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This Is Why

Sky News
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Russia
Jeffrey Epstein
Keir Starmer
United States
Immigration
Labour Party
NATO
China
Prince Andrew
Gaza
United Kingdom
Sky News
UK Budget
Iran
Israel
Elon Musk
NHS
Sarah Ferguson

The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a ques... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2236Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for This Is Why

Latest Episodes

Drones in, destroyers out. The Royal Navy looks set to be the biggest losers when the Defence Investment Plan is finally published.

Instead of building a new fleet of state-of-the-art warships, we will have to rely on cheaper ‘common combat vessels... more

The King has revealed how much income tax he pays, becoming the first monarch to ever do so.

The Palace said the move was “increasing transparency”, but have the royals given us the full picture?

Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s royal correspon... more

It's all a little awkward. Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver his defence spending proposals to NATO next month, despite having lost both his job and his defence secretary.

But the outgoing PM seems determined to push through with his plans just day... more

When an event discussing extreme heat at London Climate Week is called off due to... extreme heat, you know things are bad. In the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, “London is cooking.”

Yes, it’s summer and heatwaves are hardly a rarit... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ian Acheson
Author, journalist and counter-extremism expert
Episode: Why Belfast’s troubled past made violence inevitable
Deborah Haynes
Defence and Security Editor, Sky News
Sky News
Episode: Why the UK has fallen behind on drone warfare
Laura Bundock
Royal correspondent
Sky News
Episode: Why Beatrice and Eugenie living rent-free is a risk for the royals
Clifford Stott
Professor of Policing Research at the Open University
Open University
Episode: Why Nigel Farage is accused of exploiting Henry Nowak's murder
Mickey Carroll
Sky's science and technology correspondent
Sky News
Episode: Why Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin could be a problem for NASA
Beckie Ramsay
Campaigner focused on water safety and Dylan's story
Doing it for Dylan (water safety campaign)
Episode: Why don't we know more about cold water shock?
Giselle Pellico
rape survivor and campaigner
Episode: Why did teenage rapists avoid jail?
Andy McIver
Political strategist
Independent political adviser
Episode: Why Westminster needs to think differently about devolution
David McCann
Host of Stormont sources
Stormont/NI Assembly
Episode: Why Westminster needs to think differently about devolution

Host

Niall Paterson
Host associated with Sky News, commonly steering political and current affairs discussions.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 962 ratings
  • Poor Journalism

    I have been a listener to “Trump 100” ever since it started. It is a great podcast giving a professional, balanced analysis.

    On today’s edition of Trump 100 there was an advert for “This Is Why”, so I thought I would give it a go.

    The first edition I listened to this morning was

    “Why your fake fashion is funding organised crime”.

    Unfortunately I was very very unhappy about the quality of the journalism in this podcast.

    It focussed entirely on the potential for knock off product revenues to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Diysteve345
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • One it was great and based, justened to the danish iv good god go woe

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Ogetsch
    7 months ago
  • Great Pod

    I love this pod. Great content. Great length. You need to get Niall Paterson back on the telly. One of the best presenters Sky News has

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ardwark
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Thatcher

    Thatchers legacy is tainted, The Belgrano, The Miners Strike she wanted, Orgreave, Hillsborough, Savilles knighthood, Right to buy, privatisation, the UK is a mess of her making. Evil.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WillyWonks66
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great podcast

    My go to podcast when driving - Niall is an amazing presenter, keeps the podcast interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ann.AO
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sound quality has been a recurring complaint in some episodes.
Many listeners find it a reliable, concise daily briefing on politics and policy.
Listeners appreciate the host's balanced, thorough approach and clear explanations.
Guests and topics are diverse, with strong analysis from experts but occasional criticisms of perceived bias.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#158
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#134
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#77
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#98
France/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why the US’s Iran-fuelled inflation is trouble for Trump (and the UK)
Q: Talk me through the latest inflation figures for the US and what they mean and what's behind them.
Inflation has risen alongside a war-related energy shock; as oil and gas prices move and pass through the supply chain, prices rise while wage growth lags, creating a pinch for households and signaling potential policy responses depending on how energy markets evolve.
Why the UK has fallen behind on drone warfare
Q: Deborah, thanks so much for being with us. So just start us off, how important have drones become in warfare, especially when it comes to Ukraine and how much it's changed the war in Ukraine?
Drones have completely transformed the battlefield in Ukraine by enabling a rapid evolution in capability; Ukrainians leveraged affordable, locally adaptable drone tech to compensate for gaps in heavy military superiority, expanding from air-enabled strikes to sea and ground applications, which has shifted warfare dynamics and casualty patterns.
Why did teenage rapists avoid jail?
Q: Why is there concern about the balance between rehabilitation and punishment in this case?
Critics argue that focusing too much on rehabilitation risks downplaying the harm to the victims and may undermine deterrence, potentially discouraging reporting and confidence in the justice system.
Why did teenage rapists avoid jail?
Q: What did the government white paper propose regarding youth custody and rehabilitation?
The white paper aims to reduce custodial sentences for the most serious crimes while prioritizing early intervention, prevention, and rehabilitation to stop reoffending, with a broader push to replace some youth custody with more rehabilitative measures and parenting orders.
Why Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin could be a problem for NASA
Q: What exactly happened during the New Glenn firing test and why was it so significant?
The firing test involved engine activity on a fully fueled vehicle, which explains the massive explosion; it was a high-stakes demonstration tied to Blue Origin's plans to deliver heavy cargo and enable lunar and orbital missions, making the setback especially consequential.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Is Why

What is This Is Why about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This daily geopolitical and policy briefing sheds light on one timely story per episode, explaining how it developed and why it matters. With expert guests and Sky News correspondents, the show translates complex events into practical context for decision-makers and informed listeners. It consistently covers politics, international relations, security, and economy through a concise, analytic lens, often featuring former officials, diplomats, and seasoned journalists. A standout trait is its mix of on-the-ground reporting, policy analysis, and careful consideration of multiple perspectives, making it helpful for audiences who want a clear understanding of current events and their real-world implications.

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Which podcasts are similar to This Is Why?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Is Why:

1. TRUMP100
2. Cheat Sheet with Ridge & Frost
3. Politics At Sam and Anne's
4. Electoral Dysfunction
5. Newscast

How many episodes of This Is Why are there?

This Is Why launched 12 years ago and published 2236 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on This Is Why?

Recent guests on This Is Why include:

1. Ian Acheson
2. Deborah Haynes
3. Laura Bundock
4. Clifford Stott
5. Mickey Carroll
6. Beckie Ramsay
7. Giselle Pellico
8. Andy McIver

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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