The Week and Arion McNicoll, standing in for Olly Mann, delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebekah Evans, Guy Anker and Holden Frith.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Housing
A new report has shown England is officially the worst place in the developed world for housing, offering a snapshot of the ongoing housing crisis. Leaking roofs, damp walls and mouldy floors have all been reported. What is wrong with England's homes? Who is suffering the most from poor conditions? And will circumstances improve?
A bank rescue
High-street lender Metro Bank secured a last minute rescue deal after its share price plunged last week following concerns over its finances. Fifteen years on from the 2008 financial crisis, how safe are our banks? And how can savers and investors protect themselves against banks going bust and losing their money?
1918
Research published on Monday has challenged the long-held belief that the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 was unique in its indiscriminate ability to kill otherwise healthy people of all ages. In fact, according to scientists at University of Colorado and McMaster University in Ontario, a disproportionate number of victims were also suffering from cancer or tuberculosis. As well as changing what we know about this century-old pandemic, could it inform how we respond to future outbreaks of flu?
-
Film reviews: ‘Send Help’ and ‘Private Life’Feature An office doormat is stranded alone with her awful boss and a frazzled therapist turns amateur murder investigator
-
Movies to watch in Februarythe week recommends Time travelers, multiverse hoppers and an Iraqi parable highlight this month’s offerings during the depths of winter
-
ICE’s facial scanning is the tip of the surveillance icebergIN THE SPOTLIGHT Federal troops are increasingly turning to high-tech tracking tools that push the boundaries of personal privacy
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why is China clearing out its generals?Podcast Plus, can the Conservatives win back the centre? And what’s gone wrong with Britain’s hearing aids?
-
The Week Unwrapped: What can we learn from a tool-wielding cow?Podcast Plus, have we reached ‘peak billionaire’? When should troops disobey their superiors?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will Uganda’s pop-star politician prevail?Podcast Plus, is dodgy data undermining medical research? And what does a new app reveal about Chinese society?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Is Elon Musk’s AI tool a platform for abuse?Podcast Plus can Mumsnet predict who will be the next PM? And who is still watching Avatar sequels?
-
The Week Unwrapped: What’s the cost of PFAs?Podcast Plus why is George Osborne joining OpenAI? And has universal basic income finally come of age?
-
The Week Unwrapped: what’s scuppering Bulgaria’s Euro dream?Podcast Plus has Syria changed, a year on from its revolution? And why are humans (mostly) monogamous?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will drought fuel global violence?Podcast Plus why did Trump pardon a drug-trafficking president? And are romantic comedies in terminal decline?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Have pedigree dogs had their day?Podcast Plus what can we learn from Slovenia’s rejection of assisted dying? And can politicians admit their weaknesses?
