For years, America has been well known for its gun violence, but last year, the statistics were off the scale. There has been a rise in shootings, but also a rise in the number of people going to buy guns.

In the US, on average, there is a mass shooting every single day. But what in the last 12 months has driven people to buy and use firearms more than ever before?

In this episode of the Sky News Daily podcast, host Noel Phillips speaks to Lucinda Roy, professor at Virginia Tech and former teacher of the man responsible for the killings in 2007; Kareem Shiya, co-founder of Open Source Defense - an online group, campaigning for gun rights, and Craig Jackson, Professor of occupational health psychology at Birmingham City University.

There have been three new variants of COVID that have had a startling impact on the number of cases. They have been detected thousands of miles apart, one in Brazil, one in South Africa, and one in the UK.

This came as no surprise to scientists. Since the virus was first detected, it has mutated approximately 4,000 times. However, if the virus keeps mutating, will we ever end the pandemic?

In this episode, host Jayne Secker is joined by Sir Mark Walport, previous government chief scientific adviser to explain what we know so far about the new variants and Sky News correspondent, Ashna Hurynag, tells us what the situation is like in the city of Manaus.

On this bonus episode of the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson puts questions from the public to the Government's chief scientific adviser as the UK remains under lockdown due to the COVID pandemic.

Joe Biden’s swearing in as the 46th president of the United States marks the start of a new era in US politics. But will it lead to a more "united" America?

His administration takes over at a time when the country is still very much divided and grappling with the COVID pandemic.

As well as the House of Representatives, the Democrats now control the White House and the Senate on Capitol hill – the scene of recent rioting that resulted in security being bolstered for the inauguration.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, former Democrat Ohio State Senator Capri Cafaro shares her experience of working inside the Capitol and what it means to Americans.

We are also joined by Sky’s diplomatic editor Dominic Waghorn and former Trump aide Omarosa Manigault Newman as we discuss the Senate’s power and prestige.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Assistant podcast producer – Lauren Pinkney
Interviews producer - Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Archive - Rob Fellowes
Music - Steven Wheeler

We are living through history right now. But how will the story of the pandemic be told in years to come?

Life in 2021 may at the moment feel isolating, frustrating and gloomy, but there is the occasional promise of hope.

It’s not easy. More than 2 million people across the world have now died with COVID-19.

As part of a special series on the Sky News Daily podcast, our home editor Jason Farrell travels around the UK looking at the human impact of the crisis, speaking to real people about the real issues many of us are facing.

In this episode, we focus on young people and education as Jason visits Gateshead and Skegness.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Specialist producer – Liz Lane
Assistant podcast producer – Lauren Pinkney
Interviews producer - Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Archive - Rob Fellowes
Music - Steven Wheeler

The British Royal Family has been at the forefront of the campaign to tackle climate change for over 50 years.

Most recently, Prince Charles announced his “Terra Carta” principles, calling on businesses to act now to tackle the climate crisis.

It follows the £50m Earthshot initiative launched by Prince William to encourage people to solve sustainability issues.

But what impact does the Royal Family actually have on the environmental crisis?

And do their pledges make a difference?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast Dermot Murnaghan is joined by Ed Davey, the co-director of the World Resources Institute, who worked with the Prince of Wales on a number of climate initiatives, and Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast producer – Cat Soave
Interviews producer – Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

We have seen one of the most dramatic sets of events in US political history, but with just days left of Trump’s presidency, how will his impeachment change how the Republican party functions and how will the president be remembered?

In this episode of the Sky News Daily podcast, host Dermot Murnaghan is joined by Sky’s US correspondent Sally Lockwood to explain what lies ahead for Donald Trump, loyal supporter Cathi Chamberlain on what effect the impeachment has had on Trumpism and former Republican member of Congress, David Jolly on why he believes Trump will be remembered as the worst president in US history.

The UK is immunising the elderly and most vulnerable groups first in the fight against coronavirus – with healthcare workers and carers also a priority.

In Indonesia, they are doing things differently, with 18 to 59 year olds at the front of the queue.

The strategy is perhaps ethically questionable, leaving those most at risk of falling seriously ill or worse vulnerable.

But might the move actually be a smart idea?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, our South East Asia correspondent Siobhan Robbins explains more about Indonesia’s COVID vaccine rollout.

We are also joined by Senior Research Fellow on the Oxford Martin Programme on Collective Responsibility for Infectious Disease, Alberto Giubilini and GP Ellie Cannon, who participated in the Oxford Vaccine Trial.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer - Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast Producer - Cat Soave
Interviews producer - Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Archive - Rob Fellowes
Music - Steven Wheeler

Breaching coronavirus restrictions isn’t a new problem – but as the new variant continues to spread and NHS pressure grows, the issue has been a focal point in recent days.

Speaking during Tuesday’s Downing Street news conference, Home Secretary Priti Patel insisted the current rules were "very simple and clear" and "tough enough".

The chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council Martin Hewitt also said a "stubborn number" of people are still refusing to follow them.

Are police using the right approach? Do rule breakers need some tough love? And how has human behaviour been critical in shaping the COVID pandemic response?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we are joined by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and Stephen Reicher, who is professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews and member of the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B).

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast producer – Cat Soave
Interviews producer – Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Archive – Rob Fellowes
Music - Steven Wheeler

COVID-19 has put the NHS in the most dangerous situation in living memory, piling unprecedented amounts of pressure on an already strained health service.

In some instances, life-saving cancer treatment may be postponed, a move that will undoubtedly cost lives.

In the first lockdown, cancer referrals were down by 75% which has created a backlog of undiagnosed cancer patients.

Have lessons been learnt and can we save the lives of more cancer patients during the second wave of coronavirus?

On this episode, Sky News sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao is joined by columnist and cancer podcaster Deborah James, also known as Bowel Babe, to discuss their experiences of living with cancer in the middle of a pandemic.

They're also joined by oncologist and president of the Royal College of Radiologists, Dr Jeanette Dickson, to ask what impact the second wave will have on cancer treatment.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer - Emma Rae Woodhouse
Interviews producer - Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Archive - Robert Fellowes
Music - Steven Wheeler