Today in Focus

By The Guardian

What's Today in Focus about?

Hosted by Anushka Asthana, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, Today in Focus is The Guardian's daily podcast that takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday.

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Becoming Prince Philip: an ...

04.16.2021

Tobias Menzies played Prince Philip in Netflix hit The Crown. On the eve of the royal’s funeral, Menzies discusses the unique challenge of trying to get inside the mind of a person seen by so many but known by so ...

Today in Focus episodes:

04.16.2021 Becoming Prince Philip: an interview with The Crown’s Tobias Menzies Tobias Menzies played Prince Philip in Netflix hit The Crown. On the eve of the royal’s funeral, Menzies discusses the unique challenge of trying to get inside the mind of a person seen by so many but known by so ...
04.15.2021 David Cameron’s lobbying scandal The Guardian’s banking correspondent, Kalyeena Makortoff, and political correspondent Rajeev Syal discuss the unprecedented formal inquiry into lobbying by the former prime minister David Cameron on behalf of the collapsed finance company Greensill Capital. Help support our independent journalism at ...
04.14.2021 Will we need a Covid pass to get into the pub? The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has announced plans for a domestic Covid-status certificate. We look to Israel, where a similar scheme has been introduced, and discuss how it might work here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
04.13.2021 What is really behind the riots in Northern Ireland? The Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, Rory Carroll, looks at what is fuelling loyalist anger in Northern Ireland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
04.12.2021 Remembering the Brixton riots 40 years on In April 1981, a simmering tension between the police and Brixton’s black community erupted in violence. Forty years, on Aamna Modhin revisits that weekend with those who witnessed the events unfolding. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
04.09.2021 Risk, reward and the AstraZeneca vaccine People in the UK under 30 will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine because of a possible link to rare blood clots. Could the move dent confidence in the widely used jab?. Help support our independent journalism at ...
04.08.2021 The death of George Floyd and the case against Derek Chauvin – podcast The death of George Floyd after being restrained by Minneapolis police last year sparked a wave of outrage that swept across the US and then the world. Now the police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine ...
04.07.2021 How can the UK stop harassment and sexual abuse in schools? – podcast The Everyone’s Invited website has collected 14,000 testimonies so far, painting a picture of widespread sexual harassment and violence in our schools. Everyone’s Invited founder Soma Sara and the Guardian’s senior news reporter Alexandra Topping discuss the outcry, the impact ...
04.06.2021 Why the government's race report sparked a furious backlash A new report into racial inequality in the UK has been condemned by campaigners and was called a ‘green light for racists’ by Doreen Lawrence. Aamna Mohdin examines what it says and why the response has been so damning. Help ...
04.05.2021 A year of Keir: has the Covid pandemic sidelined Labour's leader? Keir Starmer is marking a year as leader of the Labour party in which one issue has dominated above all else. The Guardian’s political editor, Heather Stewart, examines where the party is heading under his leadership. Help support our independent ...
04.02.2021 Why are gay conversion practices still legal in the UK? The UK government has pledged to ban gay conversion practices – which involve trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But they are still legally taking place across the country. George and Joe describe the impact of ...
04.01.2021 What is the police and crime bill and why are people protesting against it? Thousands of people have been protesting against the government’s police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, which would allow police to take a more proactive approach in managing protests, but many worry is an attempt to restrict the right to protest. ...
03.31.2021 Unblocking the Suez canal The gigantic cargo ship the Ever Given blocked the world’s busiest shipping lane for a week. Michael Safi reports on what the costly nautical traffic jam can tell us about global trade. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.30.2021 Joe Biden's border challenge: reversing Trumpism The 46th US president took office promising a more welcoming immigration policy. But Republicans are calling a new wave of migrants at the southern border a ‘crisis’ and demanding he addresses it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.29.2021 Freshwater part 6: the decision The court of appeal heard the appeal of the Freshwater Five last week. In the final part of our miniseries, we hear how the judges reached their decision and what it means. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.26.2021 The aftermath of a rape While working in Abu Dhabi launching a literary festival, Caitlin McNamara alleges she was raped by a member of the Emirati royal family. A year on, she describes her struggle to hold her attacker to account, and to come to ...
03.25.2021 Europe's third Covid wave As a deadly third wave of Covid infections sweeps across the continent, Jon Henley reports on how EU leaders are considering restricting exports of vaccines in a move that could inflame tensions with the UK. Help support our independent journalism ...
03.24.2021 Men! What can you do to help fight misogyny? Educator and author Dr Jackson Katz discusses why all men need to be part of ending violence against women, and what they can do to help. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.23.2021 A year inside: what shielding has meant for the most vulnerable The first national lockdown began in Britain a year ago today, but for those identified as clinically vulnerable, the restrictions often mean total isolation. Frances Ryan reports on what it has meant for those who have been shielding. Help support ...
03.22.2021 Professor Neil Ferguson on the Covid year that shattered our way of life Prof Neil Ferguson was one of the first scientists to raise the alarm in Britain that unless the government radically changed policy, it was heading for a disaster that the NHS could not cope with. Help support our independent journalism ...
03.19.2021 Is it time to abolish the monarchy? Jonathan Freedland looks at whether the fallout from last week’s Oprah Winfrey interview with Harry and Meghan has moved the monarchy closer to collapse. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.18.2021 What do progressives make of Joe Biden's presidency so far Lauren Gambino, political correspondent for Guardian US, discusses the $1.9tn Covid relief package, which was passed by Congress last week. It was seen as a major legislative victory for Joe Biden. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.17.2021 Amy-Leanne Stringfellow’s story and the campaign to end femicide Police response to death of Sarah Everard reminds reporter Yvonne Roberts of the Yorkshire Ripper killings; Helen Pidd reports on the murder of an Afghanistan veteran that has also put the spotlight on cycle of women being killed by men. ...
03.16.2021 Why are women so angry after the killing of Sarah Everard? The death of Sarah Everard has shocked the UK and ignited a furious debate around the issue of male violence. Guardian senior reporter Alexandra Topping discusses why Everard’s case has prompted so many women to speak out. Help support our ...
