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This Is Why

Sky News

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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Today · 18 min
Why your council tax band dates back to 1991
Prime Minister Andy Burnham joked on TikTok that demand from people trying to find out their council tax band crashed the government website. They wanted to know because Chancellor John Healey announced in his budget that households in England in bands A to D will receive a £100 cash payment to help with energy bills. Wales and Scotland said they planned to replicate the measure. Those bands were based on a property's value in 1991 as the council tax replaced the controversial poll tax. More than 30 years on, despite calls to update property values in the bands, no government has chosen to do it. Niall talks to Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso about why it's never been tackled and whether this is the best way to help people with their bills. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
Yesterday · 26 min
Israel’s ‘AI Election’
The World and This Is Why join forces for a special episode on Israel's election - a contest that could have significant consequences for the Middle East and the wider world. Niall Paterson is joined live from Israel by Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel, asking why pollsters seem to have got it so wrong, why this might be the world's first AI election, and why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after 19 years, looks like he might continue to be the most powerful man in the country. Have you got a question for Niall? Email why@sky.uk You can email questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can watch our podcasts on the Sky News app and on our YouTube channel here.
Tuesday · 15 min
Why leaving Spurs won Harry Kane the Ballon d'Or
Aged eight, Harry Kane risked being written off when he was released by Arsenal. But Kane persisted, and he was taken on by Tottenham Hotspur's academy. He went on to become the club's all-time top scorer, but his goals didn't result in any trophies for Spurs. His move to Bayern Munich changed that, with the striker having won the Bundesliga twice since moving to Germany. Also, under his captaincy, England achieved their best result at a World Cup since 1966 this summer. Niall talks to Rob Harris, Sky's sports correspondent, about how Kane, aged 33, became the first English player to win football's top individual prize in 25 years. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
Monday · 15 min
Why Melania's ceasefire will be a lifeline for besieged Ukrainians in Oleshky
People are surviving on plants, have no power and hardly any water in Oleshky, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russia since the first days of the 2022 full-scale invasion. Ukraine says Russia is using its inhabitants as a human shield to stop Kyiv launching an attack to regain the strategic city. On Tuesday, a ceasefire organised by Melania Trump and the Pope is due to come into effect, which it's hoped will lead to the evacuation of the remaining residents, most of whom are elderly. Niall speaks to Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay who has just been to an area near Oleshky and spoke to people there about how they are surviving. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
Friday · 12 min
Why is Sally Rooney pulling her books from shops in the UK?
There's been a rush to buy Sally Rooney's books after she said she can no longer sell them in the UK. Rooney, known for best-selling novels Normal People and Conversations with Friends, said the decision was made with her publisher over her support for the banned group Palestine Action A month after the group was proscribed by the UK government as a terrorist organisation, Rooney said she would donate the earnings from her UK work to them. The Irish author, seen as one of the most important writers of her generation, has been backed by hundreds of writers and public figures who have signed an open letter to the government. Mhari Aurora speaks to Helen Brown, who writes about culture for the Telegraph, about what is behind Rooney's decision.
October 22 · 13 min
Why web attacks show we’re all vulnerable
PHP. The three little letters few people realised were so vital for most of the websites in the world. But a vulnerability in a piece of programming virtually all of us had never heard of has affected everyone from small businesses to major governments. Millions of cyberattacks have followed in the wake of the problem being made public. But the fact is, your personal information – from email addresses to bank details – was already at risk. AI is increasingly both poacher and gamekeeper – discovering the vulnerability in the first place but also playing a vital role in cybersecurity. So, is it time to rethink our online lives? Gareth Barlow speaks to Sky’s technology correspondent Rowland Manthorpe. Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 21 · 19 min
Why do we need new North Sea gas?
