Today in Focus
The Guardian
Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Location:
United Kingdom
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Networks:
The Guardian
Description:
Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Language:
English
Episodes
Mandelson arrested: Epstein files fallout intensifies – The Latest
2/24/2026
Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:09:58
Ukrainian men on how four years of war has changed them
2/23/2026
A DJ turned soldier explains how life has changed for Ukraine’s men while Tracey McVeigh and Shaun Walker report on the impact of the conflict and what could happen next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:25:44
Could Farage bring ICE to the UK? – The Latest
2/23/2026
Reform UK has promised to create an ICE-style agency dedicated to mass deportations if the party came to power. Nigel Farage and his party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, have pledged to start a ‘UK Deportation Command’ to remove thousands of people, under plans that Labour has condemned as ‘divisive’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy political editor Jessica Elgot – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:10:36
Will we ever read books again?
2/22/2026
Author and academic Katherine Rundell explores the precipitous decline in reading books for pleasure, and what can be done to reverse it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:24:20
Andrew under investigation: what’s next for the former prince? – The Latest
2/20/2026
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation after police questioned the former prince in relation to allegations he shared confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein. Officers searched Mountbatten-Windsor’s Sandringham residence as well as his former home at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park after arresting him on Thursday. The former prince has denied any wrongdoing. But what were the police searching for and what could happen next? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s police and crime correspondent, Vikram Dodd – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:11:28
‘They’re not listening!’: the government’s gamble on special education reform
2/19/2026
Political correspondent Alexandra Topping and special educational needs student Jake with his mum, Laura, explore the government’s controversial plans for reform. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:32:10
Andrew arrested: is this the end for the royal family? – The Latest
2/19/2026
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office by police investigating his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Six unmarked police cars carrying plainclothes officers arrived at the Sandringham estate while the former prince was celebrating his 66th birthday on Thursday. Officers searched the Norfolk property as well as Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian journalist David Pegg – watch on YouTube – Read extract from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:11:19
The ‘guinea pigs’ who had face transplant surgery
2/18/2026
Face transplant patient Robert Chelsea and writer Fay Bound Alberti talk through the promise – and darker side – of this pioneering surgery. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:24:54
Does the US really care about peace in Ukraine? – The Latest
2/18/2026
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says ‘no agreement’ has been made between Ukraine and Russia during US-mediated peace talks in Geneva. Expectations remain low, while Ukrainians continue to face Russian strikes in subzero temperatures. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s foreign correspondent in Kyiv, Luke Harding – watch on YouTube
. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:11:14
Why did Labour Together orchestrate a smear campaign against journalists?
2/17/2026
A thinktank called Labour Together, linked to Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, has been exposed for investigating journalists who were looking into the group’s funding. One of those journalists was the Guardian’s Henry Dyer. He tells Helen Pidd how he found out and why it matters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:28:02
Jesse Jackson: tributes flow for US civil rights trailblazer – The Latest
2/17/2026
The civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson has died aged 84. Jackson was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr and ran twice for the Democratic presidential nomination. He remained a prominent figure in US politics for more than 50 years, championing the rights of Black, poor and working-class people with his ‘rainbow coalition’. Lucy Hough speaks to Carys Afoko – watch on YouTube – Over The Top and Under The Radar podcast– David Smith’s 2020 interview with Jesse Jackson . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:10:51
The rise of the cocaine submarine
2/16/2026
The Guardian journalists Sam Jones and Tom Phillips chart the rise of the narco-sub after a record seizure in the Atlantic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:19:49
Why did Obama say aliens are real? – The Latest
2/16/2026
Barack Obama has caused a frenzy after saying he thinks aliens are real during a podcast interview. The former US president was forced to release a statement clarifying he had not seen any evidence of extraterrestrials. There is a long-running conspiracy theory claiming the US government is hiding extraterrestrials at Area 51, a highly classified air force site in Nevada.
Lucy Hough speaks to the host of the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, Madeleine Finlay. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:10:45
How an undercover cop foiled an IS plot to massacre Britain’s Jews
2/15/2026
The Guardian’s community affairs correspondent, Chris Osuh, reports on the plot by two IS terrorists to massacre Jews in Manchester, and how it was thwarted by an undercover sting. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:31:31
Owen Jones on Palestine Action high court win – The Latest
2/13/2026
The co-founder of Palestine Action has won a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws. Palestine Action was the first direct action protest group to be proscribed. The decision was widely condemned and was defied by a civil disobedience campaign, during which more than 2,000 people have been arrested. From July last year, being a member of – or showing support for – the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:11:53
Wes Streeting: the UK’s next prime minister?
2/12/2026
Keir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to Kiran Stacey about one of the most hotly tipped contenders: Wes Streeting. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:31:50
Ratcliffe backlash: outrage over Manchester United boss comments – The Latest
2/12/2026
The Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he is sorry that his ‘choice of language has offended some people’, after growing outrage over his comments that the UK was being ‘colonised by immigrants’. The Manchester United co-owner has faced a mounting backlash since making the remarks, which have been labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of ‘far-right narratives’. Lucy Hough speaks to the sports writer and columnist Jonathan Liew – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:11:11
The untold story of Brazil’s deadliest police raid
2/11/2026
Guardian journalists Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero investigate the bloodiest day in Rio de Janeiro’s modern history, when police last October attempted to capture a drug kingpin in the favelas. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:32:00
Canada school shooting: what we know so far - The Latest
2/11/2026
Nine people have been killed and dozens injured after a mass shooting at a school in Canada. The suspect was also found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the remote town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, which has a population of only 2,400. It is the second-worst mass shooting in Canada’s history. Lucy Hough speaks to reporter Leyland Cecco – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:09:22
Why Jeff Bezos gutted the Washington Post
2/10/2026
Hundreds of jobs have gone at the newspaper that broke the Watergate scandal. Was profit or politics behind the decision? Jeremy Barr reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Duration:00:29:54