Best Daily News Podcasts (2026)
Scrolling headlines all morning is a terrible way to stay informed. These 10 daily news podcasts give you the full picture in 20 minutes or less — proper journalism, smart analysis and none of the doom-scrolling. Pick one and make it part of your morning.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
1. The Daily
Michael Barbaro and the New York Times team take one major story each day and go deep. The reporting is meticulous, the interviews are revealing, and by the end of each episode you genuinely understand the story — not just the headline.
2. Up First
NPR's morning briefing covers the three biggest stories of the day in about 10 minutes. It's crisp, balanced and perfectly timed for a shower or a commute. If you only have time for one news podcast, this is it.
3. Today in Focus
The Guardian's daily podcast takes one story and gives it 20 minutes of proper attention. Hosted with a UK perspective, it covers everything from Westminster chaos to global crises. The reporting is first-rate and the production keeps getting better.
4. Post Reports
The Washington Post's daily show features the reporters behind the biggest stories explaining what they found and why it matters. The format puts you right alongside the journalism — you hear the sources, the context and the stakes.
5. Pod Save America
Former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor break down the news with insider knowledge and sharp political analysis. Crooked Media's flagship show is opinionated, well-informed and consistently one of the most-listened-to political podcasts in America.
6. The Intelligence
The Economist's daily podcast covers three global stories in around 20 minutes. The reporting spans continents — you'll hear about elections in South America, tech regulation in Asia and conflict in Africa in the same episode. Genuinely broadens your worldview.
7. Global News Podcast
The BBC World Service's flagship podcast drops twice daily with comprehensive international coverage. With correspondents in more countries than any other network, the depth and range is unmatched. A must for anyone who wants news beyond their own borders.
8. The Journal
The Wall Street Journal's daily podcast blends business news with narrative storytelling. Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson make complex financial and corporate stories genuinely gripping. Excellent for understanding how money and power actually move.
9. The News Agents
Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall deliver sharp, insightful daily news analysis with a UK and global focus. Three veteran journalists who cut through the noise and explain not just what happened, but why it matters. One of the fastest-growing news podcasts in the UK.
10. Newscast
The BBC's flagship daily news podcast features their top journalists and correspondents breaking down the biggest stories with insider access. Adam Fleming and the team bring the kind of behind-the-scenes context that makes complex political stories actually make sense.
Make the news your morning alarm
Set a daily news podcast as your alarm and start every morning informed. Download Podcast Alarm and wake up to the stories that matter.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
