This Is Why

Sir Keir Starmer is promising help for working people whose energy bills are going up because of the Iran war.

The last energy bailout after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine cost £40bn, and on top of the costs of support during the COVID pandemic it means the UK's national debt is now around 100% of GDP.

Repaying that debt costs as much as the education budget.

With a new YouGov poll for Sky News suggesting that people overwhelmingly back energy prices being reduced for all households, Niall discusses who would pay for an energy bailout with Sky's data and economics editor Ed Conway.

A school pupil and a university student have died in Kent and 11 other people are seriously ill following a meningitis outbreak.

Meningitis can kill a person in less than 24 hours if it is not treated quickly. But outbreaks like this have been rare in recent years. Vaccination programmes have helped but anyone over the age of 10 will not have been offered a vaccination against MenB by the NHS. However, it has been available to infants since 2015.

Niall speaks to Dr Tom Nutt from Meningitis Now and Sky's science editor Tom Clarke about why meningitis can be deadly, what the symptoms are, and why the vaccine is not free for teenagers.

Timothee Chalamet – movie star and tabloid regular – had been the firm favourite to take home the Best Actor statue at this weekend’s Academy Awards. So why have the former Hollywood favourite’s fortunes fallen so dramatically?

The press campaign for his movie Marty Supreme, as well as some ill-timed controversial comments about opera and ballet, have led to a backlash. Why has public opinion turned against him? And how do the big Hollywood studios go about influencing who wins what at the Oscars?

Niall is joined by Sky’s entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer in Tinsel Town and Paula Froelich, senior story producer and on-air talent for NewsNation.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show - why@sky.uk

Credit: Timothée Chalamet & Matthew McConaughey | Variety & CNN Town Hall - Full Conversation - YouTube

One of the world's most valuable AI companies is suing the US government after it was designated a "supply chain risk" by Pete Hegseth's Department of War.

It's an unprecedented legal fight – after Anthropic refused to allow its technology to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.

Now, other tech giants – including Google, Microsoft and Apple – have swung their support behind Anthropic. Why has this dispute happened and what could it all mean for the future of AI?

Niall speaks to Sky’s technology correspondent, Rowland Manthorpe, about the potential consequences.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show - why@sky.uk

The first batch of the Mandelson files have finally been released – but even though there’s still more to come, there are already serious questions for the prime minister.

What was the vetting process before Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the United States?

How much was known about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein? And could more have been done to prevent a five-figure payout following his downfall?

Niall is joined by Sky’s political correspondent Rob Powell, who has been going through the files.

Peter Mandelson has always denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show - why@sky.uk