The Last Word with Matt Cooper The Week Trending: Putin Calls Trump; Mercury Snub For Irish Musicians & Met Éireann Seeks Help From Weather Enthusiasts
Oct 17, 2025
Marion McKeone, a sharp journalist and political commentator, and Dave Hanratty, a music and current-affairs expert, dive into this week's hottest topics. They discuss Trump's shifting focus to Ukraine post-Gaza deal and the implications of a potential Trump-Putin meeting. The pair also tackle the lack of Irish acts winning the Mercury Prize, while examining rising pet care costs and the Met Éireann's project to digitize historical rainfall data. Join them for a lively exploration of politics and culture!
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Putin Uses Calls To Slow US Moves
- Vladimir Putin's phone call appears aimed at cooling US momentum around Ukraine and reminding allies where his advantage lies.
- Marion McKeone and Matt Cooper argue Trump becomes suggestible after Putin's interventions, freezing action on Ukraine.
Hungary Undercuts EU Unity
- Hungary's willingness to host Putin highlights divisions within the EU over handling alleged war criminals.
- Dave Hanratty says Viktor Orban's support lets Putin and Trump play geopolitical 'alpha male' games without unified EU pushback.
Worrying Extremism Among Young Operatives
- Exchanges among Young Republican groups reveal alarming racist and extremist sentiments among adults in their 20s and 30s.
- Dave Hanratty urges leaders like J.D. Vance to condemn such rhetoric rather than downplay it as youthful mistakes.