https://feed.pod.space/62d65c3f-75a4-4b7a-8056-54674f12ade9 The Story https://www.thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story The biggest stories, told in depth, daily. Join the world's best journalists to uncover what really matters. Hosted by Manveen Rana and Luke Jones. Published seven days a week and ready for you every morning. The Story is brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. en Times Newspapers Limited 2024 Podspace.com Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:26:51 +0000 The Times Real news, the best analysis and groundbreaking investigations clean News Corp news-corp@podspace.com episodic https://assets.pod.space/system/shows/images/62d/65c/3f-/large/1758841002471-a9576d61-36b6-4b4b-9aa8-e495cf468878.jpeg The Story https://www.thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Trump's ceasefire with Iran - what’s in it and what next Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69d6764c47ecb945c239393b https://pod.space/thestory/trump-s-ceasefire-with-iran-what-s-in-it-and-what-next After mounting hostilities and Trump’s threats that ‘a whole civilization will die’ unless Iran backs down, Tehran and Washington have agreed to a two week ceasefire. Now, they’re discussing a ten-point plan to permanently end the war. But is this the end of the fighting or just a pause? What’s in the peace plan? And has this conflict taught Iran that it can hold the world to ransom?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Olivia Case and Sophie McNulty.


We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: What’s in Iran’s ten-point ceasefire plan? Trump’s stumbling blocks examined

Further listening: The West Bank land grab no one’s watching

Clips: BBC, CNN, AP, CSPAN, NDTV, The Mary Trump Podcast. 

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.

]]> 00:29:09 false Will the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington hold? full The West Bank land grab no one’s watching Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69d52b60e257f11e0304396c https://pod.space/thestory/the-west-bank-land-grab-no-one-s-watching With the world’s attention fixed on the war in Iran, Israeli settler gangs are rapidly and violently expanding outposts in the West Bank – seemingly with impunity. So, what’s it like on the ground? Is the Israeli government softening to the ‘extremist’ settler movement? And will settlers ever be held accountable? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Richard Spencer, world affairs correspondent, The Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producers: Sophie McNulty, Taryn Siegel

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: Israel’s settlers seize their chance to snatch land in West Bank

Further listening: The Board of Peace: the new UN or Trump’s vanity project?

Clips: CNN, France 24, BBC, CBS, ABC 7, Middle East Eye.

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.

]]> 00:30:43 false How Israeli settlers are using the Iran War to seize land in the West Bank full INVESTIGATION: Inside Britain’s biggest Ponzi scheme Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69ce44a4ac25e4bf66fec6c6 https://pod.space/thestory/investigation-inside-britain-s-biggest-ponzi-scheme Thousands of pensioners invested their life savings into London Capital and Finance before it was revealed to be the UK’s biggest ever Ponzi scheme. Now, new Times reporting shows how the millions in investments were lavishly spent by LCF’s founders. So how was a scheme on this scale allowed to take root in the first place?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Jim Armitage, contributing editor, The Sunday Times.
  • Antonia Summer, investor in LCF.


Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Harry Stott, Callum Martin.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Inside Britain’s biggest Ponzi scheme: where did £237m go?

Clips: Rehman Chisti MP / Facebook.

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.

]]> 00:35:04 false Where did investors’ £237 million go? full Will voters back "the poster boy for the far-right"? Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cd3a771ada36b7ad14a8db https://pod.space/thestory/will-voters-back-the-poster-boy-for-the-far-right Hungary goes to the polls on Sunday and for the first time in sixteen years, Donald Trump’s right-wing ally Viktor Orbán might lose his iron grip on power. But who is this man who’s ruled the country for so long? What do we know about the man who could unseat him? And what would a loss for Orbán mean for the populist right and for Europe as a whole?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Peter Conradi, Europe editor, The Sunday Times
  • Victor Sebestyen, journalist and author covering Eastern Europe & Russia


Host: Luke Jones

Producer: Sophie McNulty, Olivia Case

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: Who is Peter Magyar, the man hoping to oust Viktor Orban?

