The financial time bomb facing special educational needs

21 January 2025 - 27 mins
Podcast Series Today in Focus

Richard Adams reports on the Send funding cliff edge affecting children and their development. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

27 mins

Series Episodes

‘Barbaric’ firing squad livestream ordered by Pete Hegseth – The Latest Playing

‘Barbaric’ firing squad livestream ordered by Pete Hegseth – The Latest

The execution of a former US army psychiatrist by firing squad is to be livestreamed after Pete Hegseth said it would be a public event. Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death after killing 13 people at a military base in Texas in 2009. There has been widespread condemnation of the decision, including from the UN which said it would ‘amount to torture’. Lucy Hough speaks to US academic and capital punishment specialist Austin Sarat, the author of Life After Death: Surviving Execution – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

12 mins

9 October Finished

Russell T Davies on 40 years of bringing gay stories to our screens Playing

Russell T Davies on 40 years of bringing gay stories to our screens

explicit

The Dr Who showrunner made his name with taboo-busting series such as Queer As Folk. He tells Helen Pidd about how he changed the way queer lives were depicted on British television. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

27 mins

9 October Finished

‘Come back’: EU flirts with UK rejoining – The Latest Playing

‘Come back’: EU flirts with UK rejoining – The Latest

Andy Burnham is pressing ahead with his Brexit U-turn, using a visit to Germany to make a ‘commitment to deeper EU co-operation’. The prime minister has promised closer ties on issues such as security, youth mobility and immigration. The move has been welcomed by senior European officials, including the French finance minister, who invited the UK ‘to come all the way back’ to the EU. With public polling now shifting against Brexit, is the door open for the UK to decide if it wants to rejoin? Lucy Hough speaks to Europe correspondent Jon Henley – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

11 mins

8 October Finished

France’s teens versus the riot police Playing

France’s teens versus the riot police

Angelique Chrisafis on the pupils and students who are taking to the streets and closing down schools in France. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

27 mins

8 October Finished

‘Jaw-dropping’: Christa Pike wakes up after botched execution – The Latest Playing

‘Jaw-dropping’: Christa Pike wakes up after botched execution – The Latest

Christa Pike, a death row inmate who survived the state of Tennessee’s attempt to execute her last week, is conscious and speaking. The 50-year-old is recovering in hospital after surviving two lethal injections in a case that has shocked many in the US and prompted a debate about the death penalty. She was due to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Michael Safi speaks to the chief reporter for Guardian US, Ed Pilkington – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

12 mins

7 October Finished

A week inside the chaos of the Green party Playing

A week inside the chaos of the Green party

After a surge in support Zack Polanski is hoping he can win over Kier Starmer’s constituency to become an MP. But has a controversial motion over Zionism thrown his campaign into disarray?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

33 mins

7 October Finished

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