The Story

Harvard has sued the Trump administration over multibillion-dollar funding cuts in the biggest escalation yet in the battle between the government and higher education. What does the showdown mean for the ideological freedom of American institutions and has Trump taken on a fight he can’t win? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gerard Baker, Columnist, The Times and Editor-at-Large, The Wall Street Journal. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Clips: Bloomberg, NBC News, NDTV, C-SPAN, Getty/Grinberg, Paramount, Pathe Newsreels. 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.

This episode was originally published last December.Australia is the first country to block under-16s from social media -- and age-verification AI could be a crucial tool in the ban. We spoke to our journalist who has been to the industry-leader’s HQ to find out if the technology actually works. And if it does, could the UK 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/thestoryGuests:Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent, The Times.Helen Rumbelow, Feature Writer, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further reading: Can AI tell if a teen lies about their age?Clips: ABC News, 10 News First Australia, BBC Radio 4. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] 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 this episode, Lucy and Holly ask why a new generation of investors is turning to one of the world’s oldest assets: gold. Joined by Brian Byrnes from Moneybox, together they unpack gold’s historical role in the economy, its incredible performance, and how it compares to trendier assets like Bitcoin and tech stocks. Is gold still relevant in a digital-first world? Why are younger investors increasingly drawn to it? And does it have any downsides? Plus, we hear from young financial coach Laura Ann Moore, on how it fits into our own long-term investment plan.Guest: Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at MoneyboxContact: Lucy and Holly at: [email protected] 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 Beatles will be the subject of four interconnected films - one for each member - planned for release close together in April 2028. We asked the author of a recent book on The Beatles to tell us how he’d make the films - and what is still left to discover about the most famous band in history. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ian Leslie, author of John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs. To order a copy go to timesbookshop.co.uk. Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ membersHost: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Read exclusive extracts from Ian’s book: John Lennon, Paul McCartney and the grief that united two lost teens Paul McCartney and the song that made him John Lennon’s equal Clips: Sky News, ITN/Getty Images, BBC News/WISH-TV, C-SPAN. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

What are the practical implications for trans women after the Supreme Court ruled that under equality law, sex means biological sex? And how is the Labour government grappling with the ruling? Last week we heard from one of the campaigners for single sex spaces. Today we speak to someone who was stunned by the court's decision.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Helen Belcher, Managing Director, TransActual.Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent,The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Rosie Stopher.Shabnam Grewal.Further reading: What caused Keir Starmer’s U-turn on whether trans women are women?Further listening: Defining a womanClips: UK Parliament, Times Radio.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.

The Times’ crime correspondent David Woode sits down with a 19-year-old man who was recently imprisoned for carrying a knife. We get a rare insight into what someyoung people are really facing in London, and why he felt he had to arm himself with a deadly weapon.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryIf you've been affected by issues in this podcast, you can find useful links and helplines here: https://talk.tv/helplines Thanks to Marcus, Desmond Skyers and the St Giles Trust. Host: David Woode, Crime Correspondent, The Times. Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further reading: The Times Crime and Justice Commission Further listening: What’s behind the rise in knife crime on our streets Photo: Times photographer Richard Pohle. 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.

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, cardinals from across the world will now descend on Vatican City in Rome to choose the next Pope. The Oscar-nominated film Conclave dramatised the political machinations and backstabbing involved in choosing a successor - so, with incriminating dossiers and secret plots, is fact about to mirror fiction?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Kington, correspondent in Rome for The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further reading: Pope Francis's legacy: Loved by millions, hated by the old guardClips: ABC News, Euronews, CBS News, CNN, Conclave/Focus Features. Photo: Getty.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 first published last August.When Alex Campbell suggested to his high school sociology class that they would be investigating a 40-year-old cold case, he had no idea where it would lead. Within a year, a serial killer had been identified. In his next class, they decided to try and overturn a wrongful conviction. And they did. So just how did Mr. Campbell breed a class of super sleuths?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Clips: WBIR Channel 10, NewsNation, WKRN News 2.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Ryan Peterson is the CEO of Flexport, a company that plans and manages shipping globally. Perfectly positioned, then, to lay out the inside story on how companies have been affected by President Trump's tariffs and what happens next.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.

