The Story

Keir Starmer is changing course on the winter fuel allowance - where does it sit in the league table of political U-turns, and will it please anybody?

The political masterminds also discuss the Conservative Party's existential polling spiral, why Starmer's approval ratings have fallen so far in the year since the General Election was called, and why Hugo agrees with Polly that babies should get the vote.

Send your comments and questions to [email protected]

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.

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In New York, the P Diddy trial is in its second week. The case centres around ‘freak-offs’ - parties where it’s claimed he forced two ex-girlfriends to engage in sexual acts with male escorts. He denies the claims. As the trial enters its second week, here’s the update. 

This podcast contains discussions of rape and sexual assault that some listeners may find upsetting. If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard in this podcast, you can visit the Rape Crisis website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ or for domestic abuse, Refuge’s website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ for help and support. 

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: Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading: 

• My week at the Diddy trial, where laughter gave way to disturbed silence
• Diddy went to confront rival with three guns, ex-assistant says

Further listening: 

• P Diddy on trial
• The P Diddy lawsuits: The downfall of a rap legend

Clips: Instagram / @Diddy, ABC, Fox, BBC, YouTube, NewsweekMag, CourtTV, Diaro As, CNN. 

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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.

As Donald Trump took a tour of the Middle East last week, there was one notable omission from his itinerary - a trip to see America's long term political ally in the region, Israel. Instead, the US President voiced concern for the ongoing famine in Gaza. And now, after days of speculation, Benjamin Netanyahu has been forced to dismiss talk of a rift with Israel's military and diplomatic patron. But what caused Trump's patience to snap, and will it change anything for starving Gazans?

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: Gabrielle Weiniger, Tel Aviv-based correspondent for The Times

Amal Helles, Reporter at The Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Further reading: Leaked map shows Israeli proposal to force Gazans into strips of land / Here in Gaza, babies are skin and bone. I fear mine will be too

Further listening: Trump’s Gaza Bombshell

Clips: Sky News, UK Parliament, Al Jazeera, TRT World

Photo: A Gaza soup kitchen, via Getty images

Get in touch: [email protected] 

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.

More than 200 migrants from the US are being held in a high-security prison for terrorists in El Salvador, accused of being gang members. How did El Salvador become the repository for US deportees? And what does the friendship between President Bukele and President Trump tell us about the futures of both countries?

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: Stephen Gibbs, Contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

Further reading: The TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during livestream in Mexico

Clips: China Xinhau Español, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, Guardian News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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.

Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and is now considering his options for treatment. The physical and mental health of the 82 year old has made the news frequently over the last year or so. In fact, questions about his mental capacity eventually forced him to step aside in favour of Kamala Harris. A new book reveals how Biden’s team kept him away from scrutiny and covered up his declining health. Manveen speaks to The Times’s assistant editor, David Charter, who has interviewed the authors. 

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: David Charter, Assistant Editor (US), The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Further reading:

The fall of Joe Biden and how his team covered up his decline.

‘Original Sin’ review: How the democrats tried to hide Biden’s decline.

Key claims about Joe Biden’s health.

Clips: CNN, House Committee on the Judiciary, NBC, MSNBC.

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 Sunday Times Rich List 2025 has been one of the hardest to compile in recent years, thanks in large part to President Trump's tariffs. But it’s another government’s policies that the rich listers cite as their biggest concern. Why are the top 1% of earners so angry?

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: Robert Watts, compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Further reading: How the Sunday Times Rich List 2025 was compiled / The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 revealed

Clips: BBC, Times Radio, UK Parliament

Photo: Richard Pohle for Times Media Ltd

Get in touch: [email protected]

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 episode was originally published in January.

Elon Musk has unleashed a huge political row in the UK over whether there should be a national inquiry into the gangs that groomed young girls for rape in a number of Britain's northern towns. But whilst the world's richest man accused the 'legacy media' of a cover-up, the scandal was actually exposed by Times journalist Andrew Norfolk. So how did he uncover the shocking story? And has enough been done to make sure it never happens again?

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: Andrew Norfolk, former Chief Investigations Reporter, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Emily Webb.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Image: 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie and Danny are joined for a conversation with Jon McNeil. For a pivotal 30 month period, Jon was President of Tesla and worked closely with Elon Musk. And also just where is the EV market currently at? Is the future of driving autonomous? And how best to invest in our AI future?

Any thoughts or questions, get in touch - [email protected]

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.

Lily Phillips, a 23-year-old from Derbyshire, made headlines after claiming to have slept with 101 men in a single day. She rose to household-name status largely thanks to OnlyFans. Lily Phillips says what she's doing is her choice and that she's a feminist, but some feminists are worried about what that says about young people's attitudes to female empowerment.

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: 

• Katie Glass, Feature Writer, The Times and The Sunday Times.
• Sarah Ditum, Contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Jane Mulkerrins.

Producer: Euan Dawtrey.

Further reading: 

• What this woman tells us about porn
• Lily Phillips: Don’t blame me for how men have sex

Clips: NBC, I Slept with 100 Men in One Day © 2025. Director: Tom Willows.

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.

Last week, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first American chosen to lead the Catholic Church. In the weeks running up to his election, he openly criticised the Trump administration’s immigration policy and even had a row with Vice President JD Vance on X. Does this suggest that President Trump may be in for a bumpy ride from the world’s other most powerful American? 

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: Christopher Hale,  Democratic politician from Tennessee and Catholic nonprofit executive.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Edith Rousselot.

Further reading: 

• The real Pope Leo XIV — by those who knew him in Rome, Chicago and Peru
• Who is Robert Prevost? New Pope hit out at Trump administration weeks ago

Clips: Bloomberg, Reuters, Rome Reports in English Youtube, CBS News, EWTN Global Catholic Network, Khou 11, Guardian News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: [email protected] 

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.