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This Is Why

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 question, contact us: why@sky.uk

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All Episodes

22:16

Why Zack Polanski has been banned from Israel

This Is Why ·

2026/10/05

Green party members have backed a motion that “Zionism is racism” at their party conference.It has exposed deep divisions within the party’s membership - with many long-time members saying they are considering leaving - and within the leadership. Four of the party's five MPs opposed it, and leader Zack Polanski put forward amendments to the motion that were later rejected.Israel has responded by banning Polanski, who is himself Jewish, from entering the country.Niall Paterson spoke to the chair of

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20:24

Why do Man City think they can get away with it?

This Is Why ·

2026/10/01

Guilty. The damning verdict in favour of the Premier League against one of its most successful clubs – Manchester City.The case concerned more than a hundred charges – from disguised funding to misleading accounts – with possible consequences ranging from points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League.But rather than backing down, the club has come out fighting – insisting an independent commission got it wrong and vowing to appeal.With City standing firm and the punishment still undecided,

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18:12

Why is Trump pulling troops out of Iraq (while at war...

This Is Why ·

2026/09/30

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein more than two decades ago, the US has had a near-continuous military presence in Iraq... until now.The last troops have been withdrawn, ending a process started by Joe Biden and endorsed by Donald Trump. But the timing of the departure has been questioned - with the US still at war with Iran.According to Iraqi security experts, the withdrawal could give Tehran and its proxies free rein, while also risking a comeback from the Islamic State terror group.So, why have

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16:11

Why the RAF Fairford plot doesn’t add up

This Is Why ·

2026/09/28

Who are you more likely to believe, Donald Trump or a farmer from the Cotswolds? Five UK nationals have been arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after a major incident was declared at an RAF airbase in Gloucestershire over the weekend. But they were later released on bail, as counter-terror police remain “open-minded” about whether the incident is linked to a foreign state such as Iran. So, why did the US president claim the group had been “under investigation” for a long

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16:10

Why Canada courting the EU isn’t great news for Great...

This Is Why ·

2026/09/17

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is looking for closer ties with Europe – but could an “associate” membership with the EU push the UK to the back of the queue?Addressing the European Parliament, Carney welcomed the idea of forming a partnership, which could potentially give Canada closer ties on trade, defence, and technology.The country is keen to strengthen its ties beyond the USA – with Donald Trump still intent on a punishing trade war. But what are the implications for the UK, as relations

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17:17

Why the Thirlwall Inquiry isn’t the last word on Lucy...

This Is Why ·

2026/09/15

The case of Britain’s most prolific child killer has gripped the nation ever since Lucy Letby’s trial began in October 2022.The former neonatal nurse was later convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. Now, a public inquiry has found some of those deaths could have been avoided if safeguarding action had been taken to remove her from the ward. So, what else did the report find and what action might the hospital

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20:00

Experts warn AI could ‘kill us all’: This is why

This Is Why ·

2026/09/10

Don’t worry, AI’s not preparing to wipe out humanity with a Terminator-style nuclear Armageddon – that's just not its style. But could it develop a virus that does the job instead? Well, that seems more of a possibility.... And speaking of odds, both former and current employees of tech giant Anthropic put the chances of AI ending all human life at roughly 10 percent. They only differ on the timescale. With seemingly no end to the breathtaking pace of development, is it too late for governments to

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16:12

Why does the UK keep suffering major air traffic...

This Is Why ·

2026/09/09

Less up, up and away... more stuck on the tarmac. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded after yet another critical collapse of the country’s air traffic control system. While a cyber-attack has been ruled out, it’s still the third time in four years severe disruption has affected airlines and travellers because of problems at NATS – a public-private partnership and the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services. Why do these issues keep happening

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19:09

Why Jordan Bardella is Farage’s French connection

This Is Why ·

2026/09/04

Lots of 30-year-olds are career-driven, ambitious types - but perhaps none more so than French far-right politician Jordan Bardella.The sharp-suited, clean-cut leader of France’s National Rally party is tipped as a future prime minister – or even president – of one of the UK’s closest allies.He’s also been the star of the show at the Reform party conference in Birmingham – signing a deal on small boats with his admiring counterpart, Nigel Farage.So, who is Bardella? And why would a party like Reform

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15:02

Why robotaxis on London’s streets are causing concern

This Is Why ·

2026/09/03

Most taxi drivers tell tales about who they’ve had in the back of their cab. But how would you feel about catching a cab that doesn’t have a driver in the front?Autonomous taxis can now be ordered on London’s streets – in a move many would liken to something out of a sci-fi movie. In reality, the cars currently arrive with a human “safety” driver - but the plan is that fairly soon they won’t.So, how safe are these vehicles? And what does the move mean for real-life cabbies who might be fearing for