Romance fraud is at an all time high, low-hanging fruit in the growing world of online scams. But what are the methods? Who falls for it? And are there ways we can all avoid it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Mary Chater, romance fraud victimAlexis Conran, TV and radio presenterHost: Luke Jones.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further reading: The Times's Crime and Justice Commission - The justice system is in crisis. We spent a year finding solutionsClips: The Real Hustle Youtube channel, Still Watching Netflix Youtube channel. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 Supreme Court has ruled that only people who are born female should be protected from discrimination as women under the Equality Act. What does the ruling change and how did we get here?Guest: Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality.https://oneworld-publications.com/work/trans/Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Shabnam GrewalClips: Times Radio, Supreme Court, BBC News, Sky NewsPhoto: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 government has taken control of one of the last steel-making plants in the UK, after its Chinese owners threatened to close it. Some ministers have accused China of sabotaging British Steel to force us to import from China. But is that what happened? Or, when it comes to steel-making, did this country long ago sabotage itself?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dominic O’Connell, Business Correspondent, Times Radio.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Clips: Times Radio, Parliament TV, British Film Institute/Getty Images.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.

Recreational use of the Class B drug doubled in 2024. A Sunday Times investigation has looked into where it's coming from and why it's so hard to police.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Gatens, Commissioning Editor, The Sunday Times News Review.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Further reading: One gram of ketamine and its 4,000-mile journey to the UK. Further listening: The truth behind the drama AdolescenceIf you or someone you know needs drugs help or advice, visit talktofrank.comPhoto: Getty Images. Get in touch: [email protected] 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 US Constitution seems to be clear, but that hasn’t stopped President Trump and his allies from dangling the possibility that Trump won’t vacate the office in 2029. Is this just media trolling, or is there actually an argument to be made here? We asked a constitutional expert for the answer.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.Suzanna Sherry, Herman O. Loewenstein Chair in Law Emerita, Vanderbilt UniversityHost: Luke Jones.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Further reading: These Jack Kerouac letters are selling for $250,000. I read themClips: NBC News, CNN, NewsNation, Newsmax, The White House. 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.

This episode was originally published last November.As inquiries about relocating to the Emirati city from the UK have risen four-fold in the past five years; what does its allure say about life back home?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryFurther reading: Dubai’s allure to UK youth should raise alarmhttps://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/allure-dubai-uk-youth-raise-alarm-xq7s8d8sgGet in touch: [email protected]: Will Lloyd, reporter at The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Will Roe.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.

10 Downing Street is a rabbit warren of offices in a Georgian townhouse, and the centre of power in Britain. But how much control does it really exert over the rest of government, does it matter who has what job, and should we turn the whole thing into a museum?The political masterminds discuss how number 10 really works, and Polly explains why her husband thinks Canada is worse than North Korea.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to [email protected] 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.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are locked in a tit-for-tat trade war, as both sides refuse to back down from retaliatory tariffs. China was hit with a whopping 125 per cent levy on exports to the US, and has fought back with 84% tariffs on American goods. So who will blink first? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Clips: Reuters, CBS News. Photo: Times Design.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 news unexpectedly emerged that the US and Iran are to hold talks in Oman this weekend, President Trump warned Tehran that it must either cut a deal to cease all nuclear weapons development, or face the very real threat of military strikes. But just as the Trump Administration is divided on whether or not to attack, so Iranian society is split between those who fear war and those who support removal of the regime at any cost.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Sanam Vakil, Director of Middle East and North Africa programme, Chatham House and Holly Dagres, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further reading: Iran has every incentive to make a nuclear deal with TrumpClips: Sky News, Fox News, TikTok, Al Jazeera, Straight Arrow News, Reuters.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.

