Sky News Daily

The French first lady may have had her day in court, but can she win an even bigger case in the US to finally clear her name following the spread of online conspiracy theories?

After years of abuse, ten people have been found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron. Their claims included outright lies about her gender as well as allegations around the nature of her relationship with her husband, President Emmanuel Macron.

But the legal action won't stop there, with the couple also suing the American right-wing influencer Candace Owens for amplifying the same accusations.

So, who began spreading these theories and why? What is their enduring appeal to the public? And can the Macron trial prove to be a landmark moment in the fight against cyberbullying?

Niall speaks to Emma-Kate Symons, a Paris-based journalist at Conspiracy Watch and contributing editor at The New World, about where these theories start and why they catch on.

Producer: Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill

Should we be shocked by Donald Trump's intervention in Venezuela – or is it simply an extension of 200 years of Washington foreign policy?

The US stunned the world with the military strikes which led to the capture of the Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro. Trump then went further by suggesting the US will now 'run' the country for the foreseeable future.

For a leader who's positioned himself as a 'President of Peace' does this move mark a significant shift for Trump? And is this a continuation of the sort of US interventionist foreign policy that has shaped the world for decades?

Niall is joined by Dr Stephen Tuffnell, associate professor of modern US history at St Peter’s College, Oxford, to discuss how this move fits into the history of US foreign policy and which countries could be affected next.

Producers: Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill

Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking.

In June, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s often reclusive supreme leader, surfaced to hit back at Donald Trump’s demands for an unconditional surrender.

Khamanei first came to power as President of Iran in 1981, and he was a surprise choice for supreme leader eight years later. But since then, with the help of the Revolutionary Guard he has had almost complete control of Iran and its anti-Israel and anti-American foreign policy agenda.

Sky's Tom Cheshire speaks to Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, about how Khamenei is viewed inside Iran and how his policies contributed to the current crisis.

Producer: Soila Apparicio

Editor: Wendy Parker

Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking.

In October, the royal previously known as Prince Andrew, lost his titles over his association with convicted pedofile Jeffrey Epstein.

His ex-wife – Sarah Ferguson – was also in Epstein's network, and she was dropped as a patron of several charities at the time. But it wasn’t the first time Sarah – Duchess of York had caused the Royal family a headache.

Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall Of The House of York, joins Niall in remembering the key moments in the duchess's public life.

Producers: Soila Apparicio, Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill

Over 2025, every Friday, the Sky News Daily has been profiling a figure in the news – those who are making headlines, creating conversations. During the festive period, we’re revisiting some of those standout profiles – the ones that really got us talking.

In July, the author of bestselling book The Salt Path was the main character in her own seismic plot twist. Was the story - based on Raynor Winn's life-affirming account of how her husband's illness and losing their money and home put them on a 630-mile coastal walk - true?

Since the initial bombshell that it wasn’t quite all that, there’s been news accusations alleging Raynor Winn took money from relatives. And the Sky Documentaries team has followed the story too, in a new film out for your festive viewing.

You can make up your own mind on the real Salt Path, for now, here’s our revisit to: What's the truth of The Salt Path?

Niall goes through the original claims with Sky News arts and entertainment Jayson Mansaray and hears from a journalist who has interviewed Raynor, Charlotte Lytton.

Producers: Emily Hulme and Soila Apparicio

Editor: Paul Stanworth