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Reality Check

The Spectator
Nicola Sturgeon
Scottish National Party
Brexit
Economics
Inflation
UK Budget
Taxation
Alex Salmond
Welfare Spending
Economic Policy
Women's Rights
Wealth Taxes
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Independence
Laffer Curve
UK Economy
Budget
Child Poverty
Gender Reform Bill
Income Inequality

Reality Check cuts through the spin and explains the numbers behind the noise. In each episode, The Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons and in-the-know guests will make a data-driven case on a story hogging the headlines.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes24Founded3 years ago
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News CommentaryNewsBusiness News

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Artwork for Reality Check

Latest Episodes

Before the first missiles landed in Tehran, Rachel Reeves had been looking forward to today’s Spring ‘forecast’ statement, which was designed to be the lightest-touch intervention by a Chancellor since Philip Hammond in 2018: no OBR scoring of her fi... more

Why are one in five school children classified as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in 2026? The rates of children being diagnosed with neurodiverse conditions have scaled to disproportionate rates and the costs are a major concern fo... more

There is an area of public spending nearly double what Britain spends on defence, more than policing borders or our streets. It's servicing the costs of what Britain has borrowed in the past. The growing debt bomb is continuing to climb with real con... more

YouTube

This week Keir Starmer faced the greatest challenge to his premiership yet. What will this Prime Minister will be remembered for? Policies which hurt young people. From student loan debt crisis, tax thresholds, ISA allowances and the pensions triple ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Peter Schiff
American stockbroker and gold expert
Episode: Peter Schiff on the dollar: America's bust is the world's boom
Arthur Laffer
Famous American economist known for the Laffer curve concept
Episode: 2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
Zach Polanski
Leader of the Green Party
Green Party
Episode: 2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
James Heal
Deputy political editor at The Spectator
The Spectator
Episode: 2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
Paul Johnson
Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: 2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
Greg Jackson
CEO and founder of Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy
Episode: Electrify everything! Octopus boss on Britain's energy problems
Christopher Snowdon
Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs
Episode: Christopher Snowdon: the truth about Ozempic, obesity & the NHS
Rory Sutherland
Wikiman columnist and advertising legend
The Spectator
Episode: Rory Sutherland: Britain isn’t working – here’s how to fix it
Julian Jessop
Economist and economics fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs
Institute of Economic Affairs
Episode: Is Brexit to blame for Britain’s economic doom loop?

Host

Michael Simmons
Economics Editor at The Spectator, host of Reality Check and Reality Check's own economic editor.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Utter lies when discussing PIP

    I have disabled family and friends, one has an autistic son that repeats the same words over and over. She was denied pip for him. This is one story of many lived experiences I know and your comment it’s easy to get is so far from the truth.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Wbt1981
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Rory Sutherland episode - priceless

    And I’m 60 and retired (albeit is volunteering my socks off…), quite the Reality Check ! Keep up the good work, thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NatsPoddie
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Disappointing episode

    Rory Sutherland podcast very disappointing, just another person airing their peeves. Let’s get back to the content in the initial two podcasts

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Yachtsman
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Excellent!

    Splendid spin-off and valuable insights at this pivotal moment in Scottish (and more broadly U.K. / European) politics. Still not sure if Fraser Nelson’s really Scottish though 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasN4
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critiques mention that some episodes may reach overly simplistic conclusions or lack depth on certain complex topics, suggesting a balance in presentation would be beneficial.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its engaging discussion of current events, often praising the insights provided by both the host and guests.
Personal narratives shared by guests and the blend of humor with serious economic topics seem to resonate well with the audience's preferences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Debt bomb: the £100 billion problem nobody talks about
Q: Do you think our politicians think about these issues enough?
It's hard to discern where reform is, particularly when politicians seem to believe they can print money without consequences.
Debt bomb: the £100 billion problem nobody talks about
Q: What does that get in the way of?
It clearly gets in the way of spending on other things like health service and public service spending.
Debt bomb: the £100 billion problem nobody talks about
Q: Do you think the government is as committed to getting inflation down as they claim to be?
There were a series of measures which were really specifically designed to get inflation down this year.
Debt bomb: the £100 billion problem nobody talks about
Q: Does that mean the public finances are all healthy and sorted out now?
The debt certainly hasn't disappeared, and indeed the debt is still rising over this period.
Andy Burnham’s bond blip, scrapping the OBR & why Rishi Sunak deserves more credit – James Nation
Q: Do you think markets are not paying attention to unsustainable plans around disability spending?
James comments on the markets adjusting to the increased headroom but questions if they truly factored in the long-term consequences of spending and tax proposals.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Reality Check

What is Reality Check about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring current affairs with a keen economic lens, content tends to focus on pressing political and economic issues impacting society, particularly in the UK. Topics often include housing markets, taxation policies, welfare spending, and the implications of government decisions on various demographics. Each episode features discussions that blend expert insights with a critical analysis of policies, aiming to distill complex information into accessible narratives that educate the audience on broader economic implications.

Unique in its approach to blend humor with serious discussions, the podcast engages listeners by including influential guests, economists, and policymakers who contribute diverse perspectives. This creates a rich dialog... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Reality Check?

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How many listeners does Reality Check get?

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How many subscribers and views does Reality Check have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Reality Check has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Reality Check?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reality Check:

1. Quite right!
2. Coffee House Shots
3. Planet Normal
4. The Daily T
5. Political Currency

How many episodes of Reality Check are there?

Reality Check launched 3 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Reality Check?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Reality Check?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Reality Check from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Reality Check?

Recent guests on Reality Check include:

1. Peter Schiff
2. Arthur Laffer
3. Zach Polanski
4. James Heal
5. Paul Johnson
6. Greg Jackson
7. Christopher Snowdon
8. Rory Sutherland

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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