Stories of our times

Just after 8am this morning, patrol cars arrived at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. What do we know? What happens next? And what does this mean for the palace? Our sister podcast, The Royals, brings you the latest.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Harry Yorke, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesCharlotte Alt, news reporter, The TimesHost: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Robert WallaceWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: The Royals with Roya and KateRead more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public officePhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Board of Peace began with the grand ambition of reconstructing Gaza and securing a lasting end to one of the world's most intractable conflicts. But with Donald Trump as chairman for life, its ambitions have grown: it wants to become a wider international peacekeeping organisation. As members meet for the first time in Washington DC, will their lofty ambitions translate into action on the ground? Or is it all just a vanity project?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Tony Blair to attend Trump's inaugural Board of Peace meetingFurther listening: Trump's Greenland play and the future of transatlantic relationsClips: OneIndia News / Youtube, AP / Youtube, CTV, BBC, Channel 4, ABC News.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Van Der Beek's death last week at just 48 shocked fans, reignited fears about a disease we still associate with old age. Cases of bowel cancer are rising in those under 50, even as rates fall among the elderly. To find out why, researchers are turning to a century of preserved samples.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times Professor Trevor Graham,  director, Centre for Evolution and CancerHolly Masters, cancer patient Host: Manveen RanaProducer: Julia Webster, Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Bowel cancer has doubled in under-50s: do the reasons lie in birth?Further listening: Why are more young people getting cancer?Photo: Getty.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour Together scandal is the latest storm threatening to capsize the government - and Gabriel has been right at the heart. For the first time, he describes what happened when a Labour think tank set private investigators on a journalist. Their secret report falsely accused Gabriel of acting as a Russian agitator and "grotesquely subverted" his faith in an attack on his and his colleagues' reporting in The Sunday Times.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan Dawtrey.Executive Producer: Dan Box.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: ‘This is dark s***': inside the political smear campaign to discredit journalistsPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour Together, the think tank which helped Sir Keir Starmer become prime minister, has been accused of paying a PR firm to investigate Sunday Times journalists. The subsequent report contained personal information and false claims about Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund's faith and family background, including the incorrect suggestion he was part of a Russian conspiracy to bring down Starmer. So why did a political organisation pay for a smear campaign against journalists? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Emanuele Midolo, investigations reporter, The Sunday Times. Ben Clatworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalistsClips: BBC, Times Radio, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Sky News, GB News. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times' Money desk has been investigating the UK's student debt system – and has discovered some bombshells. After being promised a loan that would be like paying a ‘phone bill every month', graduates are weighed down by tens of thousands of pounds in ever-increasing debt. So how did we get here? And is there a plan to fix it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mary Downer, Money reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Plan 2 student loan interest is unfair, says Lucy PowellFurther listening: The Budget unpackedClips: BBC, Parliament Live, ITN, Channel 4 News, LBC.Episode artwork: Times Media.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI researcher Zoe Hitzig quit her job at OpenAI this week over “deep reservations” about the company's strategy, including their decision to pilot running ads on ChatGPT. In a rare interview, she gives her reasons for leaving the industry - a world with access to "an unprecedented archive of human candour". Meanwhile, another AI researcher, this time at Anthropic, also quit with a the stark warning that "the world is in peril". They just the latest in a series of high profile resignations. So what's going on - and what are the big fears for a world increasingly dominated by AI?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Zoe Hitzig, former AI researcher at OpenAI.Mark Sellman,Technology Correspondent for the Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘The world is in peril': AI researchers quit with public warningsPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Finkelstein's mother survived Bergen-Belsen. When far-right activist Nick Fuentes began spreading antisemitic, pro-Hitler ideas, our writer challenged him. He wasn't ready for the onslaught that ensued.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryReady by: Danny Finkelstein, Times columnist, author and Conservative peer.