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 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
15 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 26min
Should we be boycotting ChatGPT?
Rutger Bregman, Dutch historian and author known for writing on social and economic ideas, argues consumers should quit ChatGPT. He recalls first loving the tool then explains why he joined a boycott. He critiques OpenAI’s shift from safety to profit, its political ties, and details how unsubscribing could pressure the company.
15 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 12min
Could Trump really end the war in Iran ‘very soon’? – The Latest
Nesrine Malik, columnist and commentator on Middle East politics, offers sharp analysis of US–Iran tensions. She discusses mixed White House messaging and why the US faces a strategic quagmire. She explores Iran’s resilience, its pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, and regional instability beyond Washington and Tehran.
20 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 32min
Inside Iran as the bombs fall
Sanam Naghari-Anderlini, a global peace strategist and leader in civil society action, offers a concise overview of the week’s strikes in Iran. She outlines damage to schools, hospitals and cultural sites. She describes environmental harm, disruptions to daily life and rescue failures. She weighs the limits of external intervention and warns about escalation and the erosion of norms.
8 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 12min
Will Trump make a deal with Iran’s new supreme leader? - The Latest
Patrick Wintour, diplomatic editor at The Guardian, gives a concise portrait of Mojtaba Khamenei and his quiet but powerful role. He discusses the IRGC's backing, why the selection feels dynastic, security risks after recent strikes, and how the new leader may shape strategic rather than tactical decisions. Short, sharp analysis of succession, domestic unease, and regional escalation risks.
Mar 9, 2026 • 32min
Who really took one of history’s most famous pictures?
David Burnett, a conflict photographer who covered the Vietnam War, shares vivid first-hand memories of the Trang Bang napalm attack. He recounts arriving at the scene, witnessing fleeing civilians, and the chaotic aftermath in the AP Saigon office. Short, gripping recollections explore memory, authorship controversy, and the challenges of crediting local reporters in war zones.
12 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 10min
Trump sacks Kristi Noem: what does it mean for ICE? – The Latest
Chris Michael, Guardian US live news editor who covers US politics and immigration, joins to unpack Kristi Noem’s downfall. He traces her rise from South Dakota governor to the public face of aggressive ICE tactics. He breaks down the controversial $220m ad, the moment that cost her the job, and what Markwayne Mullin's arrival means for immigration policy.
Mar 6, 2026 • 34min
The Jesse Jackson I knew
Gerry Austin, 1988 campaign manager who ran operations and strategy, and Delmarie Cobb, national traveling press secretary who organized fundraising, join Hugh Muir, Guardian opinion editor offering historical perspective. They discuss Jackson's early activism and preaching style. They cover his founding of PUSH and his unconventional diplomacy. They also describe his 1984–88 presidential bids and grassroots campaign tactics.
6 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 9min
Why does Trump want Kurdish fighters to join the war in Iran? – The Latest
Devika Bhatt, deputy head of international news at The Guardian, offers sharp on-the-ground analysis of Middle East tensions. She explains Kurdish fighters’ role along Iran’s border. She discusses historic US-Kurd ties and the risks of wider recruitment among minorities. She warns about civilian suffering and the fragile succession dynamics in Tehran.
18 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 26min
Starmer, Trump and the shaky ‘special relationship’
Rafael Behr, political columnist and commentator on UK foreign policy, analyzes the fallout from US strikes on Iran. He dissects Starmer’s cautious legal stance, the shift from denying bases to allowing defensive use, and how dependence on the US shapes decisions. He also compares European responses and warns about mission creep and political costs.
69 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 11min
Could the Iran war trigger a global economic crisis? – The Latest
John Collingridge, Guardian business journalist and head of business, explains market turmoil and surging energy prices. He outlines why the Strait of Hormuz matters and how halted Gulf exports ripple through heating, fertiliser and plastics. He describes current security risks, naval escorts and who might gain or lose from disrupted supplies.