Winter is coming. So, a decision to finally allow drilling at the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea should be welcome. Well, not by environmental campaigners – who've accused the government of backtracking on its net zero commitments. And even supporters of North Sea expansion have admitted opening Jackdaw won’t reduce energy bills, even though it could start helping to supply homes within months. Why, then, has Andy Burnham invested so much political capital in giving the go-ahead? Gareth Barlow is joined by Sky’s science and technology editor Tom Clarke and business correspondent Paul Kelso. Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 20 · 17 min
Why Putin and Xi want to control the Arctic
Europe’s leaders are joining the fight for the Far North – but is it already too late? The European Union has announced a new security strategy for the Arctic. Yet Russia and China already appear to have a huge advantage in the region. Moscow is exploring new trade routes through its shadow fleet, and – with Beijing’s help – the race is on to exploit the Arctic’s reserves of rare earth minerals. Will the UK, US and Canada join Europe’s belated response? Or, as the ice melts, is too late to stop a new cold war from heating up? Gareth Barlow speaks to Sky’s military analyst, Robert Clark. There is more exclusive military analysis and content on the new Sky News Defence Insider app. Sky News Defence Insider is a subscription app designed for audiences seeking deeper insight into defence, security and global affairs. Download and subscribe here. Have you got a question for the show? Email us: why@sky.uk Paid subscription required for full access. UK only. 18+. T&Cs apply.
October 19 · 12 min
Why France protests are spreading across Europe
Violent clashes, burning buildings, widespread looting and thousands of arrests. Even for France, the scale of the current protests across the country is extreme. What started off as student demonstrations, highlighting issues like a lack of staff and equipment in schools, has grown into a much bigger movement – which the government admits it’s struggling to contain. But France isn’t the only country where the young are protesting. Students in Albania, Italy, Spain and Portugal have also clashed with authorities. So, what’s caused such a huge disconnect between the state and young people across the continent? Gareth Barlow speaks to French journalist Catherine Guilyardi, who lives in Paris and witnessed the violence over the weekend. Have you got a question for the podcast? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 16 · 17 min
Why didn’t Trump trust Katie Zacharia?
Surely, the first rule of being a press secretary is never to be the story. But it took Donald Trump's newest spokesperson just 14 minutes to put herself very much front and centre. That was how long Katie Zacharia's first - and only - White House briefing lasted. Now, the president has asked her to consider her position less than a week into the job, leaving her little choice but to stand down. Plucked from a role as a TV talking head, Zacharia had been trusted to replace Karoline Leavitt as the president’s press secretary – responsible for relaying the MAGA message to the media. But she was quickly embroiled in controversy – not least for appearing to overstate her credentials as a fully qualified lawyer. Recorded before her departure, Niall Paterson is joined by the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, Greg Swenson. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 15 · 17 min
Why now? Burnham’s Brexit backtrack explained
Remember when Brexit meant Brexit? Well, a decade on from the referendum to leave the European Union, Andy Burnham thinks now is the right time to reopen the debate. The new prime minister is calling for a fresh look at our relationship with EU ahead of a summit in November. Is this just an attempt to boost economic growth with a better trade deal or is there more to it? What does Burnham really want? And would the public swallow the prospect of a 'rejoin' referendum? Niall Paterson is joined by the director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, Anand Menon. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 14 · 13 min
Why tiger death won’t stop zoo visits
Donald Trump decided to mark the death of a man mauled by a tiger in a Yorkshire zoo by posting an AI-generated video of himself wrestling with a tiger. The killing of 23-year-old William Chapman has offered a stark reminder of just how dangerous zoo animals can be when things go wrong. So, has the social media obsession with animal videos desensitised us to the threat from wildlife? It has also renewed the debate over whether we should be keeping animals like that in captivity in the first place. Just how safe are the UK’s zoos and why do we even have them? Niall Paterson is joined by Amy Dickman, professor of Wildlife Conservation at Oxford University.
October 13 · 20 min
Why Ukrainians are angry with Trump’s Russian diesel deal
Donald Trump just loves a long-running feud, and in recent days he’s returned to an old favourite. America’s mudslinger-in-chief is calling for Ukraine’s wartime president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced – after he criticised the US diesel deal with Russia. But as Vladimir Putin’s war rages on, elections are perhaps the last thing on the minds of Ukrainians. So, how do people in the war-torn country really feel about Zelenskyy? And what is the reality of everyday life following more than four years of conflict? Niall Paterson speaks to Ukrainian independent journalist Dinara Khalilova about the ongoing trauma being inflicted on the country’s people.
October 13 · 9 min
Will Andy Burnham bring the UK closer to the EU?
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today's episode, Sophy and Wilf discuss the latest forecast from the IMF, how Andy Burnham has reignited the Brexit debate, and the start of Russell Brand's rape trial. Plus, a senior figure in the Iran-backed Houthis has told Sky News that Saudi Arabia is to blame for civilian casualties this weekend.
October 12 · 13 min
Russell Brand: On Trial – A New Podcast
In today’s episode of This Is Why, we’re introducing our new podcast – Russell Brand: On Trial Listen to Russell Brand: On Trial on your podcast app What happened on Russell Brand’s first day in court as the trial process got underway? Sky News’ Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer take us through the day- inside and outside the court. It starts with queues of journalists arriving early to get a seat on the press benches of court 3 at Southwark Crown Court. Outside photographers gather to get images of Russell Brand as he walks in with his wife. No broadcast cameras or recording are allowed inside so Katie Spencer - arts and entertainment correspondent for Sky and crime commentator Martin Brunt - are your eyes and ears in court. The first development: selecting the jury, the people who will decide if Russell Brand is guilty, or not guilty. He faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all charges and the trial continues. Follow the feed to get every episode. Email us with your thoughts skynewspodcasts@sky.uk
October 9 · 30 min
Why didn’t Christa Pike die?
A notorious killer convicted of murder more than 30 years ago has finally faced the death penalty – execution by lethal injection. Except Christa Pike didn’t die. Investigative journalist John North was one of the few people allowed inside a maximum-security facility in Nashville, Tennessee, to witness Pike’s death. What happened next was one of the most extraordinary moments in America’s troubled history with the death penalty. Speaking to Niall Paterson, John describes in detail how the execution went wrong, why Christa Pike’s violent murder of Colleen Slemmer still resonates three decades later, and the heartbreaking response of her victim’s family. And as the country prepares for its first public execution in almost a century – with plans to livestream former US Army major Nidal Hasan’s death by firing squad – Niall and John discuss why state-sponsored killing remains such a divisive topic in American society. Warning: This episode contains graphic details of Christa Pike’s original crime and attempted execution, which some listeners may find distressing. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 8 · 18 min
Why the UK is in trouble if the gas gets turned off
Taking a hot shower, heating your home, cooking dinner – all things we take for granted. All at risk. Britain’s gas storage levels are at a decade-low, while the UK’s largest storage facility faces closure as its stockpiles near empty. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to constrain supplies and push up prices. And what if Donald Trump goes through with his threat to put "America first" and stop the flow of fuel abroad? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway, who was given exclusive access to a previously unseen emergency planning exercise – revealing what would happen if the country runs out of gas. You can watch Ed’s full investigation here. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
October 7 · 22 min
Why France’s school protests are a problem for president Macron
Imagine being tear-gassed and targeted with stun grenades – all for complaining about timetables, absent teachers and crumbling classrooms. That’s the experience of thousands of French students, whose initial demonstrations over high school conditions have evolved into a wider national protest across 40 towns and cities. Parents, teachers and a sympathetic public have all joined pupils on the barricades. But far-right groups have accused those on the left of politicising the movement. And while the use of stun grenades has now been suspended in France, the response from the police and government has been heavy-handed and heavily criticised – just months before a general election. Niall Paterson is joined by NBC News chief foreign correspondent and co-host of The World podcast, Richard Engel – and Ruby Celemenski, a 17-year-old student in Lyon who has witnessed the police response first-hand.
October 7 · 11 min
Can the Tories convince voters to trust them again?
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today’s episode, Wilfred Frost and Lucy McDaid discuss whether there could be a “Badenoch bounce” following the Tory leader’s party conference speech later. Meanwhile, a death row inmate is said to be “conscious and speaking” after surviving a failed execution attempt. Wilf and Lucy also discuss the student protests in France, the death of a Russian lab worker from suspected pneumonic plague, and England’s win over the Czech Republic in the Nations League.
October 6 · 16 min
Why Trump is worried about Russia’s plague ‘lab leak’
In the 14th Century, the Black Death wiped out up to half the population of Europe. So, no wonder world leaders, including Donald Trump, are keeping a careful watch on a plague scare in Eastern Russia. One laboratory worker from a plague research facility in Siberia has died, with fears they may have been exposed to pneumonic plague – the most virulent and dangerous form of the disease. A further 200 people were placed in quarantine. With the Covid pandemic still fresh in people’s minds, what is pneumonic plague and how worried should we be about a potential outbreak? Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

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