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19:02

Why now? Inside Harry and Meghan’s UK return

This Is Why ·

2026/08/20

Six years after stepping back from royal life to live in California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK this month.After years of public rows, explosive interviews and a bitter rift with his father and brother – King Charles and Prince William – could this be a chance for Prince Harry to rebuild relations?In this episode of This is Why, Tom Cheshire is joined by Sky News’ royal correspondent Laura Bundock to unpack the Sussexes’ dramatic return and consider whether more is at

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19:47

Why Russia is threatening the UK... again

This Is Why ·

2026/08/18

"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer."This was the short and not-very-sweet response from the Russian Embassy, after it was confirmed British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia.Drone strikes have been used to great success by Ukraine recently, causing serious damage to military, economic and industrial infrastructure in Russia.The Ministry of Defence defended the use of its weaponry, claiming the UK will continue to

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16:44

Why the government defended its wildfires alert

This Is Why ·

2026/08/17

Where were you at 7pm on Friday? Wherever you were, it’s likely you heard a loud alert activated on millions of mobile phones.It was the biggest use yet of the government’s emergency alert system, warning of the dangers posed by wildfires across England and Wales.Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the use of the measure, encouraging the public to take it seriously. But was it more red herring than red alert?Should the system only be used if there is an imminent threat to life? Did it expose

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15:57

Why we should all be worried about wildfires

This Is Why ·

2026/08/14

If you thought wildfires were confined to the countryside, it's time to think again. Several homes have been destroyed across the West Midlands and Staffordshire as the country swelters in yet another heatwave. Scorching temperatures and a lack of rain mean most parts of the UK are at threat of fires.So what can you do to stay safe? And are the emergency services suitably prepared to deal with sustained infernos? Niall Paterson is joined by retired London Fire Brigade commander Steve Dudeney, who

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20:37

Why early prison release is an increasing burden for...

This Is Why ·

2026/08/12

You do the crime, you do the time… or a third of it if you’re part of the early release scheme.The move has been controversial since it was first introduced two years ago - but public anger has been reignited over the scheduled release of two men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper.Prime Minister Andy Burnham is now under huge pressure to ensure they remain behind bars - but is there anything he can actually do? And why was this scheme introduced in the first place?Niall Paterson is joined by home

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18:51

Why the eclipse has captured the country’s imagination

This Is Why ·

2026/08/11

In what might feel like a rare break from sunshine, the UK is preparing itself for the most spectacular solar eclipse in a generation. The cosmic phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, meaning the country will be slowly plunged into darkness. So, how can you watch safely? What is it about an eclipse that fascinates us? And with the Perseid meteor shower also taking place, what other celestial wonders might you witness if you make a habit of gazing up at the night

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18:27

Why Netanyahu rejected Trump's Gaza peace plan

This Is Why ·

2026/08/10

Some leaders have gone to extreme measures to save their jobs - but is allowing a deadly war to rage on indefinitely a step too far?That is what many believe Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing after he rejected Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza.The proposal was designed to end more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas - so why has Netanyahu rejected it? And can there ever be peace in Gaza with him in power?Niall Paterson is joined by Middle East expert Dr H. A

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26:42

Why a British 'Silicon Valley outsider' is one of...

This Is Why ·

2026/08/07

Artificial intelligence is already changing how we work, communicate and find information. But could its biggest impact be on science? Demis Hassabis is one of the most influential figures in AI. An artificial intelligence researcher and entrepreneur, he is the co-founder of Google DeepMind, having recently stepped down as chief executive to become the company's chair and chief scientist at its parent company Alphabet. His is also co-founder and CEO of Isomorphic Labs, and an AI adviser to the UK

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18:05

Why the drought could threaten national security

This Is Why ·

2026/08/05

Britain is on track for one of its worst harvests on record, according to new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank. It's bad news for farmers whose businesses are struggling, bad news for consumers who could see higher prices and potentially bad news for the country. We are far from being self-sufficient in our food production, already importing 40% of what we eat. So what should the government be doing to help farmers deal with the effects of climate change and

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18:14

Why we should think before having a conversation...

This Is Why ·

2026/08/04

The 33-year-old star has announced that she is taking a break from public life due to “endless scrutiny”. In recent years her weight and health have been the subject of much speculation and concern.Grande has endured a series of traumatic events. In 2017 a suicide bomber killed 22 people at her Manchester Arena show, and in 2018 her musical collaborator and ex-boyfriend Mac Miller died of an accidental overdose. Her latest music video Petal - in which she takes a chainsaw to her critics - sparked

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