Clips: Bloomberg, DRM News, Péter Magyar - YouTube

Photo: Getty Images, The 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.

]]> 00:28:51 false How Trump's right-wing ally Viktor Orbán could lose his iron grip on power full The contract killing scandal rocking France’s MI6 - The Sunday Story Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cd463f1ada36b7ad1a4dd6 https://pod.space/thestory/the-contract-killing-scandal-rocking-france-s-mi6-the-sunday-story It's the trial rocking France's intelligence service. Two guards who had always dreamt of going under cover were allegedly tricked into a plot to kill a ‘Mossad agent’, who was nothing of the sort. It's an unbelievable tale of freemasons, fake missions - and real violence, where personal grudges are dressed up as matters of national security.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Adam Sage, Paris correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Rosie Wright.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Freemasons, bored spies and a murder-for-hire scandal at France’s MI6

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.

]]> 00:28:37 false Freemasons and bored spies full Inside the world of 'Disney adults' - The Saturday Story Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cd16d33908885dc4b8de78 https://pod.space/thestory/inside-the-world-of-disney-adults-the-saturday-story For millions of people, Disney was a huge part of their childhood. But, for a great number of people that love never went away, and today, it's those people who have become central to Disney’s bottom line. They are the so called “Disney adults”. But their world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, it's a passionate subculture marked by competition, criticism - and high costs.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Read by: Julia Webster and Sophie McNulty.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: ‘Next-level scary’: inside the ultra-competitive world of Disney adults

Clips: Disney.

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.

]]> 00:16:08 false The grown-up superfans fueling Disney bottom line full The descent into madness under Putin Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cbe3754bc3c0b5ceb11b95 https://pod.space/thestory/the-descent-into-madness-under-putin When The Times foreign correspondent Marc Bennetts moved to Russia in 1997, there was hope for a new future for the country. But over the next 25 years, he witnessed the rise of Vladimir Putin and the erosion of civil liberties. In his new book, The Descent: Witnessing Russia’s Spiral into Madness Under Putin, Marc charts how one man remade Russia in his own paranoid image.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Micaela Arneson. 

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: Lies and fear: my life under the Kremlin’s propaganda machine

Further listening: ‘I took a grenade blast to escape’: Russian deserters speak to The Times

Clips: Channel One Russia, Educational Video Group, NBC News, ITN, Times Now World, Dot’s Eye. 

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.

]]> 00:34:11 false Life under the Kremlin’s propaganda machine full INVESTIGATION: How the SNP spends billions ‘to buy loyalty from charities’ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cd38f4057b59499550a611 https://pod.space/thestory/investigation-how-the-snp-spends-billions-to-buy-loyalty-from-charities A Sunday Times investigation has found that, in Scotland, there are claims that the SNP has, in effect, shut down criticism from the charity and voluntary sectors because of a system that leaves them umbilically tied to its political objectives and fearing grave consequences if they step out of line.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Dan Sanderson, Scottish political editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: How the SNP spends billions ‘to buy loyalty from charities’

Clips: 5 News, Parliament TV.

Illustration: Tony Bell.

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.

]]> 00:29:33 false Sources say scores of charities are ‘proxies’ for the SNP full Artemis II: NASA’s plan for the Moon and beyond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0000 69cbfe1492d007a765845b26 https://pod.space/thestory/artemis-ii-nasa-s-plan-for-the-moon-and-beyond The countdown has begun for the launch of NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon, the first manned mission there in more than 50 years. Their voyage around our nearest neighbour will pave the way for a lunar landing and, eventually, a Moon base. But why is there suddenly rekindled interest in moon exploration, and could this bring humans toward the ultimate goal of reaching Mars?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: 

  • Scott Kelly, retired NASA astronaut.
  • Kaya Burgess, science and religious affairs correspondent for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Julia Webster

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: Artemis II: mission to the Moon

Further listening: The Epstein Files, AI journalism and the future of truth - The Sunday Story

Clips: NASA, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, PBS, Space Age Archive, Associated Press, CriticalPast, Cosmosphere.

