

The Explanation
BBC World Service
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world. Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 12, 2025 • 25min
The President’s Path: Affordability
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at how President Trump is tackling affordability and the cost of living for Americans.
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
Senior producer: Jack Surfleet
Editor: Gareth Bebb
Executive producer: Anna Holford

Dec 11, 2025 • 23min
The Media Show: Netflix’s Hollywood takeover drama
Netflix’s agreement to buy Warner Bros Discovery has triggered an immediate hostile counter-bid from Paramount, intensifying concerns within Hollywood about consolidation and streaming dominance. Natalie Jarvey, senior correspondent at The Ankler, and Dade Hayes, business editor at Deadline, assess why Warner Bros are in demand and what the takeover could mean for viewers.
Five broadcasters have now withdrawn from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in protest at Israel’s participation. BBC Music reporter Mark Savage explains the latest developments.
Meta is reducing its investment in virtual-reality projects and directing greater resources into AI. The metaverse was once Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the future of the company. Alex Hern, AI correspondent at The Economist, and Charlotte Henry, author of Streaming Wars, outline the implications.Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content Producer: Lucy Wai
Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Chris Brown
Sound: Sarah Kimberley

Dec 5, 2025 • 26min
The President’s Path: The health of healthcare
Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at how RFK Jr is shaping US health policy in President Trump’s second term.
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
Senior producer: Jack Surfleet
Editor: Gareth Bebb
Executive producer: Anna Holford

Dec 4, 2025 • 23min
The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
The Mayor of Greater Manchester has accused vloggers of provoking vulnerable people to generate online views, with a particular focus on the city’s Piccadilly Gardens. Sarah Lester, editor of the Manchester Evening News, and Charlotte Dewar, chief executive of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, discuss the issues.A new investigation suggests widespread use of illicit streaming devices and apps now threatens the financial viability of the Premier League’s TV deals. Adam Leventhal, senior writer at The Athletic, and Minal Modha, head of sport media rights at Ampere Analysis, assess the scale of the trend.Netflix’s expanding interest in podcast-style formats has led them to sign a deal with Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football show. Nick Hilton, co-founder of Podot, explains why podcasts are becoming strategically important for the streamer.Plus, Ian Hislop reflects on another year as editor of Private Eye, and discusses his magazine’s approach to journalism and satire.Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Sound engineer: Allyson Purcell-Davis
Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Ozgur Cevik

Nov 28, 2025 • 24min
The President’s Path: Trump v California
Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how US President Donald Trump is challenging the state of California, and how its governor, Gavin Newsom, is returning the favour.
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

Nov 27, 2025 • 23min
The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?
Pressure on the BBC has continued after a line about Donald Trump was removed from the Reith Lectures on legal advice. Dame Caroline Dineage, Chair of the Culture Media and Sport Committee, and Lionel Barber, Former Editor of The Financial Times discuss the implications. Also on the show, Dr Alice Enders of Enders Analysis explains why The Telegraph has been sold to the owners of the Daily Mail in a £500m deal. And CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan on his new documentary investigating why claims about white farmers in South Africa continue to circulate in US politicsProducer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Craig Johnson
Sound engineer: Robin Schroder

Nov 21, 2025 • 25min
The President’s Path: Redistricting
Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how the Republicans and Democrats are using redistricting as a tool, and how it could affect the political geography of the US.
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
Producer: Jack Surfleet
Editor: Gareth Bebb
Executive Producer: Anna Holford

Nov 20, 2025 • 23min
The Media Show: Ed Sheeran’s one-shot film
A new Netflix documentary captures Ed Sheeran performing live across New York in a single continuous take. Its executive producer, Ben Winston, reveals how the show – One Shot – was made, and discusses some of his company’s other TV hits including Carpool Karaoke.
Also on the show, as Donald Trump vows to take the BBC to court, where might the corporation go next as the crisis at the top continues. With Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor of The Sunday Times, Baroness Tina Stowell, Former Chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, Phil Riley of Boom Radio and Jordan Schwarzenberger of Arcade Media.Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Martha Owen
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Ozgur Cevik
Sound: Dafydd Evans

Nov 14, 2025 • 25min
The President’s Path: US-Venezuela boat strikes
Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at the latest US strikes on Venezuelan vessels and what it could mean for future relations between the two countries.
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
Producer: Jack Surfleet
Compliance editor: Anna Holford
Executive Producer: Anna Holford

Nov 14, 2025 • 26min
Unspun World: Are Russian forces on the brink of seizing Pokrovsk?
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses why Russia is so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, explores how difficult it will be to rebuild Gaza, and looks at how quantum computing could change the way we solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski


