The Story

Today America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence. It’s an epic tale of revolution, rebellion and the making of a global superpower. But how did Britain end up fighting, and losing, the war that gave birth to the most powerful nation on earth?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Jack Blackburn, history correspondent, The Times. Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How Britain drove America to independencePhoto: Getty.

Nigel Farage has drawn increasing political and public scrutiny for a £5 million personal gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024. Farage says it’s for his security and nobody else’s business, but has he made a political misstep which risks his future aspirations to be PM? And do extra revelations about his property portfolio and his lucrative role with a gold bullion company add extra pressure?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: Sebastian Payne, columnist, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: David Whitty, Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Nigel Farage’s £5 million is a burden for ReformFurther listening: Inside Farage’s political earthquake Clips: BBC, LBC, Times Radio, Rupert Lowe - facebook, Direct Bullion, The Mirror.Photo: Getty Images.

The US Supreme Court has finished a momentous term with some ground-breaking rulings on a raft of issues from trans rights to birthright citizenship. And one case has greatly expanded presidential powers. So is this term a win for Trump? And what does it mean for the country’s future?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: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Supreme Court rules Trump cannot scrap birthright citizenshipFurther listening: Why Trump's attack on the Fed affects us allClips: USA Today, Fox, CBS News, CSPAN, Times Radio, ABC News, CNN, KTLA, The Washington Post.   Photo: Getty.

After a year of waiting, the defence investment plan was finally released yesterday. The plan will take defence spending to £80 billion a year by 2029, but some have criticised it for still leaving Britain's military under-funded. So will this plan do enough to make the country more secure? And what role should Britain be carving out for itself in the new geopolitical world we find ourselves in?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.General Sir Richard Barrons, co-author of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, David Whitty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What’s in Keir Starmer’s defence investment plan? Key pointsFurther listening: Will Burnham scrap the most expensive promise in politics?Clips: BBC, Parliament tv, Al Carns - Facebook. Photo: Getty Images, The Times.

After a series of reports about individual failing maternity trusts in England, a national report is published today. It says women are not being listened to, racism is systemic, regulators are failing and triage is not working. So how did things get so bad? What do families think of the report's findings? And will it finally force a change in England’s woeful maternity care?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The TimesPoppy Koronka, health correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Ockenden review: Three hospital bosses were awarded CBEsClips: GB News, BBC, ITV. Photo: Adobe.

Andy Burnham now looks a shoo-in for number 10, and he has grand plans for the UK economy. One thing many have been crying out for is scrapping the triple lock on pensions, which has been a boon for pensioners, but a drag on public finances. So will Burnham be brave enough to get rid of it? And what else might he do to boost our stagnating economy?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: Jack Barnett, economics correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Harry Stott, Harry Bligh.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andy Burnham’s advisers back scrapping pension triple lockFurther listening: Have PM resignations become a new British disease?Clips: BBC, IPaper / Youtube, Times Radio, ITV, DWS NEWS, Parliamentlive.tv.Photo: Getty Images.

The British island of St Helena in the South Atlantic lies more than 1,000 miles from the nearest landmass. Recently, it's been gripped by scandal. When a surgeon arrived in 2015, he was meant to transform healthcare on the island. Instead, patients suffered catastrophic harm. So what happens when a dangerous surgeon arrives on one of the world’s most remote islands?The Surgeon of St Helena is an Audio Always podcast. You can listen to the whole series here.Host: Luke JonesProducers: Louisa Adams and Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Jon Tonks.

What happened when Times feature writer Sophia Money-Coutts was invited onboard the first ever Killing Kittens sex cruise ship in the Mediterranean? Well, strap in, as Sophia’s takes us below deck, metaphorically, mostly, to find out.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Sophia Money Coutts, feature writer, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What happened on my Killing Kittens sex cruise in the Med?Image: Olivia West for the Times Magazine.

When the Boshyn twins’ hometown was occupied by Russia at the start of the Ukraine war, their lives took drastically different turns; one fought for Ukraine, the other for Russia. How did they end up on opposing sides? And as both Russia and Ukraine make territorial gains, who currently has the upper hand? 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: Jack Clover, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Four years of horror in Ukraine’s ‘forgotten Bucha’Further listening: What Iranians really think of Trump’s peace deal.Clips: BBC, India Today, RIA Novosti, Smotrim. Photo: The Boshyn family.