Photo: Kathia Mestanza, 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.

]]> 00:33:52 false The first manned mission around the Moon in over 50 years full 'I walked right into a massacre': how the Bondi attack unfolded Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 69401a0c58c537ceb6152139 https://pod.space/thestory/i-walked-right-into-a-massacre-how-the-bondi-attack-unfolded Australia is still reeling after Sunday’s terror attack on a Chanukkah event at Bondi Beach. At least 15 people were killed, in addition to one of the gunmen. We hear from a crime reporter who was at the scene just minutes after the massacre unfolded and ask, could the government have done more to prevent the attack? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests:

  • Mark Morri, crime editor, Sydney Daily Telegraph.
  • Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Taryn Siegel and Micaela Arneson. 

Read more: Leadership has been lacking in fight against antisemitism

Clips: Sky, News.com.au, ABC News Australia.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:33:46 false The terrorist attack on a Jewish community full The police, lost evidence and a search for the truth. Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 693c5d60f3a6f9e20a31309c https://pod.space/thestory/the-police-lost-evidence-and-a-search-for-the-truth 19-year-old Edward Cornes was found dead in a hotel room, just two days after he arrived at university. A post-mortem found large amounts of GHB, commonly known as the ‘date-rape’ drug in his system. Cornes had spent his final few hours in the company of two men in their fifties, but police concluded his death was not suspicious. His mother has accused the police of running a botched and homophobic investigation. So what went wrong?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Miriam Blythe, mother of Edward Cornes
  • Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter, The Times

Host: Luke Jones.  

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Read more: Family fight for truth over son’s ‘date-rape’ drug death

Photo: Courtesy of Miriam Blythe.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:39:49 false Edward Cornes died just two days after he went to university. His family have been searching for answers. full The hostage negotiators of the digital age - the Sunday Story Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:01:33 +0000 693a936f0375da4a9e05bdf6 https://pod.space/thestory/the-hostage-negotiators-of-the-digital-age-the-sunday-story Cyber-attacks on some of Britain's biggest companies like Marks & Spencer have cost hundreds of millions of pounds. For Jaguar Land Rover, experts estimate the cost to the company and the economy ran to billions. But most of us know almost nothing about what happens behind the scenes in the hours after a hack. Who do you call? In a bank robbery, a negotiator armed with a megaphone might turn up. But what if the loot is bitcoin, and the hostages, data? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: James Ball, freelance writer, the Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Clips: ITV News, CNBC.

Read more: Your company has been hacked. The clock is ticking. Here’s who to call.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:35:14 false You've been hacked! Who do you call? full The sinister US village for whites only - the Saturday Story Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 693a916a4d362887b7fe2779 https://pod.space/thestory/the-sinister-us-village-for-whites-only-the-saturday-story Deep in rural Arkansas, far right YouTuber Eric Orwoll has founded 'Return to the Land', an all-white compound. Black people, gays and Jews are not allowed to live there. Sixty years after the end of segregation in America, is his community a remote collection of oddballs, or a sign of more extremism to come?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Host: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.  

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Read more: The sinister US village for white, straight Christians only

Clips: Piers Morgan Uncensored, PBS, Aarvoll.

Photo: Karen Pulfer for The Times Magazine

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:32:23 false A collection of oddballs, or sign of extremism to come? full ‘It's not an injury, it's a disability’: the soldier blowing the whistle on the army’s Ajax vehicles Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 693b1936d527840ddbd2d296 https://pod.space/thestory/it-s-not-an-injury-it-s-a-disability-the-soldier-blowing-the-whistle-on-the-army-s-ajax-vehicles The British army’s new fleet of Ajax armoured vehicles was meant to be their new jewel in the crown: high tech machines for an army of the future. But after nearly a decade, and more than five billion pounds spent, the vehicles have been withdrawn after accusations they have caused life changing injuries to crews. Today, we hear from the ex-soldier who was once the head of testing these vehicles, speaking about his experience for the first time.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.
  • Rob Page, ex-British Army lieutenant colonel in charge of the armoured trials and development unit, 2019-2021.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Harry Stott.

