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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.
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2Donald Trump has fired his controversial US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, after weeks of bipartisan complaints about her leadership. As the public face of an aggressive immigration crackdown that prompted lawsuits and nationwide anti-ICE protests, Noem’s year-long tenure was plagued by multiple controversies, including accusing two US citizens killed by immigration agents of ‘domestic terrorism’. What exactly led to Noem’s firing and what do we know about her replacement? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian US live news editor Chris Michael – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
As Chicago prepares to bid farewell to Jackson, Today in Focus hears about the groundbreaking civil rights activist from those who knew him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Intense waves of airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts and police stations along northern parts of Iran’s border with Iraq in what appears to be preparation by the US and Israel for a new front in their war. Iran has warned ‘separatist groups’ in this region against joining the widening conflict and launched strikes against Iraq-based Kurdish groups it described as ‘opposed to the revolution’. Could the involvement of these militant groups increase the risk of a civil war in Iran if the regime collapses? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to deputy head of international news Devika Bhat – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Rafael Behr on why Donald Trump’s war on Iran presents a strategic dilemma for Keir Starmer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that facilitates the shipping of about a fifth of the world’s oil, has been in effect closed since the regional war began, prompting fears of a global economic crisis. According to reports, traffic has dropped by about 80%, but how long until we feel the effects? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of business, John Collingridge – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Who’s calling the shots in the US-Israeli war on Iran? Chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison and international security correspondent Jason Burke report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Israel has deployed soldiers on the ground in southern Lebanon and is carrying out heavy airstrikes in the country as conflict in the Middle East continues to spread. It comes after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Beirut-based journalist Will Christou – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
After the US and Israel assassinated Iran’s Supreme leader, Tehran has hit back. Missiles have rained down on the Gulf. Will the region retaliate? Julian Borger reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with casualties and destruction reported across at least nine countries in under 10 hours. Israeli and US warplanes launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran, while US allies in the Gulf states are under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of international news, Jamie Wilson – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Iran’s supreme leader was killed in a military strike on his compound as Israel and the US launched attacks on the country. Patrick Wintour reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The Green Party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gordon and Denton byelection in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England, with Labour pushed into third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK despite having a 13,000-vote majority. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England correspondent Hannah Al-Othman, who lives in the constituency and was at the count overnight – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can talking about their problems help men forge closer relationships – or is there another way? Josh Halliday reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Jeremy Corbyn’s allies declared victory after he was voted to be Your Party’s parliamentary leader in an election in which his rival Zarah Sultana was also voted on to the party’s leadership committee. The party is hoping to turn the page on bitter in-fighting since its launch last year, but will it succeed? Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
As MPs vote to release the documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy, Helen Pidd speaks to Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, about the former prince’s antics in the role and whether this scandal will be the monarchy’s last. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The BBC is under fire over its failure to remove a racial slur shouted by John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, from its broadcast of the Bafta awards. Davidson was heard shouting the N-word while two stars of the film Sinners, Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, were on stage. The BBC has apologised for the error and said producers overseeing the coverage did not hear the slur. Lucy Hough is joined by the Guardian’s assistant opinion editor Jason Okundaye – watch on YouTube – Read Jason’s piece here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Reform and the Greens both insist they can win the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton from Labour – and if they do, it could be another nail in the prime minister’s coffin. Helen Pidd reports on how the candidates and voters are feeling. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
A DJ turned soldier explains how life has changed for Ukraine’s men while Tracey McVeigh and Shaun Walker report on the impact of the conflict and what could happen next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Reform UK has promised to create an ICE-style agency dedicated to mass deportations if the party came to power. Nigel Farage and his party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, have pledged to start a ‘UK Deportation Command’ to remove thousands of people, under plans that have been condemned as ‘sadistic’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy political editor Jessica Elgot – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Author and academic Katherine Rundell explores the precipitous decline in reading books for pleasure, and what can be done to reverse it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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What is insulting is hearing these broadcasters acting like the Trump regime cares about civilians, the Kurds, or the various groups that make up Iran. Both Israel and the USA could care less about the number of people they kill.
We can hope.
Once again I have had to stop listening to a podcast because Archie Bland insists on speaking with that annoying inflection in his speech! The Mandelson case is very important to the country and requires serious journalism which engages the public - not put us off. Can somebody PLEASE tell him that serious journalists don't have to embellish their delivery & he just sounds foolish!
Yikes
Archie Bland PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP this preposterous INFLECTION when you speak. You don't need to sound like a teenage girl with a bad attitude - especially if you are presenting or discussing politics. Your audience are grown-ups and really should be treated as such - Please! I haven't been able to listen to any of the podcasts that you are on. It sounds ridiculous and is making you seem silly. Statesmanship and professionalism PLEASE.
I think we should still be shocked at the horrific displays of racism against Muslims in the UK, we shouldn't accept it as normal, it isn't. It's the result of populist right-wing propaganda by people who care only about their own political careers & manipulate the public by lying to them, focusing their attention on a small minority of 'others', blaming them for all the country's problems rather than addressing the real, often complex, causes, including government failure to tax the super rich.
Usual Guardian propaganda
I wonder what the average citizen understands about current pathways to legal citizenship? I venture to guess: not much, and if they did, it might encourage a totally different conversation.
seemed like she had to do that intro a number of times, just to get it right 🤣
There is an error in the audio.
Justin Webb? I found it hard to listen to him - using that exceedingly annoying inflection in his delivery of nearly every truncated sentence was infuriating. To make it doubly annoying - I know what this man's normal voice sounds like; he's been a respected journalist for years! I had to stop the podcast after about 8 minutes and really couldn't stand any more. Please ask your Presenters to respect their audience enough to speak to us as grown ups - we don't need that inflection. PLEASE.
Iranian's women are the bravest in the world.
A politician being "motivated by money, not ideology" is the worst type of person. At least a true believer has a foundation for what they're doing, while someone being paid off is willing to sell out their country for personal enrichment.
lovely episode- and I am in love with the piano music played in the background!!! Can somebody PLEASE tell me what is the song name and artist?
😬
Great story. It's inspiring to hear about this important conversation success.
useful information 👍
leftoids crying
Did you say at the end that "journalism doesn't come cheap". I reckon that English journalists who don't have a basic knowledge of English grammar should be pretty cheap. Journalism isn't cheap, or journalism doesn't come cheaply (adding ly to the adverb describing the verb to come), is correct. I wish that Australians like me didn't have to correct the grammar of English people. Good episode though, and no surprise regarding the behavior of your nefarious former prime minister.
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