Today in Focus

The Guardian

Hosted by Michael Safi and Helen Pidd, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, this podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday. The podcast is a topical, deep dive, explainer on a topic or story in the news, covering: politics, climate change, current affairs, investigations, leaks, scandals involving the royals and interviews. It might cover topics such as: politics and current affairs in the United States of America - Donald Trump, the US presidential election 2024, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, the White House, the GOP, the Republicans and the Republican Party, the Democrats and the Democratic Party; current affairs including Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Russia, Bangladesh, HS2, the police, AI, information technology and the royal family - including King Charles III and Prince Harry; UK politics including UK election 24, Parliament, Labour, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer; GB, Scotland, England and Ireland news, arts and culture, the environment, green issues, the climate emergency and global warming. Today in Focus features journalists such as: Aditya Chakrabortty, Alexis Petridis, Andrew Roth, Emma Graham-Harrison, George Monbiot, John Crace, John Harris, Jonathan Freedland, Kiran Stacey, Larry Elliott, Luke Harding, Marina Hyde, Nesrine Malik, Owen Jones, Peter Walker, Pippa Crerar, Polly Toynbee, Shaun Walker, Simon Hattenstone and Zoe Williams. read less

Our Editor's Take

With the Today in Focus podcast, listeners can stay informed on their own time. The Guardian produces this podcast with British audiences in mind. Unlike Politics Weekly America, this podcast focuses on global news. It also provides context for those living outside the United Kingdom.

Today in Focus offers vast coverage of the most important issues of the day. The show explores controversial figures in politics worldwide. The podcast hosts are Nosheen Iqbal and Michael Safi. Before hosting this show, Iqbal was a reporter for The Observer.He also served as a judge on many awards shows. Cohost Safi used to work in radio programming for ABC Radio National. He later joined The Guardian, where he makes this podcast.

Together, the hosts provide an intelligent discussion of the day's global affairs. Complex issues like the Islamic state and tensions between world powers receive nuanced coverage. The podcast avoids any political bias. Rather, the hosts examine how changes in the political landscape can affect the world.

Fans of the show enjoy the passion Iqbal and Safi show for authentic journalism. Today in Focus has all the intrigue of a network news show. Listeners will learn about economic, political, and cultural news on a global scale. The show talks about everything from climate change to soccer to films.

This podcast combines quality reporting and skilled editing for a professional finished product. The Guardian readers will find the same quality of journalism on this podcast. With daily 30-minute episodes, this podcast makes it easy to stay informed on important issues.

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The curiously upbeat Tory leadership race
Today
The curiously upbeat Tory leadership race
Helen Pidd goes to the Conservative party conference to hear from the four candidates vying for the leadership. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Episodes

The curiously upbeat Tory leadership race
Today
The curiously upbeat Tory leadership race
Helen Pidd goes to the Conservative party conference to hear from the four candidates vying for the leadership. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How will Israel retaliate? – Today in Focus Extra
Yesterday
How will Israel retaliate? – Today in Focus Extra
Peter Beaumont joins Michael Safi from Jerusalem to discuss the unprecedented attack on Israel by Iran – and what may come next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who were England’s 2024 rioters?
Yesterday
Who were England’s 2024 rioters?
Racist chants rang out, and homes, businesses and hotels housing asylum seekers were attacked – for a week this summer English towns and cities seemed on the brink of chaos. Josh Halliday reports on what we know so far about the people at the centre of the violence. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will Hezbollah survive Israel’s onslaught?
2d ago
Will Hezbollah survive Israel’s onslaught?
Hezbollah was a force to be reckoned with. Now its veteran leader and a host of its senior leaders are dead and Israel is threatening a ground invasion of Lebanon. Is this the start of a new reality in the Middle East? Jason Burke reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The mysteries of IBS
3d ago
The mysteries of IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome affects one in five adults in the UK but is little understood and has no known cure. Hannah Moore discusses living with the condition with a friend and asks a dietitian whether new research into the mind-gut connection may bring answers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The deadliest week in Lebanon for decades
6d ago
The deadliest week in Lebanon for decades
William Christou and Michael Safi speak to people affected by Israel’s intense bombing campaign in Lebanon. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The bravery of Gisèle Pelicot in the rape trial horrifying France
1w ago
The bravery of Gisèle Pelicot in the rape trial horrifying France
For more than a decade Pelicot’s husband drugged her and invited other men to allegedly rape her. When she found out, she made an extraordinary decision. Angelique Chrisafis reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Hope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power
25-09-2024
Hope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power
From anger over the winter fuel allowance to a row over freebies, Labour’s first conference in power for 15 years started under a cloud. Did the prime minister’s speech lift the gloom? With Jessica Elgot. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Inside a secret summit of Afghan women’s rights activists
24-09-2024
Inside a secret summit of Afghan women’s rights activists
Annie Kelly reports from a conference in Albania where Afghan women have spoken publicly about the Taliban’s brutal crackdown on their freedom. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Born to rule? The hereditary peers about to lose their seats
23-09-2024
Born to rule? The hereditary peers about to lose their seats
Helen Pidd meets Charles Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, to discuss the history and fate of the UK’s hereditary peers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
How Lebanon’s pagers and walkie-talkies became deadly weapons
20-09-2024
How Lebanon’s pagers and walkie-talkies became deadly weapons
On Tuesday, dozens of people were killed when electronic pagers blew up. The next day walkie-talkies exploded. What was the goal of the attacks? William Christou reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Anushka Asthana on the perils of Keir Starmer’s fragile majority
19-09-2024
Anushka Asthana on the perils of Keir Starmer’s fragile majority
The PM should be enjoying his political honeymoon but, explains Anushka Asthana, his wide but fragile majority is proving difficult to navigate. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Should we believe Putin’s war talk?
18-09-2024
Should we believe Putin’s war talk?
How discussions over long-range missiles led to war threats from Vladimir Putin. Dan Sabbagh reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The devastating secrets of Huw Edwards
17-09-2024
The devastating secrets of Huw Edwards
The newsreader has been sentenced for accessing indecent images of children. How did the BBC handle the scandal? Dan Boffey reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Revenge of the childless cat ladies
16-09-2024
Revenge of the childless cat ladies
How Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate JD Vance calling Democrats ‘childless cat ladies’ backfired. Elle Hunt reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Creating The Spark: the kids behind 2024’s surprise summer hit
13-09-2024
Creating The Spark: the kids behind 2024’s surprise summer hit
Rory Carroll and Helen Pidd meet the Kabin Crew and the Lisdoonvarna Crew – creators of a song that has notched up over a billion plays on TikTok – as they perform at the Electric Picnic music festival. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Why Brazil is taking on Elon Musk
12-09-2024
Why Brazil is taking on Elon Musk
What does the feud between Elon Musk and Brazil’s supreme court mean for X and Starlink users in the country? Tom Phillips reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Will Labour’s cold winter of cuts be worth it?
11-09-2024
Will Labour’s cold winter of cuts be worth it?
Keir Starmer says cutting the universal winter fuel allowance for pensioners is a ‘tough decision’ Labour has to take. But many of his MPs were not happy, as Peter Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Mehdi Hasan on how to beat Donald Trump in a debate
10-09-2024
Mehdi Hasan on how to beat Donald Trump in a debate
Guardian columnist Mehdi Hasan talks through the debate strategy needed to face an opponent like Donald Trump. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The man who fell to Earth
09-09-2024
The man who fell to Earth
Twenty-three years after Mohammed Ayaz fell from a plane wheel bay as it descended to Heathrow airport, his brother visits the car park where his body was found. Esther Addley reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus