From bleak TV comedies to #mumtok meltdowns, modern motherhood is often portrayed as joyless, exhausting, and even traumatic. How did fear become the dominant narrative around parenting? And what gets lost in the process?

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: Alexandra Jones, writer, The Times.

Host: Taryn Siegel.

Producers: Aaliyah Ahmed and Taryn Siegel.

Further reading:

• Negative tales of motherhood nearly put me off having a baby
• What I wish I’d known before I had kids

Clips: Netflix/Motherland, Parliament TV.

Photo: Courtesy of Alexandra Jones.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com..

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is changing course on the winter fuel allowance - where does it sit in the league table of political U-turns, and will it please anybody?

The political masterminds also discuss the Conservative Party's existential polling spiral, why Starmer's approval ratings have fallen so far in the year since the General Election was called, and why Hugo agrees with Polly that babies should get the vote.

Send your comments and questions to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In New York, the P Diddy trial is in its second week. The case centres around ‘freak-offs’ - parties where it’s claimed he forced two ex-girlfriends to engage in sexual acts with male escorts. He denies the claims. As the trial enters its second week, here’s the update.

This podcast contains discussions of rape and sexual assault that some listeners may find upsetting. If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard in this podcast, you can visit the Rape Crisis website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ or for domestic abuse, Refuge’s website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ for help and support.

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: Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading:

• My week at the Diddy trial, where laughter gave way to disturbed silence
• Diddy went to confront rival with three guns, ex-assistant says

Further listening:

• P Diddy on trial
• The P Diddy lawsuits: The downfall of a rap legend

Clips: Instagram / @Diddy, ABC, Fox, BBC, YouTube, NewsweekMag, CourtTV, Diaro As, CNN.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump took a tour of the Middle East last week, there was one notable omission from his itinerary - a trip to see America's long term political ally in the region, Israel. Instead, the US President voiced concern for the ongoing famine in Gaza. And now, after days of speculation, Benjamin Netanyahu has been forced to dismiss talk of a rift with Israel's military and diplomatic patron. But what caused Trump's patience to snap, and will it change anything for starving Gazans?

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: Gabrielle Weiniger, Tel Aviv-based correspondent for The Times

Amal Helles, Reporter at The Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Further reading: Leaked map shows Israeli proposal to force Gazans into strips of land / Here in Gaza, babies are skin and bone. I fear mine will be too

Further listening: Trump’s Gaza Bombshell

Clips: Sky News, UK Parliament, Al Jazeera, TRT World

Photo: A Gaza soup kitchen, via Getty images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 200 migrants from the US are being held in a high-security prison for terrorists in El Salvador, accused of being gang members. How did El Salvador become the repository for US deportees? And what does the friendship between President Bukele and President Trump tell us about the futures of both countries?

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: Stephen Gibbs, Contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

Further reading: The TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during livestream in Mexico

Clips: China Xinhau Español, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, Guardian News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and is now considering his options for treatment. The physical and mental health of the 82 year old has made the news frequently over the last year or so. In fact, questions about his mental capacity eventually forced him to step aside in favour of Kamala Harris. A new book reveals how Biden’s team kept him away from scrutiny and covered up his declining health. Manveen speaks to The Times’s assistant editor, David Charter, who has interviewed the authors.

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: David Charter, Assistant Editor (US), The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Further reading:

The fall of Joe Biden and how his team covered up his decline.

‘Original Sin’ review: How the democrats tried to hide Biden’s decline.

Key claims about Joe Biden’s health.

Clips: CNN, House Committee on the Judiciary, NBC, MSNBC.

Photo: Getty Images.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 has been one of the hardest to compile in recent years, thanks in large part to President Trump's tariffs. But it’s another government’s policies that the rich listers cite as their biggest concern. Why are the top 1% of earners so angry?

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: Robert Watts, compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List

Host: Manveen Rana

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Further reading: How the Sunday Times Rich List 2025 was compiled / The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 revealed

Clips: BBC, Times Radio, UK Parliament

Photo: Richard Pohle for Times Media Ltd

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in January.

Elon Musk has unleashed a huge political row in the UK over whether there should be a national inquiry into the gangs that groomed young girls for rape in a number of Britain's northern towns. But whilst the world's richest man accused the 'legacy media' of a cover-up, the scandal was actually exposed by Times journalist Andrew Norfolk. So how did he uncover the shocking story? And has enough been done to make sure it never happens again?

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: Andrew Norfolk, former Chief Investigations Reporter, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Emily Webb.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Image: The Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.