Britain’s obsessed with chicken - we eat more than a billion birds a year. And to (literally) feed our hunger, many farmers have turned to fast-growing birds. But now, a new initiative is persuading supermarkets and restaurants to try a slower-growing breed. Will it mean higher-welfare birds? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Harry Wallop, Columist and Feature Writer, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Internet Archive / Prelinger Archives / The Chicken of Tomorrow (1948).Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Stock markets around the world have taken a beating since Donald Trump unveiled his new tariffs. And it's not just the president's blue-collar base who'll feel the pain, so will his billionaire backers. As many in the MAGA coalition become more vocal, will Trump back down or hold fast to his 'medicine'?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gerard Baker, columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond and Sam Chantarasak. Further reading: Trump tests America’s threshold for painClips: CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Bloomberg, NBC News, CNBC, BBC News, New York Post. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: [email protected] 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, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all countries, including ones that don't have any human inhabitants. In the process, Trump remade the global economy in a single press conference. But the economic theory that Trump is basing this new world order on might be entirely false.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Clips: WSJ 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.

This episode was originally published in February.Having ruled the Chagos Islands since the 1800s, the UK now wants to cede sovereignty of the tiny archipelago in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. But one island is home to a secretive US military base and, with the growing threat of Chinese influence in the region, America is worried. Yesterday, the Mauritian PM said Sir Keir Starmer intends to “push ahead” with his deal - Whitehall suggested the same. But if it does happen, might it risk the relationship between Donald Trump and the British Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: George Grylls, Defence Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Further reading: Trump’s secretary of state warns UK of China’s ‘malign influence.’Further listening: Bannon vs Musk: The battle for the soul of Donald Trump.Clips: The Times and The Sunday Times, Reuters, parliamentlive.tv, The Guardian, Reuters.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 has provided no respite in the saga surrounding Prince Harry's resignation from the charity he founded, as news broke that he he will be in the Court of Appeal next week in his fight for tax funded police protection on UK visits. Plus, an update on the King's diary following his hospital visit and the Queen meets domestic violence campaigners.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 conviction of France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzling European Union funds came as a major blow to her, preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election race. Her party called the trial a 'witch hunt' and she accused the court of making a “political decision”, a sentiment shared by far-right politicians across the world. So, could Le Pen’s sentence strengthen far-right parties and benefit their leader’s popularity? And could she end up standing as president in any case?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further reading: Jordan Bardella: immigrants’ son to French far-right poster boyFurther listening: Young, French and voting hard-rightHow France’s left stopped a far-right surge Clips: AFP, France 24, Newsweek, TF1. 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.

When Maxie Allen complained to his daughter’s primary school about the recruitment process for a new head teacher, he hoped it would result in more openness and transparency. Instead six uniformed officers from Hertfordshire police were sent to arrest Allen and his partner after the school objected to them sending numerous emails and to their criticisms including “disparaging” comments on a parents’ WhatsApp group. So, is this another case of police overreach? And what does it mean for our ability to criticise and communicate privately?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Maxie Allen, producer, Times Radio, andFiona Hamilton, Chief Reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond and Sam Chantarasak.Further reading: Police chief defends arrest of parents in school WhatsApp rowMet Police smash down door of Quaker meeting house to arrest activists.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.

Donald Trump will reveal his much-awaited tariffs today on a day he’s called ‘Liberation Day’, as world leaders and the global markets brace for impact. Speculation has been rife over how large they will be and who they will affect, as Britain's foreign secretary says we must ‘prepare for the worst.’ But what are Trump’s motives? And will they shatter the current economic world order? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Dominic O’Connell, Business Correspondent, Times Radio and Columnist, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Clips: AP, NBC, Bloomberg, C-SPAN, Channel 4, Times Radio, Fox News. Photo: Times design.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.

