The Explanation

In the week that Julian Assange walks free, we explore the story of WikiLeaks' unprecedented data releases and how he and his organisation changed the way journalists and newsrooms operate. We also assess if his guilty plea to a US espionage charge will have a chilling effect on national security journalism. Also in the programme, Steven Moffat, the writer behind global TV hits such as Sherlock and Doctor Who. He reveals why he wanted to tackle cancel culture in his new comedy-drama “Douglas is Cancelled”. Presenter: Katie Razzall Guests: James Ball, Political Editor, The New European; Carrie DeCell, senior staff attorney, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University; Steven Moffat, writer and Executive Producer, Douglas is Cancelled.

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether Ukraine is now preparing for a deal, assesses what’s at stake as Nato members prepare for their annual summit in Washington next month, and asks who owns the moon as we enter a new era of lunar exploration.

In the space of 20 years, podcasting has gone from hobby to big business. What’s the secret of success for the best in the industry? Also on the show, why there’s trouble at the top of The Washington Post, and new research that shows more and more people are avoiding the news. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Guests: Lewis Goodall, Co-host, The News Agents; Tony Pastor, Co-Founder, Goalhanger Podcasts; Nick Hilton, Co-founder, Podot; Vivian Schiller, Executive Director, Aspen Digital

After a lull in activities, in 2024 the Islamic State Group claimed to be behind several major attacks, showing the world they haven’t gone away. Among them was the storming by gunmen of a Moscow concert hall. Ten years after the Islamist extremists declared the establishment of a caliphate, our Jihadist Media Monitoring Team considers the current capabilities and ambitions of the group that once ruled over a large territory in Iraq and Syria. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether the Israeli government will survive the resignations of two leading cabinet members, explores why US economic growth isn’t having a having a greater impact on the presidential election, and assesses why Narendra Modi’s BJP party failed to win an absolute majority in India's critical elections.

The art of interviewing political leaders with a journalist who recently interviewed Rishi Sunak. Also in the programme, as the alleged subject of the Netflix drama Baby Reindeer sues the streamer for defamation, negligence and privacy violations, we weigh the legal arguments. And the future of reality TV as YouTube stars the Sidemen break records for their new show. Presenter: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the new threats to peace and security on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day campaign to liberate Western Europe, asks why the African National Congress Party has failed to win a majority in the South African parliament after 30 years in power, and considers why immigration is a key issue in elections this year in many countries.

In the age of social media, how easy is it to get people to pay for news? Editors from some of the world’s biggest news brands explain their strategy for turning a profit. Also in the show, after Google’s use of AI to generate search results went viral for all the wrong reasons, meet the journalist who followed its advice to put glue on her pizza. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Guests: Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief, The Atlantic; Katie Notopoulos, Senior Tech Correspondent, Business Insider; Andrew Neil, Chairman, The Spectator; Caroline Waterston, Editor-in-Chief, The Mirror.

John Simpson, BBC's expert in international affairs, discusses the potential impact of the UK's snap general election on its global position. The podcast also explores the political landscape in Iran post-Raisi and analyzes the dynamics of the Middle East, including shifts in Saudi Arabia and regional power dynamics.

This week we look at Big Tech and its role in a crucial election year around the world. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, who sat on the board of X (formerly Twitter), assesses the platform’s changing attitude towards political content. Also in the programme, as the general election campaign heats up in the UK, will TikTok help the candidates reach younger voters? Presenter: Katie Razzall Guests: Shona Ghosh, Senior Editor, Bloomberg; Martha Lane Fox, former board member, Twitter/X; Sean Topham, Co-Founder, Topham Guerin; Timandra Harkness, author of Technology is Not the Problem; Sam Jeffers, Executive Director, Who Targets Me