Read more: Army could have avoided Ajax vehicle injuries, says whistleblower

Photo: Joshua Bratt for The Times

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:40:51 false An ex-soldier has been raising concerns regarding the British army's newest fleet of armoured vehicles. full One big Hollywood drama Thu, 11 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 6939791134867e026d2bf2aa https://pod.space/thestory/one-big-hollywood-drama Warner Bros. Discovery - the revered studio behind Barbie and Casablanca - is up for sale. A bidding war has emerged between Netflix and Paramount. But could either acquisition change the film industry forever? And are these bids even legal?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests:

  • Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times.
  • Louisa Clarence-Smith, US business editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.  

Producers: Harry Stott, Olivia Case, Shabnam Grewal.

Read more: Why Trump is really getting involved with the Warner Bros saga

Further listening: Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

Clips:  Barbie / Great Gerwig / Warner Bros, The Dark Knight / Christopher Nolan / Warner Bros, Casablanca / Michael Curtiz / Warner Bros, Hamnet / Chloe Zhao / Universal Pictures, The Searchers / John Ford / Warner Bros, Dune / Denis Villeneuve / Warner Bros, Joker / Tod Phillips / Warner Bros, Beasts of No Nation / Cary Joji Fukunaga / Netflix, Warner bros intro / Max Steiner, House of Cards / Netflix, Sex Education / Netflix, WSJ, NBC.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:35:38 false Who will buy Warner Bros. Discovery? full Will Australia’s social media ban work? Wed, 10 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 69387b814f84d8410fc27184 https://pod.space/thestory/will-australia-s-social-media-ban-work From today, under-16s in Australia will be banned from using social media platforms, a world-first. The ban has caused uproar among teenagers and a court case brought by two fifteen year olds is challenging the policy. Will the ban work? And could other countries follow suit? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent, The Times. 
  • Poppy, teenager in Australia.
  • Jo Gaeney, parent and teacher in Australia.
  • John Ruddick, Libertarian MP for New South Wales. 

Host: Manveen Rana.  

Producer: Micaela Arneson. 

Read more: Less than a third of Australian parents will enforce under-16s social media ban

Further listening: The AI that could block kids from social media

Clips: 10 News, AFP, 7 News, Sky News Australia. 

Photo: Adobe Stock.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:30:29 false A parent, a teen, and an MP tell us what they think. full Will mounting scandals sink Reform? Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 6937153691c8bda5d08a552a https://pod.space/thestory/will-mounting-scandals-sink-reform From former officials jailed after taking bribes to push pro-Putin propaganda, through to local councillors being expelled for offensive tweets, and leader Nigel Farage being accused of high school racism, Reform UK is struggling to stay scandal free. Will the party be able to weather the storm? Or will the waves of allegations start to shift the polls? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal, Harry Stott.

Read more: Nigel Farage referred to police over Clacton campaign expenses

Further listening: Is Reform ready for power?

Clips: BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, ITV.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:35:28 false Scandals involving Reform keep popping up, forcing Nigel Farage to focus on them rather than building the party's credibility. full ‘I took a grenade blast to escape’: Russian deserters speak to The Times Mon, 08 Dec 2025 01:01:00 +0000 693309bbaef2c71c1dd7b117 https://pod.space/thestory/i-took-a-grenade-blast-to-escape-russian-deserters-speak-to-the-times When Nikolai’s assault unit was told to advance on a Ukrainian position, he decided he’d rather blow up his own arm than continue to fight. Nikolai and two other former Russian soldiers tell The Times about their harrowing experiences at war– and why they decided to flee. 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Jack Clover, assistant foreign news editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.  

