Politics Unpacked-logo

Politics Unpacked

Wireless Group

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times. You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times. You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Starmer's Six Milestones

12/5/2024
Keir Starmer sets out six milestones for voters to judge his premiership, but did his speech reboot his premiership? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the speech and the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:22:07

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

PMQs: Conviction Politicians, Not Politicians With Convictions

12/4/2024
Kemi Badenoch asks Keir Starmer why he appointed a "convicted fraudster" to be his transport secretary. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action at prime minister's questions with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Alex Kealy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:41:29

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Too Many Targets?

12/3/2024
Keir Starmer is planning to set six numerical targets for the government to achieve before the next election, but do targets lead to results? And should the Louise Haigh accept thousands of pounds in severance pay? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:31:50

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Sickness Benefits Trap

12/2/2024
Hugo is joined by Fraser Nelson to discuss whether the benefits system is trapping the people it's supposed to help, and unpacks the politics of the day - including Starmer's 'relaunch' - with Patrick Maguire and Emma Duncan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:40:34

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Starmer Loses His First Cabinet Minister

11/29/2024
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is the first cabinet resignation of the Starmer government, but what don't we know about the story, and how big a set back is it for the PM? Patrick Maguire unpacks the politics of the day with Tom McTague and Rachel Sylvester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:26:38

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Have The Tories Got It Wrong On Immigration?

11/28/2024
As official figures show net migration hit a record 900,000 last year, the Tories have set out a "new approach" on immigration. But is it wise for Kemi Badenoch to start making policy so far away from the next election? Lara Spirit unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:29:25

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

PMQs: Taking The Biscuit

11/27/2024
Kemi Badenoch says businesses such as biscuit-maker McVities are losing confidence in the UK economy, but will her biscuit puns make Keir Starmer crumble or will he bite back? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Alistair Barrie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:42:43

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Have We Reached 'Peak Woke'

11/26/2024
Has the woke movement lost confidence? Will Donald Trump bring Joe Rogan into White House press briefings? And what has Boris Johnson been saying about the obesity crisis? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:31:12

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Petitions, Missions, And Ed Davey's TikTok

11/25/2024
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Sunday Times columnist Hadley Freeman and politics professor and podcast host David Runciman. They discuss the merits (or otherwise) of a petition calling for a general election, reports that Keir Starmer will add more targets to the government’s five “missions”, and Ed Davey's Gen Z speak on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:32:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Keir Starmer's Education Revolution

11/22/2024
There's a big shake-up of the school curriculum on the way, but how radical is the government's thinking - and could they put standards at risk? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Rachel Sylvester and Robin Brant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:28:44

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Tim Shipman: Brexit, Boris & Bust-Ups

11/21/2024
Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman joins Hugo to dig into the final book in his Brexit quartet, 'Out: How Brexit Got Done and The Tories Were Undone'. How important was Dominic Cummings in the rise and fall of Boris Johnson, and what did Dilyn the dog do to his leg? What did Liz Truss's advisers really think about her fitness to lead the nation? And why couldn't Rishi Sunak cope with failure? You can buy Tim's book here, and there's a 20% discount for Times+ members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:21:44

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

PMQs: Rayner vs... Who?

11/20/2024
With Keir Starmer away, his deputy Angela Rayner takes deputy prime minister's questions from Conservative MP Alex Burghart. Does he impress on his first outing at the despatch box? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Grainne Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:42:43

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Where Does Musk Find The Time?

11/19/2024
Has Elon Musk already overstayed his welcome in the court of Donald Trump? Can a government be made up entirely of mavericks? And how does the billionaire find the time? Pus: Should we be following the advice of Rishi Sunak's father-in-law and denounce the weekend? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Juliet Samuel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:33:26

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Is Reeves Haunted By Her CV?

11/18/2024
Rachel Reeves is under pressure to explain her CV, after it emerged that she used a false claim to win her seat as an MP - but does it matter? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Iain Martin and Lara Spirit, including the row over assisted dying and whether Sue Gray will get a peerage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:34:51

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Criminalising The Culture Wars

11/15/2024
Thousands of people, including children, have been questioned by police over non-crime hate speech, but is that involving police in political problems? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Timandra Harkness and Tim Montgomerie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:32:48

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Is Europe Delusional About Trump?

11/14/2024
Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Manveen Rana. Can Europe hold Donald Trump responsible if the US walks away from its role as the world's policeman, or are politicians this side of the Atlantic to blame? You can read Matthew's column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:32:56

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

PMQs: The Magic Money Tree Is Back

11/13/2024
In her second outing at PMQs, Kemi Badenoch attacks Keir Starmer over the government's National Insurance rise - but he says she's resorting to the "magic money tree". Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Ria Lina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:40:43

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Has Pop Culture Shifted Right?

11/12/2024
Has the liberal dominance of the old entertainment industry given way to the dominance of right-wing YouTubers, podcasters, streamers and influencers? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott. You can read James' column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:31:27

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Why Labour Isn't More Radical

11/11/2024
After Paul Johnson tells us he's changed his mind about the scale of the recent Budget, is the government missing the chance to be more radical? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:33:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Harris's Lessons For Labour

11/8/2024
Can Keir Starmer learn anything from the Democrats' defeat in the presidential election, or are the UK and the US too different to draw comparisons? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and playwright Jonathan Maitland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:29:03