are also explored.

Iran has built an intricate network of gangs, private investigators and assassins to target enemies of the regime around the world. An investigation by The Sunday Times has found that Tehran has launched at least 17 plots, including abductions and murders, against UK targets since the start of last year. So, what is it like to be one of these targets?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Forbes, Parliament TV, 60 Minutes, Guardian News, Kayhan Life, Sky News, ABC News, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza came to an end. But as hostilities resume, are war crimes being committed? We hear from a war lawyer.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Jennifer Maddocks, Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy, West Point.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: DW News, the Guardian, MEMRI, BBC, NBC, Bloomberg, CBS, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, Middle East Eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A diplomatic row has broken out between Rishi Sunak and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the Elgin Marbles. Today, we’re revisiting an episode from last December, when David Aaronovitch spoke to classicist and British Museum trustee Dame Mary Beard about how the Parthenon sculptures ended up in the UK 200 years ago.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Dame Mary Beard, classicist.- David Sanderson, Arts Correspondent, The Times.With thanks to The British Museum.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, Times Radio, Reuters, CBC News, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, ITV Good Morning Britain, LBC, UK Parliament, LSE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is being paid £1.5 million to take part in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and is on the trail of Gen Z fans. Could a reality TV career-boost propel him back into politics? And if it does, how might that change the British political landscape?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: ITV, The Guardian, Fox News, GB News, Fortune & Freedom, Nigel Farage on TikTok, Channel 5, Nigel Farage on Cameo, Sky News, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.