Producer: Micaela Arneson. 

Read more: ‘I took a grenade blast to escape’: Russian deserters speak out 

Listen more: A new peace plan, and a critical moment for Zelensky

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

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.

]]> 00:31:08 false Could sinking morale undermine the Russian war effort? full  President Xi's new world order Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68b5c776bcceee620d541616 https://pod.space/thestory/president-xi-s-new-world-order World leaders have gathered in China ahead of tomorrow’s military parade to mark the end of the Second World War. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narenda Modi were among the 20 other leaders welcomed to what's been dubbed the 'anti-NATO' summit to discuss global security and economic matters ahead of the event. What can we learn from the relationships between the attendees and how should the West react?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: 

  • Richard Spencer, China Correspondent, The Times, and
  • Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Edward Drummond. 

Clips: APT, Reuters, SCMP.

Photo: Getty Images. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  

]]> 00:34:25 false World leaders have gathered in China ahead of tomorrow’s military parade to mark the end of the Second World War. full Why Britain's Left is radicalising Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68b18593e9dcbdcab93adcb6 https://pod.space/thestory/why-britain-s-left-is-radicalising Tomorrow, the Greens announce their new leader, and one contender has been borrowing from the Farage playbook in his campaign. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn's new populist party is getting hundreds of thousands of sign-ups since its launch. Are the days of gradualism - and our two-party system dominance - over?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests: 

  • Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times.
  • Josh Glancy, Associate Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: YouTube / Break Through News, Sky, YouTube / @zakpolanskigreen, Novara Media, The Telegraph, ITV, YouTube / Ellie and Adrian 2025.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.

]]> 00:29:27 true What's the future for the Left and why are they borrowing from Farage's playbook? full Inside Haiti: face to face with the gangs ruling a desperate nation - the Sunday Story Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68b19539e9dcbdcab93ffe0b https://pod.space/thestory/inside-haiti-face-to-face-with-the-gangs-ruling-a-desperate-nation-the-sunday-story The Caribbean nation of Haiti is now at the mercy of gangs bent on kidnap, rape and murder. Louise Callaghan meets their victims — and confronts a warlord.


Written and read by: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Producer: Edith Rousselot.

Photo: Giles Clarke/ Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.

]]> 00:28:46 false Foreign correspondent Louise Callaghan reads her dispatch. full The Queen was a Remainer: her secret views on Brexit revealed - the Saturday Story Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68b1943a218ce9e1cbf06769 https://pod.space/thestory/the-queen-was-a-remainer-her-secret-views-on-brexit-revealed-the-saturday-story In his new book, Power and the Palace, the former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low uncovers the secretive relationship between the monarchy and government. Speaking to Palace aides, politicians and civil servants, he reveals the private side of Queen Elizabeth II.

© Valentine Low 2025 Extracted from “Power and the Palace” by Valentine Low, to be published by Headline Press on September 11 at £25

 

Available to buy from The Times Bookshop.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Written and read by: Valentine Low.

Producer: Euan Dawtrey.

Photo: Ian Gavan / Stringer.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

]]> 00:30:34 false Former Times royal correspondent reads from his new book. full What Taylor Swift's engagement means for her music and her brand Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68b05f2e2dd519b5b474725a https://pod.space/thestory/what-taylor-swift-s-engagement-means-for-her-music-and-her-brand This week, Taylor Swift announced her engagement to boyfriend of two years, NFL tight end Travis Kelce. So what can we expect at America's version of a royal wedding? Will there be hints or Easter eggs about it in her new album? And what could a stable love life mean for an artist who’s built a career on heartbreak?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Sarah Ditum, writer, The Times and The Sunday Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Read more: 

Clips: Fix, iHollywoodTV, ABC, New Heights podcast, CDC / Pfizer, E! Entertainment. 

