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Today in Focus

The Guardian

Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the...

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United Kingdom

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The Guardian

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Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Trump’s war, Melania and Epstein, with US editor Betsy Reed – The Latest

4/10/2026
Melania Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House on Thursday to announce that she ‘never had a relationship’ with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Her address has seemingly put Epstein back on the political agenda when focus had been firmly on the US and Israel’s war in Iran. The intervention came at a difficult time for her husband, Donald Trump, as the fragile ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran seemed to be at risk of falling apart, and as US lawmakers are raising the alarm over the president’s mental stability. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian US editor, Betsy Reed – watch on YouTube Jonathan Freedland on Politics Weekly America with the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief David Smith on whether Trump could be forced out of office – listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:16:32

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Why the UK banned Kanye West

4/9/2026
Lanre Bakare on the UK government’s decision to revoke Kanye West’s visa after Wireless festival booked him as a headliner. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:04

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Will deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon shatter US-Iran ceasefire? – The Latest

4/9/2026
Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in Lebanon, prompting Iran to warn it could withdraw from the ceasefire agreed with the US. Hundreds have been killed since the agreement was announced, after Israeli forces launched mass strikes on densely populated areas. Israel says the strikes are aimed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, while Iran claims they are a blatant violation of the ceasefire. Iran and Pakistan claim the agreement included Lebanon, but Donald Trump called it ‘a separate skirmish’. Lucy Hough speaks to Beirut-based reporter William Christou – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:11:18

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JD Vance’s endorsement of Orbán

4/8/2026
Flora Garamvolgyi on JD Vance’s visit to Hungary in the run-up to the country’s elections on Sunday. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:58

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US-Iran ceasefire: has Tehran played Trump? – The Latest

4/8/2026
The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire thanks to a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan. The conditions include a temporary reopening of the strait of Hormuz, but Israel’s position was left unclear, with airstrikes continuing on the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Both sides have since claimed victory but who, if anyone, is the real winner here? Lucy Hough speaks to the senior international reporter Peter Beaumont – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:11:47

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North Korea’s ‘most beloved daughter’

4/7/2026
Journalist Jean H Lee on Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of Kim Jong-un, and the future of North Korea. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:49

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Trump threatens to ‘take out’ Iran … again – The Latest

4/7/2026
Donald Trump says the US will bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran fails to meet his latest deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz. The US president says he is ‘not at all’ concerned that such attacks on civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes and a ‘whole civilisation will die tonight’ if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal. But will Trump follow through on the threat? And what could it mean for the war in the Middle East? Lucy Hough is joined by senior international correspondent Julian Borger – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:11:47

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George Monbiot on our fragile food system

4/6/2026
The Guardian columnist speaks about why we need to tackle global food insecurity. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:44

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Move over Murdochs, here come the Ellisons

4/5/2026
Margaret Sullivan on the the billionaire father and son buying up the US media. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:32:40

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The families torn apart by the Minab school bombing

4/2/2026
Tess McClure reports on the US bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Iran, and the families who lost loved ones in the attack. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:35

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War without a plan?: What Trump’s latest speech revealed – The Latest

4/2/2026
Donald Trump’s primetime address on Wednesday evening provided little clarity on the US’s strategy in its war against Iran. Trump said that, while military action has made Iran ‘no longer a threat’, the US will continue to hit the country ‘extremely hard’ for several weeks and ‘bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong.’ Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s global affairs correspondent, Andrew Roth – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:12:59

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‘Tinder for Nazis’ and the woman who hacked it

4/1/2026
Anonymous activist Martha Root on how she hacked into, and took down, a dating site for white supremacists. With reporting from investigative journalist Eva Hoffman. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:31:06

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Trump lashes out: will Europe stand up to him? – The Latest

4/1/2026
Donald Trump has said he is considering pulling the US out of Nato, likening the alliance to a ‘paper tiger’. It comes after weeks of denouncements from the US president against allies for not helping to reopen the strait of Hormuz. When asked about Trump’s comments, Keir Starmer said: ‘Nato is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen’ and ‘whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:12:38

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The brilliant students the UK doesn’t want

3/31/2026
Why has the UK introduced a ban on student visas for four countries? Today in Focus talks to affected students in Sudan and Afghanistan, as well as our home affairs editor, Rajeev Syal. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:25:41

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Israel passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians – The Latest

3/31/2026
Israel’s parliament has passed a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks - a measure sharply criticised as discriminatory by European countries and human rights groups. After the law passed, the Knesset erupted into cheers and the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, brandished a bottle of champagne in celebration. The law has been decried as ‘an act of institutionalised discrimination and racist violence against Palestinians’ by Israel’s leading rights group. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy head of international news, Devika Bhat – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:12:01

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Blast off! Nasa goes back to the moon

3/30/2026
Astronaut Tim Peake and Guardian journalist Richard Luscombe talk through Artemis II, the first manned mission to the moon for 50 years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:29:38

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Will Trump put boots on the ground in Iran? – The Latest

3/30/2026
As thousands of US soldiers and marines arrive in the Middle East, Iran is accusing Washington of privately plotting a ground assault while publicly touting ceasefire talks. Donald Trump threatened to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s energy infrastructure, said his ‘preference would be to take the oil’ in Iran and that US forces could seize the regime’s export hub on Kharg Island, while also claiming he was in talks with a new ‘reasonable regime’. Yemen’s Houthi forces have also entered the conflict, bringing the threat of further damage to the global economy. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian columnist and host of Politics Weekly America, Jonathan Freedland – watch on YouTube. And listen to Politics Weekly America here, or wherever you get your podcasts.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:12:17

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UK’s big, risky AI bet

3/29/2026
Reporter Aisha Down explores the UK’s ‘phantom investments’ in AI, and the risk the government has taken in betting so heavily on the technology if it all goes bust. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:23:50

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What is Netanyahu’s endgame in Iran war? – The Latest

3/27/2026
Could Israeli public support for the war in Iran give Benjamin Netanyahu a boost before this year’s elections? The vote will be the first chance for Israelis to have a say on their government since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s chief Middle East correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:13:33

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Spring break: Culture worth catching this season

3/26/2026
Critics Catherine Shoard, Alexis Petridis and Hannah J Davies on what to watch and listen to this season. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:32:49