The Story

With her husband Donald left reeling after last week's US midterm elections, Melania Trump is quietly having a moment. She helped secure a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky and now has her sights set on further peace in the war torn country - she’s just hosted a meeting at the White House between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. How - and why - did Melania get involved in this war, when she once seemed so keen to stay out of politics? And who’s really benefitting?Guest: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: How North Korea became a crypto-theft world leaderClips: First Post, CBS, NBC, SKY, Forbes, MS Now, America’s Let’s Move, The Carter Centre, YouTube, StartUp Health, Fox5 Atlanta, CNN, ABC, Kyiv Independent, BBC, MS Now, MSNBC, Nine Network, Melania / Amazon MGM Studios, The National News Desk.Photo: Getty Images.

This week's conviction of Russell Brand on rape and sexual assault charges followed a joint investigation into the comedian and Hollywood actor by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme.Today we're re-publishing that original investigation, led by journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, as it went out in The Story in September 2023.A warning: this episode does contain detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault.Rosamund and Charlotte have since been covering Brand's trial in our sister podcast, The Trial of Russell BrandBrand himself denies the allegations.Guests:Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent, The Sunday TimesCharlotte Wace, investigations correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Will Roe and Edward DrummondRead more:Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuseRussell Brand told the world who he was for decadesClips: BBC, Channel 4, Universal Pictures UK, ITV News, ITV, Endemol, Russell Brand YouTube Channel, CBSPhoto: Getty imageHelplines:Rape Crisis England & WalesRape Crisis Scotland

Last week, it emerged that an unnamed celebrity had asked a court for anonymity, and an injunction to stop two news outlets airing allegations that he abused his fame to prey on young women. The request was partly made on mental health grounds - he said he’d kill himself ‘at the earliest opportunity’ if publication went ahead. It’s prompted a storm of speculation about who the man is, and sparked a debate on press freedom and responsibility. So will the claims be published and will the man - who denies the allegations - be revealed? This podcast contains discussions around suicide. 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: Pia Sarma, editorial legal director at Times Media and deputy general counsel at News UK. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Celebrity ‘suicide’ injunction could open floodgates, warns Ian HislopFurther listening: How the rich and powerful try to intimidate the pressClips: TalkTV, Times Radio, Sky, Channel 4, Al Jazeera. Photo: Getty Images.

The comedian and Hollywood actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court.The trial itself followed an investigation by The Times and The Sunday Times, along with Channel 4's Dispatches.In this episode of our sister podcast, The Trial of Russell Brand, the reporters who led that investigation join Luke Jones to describe being in court as the jury delivered its verdict.Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com

The results of Tuesday’s US midterm elections are in – and the results are astounding. Democrats flipped some historic red states to gain control of Congress, in a bruising rebuke to Donald Trump. But what does this stunning victory mean for the Democrats? And who could run for president in 2028? We asked our reporters across the US after they watched the results come 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:David Charter, assistant editor in the US, The Times.George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.Susie Coen, US correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Shabnam Grewal.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Will Trump be impeached? What happens now Democrats have won the midtermsFurther listening: US midterms: Can the Democrats flip Texas?Clips: ABC, NBC, BBC, The Guardian, Fox News, James Talarico via Facebook, C-SPAN, CNN.Photo: Getty Images.

Last week, cryptocurrency exchange Binance was hacked, affecting a record £4.7bn of assets. While North Korea denies being behind the attack, investigators say clues point to the actions of the rogue state. How did the country develop into a hacking superpower, and as cyber crime escalates, how can we protect ourselves?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:Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations, University of Oxford, and founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ.Host: Manveen RanaProducers: Robyn Simon and Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Binance heist: investors pull out $4.5bn after hackers’ attackFurther listening: Unit 29155: The Russian cyberagency targeting BritainPhoto: Getty Images.

King Charles is in the Caribbean – his first tour there as monarch. Along with the royal processions, meetings and public appearances, Charles’ recent visits have also included discussions of Britain’s historic role in the transatlantic slave trade. Now, local calls for an apology and even reparations for slavery have grown louder. So how will the King and the UK government answer them?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: Kate Mansey, assistant editor and royal editor, The Times.Sathnam Sanghera, writer for The Times and the author of Empireworld: How British Imperialism has shaped the globe.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Robyn Simon.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Soaked King demands brolly as slavery row dominates Caribbean tourFurther listening: Building Britain | The Legacy of Penrhyn Castle Ep. 1Clips: Sky News, Global News, BBC, GB News, The Royal Family Channel, ITV News, The Guardian, ITN, TODAY.Photo: Getty Images.

Tomorrow, Americans head to the polls in the most expensive election in US political history: the 2026 midterms. Although Trump’s not on the ballot, the elections are seen as a referendum on his leadership, and alongside diesel prices and the war in Iran, there’s a new issue getting Americans nationwide to reconsider their vote: data centres. So why have data centres become such a hot button issue? What is resistance like on the ground? And how will this change how Americans vote tomorrow?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:Susie Coen, US correspondent, The Times.Darrell West, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Paige Reynolds.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: We refuse to have a data centre on our farm, even for $26mFurther listening: US midterms: Can the Democrats flip Texas?Clips: CNN, AP, NBC, KENS 5, ABC news, CBS News Chicago, MLive, CBS News, Fox News, USA TodayPhoto: Glenn Hartong for The Times.

Last month, 33 year old bodybuilder Mateusz Chmura collapsed and died during a prestigious UK competition. The cause of his death is yet to be confirmed but it’s raised fresh questions about why there are so many fatalities in the sport – some figures suggest around 50 a year, internationally. So what’s killing these athletes? And is the widespread substance abuse in this world spilling over into the mainstream?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: Matt Lawton, chief sports correspondent, The Times.Imran Khan, sports and exercise physiologist and director of SafePulse.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Questions for bodybuilding after death following on-stage collapseClips: BBC, frontdouble1 / instagram, Fitness Routine English / Youtube.Photo: PCA / Instagram