BBC World Service - The Explanation - Downloads Homepage Accessibility links * Skip to content * Accessibility Help Close menu BBC World Service The Explanation * Home * Episodes * Clips * Podcast Main content The Explanation Podcast Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Show more Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world. Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show. Show less Updated: weekly Episodes available: indefinitely Subscribe in Sounds RSS Episodes to download * The President's Path: Trump's second term: How America and the world see him Friday With the midterms just two months away, we answer your questions on Trump’s second term Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Meet the 'meat proxies' Thursday The humans who’ve become mouthpieces for text written by AI Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * Heated rivalry: US v Canada Fri 28 Aug 2026 The US-Canada trade war deepens with tit-for-tat tariffs between the historic allies Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Is YouTube the new TV? Thu 27 Aug 2026 A special from Edinburgh, where TV’s biggest players debate the future of the industry. Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Trump redefines America’s friends and foes Fri 21 Aug 2026 President Trump is reshaping America's relationships with allies and adversaries Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: The death of Jason Arday Thu 20 Aug 2026 Questions over press scrutiny of Jason Arday following the academic’s death Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Trump and the AI data centre debate Fri 14 Aug 2026 Artificial intelligence data centres take centre stage in the US political debate Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: James May's YouTube move Thu 13 Aug 2026 James May on building a YouTube audience after television success Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Is Trump the AI president? Fri 7 Aug 2026 Can the US find the balance between AI innovation and regulation? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Alternative Hollywood Thu 6 Aug 2026 How faith-based studios are finding success outside the film industry's mainstream Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Does Zelensky have the upper hand in the Ukraine war? Fri 31 Jul 2026 Are relations between Trump and Zelensky warming? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Interviewing Elon Musk Thu 30 Jul 2026 The Economist's editor-in-chief on the interview that sparked Musk's "traitor" attack. Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: The US-Saudi nuclear deal Fri 24 Jul 2026 What do we know about the US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Can an AI actor win over Hollywood? Thu 23 Jul 2026 The creator of AI star Tilly Norwood explains why she's casting her in a feature film Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Trump accuses China of US election 'meddling' Fri 17 Jul 2026 Donald Trump accuses China of interfering in the 2020 US election Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Trump's New York Times subpoenas Thu 16 Jul 2026 The media implications of subpoenas over reporting on President Trump's new Air Force One Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: US-Iran conflict reignites Fri 10 Jul 2026 The US and Iran are once again trading strikes Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Farage's fight with the Media Thu 9 Jul 2026 Nigel Farage accuses the media of targeting him amid scrutiny of his financial interests Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: America at 250 Fri 3 Jul 2026 How does the US of today measure up to what the country’s founders had envisioned? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: The Murray brothers' media game Thu 2 Jul 2026 Jamie Murray on launching a YouTube tennis channel with his brother Andy Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Has Trump taken over America’s big birthday? Fri 26 Jun 2026 The US marks its 250th birthday - but who's throwing the party? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * Unspun World: Has Britain become ungovernable? Fri 26 Jun 2026 John Simpson examines the factors behind the resignation of Britain’s prime minister Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: How Shop workers became content Thu 25 Jun 2026 Retail staff report a rise in filming by customers for social media videos. Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: What did America actually win in the Iran deal? Fri 19 Jun 2026 Trump signs a US-Iran deal at Versailles. But what has America actually won? Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * Unspun World: Winners and losers of the US-Iran agreement Fri 19 Jun 2026 John Simpson examines the new deal aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Citizen journalists at protests - reporting or activism? Thu 18 Jun 2026 The growing role of online creators at protests and public disorder in the UK Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Why is Trump hosting the UFC at the White House? Fri 12 Jun 2026 Trump marks his birthday with a White House cage fight as the World Cup comes to America Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * Unspun World: Fighting resumes between Israel and Hezbollah Fri 12 Jun 2026 John Simpson explores the impact of Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The Media Show: Reporting the World Cup Thu 11 Jun 2026 BBC Sport and football journalists set out how the biggest tournament will be covered Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) * The President's Path: Why did Trump and Netanyahu clash over the Iran war? Mon 8 Jun 2026 Trump's blazing row with Netanyahu over the Iran war. Is the alliance cracking? 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