Music: All Too Well / Taylor Swift / Republic Records, Bejewelled / Taylor Swift / Republic Records, You Belong With Me / Taylor Swift / Republic Records, So High School / Taylor Swift / Republic Records.

Photo: Instagram / @TaylorSwift.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

]]> 00:33:32 true Your gym teacher and your English teacher are getting married full Why Trump's attack on the Fed affects us all Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68af188e982c36846e395ce0 https://pod.space/thestory/why-trump-s-attack-on-the-fed-affects-us-all President Trump announced on Truth Social this week that he had fired Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook. While most people had no idea who she was, her sacking could have a massive impact. The move is seen as part of the continued politicisation of the Fed, the US’s independent central bank and some economists fear it could be the start of a journey towards economic meltdown in America with global repercussions. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Mehreen Khan,  Economics Editor, The Times.

Host:  Manveen Rana.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Read more:

Clips: CNN, Bloomberg, The Legal Defence Fund.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

]]> 00:40:12 false The move is seen as part of the continued politicisation of the Fed. full Hard borders, harder politics: Europe's migration crisis Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68adab34352b565debfed4eb https://pod.space/thestory/hard-borders-harder-politics-europe-s-migration-crisis Yesterday Nigel Farage unveiled Reform UK’s plans to tackle the issue of small boats and illegal migration. It's a problem that's driven European politics for almost a decade, we look to the continent for lessons they've learned on how it could be solved.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Edith Rousselot. 

Read more: Look to Sweden for bold policies on migrants

Clips: Times Radio.

Photo: Getty Images. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  

]]> 00:28:30 false What can the UK learn from Europe on illegal migration? full Ukraine needs to become an 'indigestible porcupine' Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68a8806da04c35d2c95aa9e3 https://pod.space/thestory/ukraine-needs-to-become-an-indigestible-porcupine With the prospect of peace in Ukraine looking increasingly clouded following Donald Trump's attempts at inter-continental deal-making, the former head of the UK military, General Sir Nick Carter, tells Tom Newton Dunn that the US president doesn't understand his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Can Europe's leaders achieve some kind of security guarantee without US boots on the ground to back it up? And does Trump understand the lessons of history?


Guest: General Sir Nick Carter, Former UK Chief of the Defence Staff.

Host: Calum Macdonald and Tom Newton Dunn.

Producer: Sophie McNulty.

Clips: Fox News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com     

]]> 00:32:11 false The former head of the British military on Trump, Putin and the future of Ukraine. full Meet the man selling ‘doom’ to Zuckerberg and the Tate brothers - the Long Weekend Story Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:01:00 +0000 68a8897ce2f63983a7a2551d https://pod.space/thestory/meet-the-man-selling-doom-to-zuckerberg-and-the-tate-brothers-the-long-weekend-story Ron Hubbard is the biggest builder of underground bunkers, giving security to wealthy buyers who fear the world is coming to an end. And business is booming

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Written by: Bevan Hurley.

Read by: Edward Drummond.

Producers: Edward Drummond and Kate Lamble.

Photo: James Breeden for the Times.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com


]]> 00:10:17 false Ron Hubbard is the biggest builder of underground bunkers. full Trump v Musk round 2: One Big Beautiful Bill Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:01:00 +0000 68667f91dd764cf92263490b https://pod.space/thestory/trump-v-musk-round-2-one-big-beautiful-bill Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trading blows again after Musk criticised the President’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax and spending bill. Trump has threatened to deport the world’s richest man and set his Doge 'monster' on him. So why does Musk hate the bill, and could this push him to set up a political party to challenge his new rival?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Lara Spirit, Washington Correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading: Tesla sales go into reverse in fresh blow for Elon Musk

Clips: Fox, New York Post, MSNBC, BBC, United States Senate, CNN, ABC, AP, WCNC. 

