Podcast
The Global Story
Hosted by BBC World Service · EN
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.
95episodes
Episodes
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The kid-fluencers selling younger looking skin
Today00:27:07Tap to summarizeGrowing concerns over young people using anti-aging products, have prompted industry regulators in Italy to investigate claims that some brands are using young influencers to promote skincare products to other children. Investigators say that the practice is linked to the broader issue of ‘cosmeticorexia’ - a new term coined by some healthcare professionals to describe an obsession with skincare. Asma speaks to the BBC’s health and wellbeing reporter Ruth Clegg, about how harmful skincare is for the social media generation.Producer: Sam ChantarasakMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Tom BageSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Young content creator Ellie-May. Credit: Sophie/BBC.
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Britain’s decade of political chaos
Yesterday00:27:38Tap to summarizeBritain has had six prime ministers in the past decade. It’s about to get a seventh after Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday. The country used to be seen as a bastion of political stability. But this latest resignation comes ten years - almost to the day - that Britain voted to leave the European Union. In this episode we speak to The BBC’s Adam Fleming, Brexit expert, and host of the BBC podcast Newscast. And we ask if Britain is still experiencing the same political forces that produced Brexit.Why Britain keeps losing prime ministers: bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct8mksProducer: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy Pawle Sound engineer: Travis EvansEditor: James ShieldSenior news editor: China Collins(Photo: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, June 22, 2026. Credit: Jaimi Joy/Reuters)
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Why aren’t more people quitting their jobs?
2d ago00:26:29Tap to summarizeDuring the pandemic, for the first time in most of our living memories, the balance of power shifted from employer to employee. By 2021, the percentage of people in the US quitting their jobs was the highest it had been in decades, with tens of millions of people quitting in a single year, confident that they could find something better elsewhere - a trend dubbed ‘The Great Resignation’. Five years on, and the quitting rates are way down. People are staying in jobs longer, if they are lucky enough to have one. Why? On today’s show, Tristan is joined by Anthony Klotz, a professor of organisational behaviour at University College London and author, who coined the term ‘The Great Resignation’ and Sarah O'Connor, a columnist for the Financial Times and author of We Are Not Machines: The Fight for the Future of Work, to explore how the world of work has been changed by AI, political and economic instability, and to consider how we can better enjoy the jobs we are in. Producer: Hannah Moore Mix: Travis Evans Executive producer: James Shield Senior news editor: China Collins(Photo: Woman working on laptop at home)
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How to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon
5d ago00:26:57Tap to summarizeOn Wednesday, President Trump met with Iranian leaders to sign an initial memorandum of understanding towards ending the months-long war. In a press conference after the signing, Trump was triumphant. Specifically, he touted the deal’s firmness on one of the US’s key priorities: ensuring that Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon.Whilst Iran has agreed to “not procure or develop nuclear weapons," there are many questions left unanswered. What does it actually look like to police the weapons programmesToday, we speak to someone intimately familiar with the weapons inspection process: President of the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright. In the 1990s, Albright worked in Iraq with the UN, investigating the nation’s weapons programme under Sadaam Hussein.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth Executive producers: Bridget Harney and China Collins Mix: Travis Evans Video producer: Matt Pintus Senior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein
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Could Trump-backed ‘El Tigre’ become the next president of Colombia?
6d ago00:27:34Tap to summarizeOn Sunday, Colombia will elect a new president. A Trump-endorsed outsider, Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed ‘The Tiger,’ is now ahead in the polls, and within striking distance of the presidency. His platform promises a military crackdown on narcoterrorism and closer collaboration with the United States.Many Latin American nations have shifted to the right in recent elections, and the Colombia vote is seen as a crucial litmus test for the wider region’s political landscape. Could Colombia be the next country in Latin America take a hard turn to the right? And how might that benefit President Donald Trump? We speak to BBC South America correspondent, Ione Wells.Producers: Viv Jones and Xandra EllinExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyMix: Travis EvansVideo producer: Matt PintusSenior news editor: China CollinsPhto: Colombian right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella. REUTERS/Cesar Quiroz
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Hungary pays couples to have babies: Does it work?
