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
PMQs: Desperate Search For Relevance
2/26/2025
PMQs Unpacked is back - and today Keir Starmer clashes with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over the UK's planned increase in defence spending.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Ahir Shah.
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Duration:00:44:36
Starmer Gets Ready For Trump
2/25/2025
What can Keir Starmer learn from Emmanuel Macron cosying up to Donald Trump?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Katy Balls and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:34:23
Lessons From The German Election
2/24/2025
A centre-left government kicked out by the electorate, with immigration the dominant issue... Are there lessons from the German election for Keir Starmer and Labour?
And what is KMT, or Kemi Mean Time? Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins.
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Duration:00:31:23
Stuff's Got Real
2/21/2025
Starmer is under pressure to increase defence spending ahead of his trip to Washington next week, but where will the money come from and will the public accept cuts elsewhere?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Zoe Strimpel.
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Duration:00:35:50
Starmer's "Love Actually" Moment?
2/20/2025
Half of voters think it is in Britain’s interest to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine, but would it even make a difference?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana.
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Duration:00:33:17
President Musk
2/19/2025
President Trump and Elon Musk put their friendship on full display in an hour long interview on Fox News. Will their bromance last?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.
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Duration:00:31:24
Rachel Reeves' Inflated CV
2/18/2025
After claims she exaggerated her CV, Rachel Reeves' entry in Who's Who is found to be at fault. Will it cut through with the public?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:34:26
Trump, The Right & Starmer's Favourite Pub
2/17/2025
Hugo is unpacking the politics of the day with Patrick Maguire and Jane Mulkerrins.
Should we all calm down over Trump's plans for Ukraine? What do the right-wing thinkers gathering for a conference in London really believe? And Patrick has, inevitably, been to Keir Starmer's local pub in North London.
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Duration:00:32:56
Is Keir Starmer Just a Pawn?
2/14/2025
A new book by Times and Sunday Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund charts Keir Starmer's rise to power, his journey from promising unity to taking on the Labour left, and raises questions about whether it is him - or chief of staff Morgan McSweeney - who is really in charge.
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Duration:00:23:13
Trump Accused Of Betraying Ukraine
2/13/2025
Trump and Putin have agreed to negotiate the end of the war in Ukraine, but where does this leave Kyiv?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Manveen Rana.
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Duration:00:33:54
PMQs: Open Borders & Lefty Lawyers
2/12/2025
Keir Starmer criticises Kemi Badenoch's repetitive questioning, as the Tory leader finds herself on the defensive over immigration law.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman and comedian Gráinne Maguire.
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Duration:00:41:34
Can The UK Avoid A Trade War?
2/11/2025
Donald Trump's tariffs will have a big impact the UK steel industry, but unlike EU leaders, Starmer isn't going to retaliate - does he have a plan?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:27:51
Is Labour The Disrupter - Or The Disrupted?
2/10/2025
After Keir Starmer tells his cabinet they need to be the "disrupters if you don't want to be disrupted", can they live up to the billing - and is this just a reaction to the rise of Reform UK?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Emma Duncan and Patrick Maguire.
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Duration:00:32:11
Build Baby Build
2/7/2025
With growth forecast to be less than a measly one percent this year, can Keir Starmer build his way out of the bad news?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Robin Brant and Zoe Strimpel.
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Duration:00:27:53
Are Labour And The Tories Panicking Over Reform?
2/6/2025
As Kemi Badenoch sets out a new migration policy and Labour attacks Nigel Farage over his views on the NHS, are the Tories and Labour panicking about Reform's rise in the polls?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Manveen Rana.
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Duration:00:29:21
PMQs: The Kemi Pivot
2/5/2025
Kemi Badenoch continues her scattergun approach to questioning Keir Starmer, jumping from the Chagos Islands deal to voice coaches to drilling for oil in the North Sea.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman and comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
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Duration:00:35:32
The President Who Cried Tariff
2/4/2025
Donald Trump has suspended the hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened after last-minute negotiations with the two US neighbours...is this the president showing the world just how favorable complying with his terms can be?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Marriott.
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Duration:00:32:29
Keir's Not Driving The Train
2/3/2025
A new book reveals that Keir Starmer closest advisers have doubted his ability to lead. Does it matter if he acts more like an HR manager than a politician?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with the book's author Patrick Maguire, and Lara Spirit
Pre-order a copy of 'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer' at timesbookshop.co.uk.
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Duration:00:32:30
Brexit, Boomers & Centrist Dads
1/31/2025
It's the fifth anniversary of Brexit - is Ed a remoaner, what's gone wrong for the centrists, and is it time for boomers to open their pockets?
Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Zoe Strimpel and Robin Brant.
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Duration:00:31:42
Focus Group: Rabbit In The Headlights
1/30/2025
In the first Times Radio focus group of 2025, we find out whether voters who backed Labour at the general election are suffering from buyer's remorse.
Hugo Rifkind is joined by pollster James Johnson, of JL Partners.
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Duration:00:25:28