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

]]> 00:26:28 false The president and the world's richest man are trading blows again full Sex with your sister: true stories of the sperm superdonors Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:01:00 +0000 68656ce84348b6cf36de7d8d https://pod.space/thestory/sex-with-your-sister-true-stories-of-the-sperm-superdonors “I’ll just go and get some fresh seed” - we reveal growing concerns about mass sperm donation. One man found his father ran a corrupt fertility clinic, providing patients with samples of his own sperm. Another man discovered he has 50 children all over Europe. There has been at least one case of accidental incest. The growing scandal has provoked widespread horror in the Netherlands.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Senay Boztas

Host: Manveen Rana 

Producer: Shabnam Grewal 

Further reading: I am a father of 50 children, a new one gets in touch almost every week

Clips: WSJ.com, Times Radio, The Immaculate Deception - Somethin’ Else/ Sony Music Entertainment, Bloomberg, Youtube.com/@masteringknowledge 

Photo: Getty images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com     



]]> 00:28:46 false “I’ll just go and get some fresh seed” - we reveal growing concerns about mass sperm donation. One man found his father ran a corrupt fertility cli... full Why your gig tickets will get even more expensive Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:01:00 +0000 686405d0cc507bdab62f0db1 https://pod.space/thestory/why-your-gig-tickets-will-get-even-more-expensive From dynamic pricing and VIP packages to ‘priority entry’, there seem to be more ways than ever to squeeze money out of music fans - and that’s not even to mention the sky-rocketing cost of a basic standing ticket. The Times' Jonathan Dean has been investigating why the cost of seeing some of our favourite artists has gone stratospheric, and whether the company Live Nation is to blame. 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Jonathan Dean 

Host: Luke Jones

Producer: Hannah Varrall

Further reading: How did Beyoncé tour tickets go from a small fortune to $25 each?

Johnny Depp: ‘I was a crash test dummy for MeToo'

Further listening: The making of Beyoncé – by friends, family and Team Bey insiders


Music:

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish (written by Finneas O’Connell, Billie Eilish O’Connell, published by Darkroom/Interscope Records, Kobalt Music Publishing) 

Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses (written by Duff McKagan, Jeffrey Isbell, Saul Hudson, Steven Adler, W. Axl Rose, published by Guns N Roses P&D)

505 by The Arctic Monkeys (written by Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys, published by Domino Recording Co)


Clips: Sky News, This Morning (ITV), BBC News, Channel 4 News, Adam Webb from FanFair Alliance, Reg Walker, ABC News, CBS News, The Cure (YouTube), BBC Music (YouTube)


Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  

]]> 00:26:45 true Is Live Nation to blame? full The welfare row threatening to bring down the government Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 6862b7bb653df36e7b0ea08f https://pod.space/thestory/the-welfare-row-threatening-to-bring-down-the-government After the most contentious week of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far, MPs will gather in the House of Commons later today to vote on the controversial benefits bill. Has the rebellion been effectively squashed? Or is this only the beginning?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Patrick Maguire, Chief Political Commentator, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

Clips: Sky News, BBC Parliament, Guardian News, Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers/Freezing this Christmas, The London Standard, TalkTV, ITV/This Morning, Channel 4 News, Times Radio.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.

]]> 00:31:04 false Is this rebellion too much for the PM to stave off? full The New York mayoral candidate making left-wing economics trendy again Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 685ea53247311de1b65b52b8 https://pod.space/thestory/the-new-york-mayoral-candidate-making-left-wing-economics-trendy-again Tomorrow 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani will be officially confirmed as the Democratic Party candidate for New York mayor, putting him in pole position to land the role in November. His win caused a political earthquake in America, personifying questions over the future direction of the party.  So who is this fresh new face of the Democratic party, and what does his rise tell us about the increasing popularity of left-wing economics?