Pioneering DNA testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy after failing to live up to its six billion-dollar promise. What does that mean for the data security of the fifteen million people who handed over their genetic information? And with at least 1 in 5 Britons having taken a commercial DNA test, is the age of genetic anonymity 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/thestoryGuest: Jenny Kleeman, Journalist and Author.Host: Jane Mulkerrins. Producer: Olivia Case.Further reading: I took an ancestry test and it led me to 18 secret siblingsClips: Y Combinator / Youtube.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 the wake of a crackdown by the Trump administration on universities with threats to withhold funding following protests on campuses, Manveen Rana talks to Times columnist and a self-described free speech absolutist and academic Sir Niall Ferguson. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Sir Niall Ferguson, historian and Times columnist. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Emily Webb and Edward Drummond.Further reading: How DEI, cancel culture and bad boards are killing our universitiesClips: National Conservatism, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, Forbes.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.

This episode was originally published in January.The US president-elect has sparked a series of diplomatic rows after saying he was willing to use military or economic force to take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada. How seriously should we take Donald Trump’s claims and where did they come from? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: NBC News, Fox News, ABC News, Reuters/TV2, France Inter Radio. Photo: Getty Images Further reading: Why does Trump want Greenland?Further listening: Why Donald Trump courted the wrestling worldGet in touch: [email protected] 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.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement - but what does it really mean for your money? Holly Mead is joined by Jo Noble, Chris Etherington and Tom Selby to break down the key takeaways - from welfare cuts to tax crackdowns - as they look at what was announced, what was left out, and what’s still to come later this year. 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.

Japanese ‘kidults’ revolutionised pop culture in the 90s and 00s, turning to their inner children to cope with economic crisis and post-industrial societal ills, despite being ridiculed. As the milestones of adulthood - property, marriage and careers - become increasingly difficult for millennials and Gen Z to achieve - are westerners now turning to ‘kidulting’ to find answers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Alt, author of Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further listening: Studio Ghibli: Is this the end for the Japanese studio that inspired Pixar?The South Korean culture machine that conquered the worldClips: SEGA, Pokémon Theme/POKEMON, MSNBC, CNN, AJ+, Sony, PlayStation, CBS, SXSW, TikTok/@otakuintokyo, TikTok/@kaitlyneats, Your Name/dir. Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films/Toho.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 called "a big mistake", "reckless" and "the highest level of f**kup imaginable" - but just how did a senior journalist come to be added to a chat group between some of the US government’s most senior members who were discussing military action? As the Trump government looks to downplay the incident, what does it tell us about how they view their allies and conduct their business? And what could the fallout be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Charter, assistant editor (US), The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond and Olivia Case.Clips: Fox News, CBS News, ABC News, Forbes.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.

The arrest and jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkey’s main political challenger to President Erdogan, has sent shockwaves across the country. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest his detention and express growing concerns over Turkey's shift toward autocracy. Does this mark a turning point in Turkey’s democracy? And will Imamoglu still be able to stand in the 2028 presidential elections? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Andrew Finkel, journalist and author of Turkey: What Everyone Needs to KnowHost: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Edith Rousselot.Further reading: The Erdogan I knew is a mirror image of the man he’s just locked upClips: BBC News, Euronews, Reuters, Sky 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.

The Netflix smash-hit drama is getting everyone talking – including the prime minister. Adolescence centres on the murder of a 13-year-old girl by a boy in her class, and tries to tackle the question: why did he do it? Is this ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ television? Or a timely spotlight on a dark online ecosystem drawing in young men?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Jonathan Dean, Executive Editor of Interviews, The Sunday Times Culture.Nathaniel Cole, workshop facilitator for young people.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Further reading: What teens really think about Adolescence — in their own wordsClips: Netflix, ITV, TikTok/shabazsays, TikTok/dr.amanisamahPhoto: Netflix.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Meet JD Vance, man of Munich and the Oval Office onslaught. He thinks Europe is in a death spiral and the future is Catholic-infused post-liberalism. But what are his roots, what does he read, and - most importantly - what does he want? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Edward Drummond.Further reading: Pugnacious bully or deep thinker — who is the real JD Vance?Further listening: Bannon vs Musk: The battle for the soul of Donald TrumpClips: Fox News, CNN, ABC News, NBC News, Forbes.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.