03.15.2021 Scandal, riots and the Dutch election The Dutch cabinet resigned in disgrace earlier this year after admitting it falsely accused thousands of citizens of cheating the benefits system. Then a strict second lockdown sparked riots. Now Dutch voters go to the polls, but are they in ...
03.12.2021 Hostage diplomacy: when will Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe be free? Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has endured a five-year nightmare after being arrested and jailed in Iran while on holiday. But now as her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, and the Guardian’s Patrick Wintour explain, having served her sentence she is being threatened with further ...
03.11.2021 Is the government ready to lead the fight against the climate crisis? Later this year, the government will host COP26 in Glasgow – possibly one of the last opportunities for the world to avert global climate catastrophe. Guardian environment journalist Fiona Harvey examines whether the UK government is equipped to lead the ...
03.10.2021 The great global vaccine divide The speed at which the world’s scientists have managed to create several effective Covid vaccines has been close to miraculous. But as Michael Safi says, the richest countries have taken the lion’s share. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.09.2021 Meghan and Harry's brutal takedown of the royal family Reporters Archie Bland and Aamna Mohdin discuss the impact of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which contained shocking revelations, including allegations of racism at the heart of the royal family. Help support our independent journalism ...
03.08.2021 Why has there been a rise in anti-Asian hate crime in the US? A rise in anti-Asian hate crime during the pandemic is forcing the US to reckon with a racism that’s been overlooked for decades. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.05.2021 The lawyer who fought to free Guantánamo's highest-value detainee Nancy Hollander has taken on many difficult cases in her career, but none quite like that of the Guantánamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Salahi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.04.2021 Guantánamo’s highest-value detainee and the guard who befriended him Mohamedou Ould Salahi was once Guantánamo’s highest-value detainee, but during the 14 years he spent behind bars he was never charged with a crime. Salahi and his former guard Steve Wood reflect on their time at the prison. Help support ...
03.03.2021 Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and the turmoil inside Scottish politics With Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon giving evidence today, the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, charts the unravelling of the alliance between first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her predecessor Alex Salmond – once seen as Scotland’s greatest political partnership. Help ...
03.02.2021 Why has the Brazilian butt lift become so popular? – podcast The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has become the world’s fastest growing cosmetic surgery, despite mounting concerns over the growing number of deaths from the procedure. What is driving its popularity?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03.01.2021 The life and death of Robert Maxwell In 1991, the tycoon Robert Maxwell died in circumstances that have yet to be fully explained. Thirty years on, his legacy is still being felt, says the author John Preston. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.26.2021 Is this the worst year ever for the UK music industry? Guardian music writer Laura Snapes, singer-songwriter Arlo Parks and musician Nitin Sawhney discuss the impact that Covid, Brexit and the ‘streaming economy’ are having on the sector. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.25.2021 No sex please, we're British. Dating in a pandemic Lockdown rules have left little opportunity for people who aren’t already living with a partner to pursue romantic relationships, explains Zoe Williams. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.24.2021 The science behind England’s Covid exit plan – podcast Nicola Davis runs through the science behind the government’s decision to begin lifting lockdown restrictions, a four-stage plan that starts with the reopening of schools and could see the return of nightclubs on 21 June. Help support our independent journalism ...
02.23.2021 Freshwater part 5: the appeal Today, the Freshwater Five case is in front of the court of appeal after the disclosure of new evidence that the defence says points to the men’s conviction being unsafe. Why has it taken a decade to get to this ...
02.22.2021 Freshwater part 4: radar When the Freshwater Five’s lawyer, Emily Bolton, found new evidence not disclosed at the men’s trial, it set her on a path to the court of appeal and another version of events that adds weight to their claims Listen to ...
02.21.2021 Freshwater part 3: the clifftop evidence A major part of the evidence against the Freshwater Five came from the clifftop above Freshwater Bay. It was there that police saw bags being thrown from the men’s boat. But the defence still have questions about what the police ...
02.20.2021 Freshwater part 2: the circumstantial evidence In the second part of Freshwater, Anushka Asthana examines the circumstantial evidence presented at trial against the Freshwater Five including a series of phone calls from sea and why a man with no prior fishing experience was onboard the boat ...
02.19.2021 Freshwater part 1: are the wrong men in jail? In 2011, five men were sentenced to a total of 104 years for conspiracy to import £53m worth of cocaine. They have always said they are innocent. Now, as new evidence is due to be put before the court of ...
02.18.2021 Catherine Flowers and her fight for environmental justice in Alabama In parts of the American south, many homes don’t have access to working waste treatment – something activist Catherine Flowers is fighting to change. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.17.2021 Inside Napier: the former army barracks housing asylum seekers The Guardian’s home affairs correspondent, Jamie Grierson, discusses the government’s decision to use two former army barracks, Napier and Penally, to house up to 600 vulnerable asylum seekers. Amid allegations of cover-ups, poor access to healthcare and legal advice, and ...
02.16.2021 Why are farmers protesting against the Indian government? The Guardian’s south Asia correspondent and the founder of a sustainable farming movement explain why farmers are so angry. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.15.2021 It's a Sin: a nurse reflects on the Aids crisis of the 80s Channel 4/HBO Max’s new drama It’s a Sin, written by Russell T Davies, follows a group of friends living through the 1980s Aids crisis. Leigh Chislett worked as a HIV nurse at St Mary’s hospital in London during that period. ...
02.12.2021 Covid-19 variants and what they mean for vaccines The Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, looks at why variants of the Covid-19 virus are alarming scientists. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02.11.2021 The coup in Myanmar and a fight for democracy A military coup in Myanmar has removed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and sent tens of thousands of protesters onto the streets. Rebecca Ratcliffe describes how the country risks turning back the clock to the decades of military dictatorship ...
02.10.2021 How the Queen lobbied for changes in the law to hide her wealth Government memos discovered in the National Archives reveal that the Queen lobbied ministers to alter proposed legislation. The Guardian’s David Pegg follows the trail and explains its implications for a monarchy which is supposed to stay out of politics. Help ...

