Shows / This Is Why
This Is Why
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
Episodes
This Is Why‘Feels like barbed wire’. Endometriosis: the condition with no cure
Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and affecting fertility. It is estimated…
This Is WhyDeported killer: 'I'll help you find your mother's body'
On 29 December 1969, Alick McKay returned home from work to his house in Wimbledon, southwest London, to discover that his wife, Muriel, was not at home. The…
This Is WhyRishi, Rwanda, Suella and the Supreme Court: The fallout
The government's Rwanda plan, devised to tackle illegal migration, has been ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, ending more than 18 months of legal battles in…
This Is Why16 housing ministers in 13 years - has it stopped the job getting done?
There have been 16 housing ministers in the last 13 years of Conservative rule – seven of those in the last two years alone. With Lee Rowley taking over the…
This Is WhyRishi Sunak and David Cameron: Inspiration or desperation?
David Cameron is back in government as the new Foreign Secretary. Whilst many commentators had predicted that Suella Braverman would be sacked as Home…
This Is Why‘I always felt unsafe’: The alleged abuse at top drama schools
Sky News has spoken to more than 50 people who say they have witnessed or been on the receiving end of sexual misconduct and harassment within leading drama…
This Is WhyHas Suella Braverman gone too far this time?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has come under fire for making controversial statements about Israel-Hamas war protests in the UK. In the Times she described…
This Is WhyPro-Palestinian protests, poppies, and the police
'Free Palestine' has been painted across Rochdale’s Cenotaph ahead of Remembrance Sunday and is now being guarded by police support officers. It comes as a…
This Is WhyKing’s Speech: Dividing lines for the general election?
The King has set out the government’s policies for the coming year in the first King's Speech for 70 years. It was also the first since Rishi Sunak became…
This Is WhyWhat is Israel’s next move in its war against Hamas?
Israel's military objective in the war against Hamas, constantly repeated by its politicians and commanders, has become a national mantra: "Hamas must be…
This Is WhyWhat's Russia doing when the world is not looking?
As the world's attention turns to the Israel-Hamas war, Russia is ramping up its offensive on Ukraine. President Putin is seizing the opportunity of less…
This Is WhyJust how risky is artificial intelligence?
Bletchley Park - the once top-secret home of the World War Two codebreakers, including Alan Turing - has this week hosted Rishi Sunak’s UK AI safety summit. It…
This Is Why“The end of a chapter”: Stuart Ramsay on Gaza
The Gaza Strip; just 25 miles long and but only seven and a half wide at its broadest point. It’s a sliver of land sandwiched between the Mediterranean and…
This Is WhyWhat did we learn from Dominic Cummings at the COVID inquiry?
Boris Johnson's former chief adviser Dominic Cummings has appeared at the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, where he criticised the way the government worked in the early…
This Is WhyThe one about Friends star Matthew Perry’s legacy
The death of the actor who played Chandler Bing in US sitcom Friends has left those who knew and loved him “heartbroken”. Matthew Perry, who had previously…
This Is WhyDown the drain: What caused Britain’s sewage problem?
The Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has told Sky News the repeated release of illegal sewage outflows is a "scandal" as she signals that customers may…
This Is WhyQatar’s role in hostage negotiations | Grieving fathers call for peace
As Israeli families await news of loved ones who were taken hostage during the attacks by Hamas on 7 October, two men from different sides of the conflict…
This Is WhyA year of Rishi Sunak – but what about the next 12 months?
A year after Rishi Sunak became prime minister, has he convinced the public of his competence and of his electability? Sophy Ridge from Sky News’ Politics Hub…
This Is WhyShould pregnant women still be in prison?
As the Sentencing Council in England and Wales examines the potential impact of being pregnant and giving birth in prison, the Sky News Daily podcast hears…
This Is WhyWhat the law says about protesters chanting "jihad"
The word "jihad" - chanted during a pro-Palestinian rally in London over the weekend - has led to questions about whether laws governing hate crime need…
This Is WhyLabour's by-election wins | Biden's case for Israel-Ukraine funding
Labour's hopes ahead of the next general election have been bolstered after historic wins in the Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire by-elections. The double victory…
This Is WhyThe Israeli ground invasion into Gaza: When and how?
Britain’s prime minister says the UK stands with Israel in its “darkest hour” as he met his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. Rishi Sunak arrived in the…
This Is WhyGaza hospital blast: The battle to own the narrative
The Anglican-run al Ahli hospital in northern Gaza was bombed on Tuesday evening, claiming 500 lives, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Both sides…
This Is WhyWhat do by-elections tell you about the state of politics?
There has been a wave of by-elections in recent months across the country - and Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig has been to most of them. In fact…
This Is WhyHow to negotiate with Hamas | Biden in Israel
Hostage-taking has long been a feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The latest – 199 people, as confirmed by the Israeli military, taken by Hamas…
This Is WhyVoice notes from Palestinians | What might happen to the 199 hostages
More than a week on since the Hamas attack that shocked Israelis and others around the world, thousands of Palestinians caught up in the conflict remain stuck…
This Is WhyGaza deadline: What happens next? | Antisemitism concerns in UK
Israel gave more than a million people living in northern Gaza 24 hours to leave their homes ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in response to Hamas…
This Is WhyBlinken backs Israel | Criminals could go free as prisons fill up
The United States has re-affirmed its support for Israel in the wake of the brutal attacks by Hamas, sending its most senior diplomat Antony Blinken to Tel…
This Is WhyWhat is Hamas, and what’s happening in Gaza?
