Today in Focus

Today in Focus is The Guardian's daily podcast, and it operates in two distinct modes. The morning edition, hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal, and Annie Kelly, runs about 25-32 minutes and takes a deep, often investigative approach to a single story. The evening edition, called "The Latest" and hosted by Lucy Hough, is a 10-minute briefing that catches you up on whatever broke that day. It's a smart structure -- you get depth in the morning and speed in the evening. The morning show is where the real value lies. Guardian reporters are known for their long-form investigative work, and this podcast gives those reporters a chance to tell their stories in their own voices. You'll hear episodes about housing crises, immigration policy, climate disasters, and corporate malfeasance, often told from the perspective of the people directly affected. The reporting has a distinctly British and international flavor, covering European and global stories that American news pods tend to skip. With about 723 episodes and a 4.5-star rating, it has a dedicated audience. The production is polished -- good sound design, effective use of field recordings, and hosts who know how to guide a conversation without dominating it. If you lean toward The Guardian's journalism and want a daily podcast that goes beyond headlines, this one delivers. The two-edition format also means you can pick the version that fits your schedule without feeling like you're missing out.