Older episodes

Today in Focus

What's Today in Focus about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Today in Focus episodes:

Becoming Prince Philip: an interview with The Crown’s Tobias Menzies

David Cameron’s lobbying scandal

Will we need a Covid pass to get into the pub?

What is really behind the riots in Northern Ireland?

Remembering the Brixton riots 40 years on

Risk, reward and the AstraZeneca vaccine

The death of George Floyd and the case against Derek Chauvin – podcast

How can the UK stop harassment and sexual abuse in schools? – podcast

Why the government's race report sparked a furious backlash

A year of Keir: has the Covid pandemic sidelined Labour's leader?

Why are gay conversion practices still legal in the UK?

What is the police and crime bill and why are people protesting against it?

Unblocking the Suez canal

Joe Biden's border challenge: reversing Trumpism

Freshwater part 6: the decision

The aftermath of a rape

Europe's third Covid wave

Men! What can you do to help fight misogyny?

A year inside: what shielding has meant for the most vulnerable

Professor Neil Ferguson on the Covid year that shattered our way of life

Is it time to abolish the monarchy?

What do progressives make of Joe Biden's presidency so far

Amy-Leanne Stringfellow’s story and the campaign to end femicide

Why are women so angry after the killing of Sarah Everard?

Scandal, riots and the Dutch election

Hostage diplomacy: when will Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe be free?

Is the government ready to lead the fight against the climate crisis?

The great global vaccine divide

Meghan and Harry's brutal takedown of the royal family

Why has there been a rise in anti-Asian hate crime in the US?

The lawyer who fought to free Guantánamo's highest-value detainee

Guantánamo’s highest-value detainee and the guard who befriended him

Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and the turmoil inside Scottish politics

Why has the Brazilian butt lift become so popular? – podcast

The life and death of Robert Maxwell

Is this the worst year ever for the UK music industry?

No sex please, we're British. Dating in a pandemic

The science behind England’s Covid exit plan – podcast

Freshwater part 5: the appeal

Freshwater part 4: radar

Freshwater part 3: the clifftop evidence

Freshwater part 2: the circumstantial evidence

Freshwater part 1: are the wrong men in jail?

Catherine Flowers and her fight for environmental justice in Alabama

Inside Napier: the former army barracks housing asylum seekers

Why are farmers protesting against the Indian government?

It's a Sin: a nurse reflects on the Aids crisis of the 80s

Covid-19 variants and what they mean for vaccines

The coup in Myanmar and a fight for democracy

How the Queen lobbied for changes in the law to hide her wealth

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