The Story

As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off tonight in their first TV debate, it’s more than just a political showdown - it's a battle of the sexes. The polls are too close to call with women heavily favouring Harris, while men lean towards Trump. Could the hot-button topic of abortion prove the issue that shifts the electoral balance?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: Sarah Baxter, former Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Further listening: Why tech billionaires are backing TrumpFurther reading: Why Donald Trump is suddenly talking about cocaineGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: NBC, Fox, AP Archive.This episode was first published in September 2024.

As polling day approaches, fears are growing that the result will not be accepted by the losing side. The potential consequences range from election denialism to violence, and even civil 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/thestoryGuest: Tom Newton Dunn, covering the US election for The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: MSNBC, CBS, New York Post, NBC News.Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has raised taxes by £40 billion in the first Labour budget in fourteen years. Does it ‘fix the foundations’ or does it punish ‘working people’?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 Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament live. Photo: Times Photographer Richard Pohle. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

The One Direction star is alleged to have died with a substance known as ‘pink cocaine’ in his system. This popular, dangerous high could mark a new phase in the world of drugs. So what is it?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.Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Kate Spicer, Writer, The Times. Substack: https://katespicer.substack.com/Clips: E! News, Virgin Radio, ABC7 News.Further reading: Liam Payne, drugs and the rise of pink cocaine.

Kamala Harris’ campaign is pulling out all the stops to woo black and Latino Americans, over concerns that voters from these groups are signalling their support for Donald Trump in record numbers. Polling suggests some of the Democrat’s core base will peel away to vote Republican in this election – so what’s Trump’s appeal? And could their votes decide the election?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: Tom Newton Dunn, covering the US election for The Times. Read Tom’s reporting:Can Kamala Harris win back Arab-American voters lost to Gaza?Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Kamala Harris, Univision Noticias, Washington Post. Photo: Getty Images Further listening: Why tech billionaires are backing Trump What happens if the American election is a tie? Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

When Sean O’Neill’s daughter Maeve died aged 27 from malnutrition caused by severe ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis - he faced years of waiting for an inquest to find out why the system failed her. That inquest has just ended, but will its ground-breaking conclusion change things for the hundreds of thousands of ME sufferers in the UK?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeInformation and helpline services for ME are available at Action for ME and The ME Association.Further reading: My daughter died of ME. I had to fight the NHS for answers A scandal waiting for its Post Office momentGuest: Sean O’Neill, Maeve Boothby O’Neill’s father and Senior Writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Image credit: O'Neill family.

As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from the new Tech Podcast from The Times. Presenters Katie Prescott and Danny Fortson are joined by Microsoft boss Satya Nadella. On a whistle-stop AI tour of the world and in his only UK interview this year - this exclusive conversation with Satya Nadella covers the dangers, pitfalls and growth of AI.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: Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive, Microsoft.Hosts: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

The former first lady’s new ‘tell all’ memoir addresses everything from her nude modelling and her husband’s policies to her surprising stance on abortion. But why is she doing it now — and will it help or hinder Donald Trump’s presidential campaign?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Josie Ensor, US Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Luke Jones. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comClips: Fox News, CBS, ABC, CNN, X.com/@melaniatrump. Photo: Getty Images.

'Rivals' hit our TV screens this month; it’s the first adaptation of a Jilly Cooper ‘bonkbuster,’ the 87 year old Dame who taught a generation about sex and posh people. Her uber-popular romance novels sell in their millions, so what’s behind her popularity (aside from all the bonking) and how is she changing how we see, and show, sex.This podcast contains lots and lots of talk about sex and other themes of an adult nature. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribeGuest: Sarah Ditum, writer, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke JonesClips: Rivals / Jilly Cooper / Elliot Hegarty / Happy Prince / Disney+; ITV; BBC; Addicted To Love / Robert Palmer / Bernard Edwards / Island. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Image credit: Robert Viglasky / Disney / PA