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The Explanation

BBC World Service
The Explanation
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356 episodes

  • The Explanation

    The President's Path: How America and the world sees Trump

    04/09/2026 | 1h 2 mins.
    Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann answer your questions on Trump’s presidency and examine the key issues that could shape the midterms, from his approach to foreign policy and relations with US allies to the domestic political battles and key races to watch.
    Senior producer: James Kraft
    Editor: James Kraft
    Executive producer: Anna Holford
  • The Explanation

    The Media Show: Meet the 'meat proxies'

    03/09/2026 | 22 mins.
    “Meat proxy” is a new term coined to describe someone who acts as a human conduit for material generated by AI. Software engineer Niklas Gruhn, who came up with the phrase, joins Will Oremus, staff writer at The Atlantic and Fortune’s executive editorial director Diane Brady, to discuss how much AI is being used in journalism and when readers should be told about it.
    Five years after US troops withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban returned to power, Lyse Doucet has been back in the country, including visiting one of the secret schools set up for girls. BBC News’ Chief International Correspondent discusses what it takes to report from Afghanistan now, the restrictions she encountered and the difficult decisions involved in protecting contributors.
    Presenter: Ros Atkins
    Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
    Content producer: Lucy Wai
    Junior production co-ordinator apprentice: Cameron Taylor
    Technical co-ordinator: Christopher Brown
    Sound engineer: Michael Campbell
  • The Explanation

    Heated rivalry: US v Canada

    28/08/2026 | 16 mins.
    Mark Carney’s tough response to Donald Trump signals an escalation to the trade war between Canada and the United States. What does the dispute could mean for people and businesses on both sides of the border? What impact could the tariffs have on Trump’s midterm prospects? Could Canada could turn to other trading partners and European allies for support? Caitriona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Whitehouse correspondent Bernd Debusmann explore.
  • The Explanation

    The Media Show: Is YouTube the new TV?

    27/08/2026 | 22 mins.
    A special show from the Edinburgh TV Festival, where some of the industry’s biggest players have gathered from around the world to debate the future of television. YouTube now has 2.7 billion monthly active users, watching more than a billion hours of video every day, and many in the industry are asking whether it has become “the new TV”.
    Alison Lomax, Managing Director of YouTube UK and Ireland, gives the platform’s perspective on its growth, its algorithm and its relationship with creators. Claire Mundell, Managing Director and Creative Director of Synchronicity Films, Richard Cowles, CEO of Lifted Entertainment, and Jamie MacDonald, Head of Originals at After Party Studios, give their perspectives on the state of the industry and what could be coming next.
    Presenter: Ros Atkins
    Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
    Content Producer: Lucy Wai
    Assistant Producer: Laura Cain
    Researcher: Ruth Waites
    Sound: Sean Mullervy and Ben Andrews
  • The Explanation

    The President's Path: Trump redefines America’s friends and foes

    21/08/2026 | 15 mins.
    Sumi Somaskanda, Bernd Debusmann and Courtney Subramanian explore how President Trump is reshaping America's relationships with allies and adversaries. They discuss Trump's willingness to meet North Korea's Kim Jong Un again, rising tensions with ally Oman, and what it could mean for the United States’ role on the world stage.
    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: James Kraft
    Editor: James Kraft
    Executive producer: Anna Holford
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About The Explanation
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.
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