
Politics Unpacked
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.
Latest episodes

Nov 8, 2024 • 29min
Harris's Lessons For Labour
Can Keir Starmer learn anything from the Democrats' defeat in the presidential election, or are the UK and the US too different to draw comparisons?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and playwright Jonathan Maitland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2024 • 33min
Trump's Hard Truth For Liberals
Donald Trump's victory might be a bitter pull for liberals around the world to swallow, but they can't avoid his overwhelming success at the ballot box.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Lara Spirit. You can read Hugo's column in the Times here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 6, 2024 • 43min
PMQs: Badenoch Plays Her Trump Card
In Kemi Badenoch's first PMQs as Tory leader, she ask whether Keir Starmer will get on with President-elect Trump and protect the "special relationship", but was her explosive style successful?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the action at Prime Minister's Questions with the help of Tim Shipman, Lara Spirit and comedian Andy Zaltzman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 5, 2024 • 34min
Has Starmer U-Turned on Fees?
In 2020 Keir Starmer promised to abolish university tuition fees - so will his government suffer from the decision to increase them in line with inflation?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day, and all the other news, with Libby Purves and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4, 2024 • 35min
Like British Politics, But Bigger
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been making their closing pitches in front of large crowds in the US, but are the differences between British and American politics exaggerated?And is Kemi Badnoch right to be frustrated about how her comments are sometimes reported?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2024 • 33min
PTSD From Truss's Mini-Budget
Were the markets hostile to the budget or are our jitters a hangover from Liz Truss? Should we bring back food rationing? Can you hold a grudge for as long as a crow?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Timandra Harkness and Robin Brant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 31, 2024 • 30min
The Real Problem With The USA
As Biden makes another blunder, is the US president making the campaign impossible for Kamala Harris? And are both parties failing to diagnose the real problems in Washington D.C.? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Syed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2024 • 37min
Reeves' Budget & Sunak's Swan Song
Labour's first budget in nearly fifteen years will also be the biggest tax-raising budget in history. Hugo unpacks it all with Times Radio's Political Correspondent Theo Usherwood. Plus: In Rishi Sunak's last hurrah at PMQs, he talks up his record in Number 10. Hugo pauses and analyses the action with the help of Lara Spirit and comedian Jon Harvey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 29, 2024 • 31min
Is Kemi Too Outrageous?
Do politicians have to be outrageous to get attention? Why is the nation's birth rate plummeting? Plus, a lesson in how to carve turnip lanterns. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Laura Freeman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28, 2024 • 35min
A Joke Too Far For Trump
Will racist language used at Trump's latest rally help or hinder his bid for the White House? Are we really living in unprecedentedly bad times? And are new MPs right to complain about Parliament's old customs? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.