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/thestory

Guest: Darryl Morris, journalist, Times Radio.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: In Gorton, where Labour is counting on long memories to see off Reform

Further 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/thestory

Guests:

• 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: [email protected]

Read 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/thestory

Guests: 

• Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew
• ‘Anna’, whistleblower and former staff at the Linden Centre

Host: Daniel Gordon.

Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond, Taryn Siegel. 

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

If 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/thestory

Guest: Kate Mansey, assistant editor and royal editor for The Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Julia Webster and Sophie McNulty

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: What’s in the Epstein files? The key revelations so far

Further listening: Andrew & Epstein - The King acts

Clips: The Guardian, BBC, Channel 4, DW News, The National

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.

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/thestory

Guest: Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew.

Host: Daniel Gordon.

Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

If 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/PA

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.

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/thestory

Read by: Helen Down.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: What happened when a sperm donor met his unknown kids

Photo: 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/thestory

Guest: Meghan Agnew, Senior Features Writer, US.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Dave Creasey and Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Sensitive Trump, Melania the boss… inside the first lady’s second term

Clips: 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/thestory

Guest: 

• 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: [email protected]

Read 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 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 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: [email protected]

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

Hosts: Manveen Rana & Luke Jones

Producer: Sophie McNulty

Further listening:

• Everything you need to know about the Iran protests
• Has 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/thestory

Hosts: 

• 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: [email protected]

Further listening: The State of It

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.