Israel’s response to the brutal attacks by Hamas has been swift and devastating. The two million people who live in Gaza are now under a siege - they are…
This Is WhyStarmer: Was that the next PM? | Israel’s retaliation
It started with a security breach covered in glitter, but in a major speech today Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his plan for Britain ahead of the next general…
This Is WhyIsrael-Hamas War: Explaining what’s happened and what might happen next
On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our Middle East Correspondent Alistair Bunkall to take a closer look at the Israel-Hamas war – including the…
This Is WhyLabour’s by-election win and the road to the next election
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his newest MP “blew the doors off” as Michael Shanks won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election with a swing of 20%…
This Is WhySmoking ban plan - will England kick the habit?
The prime minister wants to stop younger generations from taking up smoking – by making it illegal for anyone born after 2005 to ever be able to buy them…
This Is WhyLong-term, can Rishi Sunak make it a brighter future?
The prime minister closed the Conservative Party conference with a speech setting out his pitch for the next election, promising to reform A-levels, support…
This Is WhyConservative conference: Who's up for an election?
Rishi Sunak has claimed a general election is "not what the country wants" but insists he is unafraid of going to the polls. On the Sky News Daily with Niall…
This Is WhyConservative conference: Tax, Truss, and HS2
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt held firm on tax cuts, despite growing pressure from his colleagues at the Conservative Party conference on Monday. "The plan is working…
This Is Why'Psychological torture': The row over never-ending prison sentences
Thousands of prisoners remain incarcerated on open-ended prison sentences under a now defunct scheme, known as IPP sentencing. The no-maximum prison sentences…
This Is WhyHS2: Is the UK bad at big infrastructure projects?
When it was first given the go-ahead back in 2012, Britain's new high-speed rail line connecting the south, the Midlands and the north of England was predicted…
This Is WhyConsumption rooms: How much of a solution for Scotland’s drug problem?
Scotland will be home to the UK’s first so-called ‘consumption rooms’ where drug users will be able to get their fix more safely. Recent stats showed that…
This Is WhyShould we be taking the Liberal Democrats seriously?
The Liberal Democrats conference in Bournemouth saw leader Sir Ed Davey hinting that his party would be prepared to do a post-election deal with Labour to…
This Is Why'I just want a normal life': How do we end rough sleeping?
Ian Harrison is 33 and has spent his adult life on the streets. He's among more than an estimated 270,000 homeless people in England. Sky News has been…
This Is WhyWhat’s the future for kids’ TV?
It seems everything is moving online these days, so it’s perhaps no surprise that kids TV is too. CITV, ITV’s children’s channel, is no longer; it’s moving to…
This Is WhyBeyond the pomp: What is the true state of UK relations with France?
The King and Queen are on a state visit to France this week, which includes stops in Paris and Bordeaux. The three-day trip would have been Charles’ first…
This Is WhySunak’s new Net Zero policy: Are the Tories turning a lighter shade of green?
The reaction - to a move by Rishi Sunak to delay the government’s green policies – has been mixed to say the least, with opposition parties slamming the prime…
This Is WhyCrypto casinos: the new 'Wild West' hooking gamblers
Sky News has uncovered how online streamers may be breaking UK gambling laws by promoting crypto casinos - and there are questions over whether the casinos are…
This Is WhyRussell Brand investigation: Hear from one of the team behind it
Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and…
This Is Why‘Dam of death’: How a Libyan city was washed away
Rescuers are calling for more body bags to be sent to a Libyan city hit by catastrophic flooding - as fears of waterborne diseases grow. More than 11,300…
This Is WhyUK economy: Making sense of the numbers with Ed Conway
Important figures on employment, wages, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have been released this week; all tell a story about how the UK economy is performing…
This Is WhyThe spike in school suspensions
Every day more than 3000 pupils miss school because they have been suspended. It’s a record number that has shot up since the pandemic, especially for girls…
This Is WhyPutin and Kim Jong Un meet, but why?
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has crossed the border into Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. This is the first time since 2019 that Kim has…
This Is WhyShould we be worried about the new COVID variant?
The emergence of a new COVID variant, BA.2.8, has pushed forward the winter vaccination programme, with the rollout starting on Monday in England for older…
This Is WhyOne year of King Charles: What has he achieved?
It's been one year since King Charles took to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In this episode of the Sky News Daily podcast…
This Is WhyPrisoner manhunt: How was a terror suspect able to escape?
Terror suspect Daniel Khalife's escape from HMP Wandsworth – believed to be by strapping himself underneath a delivery lorry - led to a police manhunt…
This Is WhyCould my council go bust?
Birmingham City Council, Europe's largest local authority, has effectively declared bankruptcy, confirming in a statement that all new spending except for…
This Is WhyThe Chinese economy is faltering – should the rest of the world worry?
China's economy has slipped into deflation as consumer prices declined in July for the first time in more than two years. Ballooning local government debt…
This Is WhyConcrete crisis and the Gillian Keegan rant
MPs returned to Westminster after their summer break, but the same can't be said for thousands of children expected in classrooms for the Autumn term – due to…
This Is Why"Evil" but "a people person" - Saddam Hussein according to the soldier who guarded him
It's been 20 years since the Iraq war and the capture of dictator Saddam Hussein. Once Saddam was found, he was kept prisoner in his palace with 12 US soldiers…
This Is WhyUK's new defence secretary and what it means for Ukraine
Former transport and energy secretary Grant Shapps has been named as the new head of the Ministry of Defence after Ben Wallace stood down from the role on…
This Is Why#SeAcabó: How the World Cup kiss sparked Spain's MeToo moment
Since their World Cup victory, the Spanish team's success has been overshadowed by Spanish football president Luis Rubiales non-consensually kissing player…
This Is WhyAir travel chaos: Could it happen again?
The travel plans of hundreds of thousands of people were thrown into chaos on one of the busiest days of the year for airports, as the UK's air traffic control…