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Daniel Finkelstein: How the world's antisemites turned on meClips: TalkTV, CBS.Photo: Tom Jackson for The Times Magazine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's almost six weeks since America launched military strikes against Venezuela and captured its President over claims the country was flooding the US with drugs and migrants. But was this ever actually the intention, or is Trump more interested in syphoning off the country's oil? Why is the old regime still in power – and what is life like for locals?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest:  Stephen Gibbs, contributor, Latin America and the Caribbean, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case and Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Ally of Venezuela's opposition leader ‘kidnapped' hours after being freedFurther listening: Prince William walks a tightrope in Saudi ArabiaClips: The White House / X, BBC, NBC, CNBC, CBS / 60 Minutes, Sky News Australia.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been almost a fortnight since the release of the Epstein files, and since then we've learned a lot about the disgraced financier's connections to the rich and powerful. But what more have we learned about Jeffrey Epstein himself? Was he a foreign spy? And what do the files tell us about how the world is really run? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Epstein's victims: my six-year search for the truthFurther listening: Mandelson, Epstein and the fight for survival at No 10Clips: Sky, AP, TalkTV, ABC News Australia, ITV, LBC, New York Post, CSPAN, House Oversight Committee.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Office for National Statistics has said that by 2029 it expects more deaths than births in Britain. Simultaneously migration could go into reverse soon, with more people leaving our shores than arriving. But how will a shrinking - and ageing - population affect our politics, our economy and our lives?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Calver, Data Editor, The Times and The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Could Britain's population actually start shrinking soon?Further listening: Britain is in a cancer crisis. Will a new strategy fix it?Clips: Sky, ITN, BBC.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a whirlwind week in Westminster, we've decided to bring you an extra dose of Whitehall gossip. Check out this week's episode from our sister podcast: The State of It.The prime minister thought it was all over for him this weekend, but a scrambled rearguard action has left him looking stronger than he has for some time. But to survive, Keir Starmer may now have no choice but to move leftwards. And there's much worse to come when the Mandelson files are released. Meanwhile, has Wes Streeting missed his moment to challenge the prime minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan Dawtrey.Executive Producer: Molly Guiness.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: The State of ItClips: Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a week of chaos in Westminster, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights for survival. The crisis he faces reached fever pitch on Sunday with the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, followed swiftly the next morning by the departure of Tim Allan, his director of communications. On Monday afternoon, the pressure escalated further when Anas Sarwar, Labour leader in Scotland, became the most senior figure yet to publicly call for Starmer's resignation. So can his government survive the next week ahead?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: With Morgan McSweeney forced out, PM may not be far behindFurther listening: Mandelson, Epstein and the fight for survival at No 10Clips: Times Radio, BBC, The Telegraph, Sky News, ITV News, GB NewsPhoto: Getty Images, The Times, Dinesh MehtaThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince William is making his first visit to Saudi Arabia this week to celebrate “growing trade, energy and investment ties” between the kingdom and the UK. But with a number of sensitive issues on the table – from defence and intelligence sharing to Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record – how will the prince walk the diplomatic tightrope? Should the UK be pursuing a closer relationship with the kingdom at all? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times. Sir William Patey, former UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Prince William to visit Saudi Arabia as diplomatic ‘secret weapon'Further listening: Travelling with the Duchess in a war zoneClips: NBC, BBC, HM Treasury.Photo: Dana Chan, Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British royal family isn't the only European monarchy in turmoil. In Norway the Epstein files have revealed intimate conversations between the Crown Princess and future Queen, Mette-Marit, and the paedophile after he was convicted. Meanwhile, her son is on trial facing charges on thirty-eight offences, including four counts of rape. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. Could this be a fatal blow for the Norwegian royal family? And what does it tell us about the long tentacles of Jeffrey Epstein's influence in the palaces and parliaments of Europe?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The rape trial casting a dark shadow over Norway's royal familyClips: BBC News, CBS.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Times journalist Helen Rumbelow spent two days sifting through the thousands of lurid, criminal and often coded messages between Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends. Buried among the shockingly misogynistic and disturbing exchanges, lies a revealing insight on how powerful men talk about women when they think no one is listening. In her widely shared article, Helen exposes not just the shocking content of those emails, but what they tell us about the mindset of powerful men.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWarning: This episode contains some strong language from the start.Read by: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer and columnist, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I studied the latest Epstein files. As a woman, this is what I feltClips: NBC.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fallout from the latest tranche of the Epstein files is causing chaos in Westminster. With his ex-US ambassador Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein under the microscope, Labour MPs are furiously asking what Keir Starmer knew about it, and when. So will the PM be able to ride out this latest storm? And what future does Mandelson have?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Starmer says sorry. But why did he swallow Mandelson's lies?I studied the latest Epstein files. As a woman, this is what I feltFurther listening: LATEST: The Epstein files drop — what next for Andrew?The new Epstein emails about TrumpClips: Associated Press, Times Radio, BBCPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer's next big test is the Gorton & Denton by-election in three weeks' time; commentators are calling it a three-way race between the Greens, Reform and Labour. But how is this vote a microcosm of the national picture, and what does it tell us about the direction of travel in British politics and the key issues that really sway voters?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Darryl Morris, journalist, Times Radio.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: In Gorton, where Labour is counting on long memories to see off ReformFurther listening: Who is the real Melania Trump?Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Manchester Evening News, Novara Media, The Green Party, Reform UK, The Spectator.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On nearly every metric, the UK is ranked as one of the worst places in the Western world to have cancer. But today, the government is rolling out an ambitious new National Cancer Plan to tackle the crisis. Will it be able to shorten waiting lists? Or do cultural problems within the NHS warrant a deeper fix?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Shaun Lintern, health editor, The Sunday Times.Jeremy Langmead, brand and content director of MR PORTER and contributor to The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Why is Britain still lagging behind on cancer care?Further listening: Will a review into mental health fix a system in crisis?Clips: ITV News.Photo: Illustration by Pete Baker for The Sunday Times. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A public inquiry resumes this week to investigate the deaths of over 2000 mental health inpatients in the care of NHS trusts in Essex. We unpick some of the themes the Lampard Inquiry has been hearing, and speak to a whistleblower about her experiences working on one of the wards.This programme includes material that some listeners may find distressing, including descriptions of suicide.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew‘Anna', whistleblower and former staff at the Linden CentreHost: Daniel Gordon.Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond, Taryn Siegel. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comIf you've been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations can help: SANE is a charity which provides emotional support and specialist services for people who need help with their mental health and their families.Its helpline, SANEline, is 0300 304 7000. Details of other ways to get in touch can be found at sane.org.uk MIND is another mental health charity offering support, its main information line is 0300 102 1234 Details of other helplines can be found at mind.org.uk The Samaritans provides 24 hour emotional support to people struggling to cope or relatives bereaved by suicide. Call 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.Further listening: Britain's mental health reckoning - part one.Clips: The Lampard Inquiry.Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest and possibly final batch of documents was released on Friday by the US Department of Justice in their investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. New shocking discoveries have been made over the weekend that put Lord Mandelson, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and now Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, in the spotlight. What have we learned so far? And what does the future hold for the rich and powerful mentioned in these documents?Details of these emails and the identities of those who sent them are unproven.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Kate Mansey, assistant editor and royal editor for The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Julia Webster and Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What's in the Epstein files? The key revelations so farFurther listening: Andrew & Epstein - The King actsClips: The Guardian, BBC, Channel 4, DW News, The NationalPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A public inquiry is currently investigating the deaths of over 2000 mental health inpatients in the care of NHS trusts in Essex. The inquiry resumes this week, but the fact it exists at all is largely down to the campaign of one woman; Melanie Leahy, whose son Matthew died in Chelmsford in 2012. This programme includes material that some listeners may find distressing, including descriptions of suicide.