The Story

In 2020, the US Justice Department sued Google, alleging it illegally monopolised the online search market. The US government won, and is now threatening to break up the tech giant, with wide-reaching implications for us all. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: Dominic O’Connell, Business Presenter, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana, Clips: The Justice Department, AP Archive, CNBC, CBS. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamala Harris may become the first female president of the United States – but who is she? Megan Agnew rode through the hills of San Francisco, talking to everyone who knew her fresh out of law school, to tell the story of how she conquered California. 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: Megan Agnew, senior features writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you a conversation from our fellow podcasters and Times Radio broadcasters Jane & Fi. This week marked a year since the October 7 attacks by Hamas and Israel's military operation in Gaza, beginning of a tragic new chapter in the violent history of the Middle East. Since then, thousands have died and the ongoing war threatens to engulf the wider region. It's left policy makers questioning how, if ever, the conflict can be resolved. Two former leaders with a potential road map for peace joined Jane and Fi to discuss. Guests: - Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister. - Nassr al-Qudwa, former Palestinian foreign minister. Producer: Guy Emanuel Subscribe to Jane and Fi 'Off Air' This week the Story covered the October 7th anniversary in two podcasts: How I survived October 7 A diary from Gaza - what happened next This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/thestory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has been prime minister for 100 days. It's the point in any premiership that's considered a measure of how a new leader is performing, ever since the days of Franklin D Roosevelt. So how is Starmer doing compared to his predecessors? Two authors of multiple biographies of former PMs - William Hague and historian and author Sir Anthony Seldon - discuss. This episode was recorded live at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Host: William Hague, Times columnist and former leader of the Conservative Party. Guest: Sir Anthony Seldon. Image credit: Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year on from the October 7th attacks in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Our colleague Amal Helles was one of the few Palestinians to escape Gaza earlier this year. So what’s life been like for her since, and for her friends and family who remain in Gaza? 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 Further listening: How I survived October 7 Further listening: A diary of war: Three months in Gaza Guest: Amal Helles, journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Abdel Hakim Abu Dagen for The Times. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the publication of his memoir “Unleashed”, Boris Johnson sat down with Times Radio’s Stig Abell to tell him what he really thinks about Donald Trump, his former Tory colleagues, and Sue Gray. 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: Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister and author of Unleashed. Host: Stig Abell. Photo: Times photographer Jack Hill. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray resigned amid weeks of bad headlines for the government over freebies. Labour’s troubles arguably began when The Sunday Times revealed a major donor, Lord Alli, had a security pass to Downing Street. Today we speak to Sunday Times Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund about how he got the story. 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: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times. Gabriel’s reporting: No 10 pass for Labour donor who gave £500,000How we revealed the Downing Street donor scandal rocking LabourHost: Luke Jones. Clips: Sky News, ITV News, Talk TV, The Times. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many take a break from booze for Sober October, the writer Hannah Betts marks ten years since she gave up alcohol. It’s given her a moment to reflect on her father’s death from his own alcohol addiction and to consider why Britain apparently has such a destructive love of booze. If you or someone you know is affected by alcohol addiction support and advice can be found through the NHS and Drinkaware. 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: Hannah Betts, writer, The Times and https://hannahbetts.substack.com/ Host: Luke Jones. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago today, 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed in an orchestrated terrorist attack by Hamas. 251 were taken hostage. Today, we hear their stories of survival, and of their loved ones, who were not so lucky. It will not be suitable for all listeners. This episode is the first part of a series marking the anniversary of October 7. Later this week, we will explore a year of devastation in Gaza, in part two. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Host: Manveen Rana. Guest: Venetia Menzies, Assistant Data Editor, The Sunday Times. Photo: Venetia Menzies Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Parliament will look at proposals to give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to choose to end their lives. To better understand this controversial topic, we’re revisiting our episode from March, where we explored what we can learn from Canada, often referred to as the world’s assisted dying capital since it legalised the practice in 2016. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story Guest: Sarah Baxter, former deputy editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, ITV, Global News, Reuters. Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 30, 1980, six gunmen stormed the Iranian embassy in London, taking everyone inside hostage. The ensuing siege would change the course of history. But what really happened behind barricaded doors? In a new book, Ben Macintyre tells the real story of those six days for the first time. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: Ben Macintyre, author of The Siege: The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, ITV. Photo: Times Media Ltd. Further reading: How the SAS were ordered to end Iranian siege Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel has vowed that Tehran will ‘pay’ after Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, following an Israeli ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In a week of escalating violence in the Middle East, how might Israel retaliate - and what lies ahead for the region at this dangerous moment? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: George Grylls, Defence Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: CBS, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the competition between the leadership candidates - Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat - heats up as the four make their key speeches on the main stage at Conservative Party conference. Manveen Rana is in Birmingham to join the media scrum - and to witness the battle for the soul of the party. 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, GB News, Sky News. Episode artwork: Times Photographer Richard Pohle. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 40 years, Professor Allan Lichtman has honed a near-perfect system for picking the next American president. It was inspired by a Soviet seismologist - but how does he do it? And who is he putting his money on this time? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: Professor Allan Lichtman, author of Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: France 24, Fox News, CNN, ABC News. Episode artwork: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She's a fashion icon - known for her sharp bob and dark glasses. As Paris Fashion Week wraps up, we consider the enduring influence of the Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. How does the woman who has edited the fashion magazine for nearly 40 years stay relevant in a world of TikTok trends and social media influencers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe Guest: Harriet Walker, Fashion Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS Late Show with David Letterman, Disney+ In Vogue: The 1990s, YouTube/OxfordUnion. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yuval Noah Harari’s books Sapiens and Homo Deus sold millions around the world. His latest - Nexus - examines information and how we share it, from campfire stories in the Stone Age to the AI networks of today. But as the way we share information gets evermore complicated, could this be the end of a history controlled by humans? 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 Host: William Hague. Guest: Yuval Noah Harari, author and historian. Photo: Penguin Random House / Yuval Noah Harari Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Read the Times' review of Nexus: here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As fighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah, who is the Iranian-backed group and could this new conflict break out into a wider, regional war? 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: Oliver Marsden, journalist, The Times. Rami Khouri, journalist. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ITN, CBS, 13News Now, TMJ4 News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, PBS, AP. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Further listening: Exploding pagers and Israel’s new phase of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sydney and her 23-month-old son turned to the council for temporary accommodation, they were housed in an old office converted into a studio flat. A Sunday Times investigation into her block found residents complaining of sweltering heat and mould. This type of housing has been labelled Britain’s ‘slums of the future’ - so why are families still ending up there? 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: Hugo Daniel, News Reporter, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC Breakfast. Episode artwork: Matthew Chattle for The Sunday Times. Read Hugo’s full report: The forgotten families who have to live in old office blocks Further listening: Undercover: The Times investigation into Turkish plastic surgery clinicsUndercover at one of the UK's most dangerous prisonsGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prime minister has told his party’s conference that there is ‘light at the end of this tunnel’. But after weeks of bad press about his top adviser’s pay and freebies - are Labour in danger of becoming a one-term government? And what’s going on in Downing Street - has dysfunction led to this series of own-goals? 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: Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News. Episode artwork: Times Photographer Jack Hill. Read more: Labour aides unionise over pay cuts and conditionsSleaze, quarrels and austerity: Labour is looking a lot like the ToriesFurther Listening: Politics Unpacked Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Normal People and Conversations with Friends author Sally Rooney is a publishing sensation and became a huge star whilst still in her twenties. Her new book Intermezzo, published today, follows two grieving brothers in complicated relationships. Will it cement Rooney’s reputation as the voice of millennials - or is she overhyped? 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: Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Normal People/BBC Three/Hulu, Manchester EUDC 2013, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Denmark, Fox News. Episode artwork: Getty Images. Further listening: What 50 years of best-selling books says about us Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.