Nov 21

471. Rory Stewart: How the Government Tried to Silence Me on Lockdowns

Why did Boris Johnson and the British government not only fail to listen, but actively try to suppress early warnings about the pandemic? How did groupthink and optimism bias cripple the UK's response? And is Britain's government structurally too slow to handle future threats lik ... Show More

31m 13s

Nov 20

470. China vs Japan, the BBC at Breaking Point, and The Future of Satire (Question Time)

Is Japan provoking China, or responding to a real threat over Taiwan? What does the BBC’s credibility crisis reveal about Britain’s fight over truth? And, why is Chile swinging from the left to the far right? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. ... Show More

49m 7s

Nov 19

469. Is Starmer Out of Moves? Asylum Gamble, Tax Chaos, and Open Infighting

After a week of turmoil, can Labour recover their support or are they already doomed to lose the next election? Are Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms the answer to the threat of Reform, or is Labour pandering to its political opponents? With arguments breaking out amongst his ... Show More

59m 19s

Jan 2025

117. Is the UN fit for purpose? (Tom Fletcher)

As the US retreats from the international stage, who is going to fill the gap? What will the ‘peace processes of the future’ look like? Who has more power, the tech giants or political leaders? Rory and Alastair are joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs ... Show More

1h 3m

Sep 2024

Who is Robert Jenrick - and is he going to become Tory leader?

The first round of the Conservative leadership race has seen Priti Patel leave the race, and Robert Jenrick take poll position. Could he be the Conservatives next leader? And what kind of Tory is he? We talk to Tory watcher and author Ben Riley Smith from the Telegraph. Later, is ... Show More

36m 20s

Oct 16

CELEBRITY TRAITORS: Week Two Reaction

Will Big Dog Theory spell the end of Jonathan Ross? Is Stephen Fry playing dumb? Why has Alan Carr become the ultimate villain? Richard Osman and Marina Hyde review the second batch of episodes from the record breaking Celebrity Traitors. Like this episode? Sign up to our club to ... Show More

35m 34s

Oct 3

The Thick of It: 20 Years On, with Armando Iannucci, Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison and Rebecca Front (Part One)

Malcolm Tucker. Pet ASBOs. A law requiring everyone in Britain to carry around a plastic bag. It’s been twenty years since Armando Iannucci‘s The Thick of It first brought the chaos and drama of the fictitious ‘Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship’ into our lives. First a ... Show More

37m 26s

Sep 14

600. CHATHAM HIGH STREET

Why is Chatham High-street both futuristic and riddled with the past? Why was it a magnet for historical figures such as King John, Charles II, Nelson and Charles Dickens, and the location for some of the most totemic moments in British history? Is it really a melting pot of ever ... Show More

1h 1m

Sep 6

What will Zack Polanski do first with the Green Party? | Listener questions

The Greens have a new leader. Listeners want to know what's in store for the left now.Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon to answer listener questions on:the future of the Green Party under Zack PolanskiJeremy Corbyn and Your Party's position on ... Show More

28m 36s

Oct 2

The Republican Playbook: Democrat Edition with Tim Miller and David Faris

As the government shutdown takes effect, Jon is joined by Roosevelt University Professor and contributing writer at The Nation David Faris, and "The Bulwark Podcast" host Tim Miller to examine Democratic strategy. Together, they explore what Democrats are hoping to achieve throug ... Show More

1h 12m

Sep 17

On Politics: Labour's Problems

When Keir Starmer brought Labour back to government last year with a majority of 174, many talked about two or even three terms in power. But over fourteen months the prime minister has run into numerous problems, losing both Angela Rayner as deputy PM and Peter Mandelson as US a ... Show More

1h 7m

Sep 2024

Profile: Who is JD Vance?

Americast is profiling the four candidates in the race to become the next President and Vice President of the United States. How did JD Vance, whose memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” about growing up in Ohio amidst alcoholism and drug addiction, become Trump’s VP pick for the White House? ... Show More

25m 20s

May 2023

The BBC chairman, the top civil servant and Boris Johnson

<p>What began as a Sunday Times investigation into Boris Johnson’s finances soon snowballed into a months-long scandal, which led to the resignation of the BBC chairman on Friday. With top civil servant Simon Case now facing calls to quit, could more resignations follow? And will ... Show More

28m 55s

294. Labour’s defining moment and the ne...