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BBC World Service

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.

The Explanation

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has accused vloggers of provoking vulnerable people to generate online views, with a particular focus on the city’s Piccadilly Gardens. Sarah Lester, editor of the Manchester Evening News, and Charlotte Dewar, chief executive of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, discuss the issues.

A new investigation suggests widespread use of illicit streaming devices and apps now threatens the financial viability of the Premier League’s TV deals. Adam Leventhal, senior writer at The Athletic, and Minal Modha, head of sport media rights at Ampere Analysis, assess the scale of the trend.

Netflix’s expanding interest in podcast-style formats has led them to sign a deal with Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football show. Nick Hilton, co-founder of Podot, explains why podcasts are becoming strategically important for the streamer.

Plus, Ian Hislop reflects on another year as editor of Private Eye, and discusses his magazine’s approach to journalism and satire.

Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Sound engineer: Allyson Purcell-Davis
Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Ozgur Cevik

The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how US President Donald Trump is challenging the state of California, and how its governor, Gavin Newsom, is returning the favour.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk

The President’s Path: Trump v California

Pressure on the BBC has continued after a line about Donald Trump was removed from the Reith Lectures on legal advice. Dame Caroline Dineage, Chair of the Culture Media and Sport Committee, and Lionel Barber, Former Editor of The Financial Times discuss the implications. Also on the show, Dr Alice Enders of Enders Analysis explains why The Telegraph has been sold to the owners of the Daily Mail in a £500m deal. And CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan on his new documentary investigating why claims about white farmers in South Africa continue to circulate in US politics

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Content producer: Lucy Wai
Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: Craig Johnson
Sound engineer: Robin Schroder

The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how the Republicans and Democrats are using redistricting as a tool, and how it could affect the political geography of the US.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
 
Producer: Jack Surfleet
Editor: Gareth Bebb
Executive Producer: Anna Holford

The President’s Path: Redistricting

A new Netflix documentary captures Ed Sheeran performing live across New York in a single continuous take. Its executive producer, Ben Winston, reveals how the show – One Shot – was made, and discusses some of his company’s other TV hits including Carpool Karaoke.
Also on the show, as Donald Trump vows to take the BBC to court, where might the corporation go next as the crisis at the top continues. With Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor of The Sunday Times, Baroness Tina Stowell, Former Chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, Phil Riley of Boom Radio and Jordan Schwarzenberger of Arcade Media.

Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Martha Owen
Researcher: Ruth Waites
Technical Coordinator: Ozgur Cevik
Sound: Dafydd Evans

The Media Show: Ed Sheeran’s one-shot film

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at the latest US strikes on Venezuelan vessels and what it could mean for future relations between the two countries.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
 
Producer: Jack Surfleet
Compliance editor: Anna Holford
Executive Producer: Anna Holford

The President’s Path: US-Venezuela boat strikes

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses why Russia is so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, explores how difficult it will be to rebuild Gaza, and looks at how quantum computing could change the way we solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. 

Producer: Kate Cornell 
Executive producer: Benedick Watt 
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski

Unspun World: Are Russian forces on the brink of seizing Pokrovsk?

A day of turmoil for the BBC as Director General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness both resign, following a leaked memo alleging editorial bias and raising concerns over decision-making and governance. The Media Show is joined by a panel of insiders and commentators to assess where the BBC goes next. With former BBC communications chief John Shield, former BBC News executive Jamie Angus, journalist Jane Martinson, columnist Tim Montgomerie and Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant producer: Martha Owen
Production co-ordinator: Ruth Waites
Technical co-ordinator: James Cherry
Sound engineer: Mike Campbell

The Media Show: Trump’s billion-dollar BBC threat

How Republicans and Democrats fared in this year’s elections, and what it could mean for the midterms next year.
 
On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian and Sumi Somaskanda look at the success of Zorhan Mamdani, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill in the 2025 elections, and what it could mean for the future of the Democrats and Republicans in the midterms.
 
Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the key issues shaping America and uncover what’s on the minds of those closest to power. You can contact us at: path@bbc.co.uk
 
Producer: Jack Surfleet
Editor: Silvia Costeloe
Executive Producer: Anna Holford

The President’s Path: Elections fallout

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores war-weariness in Russia and the problem it poses for the Kremlin, examines the government shutdown in the United States, and analyses whether there will be any effective action from the upcoming climate conference in Brazil.

Producer: Kate Cornell
Executive Producer: Benedick Watt
Commissioning Editor: Vara Szajkowski

The President’s Path: Redistricting

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