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew.Host: Daniel Gordon.Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comIf you've been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations can help: SANE is a charity which provides emotional support and specialist services for people who need help with their mental health and their families. Its helpline, SANEline, is 0300 304 7000. Details of other ways to get in touch can be found at sane.org.uk MIND is another mental health charity offering support, its main information line is 0300 102 1234 Details of other helplines can be found at mind.org.uk The Samaritans provides 24 hour emotional support to people struggling to cope or relatives bereaved by suicide. Call 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.Clips: Melanie Leahy, Essex Police, Lampard Inquiry, Sky News, The Telegraph, UK Parliament Youtube channel, Channel 5 News.Photo: JOE GIDDENS/PAThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1992, Helen Down's brother Richard was studying for a master's in artificial intelligence at Cardiff University. There, he had a brief side hustle as a sperm donor - a confession he'd only made to his family as an adult. Through a DNA website, the link was made and Helen met her niece and nephew for the first time in 2024 - the product of her brother's sperm donation 30 years ago. So, what exactly happened at at the family reunion? And how did these new family members unlock an even bigger mystery?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Helen Down. Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What happened when a sperm donor met his unknown kidsPhoto: Tim Jobling, Duncan Elliot for The Times Magazine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melania Trump this week releases her new documentary 'Melania' which takes viewers inside the enigmatic first lady's second term. Directed and produced by Melania herself, it's a project that's had plenty hype and some controversy. The studio Amazon MGM bought the rights for $40 million - the highest price ever paid for a documentary. So, what do we learn about real Melania - the power behind the throne with firm views on her husband's actions?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Meghan Agnew, Senior Features Writer, US.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Dave Creasey and Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Sensitive Trump, Melania the boss… inside the first lady's second termClips: The Today Show, BBC News. Rolling Stones, Gimmie Shelter, Decca Records (UK).Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is visiting China, becoming the first UK prime minister to travel to Beijing in eight years. His trip comes amid a queue of world leaders seeking meetings with Xi Jinping, as some countries look for leverage in an increasingly volatile global order. But can China be trusted as a global partner? And as the US appears to be stepping back from its role as the world's policeman, what kind of power is China prepared to become?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor at The Times & The Sunday Times.Isabel Hilton, journalist and China watcher.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Julia Webster, Harry Stott, and Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping said in China (and what they meant)Further listening: Is China's mega-embassy a mega-spy base?Clips: BBC, World Economic Forum, CBS, APT, DRM NewsPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a whirlwind start to the year. In just three weeks, tensions between Donald Trump and Iran have escalated, the U.S. captured Venezuela's President Maduro, while British politics has been rocked by defections and leadership challenges. And we're still only in January. To help cut through the chaos, we're taking a moment to answer your biggest questions about what's been happening.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Manveen Rana & Luke JonesProducer: Sophie McNultyFurther listening:Everything you need to know about the Iran protestsHas ICE become the US president's ‘private army'?Starmer v the ‘King of the North' - who really won?Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Times is launching another new politics podcast – a sister show to our Westminster offering, but this time across the pond, taking you inside the White House… Subscribe to The State of It: USA, wherever you get your podcasts.Welcome to the first ever episode of The State of It: USA. An attack on Iran looks imminent: we reveal what senior military and political figures are saying about it. Also, is Donald Trump taking a softer line on immigration after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis? And get ready for Melania, the movie.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times.Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal.Producer: Euan Dawtrey.Executive Producer: Molly Guiness.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: The State of ItThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As immigration rules have tightened in recent months, some migrants already working in the UK, whose visas have been cancelled, find themselves in a precarious position. Agents are selling a workaround, offering to arrange fake jobs which can be used to obtain real visas, in exchange for exorbitant fees. The Times went undercover, posing as a migrant facing deportation, to expose how this black market is operating.