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.
As Chicago prepares to bid farewell to Jackson, Today in Focus hears about the groundbreaking civil rights activist from those who knew him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
06/03/2026 • 33:47
Intense waves of airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts and police stations along northern parts of Iran’s border with Iraq in what appears to be preparation by the US and Israel for a new front in their war. Iran has warned ‘separatist groups’ in this region against joining the widening conflict and launched strikes against Iraq-based Kurdish groups it described as ‘opposed to the revolution’. Could the involvement of these militant groups increase the risk of a civil war in Iran if the regime collapses? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to deputy head of international news Devika Bhat – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
05/03/2026 • 09:07
Rafael Behr on why Donald Trump’s war on Iran presents a strategic dilemma for Keir Starmer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
05/03/2026 • 26:06
Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that facilitates the shipping of about a fifth of the world’s oil, has been in effect closed since the regional war began, prompting fears of a global economic crisis. According to reports, traffic has dropped by about 80%, but how long until we feel the effects? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of business, John Collingridge – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
04/03/2026 • 11:10
Who’s calling the shots in the US-Israeli war on Iran? Chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison and international security correspondent Jason Burke report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
04/03/2026 • 25:34
Israel has deployed soldiers on the ground in southern Lebanon and is carrying out heavy airstrikes in the country as conflict in the Middle East continues to spread. It comes after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Beirut-based journalist Will Christou – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03/03/2026 • 09:43
After the US and Israel assassinated Iran’s Supreme leader, Tehran has hit back. Missiles have rained down on the Gulf. Will the region retaliate? Julian Borger reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
03/03/2026 • 30:30
The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with casualties and destruction reported across at least nine countries in under 10 hours. Israeli and US warplanes launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran, while US allies in the Gulf states are under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of international news, Jamie Wilson – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
02/03/2026 • 13:13
Iran’s supreme leader was killed in a military strike on his compound as Israel and the US launched attacks on the country. Patrick Wintour reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
01/03/2026 • 29:30
The Green Party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gordon and Denton byelection in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Hannah Spencer, a local plumber, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England, with Labour pushed into third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK despite having a 13,000-vote majority. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England correspondent Hannah Al-Othman, who lives in the constituency and was at the count overnight – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
27/02/2026 • 11:34
Can talking about their problems help men forge closer relationships – or is there another way? Josh Halliday reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
27/02/2026 • 27:27
Jeremy Corbyn’s allies declared victory after he was voted to be Your Party’s parliamentary leader in an election in which his rival Zarah Sultana was also voted on to the party’s leadership committee. The party is hoping to turn the page on bitter in-fighting since its launch last year, but will it succeed? Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
26/02/2026 • 11:11
As MPs vote to release the documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy, Helen Pidd speaks to Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, about the former prince’s antics in the role and whether this scandal will be the monarchy’s last. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
26/02/2026 • 24:57
The BBC is under fire over its failure to remove a racial slur shouted by John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, from its broadcast of the Bafta awards. Davidson was heard shouting the N-word while two stars of the film Sinners, Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, were on stage. The BBC has apologised for the error and said producers overseeing the coverage did not hear the slur. Lucy Hough is joined by the Guardian’s assistant opinion editor Jason Okundaye – watch on YouTube – Read Jason’s piece here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
25/02/2026 • 11:26
Reform and the Greens both insist they can win the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton from Labour – and if they do, it could be another nail in the prime minister’s coffin. Helen Pidd reports on how the candidates and voters are feeling. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
25/02/2026 • 37:52
Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
24/02/2026 • 09:58
A DJ turned soldier explains how life has changed for Ukraine’s men while Tracey McVeigh and Shaun Walker report on the impact of the conflict and what could happen next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
24/02/2026 • 25:44
Reform UK has promised to create an ICE-style agency dedicated to mass deportations if the party came to power. Nigel Farage and his party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, have pledged to start a ‘UK Deportation Command’ to remove thousands of people, under plans that have been condemned as ‘sadistic’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy political editor Jessica Elgot – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
23/02/2026 • 10:36
Author and academic Katherine Rundell explores the precipitous decline in reading books for pleasure, and what can be done to reverse it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
23/02/2026 • 24:20
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation after police questioned the former prince in relation to allegations he shared confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein. Officers searched Mountbatten-Windsor’s Sandringham residence as well as his former home at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park after arresting him on Thursday. The former prince has denied any wrongdoing. But what were the police searching for and what could happen next? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s police and crime correspondent, Vikram Dodd – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
20/02/2026 • 11:28
Political correspondent Alexandra Topping and special educational needs student Jake with his mum, Laura, explore the government’s controversial plans for reform. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
20/02/2026 • 32:10
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office by police investigating his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Six unmarked police cars carrying plainclothes officers arrived at the Sandringham estate while the former prince was celebrating his 66th birthday on Thursday. Officers searched the Norfolk property as well as Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian journalist David Pegg – watch on YouTube – Read extract from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
19/02/2026 • 11:19
Face transplant patient Robert Chelsea and writer Fay Bound Alberti talk through the promise – and darker side – of this pioneering surgery. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
19/02/2026 • 24:54
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says ‘no agreement’ has been made between Ukraine and Russia during US-mediated peace talks in Geneva. Expectations remain low, while Ukrainians continue to face Russian strikes in subzero temperatures. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s foreign correspondent in Kyiv, Luke Harding – watch on YouTube . Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
18/02/2026 • 11:14
A thinktank called Labour Together, linked to Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, has been exposed for investigating journalists who were looking into the group’s funding. One of those journalists was the Guardian’s Henry Dyer. He tells Helen Pidd how he found out and why it matters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
18/02/2026 • 28:02
The civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson has died aged 84. Jackson was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr and ran twice for the Democratic presidential nomination. He remained a prominent figure in US politics for more than 50 years, championing the rights of Black, poor and working-class people with his ‘rainbow coalition’. Lucy Hough speaks to Carys Afoko – watch on YouTube –- Over The Top and Under The Radar podcast -– 2020 interview with Jesse Jackson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
17/02/2026 • 10:51
The Guardian journalists Sam Jones and Tom Phillips chart the rise of the narco-sub after a record seizure in the Atlantic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
17/02/2026 • 19:49
Barack Obama has caused a frenzy after saying he thinks aliens are real during a podcast interview. The former US president was forced to release a statement clarifying he had not seen any evidence of extraterrestrials. There is a long-running conspiracy theory claiming the US government is hiding extraterrestrials at Area 51, a highly classified air force site in Nevada. Lucy Hough speaks to the host of the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, Madeleine Finlay – watch on YouTube -- Listen to the Science Weekly podcast here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
16/02/2026 • 10:45
The Guardian’s community affairs correspondent, Chris Osuh, reports on the plot by two IS terrorists to massacre Jews in Manchester, and how it was thwarted by an undercover sting. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
16/02/2026 • 31:31
The co-founder of Palestine Action has won a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws. Palestine Action was the first direct action protest group to be proscribed. The decision was widely condemned and was defied by a civil disobedience campaign, during which more than 2,000 people have been arrested. From July last year, being a member of – or showing support for – the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
13/02/2026 • 11:53
