The Story

As France’s hard-right National Rally take the lead in the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections, will the political spectrum unite to stop them taking over or could next week see the first hard-right government since the Second World 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: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaClips: Bloomberg, France 24. Further listening: Young, French, and voting hard-rightGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

In 2019, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives upended decades’ of traditional voting behaviour, as lifelong Labour seats in the north and midlands fell to the Tories. But with Brexit delivered and Johnson gone, the Tories are being challenged from the right by a resurgent Reform, as Luke Jones heard in Ashfield.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: Peter Kellner, Political Journalist and Pollster;Debbie Soloman, Parliamentary Candidate, Conservative and Unionist Party;Lee Anderson, Parliamentary Candidate, Reform UK; andRhea Keehn, Parliamentary Candidate, Labour Party. Also standing in Ashfield are: Jason Zadrozny, Ashfield Independents; Daniel Holmes, Liberal Democrats; Alexander Coates, Green Party.Host: Luke JonesClips: Sky News; Boris Johnson/Facebook.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The acclaimed ocean explorer, scientist, conservationist and Rolex Testimonee, Sylvia Earle shares how her global network of ‘Hope Spots’ are transforming ocean conservation. Sylvia tells Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor of The Times, how our oceans span over 70% of the Earth’s surface, and serve as a crucial life source - providing oxygen, sustenance, and climate regulation - and yet escalating human activities now threaten this vital ecosystem. This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded.

From his school days to how he made his money, the friends he’s made (and lost) to his wives, mistresses, and allegations of facism and racism, which he denies, who is the real Nigel Farage?The full list of Clacton candidatesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'Further listening: Keir Starmer: Up close and personal Host: Manveen Rana.Guest: Michael Crick, broadcaster and journalist. Clips: Channel 4, BBC, ITV, TikTOk/@nigel_farage, Without Me / Eminem / Shady / Aftermath and Interscope, Sky, European Parliament.

Tonight, in the first of only two presidential debates, the two oldest candidates in history have a lot to prove. Joe Biden faces serious questions about his mental and physical fitness, Donald Trump may have to conduct part of his campaign from behind bars. Could this debate prove pivotal for the campaign ahead - and the November election itself?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 Guests: Ben Hoyle, Foreign Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Joe Biden's Twitter, Guardian News, The Telegraph, CTV News, TPM TV, Bloomberg TV, AP Archive, MCamericanpresident Youtube. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

Five Conservative politicians are now being investigated by the Gambling Commission for allegedly placing bets on the date of the general election. Hundreds of pre-election bets are now being trawled for connections to the party. Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support from two of those under investigation but how bad could this get for the Tories?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: https://www.thetimes.com/podcasts/the-storyGuest: Harry Yorke, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC News, The Sun.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comFind out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

After centuries of dismissing the rest of the animal kingdom as non-sentient beings, scientists and philosophers are starting to make a new declaration in favour of animal consciousness. So what does that even mean, and what does it change?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/thestoryGuest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Netflix/My Octopus Teacher.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

Critics say the Labour leader is robotic, boring and hard to read, but is that all there is to the man in the running to become the next prime minister? The Sunday Times has spent three months on the campaign trail in search of the real Keir Starmer. 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/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor, The Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Times, Spiked, Talk TV, Sky News, Channel 4 News. Further listening: Hague talks to Rishi Sunak about being a dad, AI, and a terrible political inheritanceGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom'

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The Southern Cone of South America is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems in the world. However, decades of exploitation have taken their toll. Expansive lands left destroyed from ranching and species like the jaguar teetered on the brink of extinction. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by one of the most successful conservation philanthropists in history, Kris Tompkins, to hear how she’s committed her life to making this corner of the world wilder.This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. This podcast is advertiser funded.