The Story

2025 was a year of tumult for an increasingly unpopular Labour government, while insurgent parties to their right and left shot up in the polls. But what will 2026 have in store? Will Keir Starmer’s political downfall continue? And can the Greens and Reform continue their upward trajectories in the crucial local elections this May?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Geraldine Scott, assistant political editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Here’s what lies ahead for Keir Starmer and Labour in 2026Clips: Bloomberg, LBC, Sky, BBC, GB News, Reform / Youtube, Daily Mail / Youtube, Manchester Evening News / Youtube, The Independent / Youtube, Daily Express / Youtube, DRM News, The Mirror / Youtube, Conservatives / Youtube, Bold Politics with Zack.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Today marks five years since the Jan 6 storming of the Capitol, and nearly one year of Trump 2.0. How has the US president already changed American democracy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Charter, assistant editor (US), The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: What has Trump done? Executive orders that matter — and one you missedClips: The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, CBS, Reuters, The Associated Press, The White House, Fox News, ITV News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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 has bombed Venezuela and abducted its President, Nicolás Maduro. But why did Donald Trump do it? And with Maduro now in New York awaiting trial, what’s next for his country?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Why has Trump attacked Venezuela now? A history of US interventionFurther listening: Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil?Clips: The White House / X, Guardian News / Youtube. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

Longevity science has been trying to unlock the mysteries of ageing for years; it’s spawned a multi-billion dollar global industry of supplements, anti-ageing regimens, exercise, and more. But what actually works and what’s just hokum? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Peta Bee, health and wellbeing writer for The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: 15 easy ways to live longer (and four things you should stop now)Clips: PioneerWorksVideo, Jay Shetty Podcast, @waywemove / YouTube, ABC Science, WCNC, Bodybuilding.com, KTLA 5, Jessica Carroll / YouTube. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.

In 2025 China continued to flourish. Despite the tariffs, it hit a record trade surplus of over $1 trillion, Chinese companies like DeepSeek took on the US tech giants and the country leveraged its soft power on social media sites like RedNote. With economic, technological and diplomatic might, will China try to take on America as the foremost global superpower in 2026? Or does its ruling party have another plan in mind?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case. Clips: AP, @TheHumnitarian-gph / YouTube, CNBC, CGTN, Bloomberg, @ChemOutsourcingOfficial, @ChinaUncensored / YouTube, NBC, BBC, @CBC News, @TinaSourcing / YouTube, RedNote / Anzu Baibai. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] 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.