1w ago00:26:56Tap to summarizeGlobal fertility rates are at record lows globally, and governments around the world are urging couples to grow their families.Under Viktor Orbán’s leadership, Hungary implemented some of the most aggressive pro-natalist policies in the world — including generous subsidies for couples who promise to have children, lengthy paid maternity leave, and thousands of dollars in interest-free loans.But does paying people to have kids actually work? We speak to BBC populations correspondent Stephanie Hegarty about the possibilities and limitations of pro-natalist government policies.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Hannah MooreExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A mother holding the feet of her baby. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
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Iran, the US and Israel: who really won?
1w ago00:26:56Tap to summarizeThe US and Iran have agreed a deal to end the war, which – if all goes to plan – will be signed at a ceremony in Switzerland on Friday.But the agreement remains shrouded in mystery, and major questions remain about whether both sides can reach a long-term peace deal.We speak to the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, about how the past few months have affected the global economy, the region, Iran’s nuclear capabilities, its regime and its people. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy PawleExecutive producer: James ShieldAudio mix: Travis EvansVideo producer: Matt PintusSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A drone view shows vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 15, 2026. Photo credit: Reuters
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What are Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump up to in Albania?
1w ago00:27:02Tap to summarizeIn the centre of Albania's capital, Tirana, thousands have been taking to the streets. The target of the protests are not just the government, but also Donald’s Trump daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner.The pair have been working on a new multi-billion dollar luxury tourism project that will see part of Albania’s unspoiled coast turned into luxury hotels and villas, sparking what some have dubbed the, 'Flamingo Revolution’', due to risk to the local flamingo population.We speak to Emily Wither, the reporter behind the BBC documentary, 'Albania: Land, Money and Sea', about how a stretch of Albanian coastline has become the latest battleground in the Trump family's global business ambitions.Producers: Valerio Esposito and Xandra Ellin Executive producer: James Shield Video editor: Matt Pintus Mix: Travis Evans Senior News Editor: China CollinsPhoto: An inflatable flamingo is seen on the beach in the area planned for the coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump near Vlora, Albania, 06 June 2026. Credit: Malton Dibra/EPA/Shutterstock.Clip: The Money Pit/TM & © Universal (1986)/Tom Hanks/Shelley Long/Richard Benjamin/David Giler, Kathleen Kennedy, Art Levinson, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg.
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The World Cup referee barred from the United States
2w ago00:27:50Tap to summarizeThe 2026 World Cup kicked off last night in Mexico, after a series of controversies in the lead up, including over visas for foreign teams, fans, media and officials hoping to go to the host countries: US, Canada and Mexico. The latest scandal involves FIFA dropping Somali referee Omar Artan, after the US refused him entry. FIFA‘s president Gianni Infantino said “we don't control everything”, and asked critics to ‘chill’. US Customs and Borders protection said in a statement that “derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations” was discovered after Omar Artan landed at Miami International Airport to attend the tournament. Artan says he told border officials he knows nothing about the Somali militant group Al Shabab. Today, we speak to Charles Gitonga, senior journalist and host of the BBC’s Focus on Africa podcast, about how Africans are reacting to the news, and whether the controversies will have long-term consequences for US-Africa relations.Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: Bridget Harney Video editor: Matt Pintus Mix: Travis Evans Senior News Editor: China CollinsPhoto: Somali referee Omar Artan. Credit: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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The world according to Marco Rubio
2w ago00:27:54Tap to summarizeAs a Florida senator, Marco Rubio seemed to hold an opposing world view to Donald Trump; on Russia-Ukraine, on China, on USAID, and more. He notably called Trump a “con man”, and Trump in turn dubbed him, “little Marco”.And yet now, as US Secretary of State, Rubio has made himself indispensable to the president on foreign affairs, bringing his own background to play in policy on Venezuela and Cuba, and shaping the US’ approach to further interventions abroad. Trump has even indicated that he wants Rubio to run on a joint ticket with JD Vance for the next US presidency. How has Rubio tailored himself to Trump’s world view? And what difference would he bring as a potential presidential candidate? Tom Bateman, the BBC’s State Department correspondent, regularly travels with Rubio, and he joins Asma on today’s show. Producers: Hannah Moore and Aron Keller Executive producer: Bridget Harney Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: Marco Rubio attends a Senate Appropriations subcommittee to testify about the proposed 2027 budget for the Department of State, June 3, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein.
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