The Story

A rapid-fire Q&A unpacks recent arrests, police decisions and political fallout around two high-profile figures. Discussion covers parliamentary debates, withheld royal records and who paid for trade-envoy trips. The show also shifts to rising bowel cancer in younger people and research on gut bacteria, antibiotics and inflammatory conditions.

Georgia Lambert, education reporter at The Times, breaks down the SEND white paper, funding pledges and the proposed tiered support model. Hayley Harding, parent and SEND campaigner, shares personal struggles securing placements for her sons and her work advising ministers. They discuss who might benefit or lose out, funding questions, workload pressures for schools and worries about appeal routes and reassessments.

Anastasiia Romaniuk, Kyiv-based researcher on elections in wartime. Anthony Loyd, frontline special correspondent with firsthand combat reporting. They discuss how the conflict has changed, the lethal role of drones, why holding free and fair votes during war is so difficult, and what realistic pathways to peace or continued fighting might look like.

Poppy Koronka, health correspondent at The Times who has reported on NHS maternity scandals, guides listeners through investigations into systemic failings across multiple trusts. She outlines major reviews, personal stories of families harmed, patterns like the push for 'normal birth' and how families mobilised for answers. Short, urgent and deeply human.

Jesse Jackson, the civil rights firebrand, preacher, and two-time presidential candidate rose from segregated South Carolina to the front lines of America’s fight for justice. Marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson transformed protest into political power, inspiring generations and paved the way to the first black president. We take a look at his influential, and controversial life.Guest: Anna Temkin, deputy obituary editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey and Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Rev Jesse Jackson obituary: civil rights campaignerClips: CBS, NPR, ITV, WCNC, BBC, The Obama White House, ThamesTV.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After her horrific rape ordeal, Gisèle Pelicot did not want a public trial. But, in an exclusive extract from her new book, she reveals why she changed her mind.This episode is from the audiobook A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot, read by Emma Thompson.Read by: Emma Thompson.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘I saw him rape me. My body tortured, cast unconscious into the pit of men’Photo: Getty Images.Further information: Published in hardback by Bodley Head on Feb 17 at £22.To order a copy of A Hymn to Life go to timesbookshop.co.uk.Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25.Special discount available for Times+ members World Europe.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Tom Frost, legal scholar who explains criminal law, and Valentine Low, veteran royal correspondent, unpack Prince Andrew's arrest. They outline the alleged misconduct, the rare common-law offence and evidence lines. Short takes on the investigation scope, legal reform limits, Windsor searches and what this moment could mean for royal reputation and public reaction.

Charlotte Alt, a Times reporter on-the-ground in Norfolk, and Harry Yorke, deputy political editor at The Sunday Times, parse a fast-moving royal arrest story. They detail police action, links to Epstein files, the king's statement of cooperation, palace messaging and the constitutional and reputational dilemmas facing the monarchy.

Gabrielle Weinegger, Middle East correspondent for The Times reporting from Tel Aviv and the region. She lays out the Board of Peace’s origins from Gaza ceasefire efforts. She unpacks Trump’s life-long chair powers and the $1bn membership fee controversy. She discusses the proposed International Stabilization Force, investor-driven reconstruction plans, and concerns about Palestinian exclusion and enforcement on the ground.

Trevor Graham, director studying historic tumour archives and the microbiome, and Ben Spencer, science editor who unpacks research and stats. They explore rising bowel cancer in under-50s. They discuss possible causes like lifestyle shifts, the microbiome and a toxin-producing E. coli, early-life factors shaping gut bacteria, and using century-old tissue archives to trace changing risks.