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Hannah Varrall

Further reading: What Zohran Mamdani’s win means for the Democratic Party 

Further listening: Why the dollar is crashing – and why you should care

Clips: Pod Save America, Odd Lots (Bloomberg Podcasts), UNFTR Media, @HasanAbi (YouTube), @ZohranforNYC (YouTube), @mr.cardamom896 (YouTube), Eyewitness NewsABC7NY, CNN, MSNBC, PIX11 News, Fox 5 New York, @Zohran-k-Mamdani (TikTok), NBC News, C-Span2 Book tv, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, @JVPAction (Instagram), @emrata (Instagram), @BloombergTV (X)

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com     

]]> 00:32:48 false Who is this fresh new face of the Democratic party? full The Sunday Edition: Gypsy-Rose Blanchard: I had Mom killed. I hope she’d be proud of me now Sat, 28 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 685d79a87cd58072a5f54d41 https://pod.space/thestory/the-sunday-edition-gypsy-rose-blanchard-i-had-mom-killed-i-hope-she-d-be-proud-of-me-now This episode was originally published in February.


In 2016, 24-year-old Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in the US State of Missouri, for arranging the murder of her mother. Her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, had Munchausen syndrome by proxy - a rare form of abuse where she would convince doctors that her daughter was ill - leading to unnecessary treatment. The harrowing details of what Blanchard went through have made her a media sensation - but should we feel sympathy for her? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Katie Gatens, Deputy Editor of News Review, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Samantha Chantarasak.

Further reading: Read Katie's full interview with Gypsy-Rose Blanchard 

Clips: KY3 News, The Act/Hulu, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard/Lifetime, The Kardashians/Hulu.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com    

]]> 00:30:25 false This episode was originally published in February.In 2016, 24-year-old Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in the US State of Missouri, ... full Sometimes I look into your eyes Fri, 27 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 685e9d750904b52e46356fb9 https://pod.space/thestory/sometimes-i-look-into-your-eyes Danny meets up with Alex Blania, the CEO and one of the co-founders, alongside Sam Altman, of Tools for Humanity. Their project Worldcoin, aims to help us weed out AI imitators by verifying humans online. All you have to do is scan your iris on one of their orbs to get a unique biometric ID and some cryptocurrency.  

Danny and Katie also take on Tesla’s robotaxi rollout, and question whether it's right and proper for humans to fall in love with AI bots? Spoiler alert! The answer is probably not, for both your sakes.


]]> 00:43:40 false Worldcoin, aims to help us weed out AI imitators by verifying humans online. full One day in the life and death of an AI chatbot Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 685d575747311de1b6f20a41 https://pod.space/thestory/one-day-in-the-life-and-death-of-an-ai-chatbot When Rob Burley started talking to an AI chatbot for feedback while writing his book, he had no idea where the conversation would lead, only 24 hours later.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Rob Burley, writer.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

Further reading: Help! I’ve fallen for my chatbot! Is this the future of AI?

Clips: Neil Diamond/Forever in blue jeans, Sky News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com     


]]> 00:33:21 true When Rob Burley started talking to an AI chatbot for feedback while writing his book, he had no idea where the conversation would lead, only 24 hou... full Trump's billionaire Iran dealmaker: who is Steve Witkoff? Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:01:00 +0000 68480668b0b18fac07b96d7a https://pod.space/thestory/trump-s-billionaire-iran-dealmaker-who-is-steve-witkoff Trump’s golfing buddy Steve Witkoff was a property developer before Trump came to power. Now he’s the president's right-hand-man in all things diplomatic, including sorting the current crisis in Iran. Is he the right man for the job?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Louise Callaghan, Senior US Correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading: How Trump’s team of rivals pulled him back from the brink

Further listening: Trump family inc.

Clips: Tucker Carlson / Fox / YouTube, BBC, YouTube / Professor Gerdes Explains, CBC News, CNBC, The Kremlin, FIIKSA, Kyiv Independent / Instagram, The Real Deal / YouTube, NBC, Channel 4. 

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

]]> 00:35:45 false Is Witkoff's real job making the world safer or the Trumps richer? full