The Week Unwrapped: fat-busting jabs, Fox’s ‘fake’ news and saving oceans
Are weight-loss ‘wonder drugs’ really so wonderful? Should we care if political pundits are parroting bogus claims? And why is a new high seas treaty making waves?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Arion McNicoll.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped wherever you get your podcasts:
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.
Obesity drugs
A new weight-loss “wonder” jab has just been approved for use in England by the NHS. As the world battles ever-rising obesity rates and expanding waistlines, is this the miracle cure we've all been waiting for? Or is there a darker side to this latest medical breakthrough?
Debunking the news
An election tech company is suing Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News for $1.6bn for airing false claims that it helped cheat Donald Trump out of a win in the 2020 presidential election. Newly released texts and emails suggest the media tycoon and other top executives knew the vote-rigging conspiracies were baseless. But is that par for the course on a partisan television network or could the revelations spell the end of the US news giant?
Protecting seas
Following two decades of negotiations, nearly 200 countries have finally agreed to a legally binding protocol designed to protect marine life in international waters. The UN High Seas Treaty aims to bring law and order to the almost two-thirds of Earth’s oceans that lie outside national boundaries. So just how will the deal help reverse biodiversity losses and ensure a sustainable future?
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The 8 best biopic movies of the 21st century (so far!)the week recommends Not all true stories are feel good tales, but the best biopics offer insight into broader social and political trends
-
Washington grapples with ICE’s growing footprint — and futureTALKING POINTS The deadly provocations of federal officers in Minnesota have put ICE back in the national spotlight
-
‘One day fentanyl will come back — and there will be little anyone can do’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
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?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Can musicians challenge Putin?Podcast Plus who were the ‘human hunters’ of the Bosnian war? And what should happen to captive penguins?