In The News

After a 12 year lead-in time dogged by corruption scandal, human rights abuses and subversion of the football calendar, World Cup 2022 is finally about to get underway in Qatar. But can the Persian Gulf state overcome its critics and pull off a controversy-free tournament? How will authorities in the conservative muslim country react to boozy football fans and LGBTQ+ supporters? And the big question; who should Ireland support in the absence of cheering on the boys in green? Conor Pope is joined by football writer and broadcaster Ken Early, who is covering the World Cup for The Irish Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday we learned of the death of Vicky Phelan, the outspoken campaigner whose own mishandled case led to reform of the cervical cancer detection system and a national conversation about the rights of patients in the health system. Simon Carswell and Jen Hogan talk to Aideen Finnegan about Vicky's story, her formidable legacy and her love for her family. Vicky Phelan is survived by husband Jim and her two children Amelia and Darragh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In contrast with his son Daniel Kinahan, little has been known about the activities of Christy Kinahan snr, the founder of the Kinahan drug cartel. Irish Times reporters Colm Keena and Conor Lally have now discovered that, along with his partner and three young children, Mr Kinahan snr has been attempting to build a new life for himself in Africa. These efforts involved an attempt to establish himself there as a player in the humanitarian aviation sector through the purchase of airplanes from the Egyptian military. The new information about Mr Kinahan snr was revealed in an Irish Times investigation in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Conor Lally and Colm Keena talk to Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president’s statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, the tech sector has been Ireland’s golden goose. Multi-national companies like Facebook and Google are worth billions of euro to the Irish economy every year. With job cuts and a freeze on hiring across the sector, are the good times coming to an end? Or at least stalling? Business and Technology journalist Ciara O’Brien and Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke Kennedy talk to Conor Pope about what is happening and how will Ireland cope in the face of a tech correction? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kanye West has arguably suffered one of the most spectacular downfalls in contemporary culture. Brands like Adidas, Balenciaga and JP Morgan have severed ties with the 45 year-old after an anti-Semitic tirade in October. With his music and fashion empire lying in ruins, Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond argues the ‘tortured genius’ trope allowed him to get away with his outrageous behaviour for far too long. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having bought Twitter, Elon Musk is moving rapidly to change the troubled social media platform, both for its hundreds of millions of users and for its endangered employees. But will Musk make Twitter better or worse? Can he redeem what most observers are calling a terrible business deal? And if Twitter fails, what next for social networking? Aideen Finnegan talks to Laura Slattery and Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why pubs and nightclubs in Ireland have a very strict closing time, whereas the rest of Europe has a more relaxed approach to how their public houses operate. It comes down to our centuries-old licensing laws, which Justice Minister Helen McEntee last week promised, would finally be reformed. In this episode, historian Diarmaid Ferriter talks to Conor Pope about the antiquated laws and why Ireland’s attitude to drinking and socialising as far back as the 19th century, still has an effect today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The families of Corporal Morrow, Private Burke and Private Murphy watch on as Ireland's best criminal defence barrister tries to get Michael McAleavy acquitted at his court martial for murder in 1983. Part three of three.Researched and reported by Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak.Presented by Sorcha Pollak.Produced by Declan Conlon. Artwork by Paul Scott. Reconstruction voiced by Peter Heenan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.