The Global Story
BBC World Service
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.Come and join us our live event. You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 20, 2026 • 27min
Netanyahu is not dead. So why did the internet think he was?
Peter Pomerantsev, analyst of propaganda and disinformation, and Thomas Copeland, BBC Verify image and video investigator, unpack how AI-generated photos and clips falsely claimed Netanyahu was dead. They trace the viral six-finger misread, show how attention economies and monetization fuel churned fakes, and argue AI magnifies age-old wartime deception tactics while testing platform detection and moderation.
Mar 19, 2026 • 27min
The war in Lebanon, explained
Hugo Bachega, BBC Middle East correspondent reporting from Beirut since Oct 2023, gives on-the-ground perspective. He describes Beirut under air strikes and mass displacement. He traces how Lebanon became a front in the Iran war and why Hezbollah evolved into a political and military force. He outlines Israeli ground operations, fears of occupation, and why the conflict could persist.
17 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 27min
Listener Q&A on Iran
John Simpson, veteran BBC world affairs editor with decades covering the Middle East, offers historical perspective and analysis. He discusses the current balance of military aims and limits. He explains how the conflict could spread across the region. He traces deep roots of Iranian distrust of the US. He weighs the prospects of Gulf states intervening and the risk of extremist groups exploiting regime collapse.
8 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 27min
How does war affect a child’s brain?
Fergal Keane, veteran BBC war correspondent known for reflective reporting on trauma and PTSD, shares frontline memories and personal struggles. He discusses witnessing genocides, ethical ways of interviewing children in conflict, recognizing his own PTSD, recovery steps like therapy and love, and the global scale of children living amid war.
32 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 28min
Was the air strike on an Iranian school a war crime?
Merlyn Thomas, a BBC Verify reporter who uses open-source intelligence and satellite imagery, gives forensic reconstruction of the Minab school strike. Oona Hathaway, an international law scholar and former Defense Department counsel, explains legal frameworks and accountability. They discuss geolocation and satellite evidence, weapon identification, targeting procedures, AI in targeting, and when civilian deaths may meet legal thresholds.
19 snips
Mar 14, 2026 • 15min
Jeremy Bowen: Trump has called for an Iran uprising. The lessons from Iraq in 1991 loom large
Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor and veteran foreign correspondent, offers a concise warning from history. He recalls 1991 uprisings and allied inaction, traces long-term fallout from the Gulf Wars, and examines recent calls for Iranian revolt plus the geopolitical risks of regime removal. Short, pointed reflections on unintended consequences and regional shifts.
Mar 13, 2026 • 27min
How the Oscars went international
Tom Brook, longtime BBC film reporter and critic, reflects on decades covering cinema and the Oscars. He discusses why the awards are embracing more international films. He talks about Hollywood’s industry troubles, Parasite’s impact, and whether American film dominance is changing.
19 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 27min
Why is Donald Trump obsessed with the Chagos Islands?
James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent with deep experience in foreign affairs, unpacks why the Chagos Islands matter to US strategy. He discusses the Diego Garcia military base, the UK-Mauritius treaty and leaseback, and how the issue has become a political flashpoint tied to US reactions, election timing and worries about Chinese influence.
20 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 27min
Iran: Is diplomacy dead?
Nate Swanson, a former U.S. official with nearly two decades on Iran policy, offers insider perspective. He discusses Mujtaba Khamenei's contested rise and clerical politics. He walks through realistic short-term U.S. choices and why a negotiated off-ramp looks unlikely. He recalls past JCPOA diplomacy and explains how talks worked in practice.
33 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 26min
Are oil prices determining the course of the Iran war?
Andy Verity, BBC economics correspondent with decades covering energy markets, explains the link between oil and geopolitics. He discusses how price spikes hit household budgets and inflation. He explores strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Karg Island. He compares today’s risks to the 1970s crises and how market traders, reserves, and supply shifts shape outcomes.
