Why do politicians use big numbers in interviews? How will political reporting change in the future? And why do we vote using pencils?Amol and Nick answer these questions and more in this bonus episode of The Today Podcast.If you have a question you’d like to Amol, Nick and the Pod Squad to answer get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of The Today Podcast during the election campaign will land on Mondays and Thursdays. Look out for bonus episodes like this one. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme.The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producer is Hatty Nash. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Hannah Montgomery and digital production from Joe Wilkinson.

Amol and Nick take a look at why politicians are so keen to talk about economic growth in this election campaign – and whether any have the right policies to deliver it.They’re joined by professor of economics at the LSE, Tim Leunig, who worked as an advisor to the Lib Dems during the coalition government and went on to formulate the furlough scheme for Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor. They assess Labour’s pledge to jumpstart the economy via planning reforms, and the Conservatives’ promise of National Insurance cuts. Will any of these plans have an effect quickly enough?Also, are young voters disenfranchised? Kelly Beaver, chief executive of pollsters Ipsos UK, swings by to discuss – and analyse the latest polling.Plus Nick and Amol share their moments of the week.Episodes of The Today Podcast during the election campaign will land on Mondays and Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producer is Hatty Nash. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Hannah Montgomery and digital production from Joe Wilkinson.

With the first postal votes being cast this week, Amol and Nick look at how parties are hoping to change voters' minds at a crucial point in the campaign.They assess Nigel Farage’s chances of winning seats with Reform UK, whether Keir Starmer is running out of things to say – and Amol has a theory about Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party.Plus, they answer your listener questions: what will Boris Johnson do next?Episodes of The Today Podcast during the election campaign will land on Mondays and Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producer is Hatty Nash. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Hannah Montgomery and digital production from Joe Wilkinson.

It’s the second part of The Today Podcast Live!Recorded in the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London in front of a live audience, Amol and Nick answer more listener questions and they’re joined by former Today programme guest editor James May.James shares his moment of the week and talks about his love of cycling and what’s next as the Amazon series The Grand Tour draws to a close.And Roger Tilling, the voice of University Challenge, was on hand for all the announcements.Episodes of The Today Podcast will land twice a week during the election campaign. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Digital production from Elliot Ryder and Charlie Henry. Live music was composed by Paddy Fletcher and Nick Foster and performed by Paddy Fletcher and James Allnutt.

Hundreds of our listeners assembled in the BBC Radio Theatre for the first ever live recording of The Today Podcast!Nick and Amol were joined on stage by a panel of experts: former Labour deputy prime minister Lord Mandelson; Fiona Hill, Theresa May’s former chief of staff in Downing Street and founder of the Future Resilience Forum; and University of Oxford Professor Jane Green, co-director of the British Election Study.The panel dissected the latest election news and answered listener questions on topics ranging from voter apathy to why so many MPs are leaving parliament.And Roger Tilling, the voice of University Challenge, was on hand for all the announcements. Episodes of The Today Podcast will land twice a week during the election campaign. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Digital production from Elliot Ryder and Charlie Henry. Live music was composed by Paddy Fletcher and Nick Foster and performed by Paddy Fletcher and James Allnutt.

Amol and Nick look ahead to the week in which the release of party manifestos could well reset the narrative of the election.They consider what the rise of the right in European elections might mean for the UK with the help of friend of the pod, pollster James Kanagasooriam.Plus Nick talks tactics ahead of his TV leadership interview with Rishi Sunak.Episodes of The Today Podcast during the election campaign will land on Mondays and Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor. The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Jonny Baker and digital production from Joe Wilkinson.

Amol and Nick look at two possible game-changers in week two of the election campaign: Nigel Farage returning to lead Reform UK, and Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer facing off in the first head-to-head debate of the campaign.They’re joined by Cleo Watson – a former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson in No10 and now a novelist - and Peter Kellner, former president of pollsters YouGov.Episodes of The Today Podcast will land twice a week during the election campaign. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor. You can listen to the latest episode of The Today Podcast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for The Today Podcast.”The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Phil Bull.

In the first of our election campaign Monday bonus episodes, Amol and Nick look ahead to the head-to-head television debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.What can the two leaders learn from previous election debates? How do they deploy the perfect zinger? And how will they judge their performance a success?And they answer a listener question on how much influence the media will play this election.Episodes of The Today Podcast during the election campaign will land on Mondays and Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Chris Murphy and digital production from Joe Wilkinson.

Nick has long thought that the most important question in politics is ‘whose side are you on?’It turns out Keir Starmer might think the same. On The Today Podcast this week Nick looks into why the Labour leader highlighted that question in his first big speech of the election campaign.Also – why did Starmer tell the BBC that he identifies as a socialist? And what will Diane Abbott do next?And in a week when the Conservatives have promised national service for 18-year-olds and a pensioners’ ‘triple lock plus’, Nick looks at where the dividing lines are being drawn so far.To dissect the strategies, Nick is joined by friend of the pod, pollster James Kanagasooriam – research director at Focal Data and a board member of centre-right think tank Onward – and by Andrew Fisher, who was Labour’s director of policy under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.Plus, Radio 5 Live’s Rachel Burden shares her moment of the week, ahead of her election night special broadcast with Nick. And Amol spills the secrets of his appearance on Doctor Who.Episodes of The Today Podcast will land during the election campaign on Mondays and Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.ukThe Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Mike Regaard in London and Cameron Ward in Salford.

Less than a day after calling the general election, Rishi Sunak kicked off his campaign with a set-piece interview with Nick on Today. Amol and Nick explore what clues it provides for the coming campaign – and Nick talks though his interview strategy. Also, with inflation now down to 2.3% we bring together two of the leading economic thinkers from the left and the right to talk tax-and-spend: Kate Bell, assistant general secretary of the TUC, and Robert Colvile, director of centre-right think tank the Centre for Policy Studies. Plus. comedian Angela Barnes provides her moment of the week. Episodes of The Today Podcast usually land on Thursdays. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme. If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor. The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producers are Hatty Nash and Joe Wilkinson. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Daffyd Evans and digital production from Elliot Ryder.