Today marks five years since the first Covid lockdown. We were told that we would never be able to go back to pre-pandemic times: we could only enter a ‘new normal’. Is that what happened? How much did the pandemic change us?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Luke Jones.Guests:Dan Atherton, Deputy Data Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The TimesProducer: Taryn Siegel.Further reading: UK’s worst night out? Costly, crime-ridden LondonFurther listening: The death of clubbingClips: The Telegraph.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

With news this week on the ongoing attempts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, we thought we'd bring you two interviews Manveen did on Times Radio to help make sense of it all. The first is with Anthony Loyd, who's been covering the war since it began and the second is with General Sir Richard Barron who has been working on the Defence Review and knows better than most whether the country is ready to defence itself. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Anthony Loyd, Special Correspondent, The Times, andGeneral Sir Richard Barron's, former Commander Joint Forces Command. Host: Manveen Rana.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.

Estonia, one of the Baltic states, sits on Europe's front line with Russia. The country that was, like Ukraine, once part of the Soviet Union is increasingly worried about the threat Putin poses, and has plans in place if there is an invasion. But, if western Europe can no longer rely on the transatlantic alliance, will it work? And what could Britain learn from it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Further reading: Could Poland and Germany acquire nuclear bombs?Further listening: ‘A lawlessness that’s deeply alarming’: William Hague on Trump’s new presidency.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.

It's predicted that, by the end of this Parliament, four million people in Britain will receive long-term sickness benefits–that’s the equivalent of losing the working-age population of Birmingham from the workforce. Columnist Fraser Nelson thinks it’s the biggest scandal in Britain today. So how did we get here? And can Labour fix it or will they leave already-vulnerable people worse off?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: The Times & The Sunday Times columnist Fraser NelsonHost: Luke JonesProducer: Emily WebbFurther reading: From welfare to warfare can define Keir StarmerFurther listening: Why are so many Gen Zers not working?Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Roman Styran / YouTube, jascow0 / YouTubePhoto: GettyGet in touch: [email protected] 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.

Donald Trump is coming for Canada. He first raised the prospect of making America's nearest neighbour its 51st state when campaigning for the presidency in 2016. No one was listening. But Canada's new Liberal Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has heard, and he's assembling a coalition of allies to counter the threat. Could this be the beginning of a wider effort to build a Western, anti-Trump, alliance?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josie Ensor US Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Edith Rousselot and Olivia Case.Further reading: Mark Carney’s in-tray as PM: from tariffs to Canadian sovereigntyClips: CTV News, C-Span, CNN, BBC, ABC News, Guardian News, AP News, CPAC, Global News.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: [email protected] 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 the frontline of Mexico’s drug wars, rival cartels are exploiting a decades-old dispute about indigenous land rights and turning local people against each other - with fatal consequences. To appease Trump, the government has downplayed the violence in the south to focus on the US border, but if the cartels continue undeterred, could the US launch a military operation? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, US Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen RanaProducer: Sam ChantarasakFurther reading: Watch: inside the town torn apart by Mexico’s cartel violenceFurther listening: At the border crossing where Trump’s migrant ban is working  Clips: Al Jazeera, Firstpost, Imagen Noticias. Photo: Natalia Meneses Alís for The Sunday TimesGet in touch: [email protected] 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 word "unprecedented" is often used to describe Donald Trump's presidency. He's broken with convention repeatedly: from announcing tariffs on allies, to the suggestion that he wants to buy Greenland. But are these moves really without precedent? Or do Trump's politics echo that of 19th century US presidents, but with a more alarming twist?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Nick BryantHost: Manveen Rana.Producer: Emily Webb.Clips: ABC News, CNBC, Niki Ashton Youtube, CBS News, New York Times, FOX, MSNBC, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, NBC, Washington Post, BBC.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 episode was originally published last August.The government says it wants to make the UK a global hub for crypto firms. But with the NHS warning it’s being left to ‘pick up the pieces’ as people get addicted to crypto gambling, are Labour’s plans wise? Our reporter visits one of the first clinics in the world, near Edinburgh, that is treating people who have cryptocurrency problems.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryIf you’ve got any concerns about gambling, you can contact the national problem gambling charity GamCare's helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit www.gamcare.org.uk for confidential support, advice and free counselling.Guest: Lily Russell-Jones, Senior Money Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Hinge CEO, Justin McLeod, joins the podcast to discuss how online dating Apps have changed dating (for good or bad) and how AI may change it even more. While Danny argues that being direct might just be better than tech!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.

