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The Explanation

Latest episodes

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Feb 20, 2025 • 23min

The Media Show: Diplomacy and the media and 100 years of The New Yorker

The future for Ukraine is fought not just on the battlefield but in the media. Governments carefully craft messages to influence global opinion, and media access is a crucial tool in shaping narratives. Former Nato spokesperson Oana Lungescu and The Times defence editor Larisa Brown, explore how Ukraine, Russia, and Western nations use diplomatic messaging to project power and control perceptions. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, reflects on the magazine’s 100-year legacy. From long-form, investigative pieces to cultural criticism, The New Yorker has defined literary journalism. Remnick shares insights on the magazine’s fact-checking process, its role in shaping public discourse, and why deeply reported journalism remains crucial in the digital age. Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant producer: Lucy Wai
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Feb 14, 2025 • 26min

Unspun World: Is Western support for Ukraine holding firm?

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether Western support for Ukraine is holding firm, analyses Donald Trump’s plan for a Middle East riviera in Gaza and looks at whether artificial intelligence is still a danger to us.
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Feb 13, 2025 • 23min

The Media Show: Understanding the attention economy

Elon Musk’s presence at a White House press conference surprised journalists when President Trump gave him the stage to address questions about his growing governmental influence. Jeff Mason, White House correspondent for Reuters, who asked Musk about claims of a “hostile takeover” of government, describes the experience. The Trump administration has announced significant cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides funding to independent media organisations worldwide. Max Tani, reporter for Semafor, explains how this decision affects news outlets, particularly those operating in countries where press freedom is under threat. BBC Media Action, the BBC’s international charity, has been affected by the cuts, with USAID previously providing millions in funding. Its CEO, Simon Bishop, clarifies the organisation’s role and responds to Elon Musk’s claim that USAID funds the BBC directly. The attention economy is reshaping the way people engage with media and technology. Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC’s All In, draws comparisons between Big Tech’s monetisation of attention and the Industrial Revolution’s transformation of labour. He discusses the social and political consequences of mass digital engagement and offers insight into potential regulatory solutions. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant producer: Lucy Wai
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Feb 7, 2025 • 26min

Unspun World: Donald Trump’s whirlwind start to his second term

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines Donald Trump’s first few weeks in office, analyses whether the United States is going to start a trade war, and looks at how Mexico is dealing with the new administration in Washington.
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Feb 6, 2025 • 23min

The Media Show: Bill Gates on tech and politics

Bill Gates sits down with presenter Katie Razzall in Seattle to discuss technology’s impact, from social media to AI, as he reflects on themes from his new autobiography. He shares his thoughts on misinformation, regulation, and his most recent meeting with Donald Trump. Also, how can news outlets engage Gen Z? New research shows young consumers trust social media posts and influencers as much as traditional journalism. Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, David Rhodes of Sky News, and Geordie Greig of The Independent discuss the challenge. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant producer: Lucy Wai
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Jan 31, 2025 • 26min

Unspun World: How will Trump's second presidency affect the war in Ukraine?

John Simpson visits Russia's neighbour Latvia for a special episode of Unspun World where he reflects on how the collapse of the Soviet Union has shaped Putin’s Russia. With BBC experts in the region, John explores how a second Trump presidency may affect the war in Ukraine and looks at the Baltic balancing act over the threat from Moscow.
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Jan 30, 2025 • 23min

The Media Show: China’s AI rise

Chinese technology is making headlines with the rise of DeepSeek, an AI chatbot that has surged to the top of US app downloads. Its development cost is reportedly lower than Western alternatives, and its open-source nature raises both innovation and security concerns. Shirin Ghaffary, AI reporter at Bloomberg, Ciaran Martin, former Head of Cybersecurity at GCHQ, and Kathrin Hille, FT Greater China correspondent, discuss the impact. The Excel World Championships bring spreadsheets into the realm of competitive gaming. Hosted in Las Vegas, the event sees contestants solving complex data challenges in front of a live audience. Robert McMillan, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, describes the atmosphere of the event and assesses whether Excel really has evolved from office tool to esport. Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant producer: Lucy Wai
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Jan 27, 2025 • 23min

Mindu Hornick: Interview with an Auschwitz survivor

"We thought we had entered hell." These are the recollections of Auschwitz survivor Mindu Hornick. In an interview with the BBC's Tim Franks, she recalls, in vivid detail, the last memory of her mother who was taken to the gas chamber; the Yiddish-speaking prison worker who saved her life; the terror of selection by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele; and the desperation of hunger, and rations laced with sawdust and bromide.
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Jan 24, 2025 • 26min

Unspun World: What's behind the growing tensions between China and Taiwan?

John Simpson is in Taiwan for a special episode of Unspun World, where he reflects on the extraordinary rollercoaster of Chinese politics over the last 60 years. With the BBC experts in the region, John examines the growing tensions between Taiwan and China, and explores how China may deal with Trump 2.0 as the US president once again takes office.
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Jan 23, 2025 • 23min

The Media Show: Prince Harry’s legal victory and TikTok’s future

Prince Harry has settled his legal battle against Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, securing a formal apology and substantial damages. Joshua Rozenberg, legal affairs commentator and journalist, explains the allegations, which included claims that private investigators used illegal methods to obtain information. Chris Huhne, former cabinet minister, reflects on his own experience. The future of TikTok in the US faces uncertainty following remarks by President Trump, who proposed a potential deal involving US entities. Jake Kanter, Investigations Editor at Deadline, assesses the political dynamics behind this issue. Media ethics are under scrutiny after the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas. Freelance journalist Noga Tarnopolsky critiques both the orchestration of the event by Hamas and how the Israeli government reported it and used footage of the hostages reuniting with their families. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant producer: Lucy Wai

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