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Shanti Das, senior investigations reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How migrants are buying fake jobs to stay in the UK illegallyPhoto: Times Media Ltd.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer has seen off a potential leadership challenge by blocking his rival – Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – from returning to Westminster. But many Labour MPs have been deeply critical of the move, accusing the PM of orchestrating a “stitch up”. So was it worth it? And might Starmer face a leadership challenge anyway? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent for The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Harry Stott. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What happens next for Labour and Keir Starmer?Further listening: Who will move first: Streeting or Burnham?Clips: Sky, Times Radio, BBC, Novara Media. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the new Archbishop of Canterbury is confirmed on Wednesday she'll become the first woman to lead the Church of England. But Dame Sarah Mullally's gender and views are already threatening to cause a schism in the global Anglican church. So who is she and can she unite the Church, which has been beset by scandals and shrinking congregations?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Kaya Burgess, science and religious affairs correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: New archbishop: Slave ‘reparations' will not eat into parish fundsFurther listening: Monica Lewinsky: What happened nextClips: The Vicar of Dibley / BBC / Tiger Aspect Productions, Channel 4, The Archbishop of Canterbury / YouTube, BBC, WION, France 24, The Southwark Cathedral podcast, The Church of England, ITV. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the debate of our time. How much is too much and what's the impact of screentime for children? With a proposed ban on social media for under 16s being debated in the UK, and children arriving at primary school swiping books like phones, we take a deep dive into the impact, and future, of screentime and AI in schools. Actress and campaigner Sophie Winkelman, a prominent voice of the dangers of increased screentime for children and Ben Gomes, Chief Technologist at Google, who is leading in the implementation of AI in schools, set out the arguments.Guests: Sophie Winkleman, actress, campaigner and trustee of charity School-Home Support.Ben Gomes, Chief Technologist, Learning and Sustainability, Google.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: Times Radio.Photo: Getty Images, Christopher L Proctor for the Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hadley Freeman was embedded with the Beckhams when she was asked to ghost write a book for Victoria Beckham back in the early 2000s. Now, a colossal family feud between Brooklyn Beckham and the rest of the clan has exploded into the headlines, culminating in a scathing six-page Instagram statement. Hadley tells us what's really going on here - and why we all can't stop watching.Guest: Hadley Freeman, writer for the Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since an ICE agent shot and killed US citizen Renee Good on January 7, Minneapolis has erupted in protests. Thousands have taken to the streets as federal authorities deployed thousands more immigration officers, resulting in more than 3,000 arrests. So how did we get here, how did ICE become so powerful, and why has the city become a flashpoint for the country?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Sophie McNulty, Julia Webster, Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: What is ICE? A history from 9/11 to the fatal shooting of an AmericanFurther listening: Who is Stephen Miller? Trump's man behind ‘America First'Clips: The World Economic Forum, Fox News, CBS News, The Times, NBC, The Guardian, Forbes, CNN, The Joe Rogan Experience, WBTV Local News, Associated Press.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump made his much anticipated speech at Davos on Wednesday, saying he was “seeking immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland” but would not use force. Late on Wednesday evening, he posted on Truth Social that he wouldn't impose tariffs either. So where does this all leave European relations with the United States?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Mehreen Khan, economics editor, The Times. Sir Peter Westmacott, former British ambassador to the United States.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Julia Webster. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: Trump's Davos speech: eight bizarre moments you may have missedFurther listening: Tariffs, Trump and Greenland: ‘The end of the world as we know it'?Clips: The Guardian, World Economic Forum, New York Post, Associated Press. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1996, mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell were brutally murdered in a picturesque village in Kent. It was a case that shocked 90s Britain, and after a year of searching for the killer, a man called Michael Stone was convicted for their murders. But nearly three decades later, he remains in prison, protesting his innocence. So did he really do it? New advancements in DNA testing may yet reopen the case, in a story which could become one of the UK's biggest ever miscarriages of justice.