The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Israel's political security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, marking a further escalation in the almost two-year offensive in the strip.Bel Trew, international correspondent with the Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss Israel's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

US President Donald Trump has called for Lip-Bu Tan, the newly appointed Chief Executive of Intel, to resign.Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he said "The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately”.Mr. Trump did not specify what he thought the conflicts of interest were.Ian Guider, Columnist with the Business Post, spoke to Matt on Thursday.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Andy O’Donoghue, a tech expert, offers invaluable advice on optimizing your home office. He shares insights into the benefits of standing desks for ergonomics and overall comfort. Andy discusses modern essentials like wireless charging mats and high-quality webcams to elevate your video conferencing. He also emphasizes the importance of comfort with anti-fatigue mats and larger monitors for productivity. Lastly, he recommends tech gadgets like docking stations and speakerphone adapters that enhance connectivity and audio quality.

Research conducted by the United Nations has shown that indirect carbon emissions from some of the world’s biggest tech firms rose dramatically between 2020 and 2023.This is due to the significant energy that is needed to operate data centres.Environmental commentator, John Gibbons, spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

Gary O’Hanlon, Executive Chef at the K Club and co-host of the ‘Dishing It Out’ podcast was the latest entry into The Last Word’s Culture Club.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his choices in music, TV, literature and film.

Today marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of 'The Liberator' Daniel O'Connell, perhaps Ireland's greatest ever politician.Mick Clifford, special correspondent with the Irish Examiner, certainly thinks so. He joins The Last Word to discuss the legacy of Daniel O'Connell.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Revenue has contacted 68,000 pensioners over their tax obligations in relation to their occupational pension.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Independent, explained why some pensioners are being asked to file a tax return.He also explained why many renters believe the Government should support intergenerational living arrangements. This is where younger people live with older adults for lower rent in exchange for companionship and support.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Professor Brian Caulfield from the Department of Civil Engineering in Trinity College Dublin and tech journalist Elaine Burke join The Last Word to discuss the future of driverless vehicles. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

US President Donald Trump has fired the head of the main agency for producing American jobs figures claiming she "rigged" weaker-than-expected employment data for political reasons.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!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may authorise a complete occupation of Gaza, according to reports. Chief International Correspondent at The Independent Bel Trew and Professor of Law, Queens University Aoife O’Donoghue join Matt to discuss the latest news and the aid situation in Gaza.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.