The Story

Today America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence. It’s an epic tale of revolution, rebellion and the making of a global superpower. But how did Britain end up fighting, and losing, the war that gave birth to the most powerful nation on earth?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Read by: Jack Blackburn, history correspondent, The Times.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: How Britain drove America to independence
Photo: Getty.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
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Nigel Farage has drawn increasing political and public scrutiny for a £5 million personal gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024. Farage says it’s for his security and nobody else’s business, but has he made a political misstep which risks his future aspirations to be PM? And do extra revelations about his property portfolio and his lucrative role with a gold bullion company add extra pressure?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Sebastian Payne, columnist, The Times
Host: Manveen Rana
Producers: David Whitty, Sophie McNulty
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Nigel Farage’s £5 million is a burden for Reform
Further listening: Inside Farage’s political earthquake
Clips: BBC, LBC, Times Radio, Rupert Lowe - facebook, Direct Bullion, The Mirror.
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Supreme Court has finished a momentous term with some ground-breaking rulings on a raft of issues from trans rights to birthright citizenship. And one case has greatly expanded presidential powers. So is this term a win for Trump? And what does it mean for the country’s future?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: Supreme Court rules Trump cannot scrap birthright citizenship
Further listening: Why Trump's attack on the Fed affects us all
Clips: USA Today, Fox, CBS News, CSPAN, Times Radio, ABC News, CNN, KTLA, The Washington Post.
Photo: Getty.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a year of waiting, the defence investment plan was finally released yesterday. The plan will take defence spending to £80 billion a year by 2029, but some have criticised it for still leaving Britain's military under-funded. So will this plan do enough to make the country more secure? And what role should Britain be carving out for itself in the new geopolitical world we find ourselves in?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:
Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.
General Sir Richard Barrons, co-author of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.

Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Sophie McNulty, David Whitty.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: What’s in Keir Starmer’s defence investment plan? Key points
Further listening: Will Burnham scrap the most expensive promise in politics?
Clips: BBC, Parliament tv, Al Carns - Facebook.
Photo: Getty Images, The Times.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a series of reports about individual failing maternity trusts in England, a national report is published today. It says women are not being listened to, racism is systemic, regulators are failing and triage is not working. So how did things get so bad? What do families think of the report's findings? And will it finally force a change in England’s woeful maternity care?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times
Poppy Koronka, health correspondent, The Times
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: Ockenden review: Three hospital bosses were awarded CBEs
Clips: GB News, BBC, ITV.
Photo: Adobe.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.