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
Lost Boys: Is demonising teenage boys part of the problem?
Boys are now falling behind girls in every metric at school. They're more likely to be out of work than girls, and they make up 98% of the youth prison intake…
- This Is Why
Should the UK be ready for chemical warfare with Moscow?
The Kremlin has denied using a dart frog toxin to kill Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2024. But Britain and four European allies say they have…
- This Is Why
The teen who could lead North Korea: Who is Kim Jong Un's young’un?
Kim Ju Ae could be the next leader of North Korea. Despite only being around 13 years old, there are reports her father, Kim Jong Un, has handpicked her as his…
- This Is Why
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s apology: did he mean it?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for his “choice of language” in an interview with Sky News’ economics and data editor, Ed Conway. The billionaire, who…
- This Is Why
Should the 'Suffolk Strangler' have been stopped sooner?
The "Suffolk Strangler" murders horrified the UK in 2006, as five women were killed in the Ipswich area. But should the killer have been caught years before?…
- This Is Why
Inside Number 10: Can Starmer survive?
Downing Street is in turmoil as Sir Keir Starmer fights for his political life. Can he cling on to power? Niall is joined by Lord Barwell, Theresa May’s chief…
- This Is Why
Will the Andrew claims overshadow William in Saudi?
**Since we published this episode, we've heard from Buckingham Palace about allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential documents with…
- This Is Why
Mandelson – the biggest political scandal since Profumo?
John Profumo was secretary of state for war when he had an affair with Christine Keeler, which ultimately brought down Conservative prime minister Harold…
- This Is Why
Has US star Savannah Guthrie’s mum been abducted?
The mother of one of America's most famous news anchors is believed to have been abducted. Savannah Guthrie is used to broadcasting the news to millions of…
- This Is Why
Inside a detention camp for women and children linked to ISIS
Northeast Syria is rapidly changing hands, and with it the country's fragile balance of power. The last time there was a power vacuum in the country, ISIS was…
- This Is Why
Why is the NHS lagging behind on cancer care?
Half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, according to Cancer Research UK. And the speed of a diagnosis can often be the difference between…
- This Is Why
Andrew and Epstein: How will the royals respond?
It seemed inevitable there would be more damaging documents in the latest batch of the Epstein files relating to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Neither the former…
- This Is Why
Will Trump hang on to Kristi Noem?
From 'Snow Queen' to 'ICE Maiden' - how did a beauty pageant-winning 'farmgirl' from South Dakota become the public face of Donald Trump's immigration…
- This Is Why
The terrifying online community targeting kids
An online network known as ‘The Com’ is targeting children and coercing them into acts of violence, self-harm and abuse. A new report has revealed members –…
- This Is Why
Do pubs have a future?
Pubs may have been given a discount on their business rates bills - but with many landlords still suffering a post-Covid hangover, does it go far enough? Last…
- This Is Why
Should Britain trust China?
Sir Keir Starmer is heading to China for what will be the first visit by a British prime minister since Theresa May went in 2018. He’ll be accompanied by a…
- This Is Why
Can coppers cope with 'modern crime'?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced the biggest overhaul of the police service in England and Wales in nearly 200 years. Her reforms include reducing…
- This Is Why
Can the Peltz-Beckhams make a brand of their own?
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham have been spotted in public for the first time since his explosive social media post about the rest of the…
- This Is Why
Is Trump’s Board of Peace just a power play?
In the same month he ordered strikes on Venezuela and threatened to seize Greenland, Donald Trump has been inviting countries to join his "Board of Peace". The…
- This Is Why
Is a social media ban workable?
Teenagers generally hate being told what to do – as any parent who’s tried getting them off their phones can testify. The government is now considering a…
- This Is Why
David Beckham, Donald Trump – what are they doing in Davos?
It's where world leaders rub shoulders with billionaires while former footballers clink champagne flutes with film stars and tech bros. President Trump is the…
- This Is Why
Has Trump and Starmer’s 'special relationship' turned toxic?
Is Donald Trump's threat to impose more tariffs on countries trying to block his plan to buy Greenland the last straw for the strained relationship with the…
- This Is Why
Prince Harry vs The Daily Mail: What can we expect in court?
Bonus Episode: Prince Harry's final showdown with the British media is due to start this week. The duke is set to give evidence in court on Thursday in his…
- This Is Why
From Remainer to Reform: Can Jenrick and Farage really get along?
The reinvention of Robert Jenrick reached what could be a career-defining milestone after he was sacked from the Tory party and walked into the arms of Nigel…
- This Is Why
Is Antarctica a time bomb for Trump?
While the world's attention has been on Greenland, should Antarctica also be in the geopolitical spotlight? The US has been withdrawing its influence over the…
- This Is Why
Will wind power end up costing us more?
The government claims the UK is on track to meet its clean power targets for 2030 following a record offshore wind auction. However, in a world where the price…
- This Is Why
Is TikTok why Gen Z is finding God?
More young people now believe in God than any other demographic, according to research which also shows a rise in church attendance amongst 18 to 24-year-olds…
- This Is Why
Why are protests on the rise in China?
Any kind of public dissent in China is both dangerous and difficult to document. But that hasn’t prevented a dramatic increase in the number of protests taking…
- This Is Why
Was Cilia Flores the real brains of the Maduro regime?
Cilia Flores was one of the most powerful figures in Venezuela. She and Nicolas Maduro met through their close connection to Hugo Chavez and once Maduro…
- This Is Why
Why is Sudan still at war?
Friday marks 1,000 days since the outbreak of a brutal war in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has…
- This Is Why
Why is Trump obsessed with Greenland?