‘Baby brain’ is real. Increasing evidence suggests having kids causes big changes in our grey matter, and not always for the worse. Sunday Times science editor and frazzled father of two, explains.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Emily Webb.Further reading: How being a parent physically alters your brain (dads included)Further listening: We need to talk about what motherhood does to womenPhoto: Alamy/Sunday Times illustrationGet 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.

Nigel Farage has been accused of a ‘vindictive witch-hunt’ by a former Reform MP as part of a messy public row at the top of the party. Rupert Lowe was suspended by the party after allegations of workplace bullying and threats of violence, which he denies. What could this spat mean for the political prospects of the party that, just a few months ago, was riding high in 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/thestoryGuest: Geri Scott, Senior Political Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Taryn Siegel.Clips: Sky News, Talk TV, GB News, Fire at Will podcast. 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.

Is Europe sleepwalking into disaster? Russia watcher Keir Giles on the rising threat from Putin, NATO’s shaky future, and whether Europe is ready—or willing—to fight back.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House and author of Who Will Defend Europe? Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Emily Webb. Clips: CNN, Channel 4, DW, The Mirror, JD Vance (YouTube), ABC, The Telegraph, NBC, France 24. 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.

This episode was originally published last November.No sex, no babies, no marriage, no men. In 2018 a niche feminist movement started in South Korea as a reaction to the country’s entrenched misogyny. It pledged four ‘nos’ when it came to men. Now it's spreading on social media to America as young women rebel against Donald Trump's election. But how impactful will it be?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Manveen Rana.Guests: Chiara Brown, Commissioning Editor, The Times Luxury. Meera Choi, Sociology Academic, Yale University.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: TikTok / trump-supporters01 / Sigma Nu Fraternity, Karim Jovian / Nick Fuentes / YouTube, OFF TOPIC SHOW / Nick Funetes / YouTube, Nick Funetes / brutamerica / Instagram, realityreelclips / TikTok, The Washington Post / Access Hollywood, thetimes / TikTok, CBS, CNN, The News Movement, Inside Edition, Arirang News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

With Keir Starmer focused on diplomacy over Ukraine, the political masterminds ask if the domestic agenda always has to suffer during major world events. When does a foreign conflict turn into a 'Falklands moment', and when does a leader get criticised for spending too much time globe-trotting?Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo also ask how to stop a minister resigning - or how to let them do it at an advantageous moment.Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: [email protected] 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.

Donald Trump has said he will make the US the crypto capital of the world, as investors and CEOs gather at the White House today for his government’s first crypto summit. On the agenda are plans to create a federal crypto reserve - the most important development in the industry since Bitcoin was created. So what actually is it - and what does it mean for the president’s own Trump coin? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The TimesHost: Luke JonesProducer: Sam ChantarasakFurther reading: Cryptocurrencies rocket as Trump unveils US strategic reserveFurther listening: Why the price of gold is skyrocketing Clips: Bitcoin MagazinePhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] 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.