The Story

As the Iran war reignites, there's a hidden figure influencing the American side. In an exclusive interview for The Times, Pete Hegseth’s pastor Doug Wilson says the conflict in Iran is a righteous battle against Muslims, homosexuality is evil, and women who dress immodestly are sluts. How is this ultraconservative influencing US foreign policy? And could we see his brand of Christianity in the UK?

This podcast contains mention of some topics listeners may find offensive.

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

Guest: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: Pete Hegseth’s pastor: ‘Women who dress immodestly are sluts’
Further listening: Trump v the Supreme Court
Clips: PBS, CNN, New Founding Podcast / YouTube, Pulp Fiction / Quentin Tarantino / Mirimax, The Independent, Blog&Mablog / YouTube, Daniel Foucachon / YouTube.
Photo: Dominic Gwinn / Zuma Press.
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Alex Murdaugh stands accused of the brutal murders of his wife and son. As shocking evidence, devastating testimony, and disturbing secrets unfold in court, one question still hangs over everything: Did he actually do it?

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

Guest: James Lasdun, author of The Family Man.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Dave Creasey and Jesse Fox.
Clips: CNN, CBS, Fox News, CourtRoomTV, WCSC, WIS News, WJCL, NBC, GMA.
Image: Getty Images.
Times Book Shop: The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
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The Murdaugh family had power, wealth, and influence until two brutal killings exposed a world of stolen millions and deadly secrets. As the lies unravelled, a once-untouchable dynasty collapsed into one of America’s darkest true crime cases. But what really happened that night, and who is to blame?

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

Guest: James Lasdun, author of The Family Man.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Dave Creasey and Jesse Fox.
Clips: CNN, CBS, Fox News, CourtRoomTV, WCSC, WIS News, WJCL, NBC.
Image: Getty Images.
Times Book Shop: The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More revelations are coming out about donations to Reform UK. The Sunday Times Insight team have discovered that the Metropolitan Police are investigating a £500,000 donation from the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell. How will this affect Farage’s chances in the Clacton by-election now scheduled for August? And what does it say about the state of political donations in the UK more widely?

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:

Gabriel Pogrund, insight editor, The Sunday Times.
Richard Tice, Reform UK MP.
Peter Geoghegan, investigative journalist.
Host: Ayesha Hazarika.
Producer: Musty Aziz.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Police investigate Reform donations by mother of fraudster who bankrolled Farage
Further listening: Posh George: The criminal behind Farage
Photo: Getty Images.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer 2026 is another scorcher, with temperature records being broken across Europe. Infrastructure in the UK is creaking; with trains cancelled, schools closed and people sweltering in their homes. Why does Europe seem to be heating up more than other continents? And could outlandish ideas hold the answer to cooling us down long term?

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

Guest: Tom Whipple, science writer and special correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Harry Stott.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Heatwave exposes flaws in Britain’s ability to supply fresh food
Further listening: Have we stopped caring about climate change?
Clips: Channel 4, BBC, Sky News.
Photo: Getty Images.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.