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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.

Location:

United Kingdom

Networks:

The Guardian

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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What the new Michael Jackson biopic leaves out

4/22/2026
A new blockbuster film about the controversial singer could make $1bn worldwide. Owen Myers and Lanre Bakare explain what it says about Jackson’s legacy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:09

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Trump extends Iran ceasefire – can a deal be made? – The Latest

4/22/2026
Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the US ceasefire with Iran after talks looked increasingly uncertain between both sides. Trump said he would ‘extend the ceasefire until such time as [Iran’s] proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other’. The US blockade remains, as does the closure of the strait of Hormuz by Iran, which seized two ships on Wednesday. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour – watch on YouTube. Read Patrick’s analysis here.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:10:36

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The security report the UK government doesn’t want you to see

4/21/2026
Fiona Harvey tells Nosheen Iqbal why the climate crisis is a threat to national security. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:28

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Blame game deepens over Mandelson vetting scandal - The Latest

4/21/2026
The Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal has finally given his side of the story in an explosive appearance before MPs. Olly Robbins told the foreign affairs select committee that he faced ‘constant pressure’ to get Mandelson in post as US ambassador as soon as possible, and claimed Downing Street took a ‘dismissive’ attitude to vetting. It came a day after Keir Starmer accused Robbins of ‘obstructing the truth’ about the vetting process in a high-stakes appearance in parliament. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:15:16

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Starmer addresses the Mandelson vetting saga

4/20/2026
Jonathan Freedland on what Keir Starmer said – and didn’t say – to the House of Commons about the Mandelson vetting failure. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:16

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Iran war energy crisis: how bad could it get? – The Latest

4/20/2026
Oil and gas prices have jumped again as shipping through the strait of Hormuz came to a virtual standstill after Iran closed the waterway over the US blockade and Donald Trump announced an Iranian cargo ship had been seized trying to get past. Tehran has accused Washington of violating the fragile ceasefire agreement. With uncertainty over a second round of peace talks, fears continue to grow about the scale of the energy shock caused by the war. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s energy correspondent Jillian Ambrose. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:10:12

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Stonewall’s new chair on trans rights, JK Rowling and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement

4/19/2026
An exclusive interview with Kezia Dugdale on the charity’s mistakes and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement. With reporting by Libby Brooks. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:14

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Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?

4/17/2026
Keir Starmer says it is ‘staggering’ and ‘unforgivable’ that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before taking up the role of US ambassador. The comments follow a Guardian investigation that exclusively revealed Mandelson had initially been denied clearance after a background check by security officials, but that the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of investigations, Paul Lewis – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:10:56

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Will Trump regret taking on the Pope?

4/16/2026
The president’s posting of an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus horrified many Christians. Sarah Posner tells Annie Kelly why evangelical voters still flock to him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:37

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Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire – The Latest

4/16/2026
The US president, Donald Trump, has said Israel and Lebanon will begin a 10-day ceasefire. In a post on Truth Social, he said he had spoken to the leaders of both countries today and claimed this would be the ‘tenth war’ he has ‘solved’. Israel has no plans to withdraw its military from southern Lebanon during the ceasefire, it has been reported. Lucy Hough speaks to senior international correspondent Julian Borger – watch on YouTube Middle East crisis – live updates. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:08:43

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When the ‘Dubai dream’ goes wrong

4/15/2026
Journalist Will Coldwell tells the story of how a British businessman was imprisoned in Dubai – and how his family finally got him home. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:30:38

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How big oil is cashing in on Iran war – The Latest

4/15/2026
The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian. The conflict pushed the price of oil to an average of $100 a barrel in March, leading to estimated windfall war profits for the month of $23bn for the companies. Lucy Hough speaks to Damian Carrington, the Guardian’s environment editor – watch on YouTube Read Damian’s exclusive here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:09:30

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Is the EU back in vogue?

4/14/2026
Lisa O’Carroll reports on the ‘resetting’ of the relationship between the UK and the EU. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:17

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Trump and Iran in battle of the blockades – The Latest

4/14/2026
The US blockade of ships using Iranian ports has come into force but several Iran-linked tankers have passed through the strait of Hormuz since it began. The blockade is designed to put pressure on Iran, whose economy is dependent on oil and gas exports. It comes after peace talks between Washington and Tehran at the weekend ended without a deal. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:12:04

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After four decades, Lebanon and Israel finally talk

4/13/2026
With the US and Iran in deadlock, could historic talks between Lebanon and Israel help steer the Middle East towards peace? William Christou reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:27:11

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Will Orbán’s defeat in Hungary be a turning point for Europe? – The Latest

4/13/2026
Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule has come to an end after the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won the Hungarian election by a landslide. Orbán quickly conceded after what he described as a ‘painful but unambiguous’ election result. All eyes are now on Magyar to see how Hungary’s relationship with the EU and Nato could change after years of strained relations. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian’s European community affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:11:53

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Meta‘s AI glasses and the dawn of wearable tech

4/12/2026
Elle Hunt on her month wearing Meta’s smart glasses and the privacy concerns around the technology. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:33

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Trump’s war, Melania and Epstein, with US editor Betsy Reed – The Latest

4/10/2026
Melania Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House on Thursday to announce that she ‘never had a relationship’ with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Her address has seemingly put Epstein back on the political agenda when focus had been firmly on the US and Israel’s war in Iran. The intervention came at a difficult time for her husband, Donald Trump, as the fragile ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran seemed to be at risk of falling apart, and as US lawmakers are raising the alarm over the president’s mental stability. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian US editor, Betsy Reed – watch on YouTube Jonathan Freedland on Politics Weekly America with the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief David Smith on whether Trump could be forced out of office – listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:16:32

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Why the UK banned Kanye West

4/9/2026
Lanre Bakare on the UK government’s decision to revoke Kanye West’s visa after Wireless festival booked him as a headliner. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:28:04

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Will deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon shatter US-Iran ceasefire? – The Latest

4/9/2026
Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in Lebanon, prompting Iran to warn it could withdraw from the ceasefire agreed with the US. Hundreds have been killed since the agreement was announced, after Israeli forces launched mass strikes on densely populated areas. Israel says the strikes are aimed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, while Iran claims they are a blatant violation of the ceasefire. Iran and Pakistan claim the agreement included Lebanon, but Donald Trump called it ‘a separate skirmish’. Lucy Hough speaks to Beirut-based reporter William Christou – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Duration:00:11:18