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
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
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
Oval Office Round Two
8/18/2025
President Zelensky is returning to the White House - but this time he isn't alone. Seven European leaders, including Keir Starmer, have gone with him to help make sure Donald Trump is on side.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Sebastian Payne.
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Duration:00:31:19
The Trump-Putin Summit
8/15/2025
Donald Trump heads to Alaska today to meet Vladimir Putin and try to find a path to peace in Ukraine - but how likely is an end to the war?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Cindy Yu.
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Duration:00:32:11
Trump's Plan For Peace
8/14/2025
Russia and the US are understood to have agreed a "West Bank-style" occupation of Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin - but the plan may not appeal to Kyiv.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed.
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Duration:00:32:51
JD Vance's Unlikely BBQ
8/13/2025
JD Vance's holiday to the cotswolds continues, where he's been meeting with Tories, breakfasting with Nigel Farage, and having a barbecue with a former Apprentice candidate who says 'Bosh' a lot.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.
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Duration:00:34:10
Is Political Language Too Loose?
8/12/2025
As the debate over legal and illegal migration continues, are politicians being too imprecise with the words they choose?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:35:04
Is Labour Trying To Create A Hostile Environment?
8/11/2025
As the government makes another announcement about deporting foreign criminals, Hugo Rifkind asks if they're pursuing tougher policies than under Theresa May's 'hostile environment'. And with both the Conservatives and Reform UK campaigning hard on migration, has the 'Overton window' in British politics moved?
With Times columnists Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers.
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Duration:00:33:08
Trump Goes from 'Taco to Waco'
8/8/2025
The journalist who gave Trump the nickname Taco - Trump Always Chickens Out - for his strategy on tariffs says it should be updated to Waco - The World Always Chickens Out. Is he right?
Harry Wallop is joined by Alys Denby and Michael Binyon to unpack the politics of the day.
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Duration:00:32:47
Kemi The 'Snitch'
8/7/2025
Kemi Badenoch reveals she snitched on a fellow pupil for cheating during an exam when she was "about 14 or 15", resulting in him getting expelled - should the Tory leader have been praised for the move?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Sarah Ditum.
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Duration:00:33:26
The Chancellor’s ‘Impossible Trilemma’
8/6/2025
With a £50 billion gap in the public finances, it is looking increasingly difficult for Rachel Reeves to avoid raising taxes.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and Cindy Yu.
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Duration:00:33:33
Will The UK-France Migrant Deal Cut Through?
8/5/2025
The government's 'one-in, one-out' migrant deal with France is coming into force - but can the public be persuaded by technocratic solutions? And should Neil Kinnock stop advising Rachel Reeves to raise taxes?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Times columnists James Marriott and Libby Purves.
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Duration:00:31:47
Farage's Growing Entourage
8/4/2025
Reform UK's new justice adviser doesn't agree with everything Nigel Farage says - does it matter? And can Farage keep tabs on his growing entourage?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Charlotte Ivers.
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Duration:00:35:20
Not So Silly Season
8/1/2025
August is supposed to be a quiet time for politics but the Prime Minister has an array of thorny issues to contend with - from Heathrow's expansion plan, to foreign criminals and the fact that no one wants to name their baby after him.
Harry Wallop unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Phil Tinline.
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Duration:00:32:44
PM's "Knee-Jerk Reaction" On Palestine
7/31/2025
Top lawyers are warning Starmer he'll be breaking international law if he follows through with the recognition of a Palestinian State, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the move a "knee jerk reaction" - does she have a point ?
Geoff Norcott is joined by Claire Cohen and Matthew Parris to unpack the politics of the day.
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Duration:00:33:39
Starmer's Palestine Plan
7/30/2025
Israel has criticised Keir Starmer's plan to recognise a Palestinian state if conditions do not improve in Gaza, but many of the Prime Minister's MPs will feel he didn't act quickly enough. Has the PM had a change of heart or is this just gesture politics?
Geoff Norcott unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and Alice Thomson.
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Duration:00:31:42
Trump's Advice To Starmer
7/29/2025
On his visit to Scotland, President Trump gave Keir Starmer his unsolicited advice for how to beat Nigel Farage at the next election - but should the Prime Minister listen to him?
Michael Binyon is joined by Sarah Ditum and James Marriott to unpack the politics of the day.
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Duration:00:32:57
A MAGA British Summer
7/28/2025
Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump at his Turnberry golf course today, where the president's love of Scotland has sparked talk of a 'MAGA British summer'. But on the domestic front, the prime minister has some thorny issues to contend with.
Michael Binyon unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Seb Payne.
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Duration:00:35:58
Battle With The BMA
7/25/2025
Keir Starmer has appealed in The Times directly to doctors not to strike - but is this falling on deaf ears? And how does this bode for Labour’s future relations with the unions?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Thangam Debbonaire.
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Duration:00:30:25
Badenoch's Chainsaw Conservatives
7/24/2025
Kemi Badenoch says the chainsaw-wielding president of Argentina would be “the template” for her government - could could she be Britain's answer to Javier Milei?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Fraser Nelson.
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Duration:00:29:48
Is Britain "Fraying"?
7/23/2025
Keir Starmer has warned Britain is "fraying at the edges" and urgent action on immigration is needed to avoid a repeat of last summer's riots. But is this the worst it's been?
Robert Crampton and Phil Tinline join Ed Vaizey to unpack the politics of the day
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Duration:00:32:14
Reshuffles, Reform & JD Vance's Holiday
7/22/2025
Kemi Badenoch is using the last day before the Commons recess to launch a reset of her leadership of the Conservative Party, while Nigel Farage is gearing up to spend his summer talking about crime.
Plus: What will JD Vance get up to in the Cotswolds?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Sarah Ditum
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Duration:00:32:43