Could the USA really seize Greenland? And just as importantly, why does it want to? President Trump has sent shivers through the NATO alliance by doubling down…
- This Is Why
Will Brigitte Macron ever silence the conspiracy theorists?
The French first lady may have had her day in court, but can she win an even bigger case in the US to finally clear her name following the spread of online…
- This Is Why
Why Trump’s action in Venezuela is no surprise
Should we be shocked by Donald Trump's intervention in Venezuela – or is it simply an extension of 200 years of Washington foreign policy? The US stunned the…
This Is WhyRevisited: From accidental to absolute leader – who is Ayatollah Khamenei?
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the…
This Is WhyRevisited: Sarah Ferguson: Debts, deceit and the downfall of a duchess
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the…
This Is WhyRevisited: What’s the truth of The Salt Path?
Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the…
This Is Why2025 Moments: Flags - pride or prejudice?
Coming soon to a lamppost near you? That was the feeling over the summer, as flags started appearing on buildings, bridges and posts – but the undertone was…
This Is Why2025 Moments: What changed after Trump's clash with Zelenskyy?
Nobody expected a sit-down meeting between two world leaders to become one of the most explosive encounters of Ukraine’s war with Russia. When President…
This Is Why2025 Moments: What Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor does next
It's arguably the biggest royal scandal since 1992's "annus horribilis" - Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, stripped of his titles and set to be evicted from…
This Is WhyThe fake spy who loved me: The life and crimes of Mark Acklom
Most of us have told the odd tall tale from time to time – but not many people would pretend to be an MI6 agent or a wealthy Swiss banker. Those are just a…
This Is WhyFinal frontier: The race to control space
It’s been 25 years since a crew of astronauts first stepped foot on the International Space Station – and it’s been occupied ever since. The station itself…
This Is WhyCan’t work, won’t work: Why is youth unemployment so high?
Work Christmas parties might be in full swing - but many young people are simply wishing they had a job to go to. Figures show the unemployment rate has risen…
This Is WhyWas an antisemitic attack in Australia inevitable?
The world was shocked to see the scenes at Bondi Beach – one of Australia’s most iconic locations – after 15 people were shot dead and dozens more injured when…
This Is Why‘Bigger than Taylor Swift’: How Bad Bunny conquered the world
He’s the most streamed artist on the planet and will headline the Super Bowl halftime show – so, who is Bad Bunny? The star dubbed the 'King of Latin Trap’ has…
This Is WhyCan the NHS handle ‘unprecedented’ super flu season?
The NHS is warning of a worst-case scenario over Christmas as an "unprecedented wave of super flu" drives infections across the country. An average of 2,660…
This Is WhyGambling addiction: The struggle for support
Kiki Marriott is one of the thousands of people in the UK whose life has spiralled out of control because of gambling addiction. However, research has shown…
This Is WhyEd Conway on the frontline of Trump’s trade war
Earlier this year, Donald Trump launched a series of punitive tariffs that in turn ignited a trade war that has changed the way we look at the established…
This Is WhyIs the NHS failing women and babies?
“Too many women and babies are not getting the safe, compassionate care they deserve.” The starkest of warnings has been issued by the president of the Royal…
This Is WhyIs Zarah Sultana right for the left?
Imagine setting up a political party and then boycotting day one of its first conference. It's an unusual thing to do - but exactly what Your Party co-founder…
This Is WhyPrey: Giving a voice to the survivors of grooming gangs
Grooming gangs continue to plague our communities. Through the voices of the survivors themselves, a new Sky documentary tells the story of the gangs and how…
This Is WhyCounty lines: A decade of destroyed young lives
Lucy was 13 when she was robbed by the drug gang she was working for and then stabbed as punishment. Now in her 20s and living in a refuge, Lucy was one of…
This Is WhyThe jury’s out? The verdict on Lammy’s justice reforms
David Lammy has set out radical plans to limit jury trials to only the most serious of crimes. The deputy prime minister argues the move will help tackle a…
This Is WhyHotspots: The reality of life on the frontline of journalism
From being shot at in Syria to navigating the gang-controlled streets of Haiti, a new YouTube series is shining a light on some of Sky’s most hard-hitting…
This Is WhyThe future of the OBR with Ed Conway
The Office for Budget Responsibility has attracted huge criticism, and anger from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, after mistakenly revealing the details of her…
This Is WhyCheat Sheet | Another manifesto breach? And the politicisation of US National Guard shooting
A climbdown from the government over workers' rights. Is it another manifesto breach? A member of the National Guard who was shot near the White House on…
This Is WhyShould you be able to pick your baby's genetic code?
A US clinic is offering would-be parents the chance to select traits like height and intelligence to "genetically optimise" their future babies on top of the…
This Is WhyCheat Sheet | A ‘survival’ budget, Washington DC shooting and Royal Fawlty Towers fans
A £26bn tax rise, pension changes and an accidental OBR publication. There's a lot to unpack from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves's budget. US President Donald…
This Is WhyBudget 2025: Are you a winner or loser?
Will you be better or worse off than you were before Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her tax and spending plans in her long-awaited budget? From the minimum…
This Is WhyCheat Sheet | Budget Day, scrapping jury trials and the 6-7 trend
Tax rises are expected in the chancellor’s budget. But will Rachel Reeves break any manifesto promises? A leaked memo suggests only murder, rape and…
This Is WhyEurope embraces national service - should the UK do the same?
Are you prepared to fight for your country? That's the question Emmanuel Macron will be asking the young people of France this week when he announces a plan to…