The Last Word with Matt Cooper

A recent newspaper report claims that US President Donald Trump wrote a 'bawdy' letter to his one-time-friend Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. The report comes as Trump's failure to publish documents from the criminal investigation into paedophile Epstein, who died in 2019, is causing a significant divide between the US president and his MAGA base. In a bonus US slot, Marion McKeone joins The Last Word to discuss this and also the shock news that 'The Late Show' hosted by Trump critic Stephen Colbert will come to an end next year. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Only 6,235 commencement notices were issued in the first six months of this year, according to Department of Housing figures. This is compared to 34,581 in the first half of 2024 and marks the worst June for housing starts since 2020 - a time when the construction industry was greatly restricted due to the Covid pandemic. Conor O’Connell from the Construction Industry Federation and Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Fein housing spokesperson, join The Last Word to discuss why there has been a massive fall off and what can be done to reverse the trend. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

'The Salt Path' is a memoir that captured the hearts of millions before being adapted into a movie starring Gillian Andrews and Jason Isaacs. But questions are now being raised about the truth behind the story following a bombshell investigation by The Observer newspaper in the UK. Chloe Hadjimatheou, reporter with The Observer, joins The Last Word to discuss why she decided to dig deeper into the 'The Salt Path' and what she found. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A Dublin restauranteur has said that the cost of living is the reason for a noticeable drop in the number of people dining in Dublin restaurants. Renowned chef Oliver Dunne and economist Austin Hughes spoke to Matt about how more people are feeling the pinch when deciding to eat out in Ireland. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

From smart backpacks to portable steamers, Andy O’Donoghue joined Matt on Thursday to run through the best tech for you to bring on your travels this summer. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

Comedian Aoife Dunne is the latest inductee into The Last Word’s Culture Club. Aoife’s show, Good Grief, will be at the Ambassador on Saturday, September 20th. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all of her choices!

The Open Championship, one of golf's four major tournaments, kicks off in Portrush tomorrow with five Irish golfers in the field. Gavin Cooney, sportswriter with The42.ie, joins The Last Word to preview the weekend's action. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

On Wednesday, the Irish Daily Mail reported that An Post faces a “dire financial situation” and that cash reserves in had dropped below €1m. However, speaking on The Last Word, Chief Executive David McRedmond refuted those claims, stating that the company made over €1billion in revenue for the first time in its history. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his chat with Matt.

Ian Guider, Business Columnist with the Business Post, spoke to Matt about the sale of Dalata Hotel Group and the potential for aircraft and whiskey to be added to the EU's retaliatory tariff list. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Is Dáil Eireann serving the Irish public or is it too often a forum for performative antics? Are elected representatives serious about tackling the key issues facing young people? Three first-time TDs - Albert Dolan, Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East, Kiera Keogh, Fine Gael TD for Mayo, and Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for Mayo, - join The Last Word to reflect on their first Dáil term and discuss what more needs to be done to create a better future for those in their 20s and 30s in Ireland. Catch the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

US President Donald Trump has told Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face severe tariffs. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Writer Lisa Tierney-Keogh spoke to Matt about her experience living with endometriosis and why it took 28 years to get a diagnosis. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

New figures have shown that RTE’s The Late Late Show lost approximately 47,000 viewers during Patrick Kielty’s second season as host. The programme had an average consolidated audience of 390,000 across 30 episodes. Joe O’Shea & Elaine Burke joined Matt for Monday’s TV & Streaming slot. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Looking to head away for a few days and see somewhere new without breaking the bank? Kaitlin Murphy from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to chat about some of the best value city breaks in Europe. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Ireland may ban sunbeds amid reports that they are being used by children as young as 10; Australian woman is convicted for murdering family with poisonous mushrooms; & Taoiseach Micheál Martin denies his flight was changed for Cork hurling semi-final. Ben Finnegan, Today FM news anchor, and Sarah McGuiness, political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A major new report suggests that Artificial intelligence (AI) is already starting to replace graduate jobs in Irish firms. Adrian Weckler, tech editor with the Irish and Sunday Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss the five Irish jobs that are most exposed to AI. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Supermarkets have denied accusations of price gouging, despite the price of meat increasing by 22% in the last year. The cost of a pound of butter has seen a 30% surge in the same time period. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor at the Irish Independent and Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, spoke to Matt on Friday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

A €1.3bn sewage and drainage scheme, which will service north Dublin and parts of Meath and Kildare, has been given the go ahead by An Comisiún Pleanála. The project has been deemed essential as it will ease pressure on the wastewater treatment plant in Ringsend. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, spoke to Matt on Thursday. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly is the latest to rule himself out of running in the forthcoming presidential election. Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss who the runners and riders may be. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Climate change has been cited as the reason for recent European heatwaves being more extreme than seen previously. Western Europe had its warmest June on record, with many experiencing conditions of over 40 degrees Celsius. Environment commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.