Aug 18

Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights?

Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixed By Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon Darwen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

46m 39s

Aug 15

Best of 2025 … so far: The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2025, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from March: over 50 years, she has become one of the most revered ... Show More

41 m

Aug 13

Best of 2025 … so far: ‘I am not who you think I am’: how a deep-cover KGB spy recruited his own son

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2025, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from May: for the first time, the man the KGB codenamed ‘the Inher ... Show More

51m 52s

Oct 2023

The history of Hamas, and its likely grim future - with Jonathan Schanzer

We have been getting a lot of questions about the history of Hamas, its ideological roots and objectives, its allies and rivalries, how it wound up in charge of Gaza, the origins of this war, and whether there could actually be a post-Hamas Gaza. For this tutorial, our guest is D ... Show More

58m 39s

Apr 2024

US urges Hamas to accept Israel ceasefire offer

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has urged Hamas to accept what he has called Israel's "extraordinarily generous" ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Also: Following five days of speculation and corruption allegations against his wife, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez ... Show More

28m 24s

May 2024

[BONUS] The ICC arrest warrants against Israel and Hamas explained | The Big Picture

Will Benjamin Netanyahu face justice at the Hague? The International Criminal Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders over their actions in Gaza and on 7 October, accusing them both of committing war crimes. It’s an unprecedented move, the first ... Show More

10m 32s

Oct 2023

Hamas, Israel and the PA at War — with Jeroen Gunning, Dana El Kurd and Uriel Abulof

After a surprise attack by Hamas killed nearly 1,000 Israeli civilians, the Middle East stands on the brink of being engulfed by war. Israel’s retaliation has been no less devastating as the IDF laid siege to Gaza, killing more than 1,000 Palestinian civilians so far in a bombing ... Show More

57m 17s

Nov 2023

Downstream: The History of Israel’s War on Palestine w/ Rashid Khalidi

To really understand what’s going in Israel, you need to get your history straight. Rashid Khalidi is one of the foremost historians of the Middle East and the author of several books on the region’s history, including The Hundred Years’ War On Palestine. On the day of the ceasef ... Show More

53m 13s

Nov 2023

Israel's Plan To Replace Hamas, Trump Testifies In Fraud Case, Epic Vs Google

Israel continues intense bombardment on Gaza and vows to eliminate Hamas with no clear alternative to who might take over. Former President Donald Trump is set to testify in a New York courtroom today on charges of conspiring to falsify his property values. And, Epic Games sues G ... Show More

12m 47s

Has a lone Palestinian aid worker been f...