The Standard

Health editor Ross Lydall joins the show to explain why the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has "put up the biggest red flag he can" as coronavirus runs rampant through the city. Ross tells us what that means for hospitals where doctors have told him they are "horrified" by the rise in cases that Mr Khan describes as "out of control". There are more than 7,000 Covid patients in London hospitals — almost 2,000 more than the first peak last April — and almost 1,000 are on ventilators.Meanwhile, the Evening Standard's Susannah Butter has been talking to some of the nurses in the capital trying to cope with an onslaught of infected patients arriving in their wards. She tells us they're struggling to deal with the huge numbers, and it's causing enormous stress that inevitably many are taking home with them.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special edition of the Leader looks at the violence and rioting by Trump supporters at the Capitol in Washington. With contributions from reporters, historians, security experts and some of those who were in the building at the time, we examine the impact on democracy, US politics, and Donald Trump himself.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson’s under huge pressure to deliver a successful vaccine roll-out today as he promised MPs a “means of escape” from lockdown. Our political editor, Joe Murphy, says the Prime Minister’s announced that London’s ExCeL exhibition centre will host one of seven new mega-vaccination venues launched in stadia and halls next week. But he’s facing growing unease, including from within his own party, over how long the latest lockdown will last. Meanwhile, education secretary Gavin Williamson’s cabinet position may be in doubt after he cancelled GCSE and A-Level exams, days after a screeching u-turn on school closures.And, we speak to Dr Julie Norman, from UCL’s department of political science, as it appears the Democrats are taking the Senate off the Republicans. She tells us how activists and politicians rallied supporters to overcome voter suppression in what was once a deep red state. And she says some Republicans are blaming Donald Trump for the loss, risking a split in the party.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gove appears to have contradicted the Prime Minister's suggestion that the new lockdown in England will end in February, by suggesting it'll be March before restictions are lifted. The Evening Standard's political reporter Sophia Sleigh tells us why the new rules may be in force longer than first thought, and how that's impacting the country's economy as well as morale. And Netflix says Bridgerton was watched in 63 million households in the first four weeks of its release. Katie Rosseinsky says the period drama, which uses contemporary music and has a diverse cast, is among several to try shaking up the genre.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us why the “pitch is being rolled out” ahead of England being subjected to new, tougher, coronavirus restrictions. He says Boris Johnson’s been under huge pressure from within his own party, with former health secretary Jeremy Hunt among those calling for a national lockdown immediately. Meanwhile, education editor Anna Davis says headteachers are trying to work out how they can ever re-open schools, while the government continues to insist that exams will take place this year as planned.And Julian Assange will not be extradited from the UK to the US, and the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein in an American jail is one of the reasons why. Our courts correspondent Tristan Kirk says a judge at the Old Bailey ruled the prison service Stateside wouldn’t be safe enough for Mr Assange, who the court heard has been suffering from depression while at Belmarsh.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nine months ago, when we launched Food For London Now from a standing start 72 hours after lockdown, we did it because we feared food poverty would soar as vulnerable families came under pressure. Initially we thought raising £3 million to support our partner the Felix Project would be enough, but as the hunger crisis deepened, we set the bold goal of raising £10 million and founding central London’s largest “social kitchen”. Today, our group executive editor Oliver Poole tells the podcast we have hit that goal, and provided 20 million meals across the city. We're also joined by the CEO of the Felix Project, Mark Curtin, who explains how food is distributed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A huge swathe of the South-East and London’s commuter belt is to be plunged into Tier 3 restrictions, meaning pubs and restaurants must close. Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us the decision will affect millions of people, but it's still been decided that Big Ben should ring out the New Year. That's even though the Prime Minister has urged people to stay away from Westminster as 2020 comes to a close. And a rail line is to return to London’s Tube map more than two decades after it was removed. Thameslink services, which were first displayed in 1987 but removed in 1999, will be back on the map from next month. We speak to Thameslink's Jenny Saunders who tells us why the change is being made, and about the company's hopes it will last more than the planned 12 months.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson's rejecting calls for him to scrap the relaxation of coronavirus rules, instead telling the Commons he wants people to "exercise extreme caution". Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil says that's despite an alarming rise in cases, particularly in London. He also says Wales and Scotland are deviating from what was once a UK-wide agreed course, piling more pressure on the Prime Minister who refuses to budge.And the Wonder Woman 1984 reviews are in, and it's almost universal praise for the superhero sequel. Our critic Charlotte O'Sullivan gives her verdict, and says in ordinary times it would be a huge hit. But these are not ordinary times, and it's controversially being released for streaming in the US at the same time as it goes into theatres. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An IPSOS Mori poll for the Evening Standard's revealed half the public thinks coronavirus rules over the Christmas period aren't strict enough. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson's under pressure to scale back the so-called festive “bubbles” as top scientists, medical experts and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt call for a review. But our political editor, Joe Murphy, says many people have already made their plans, and forcing them to be cancelled at this stage would be difficult. Also, Jonathan Prynn tells us how & why London's set to lose around £700 million under Tier 3. He says businesses are "angry" at the new restrictions, particularly in hospitality and retail which have spent thousands to make their premises covid-safe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock's told the Commons, the UK's identified a "new variant" of Covid-19 as he announced London and parts of the south east are going into Tier 3 on Wednesday. He said the mutation may be associated with a faster spread of the virus in recent weeks. Our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, tells us ministers had been trying to avoid the move, which will put businesses in jeopardy, but felt they had no choice as infection rates soar. He also says the government could come under pressure to drop plans allowing the rules to be relaxed over Christmas. And, education Anna Davis tells us why some schools in London boroughs are closing early. Greenwich and Islington have said they're moving classrooms online now, ahead of the planned Christmas break. Anna says it's to stop coronavirus spreading, but the last minute announcement's causing problems for teachers and parents. She also warns the closures may last into January. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.