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Emily Dugan, special correspondent, The Sunday Times.Mark McDonald, Michael Stone's barrister.Jim Fraser, forensic scientist who originally worked on the case.Barbara Stone, Michael Stone's sister.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who killed Lin and Megan Russell? DNA advances may end doubtFurther listening: Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson storyClips: BBC.Photo: Shaun Russell.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has said that Donald Trump's plan to put tariffs on the UK and seven other countries which oppose his takeover of Greenland is ‘completely wrong.' Europe is considering its response, from counter tariffs to more radical options. So is this the start of a trade war or something even more serious?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump-Greenland latest: US president not serious about invasion, says StarmerFurther listening: Can Nato survive a hostile takeover of Greenland?Clips: CBS, BBC, Al Jazeera, CBC.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is on the cusp of constructing the biggest embassy in Europe– right in central London– despite a growing chorus of concern it could be used for a number of spying operations. So why is Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expected to approve the project? And how worried should we really be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Geraldine Scott, assistant political editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: It's a mega mistake to allow the new Chinese embassyWhy China's embassy plan should be approvedFurther listening: Will 2026 be the year of China?Clips: The Mirror, Daily Express, Sky News, Channel 4. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over forty years ago in a lab in Boston, biochemist Svetlana Mojsov made an astonishing discovery. She'd conjured up a mixture, GLP-1, that successfully increased insulin levels when blood sugars are high - a mammoth breakthrough for diabetes treatment. It's now the secret sauce in weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, which are taken by 1.6 million people. So why wasn't Mojsov recognised for her work? Why was she, like so many women before her, erased from the story?Guest: Aimee Donnellan, journalist and author 'Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity'.Host: Tom Whipple, science writer and special correspondent, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.Buy Aimee Donnellan's book from The Times BookshopClips: Sky NewsPhoto: Stephanie Diani for the Sunday Times Magazine.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new study has revealed a surprising truth: men's sex drive peaks in their early forties. As a man hitting this milestone, Ben Machell explores what makes midlife libido so potent, from confidence and emotional stability, to life experience. We dive into why testosterone isn't everything, how stress affects younger men, and what makes fortysomething men the “libido elite.”Read by: Ben Machell, features writer, The Times, and Zak Asgard, contributor. The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: I'm 43. Are men my age really having more sex than anyone else?Clips: Working Title/Universal.Photo: Getty.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a whirlwind day in Westminster, Robert Jenrick announced that he was defecting to Reform UK after being sacked by the Conservatives. But how much trouble does his defection spell for the Tories? Can he work with Nigel Farage? And what does this mean for the future of the British right?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Harry Stott.Read more: Ambush of Robert Jenrick opens new front in war with ReformFurther listening: Will mounting scandals sink reform?Clips: Kemi Badenoch / X, BBC, Reform UK / Youtube.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The home secretary has said she has lost confidence in West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford, after a "damning" report into the decision to ban Israeli football fans from a match with Aston Villa last year. Shabana Mahmood said the report from Sir Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, identified widespread failings at the force. But how did we get here? What did this case teach us about the way policing and politics interact? And after yet another scandal, what next for the police?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabirel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Taryn Siegel.Read more: Plot to attack Maccabi fans ‘should have been treated as hate crime'Clips: GB News, Sky, Parliamentlive.tv, Urban pictures. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio will meet the Danish and Greelandic foreign ministers later today amid rising tensions over America's desire to control the island. What would a US takeover mean for the future of Nato, and what do the people of Greenland make of being caught in a diplomatic tussle?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Katie Gatens, Europe correspondent, The Sunday TimesOliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times & the Sunday TimesHost: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond and Sophie McNulty.Read more: ‘We might leave Greenland for somewhere Trump can't occupy'What would a US takeover of Greenland look like? Four options examinedFurther listening: Greenland, Colombia, Mexico: where will Trump strike next?Clips: The Times, The New York Times, Sky News, The Associated Press, Nato News, CNN, Fox News, ReutersPhoto: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.