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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 weeklyEpisodes21Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Reality Check

Latest Episodes

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

Michael Simmons speaks to American economist Peter Schiff about the surge in gold prices, the weakness of the US dollar and why he believes the next major economic crisis is approaching. Schiff argues that recent dips in precious metals are a buying ... more

YouTube

Housing minister Steve Reed has been boasting about Britain’s housing market since Labour came into office – but is he right to celebrate? The country’s housing crisis seems to be delivering the worst of both worlds. Young people trying to get on the... more

YouTube

When Andy Burnham put forward his bid to stand in the Gorton & Denton by-election, the bond markets wobbled. What does this say about the state of Labour and their reputation with the markets? Michael Simmons speaks to former Treasury and Downing Str... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
Rory Sutherland
Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK
Ogilvy
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
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?
Ash Regan
Holyrood leader of the pro-independence Alba party
Episode: Ash Regan on the rise of Reform in Scotland, what is a woman and why ‘no-one resigns anymore’

Host

Michael Simmons
Economics editor at The Spectator, known for providing insightful commentary on economic policies and public finance.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 48 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 Kingdom2 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 Kingdom3 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.

Listeners appreciate the informative approach, calling it a valuable source for clear insights on contemporary political and economic matters.
The blend of humor with serious topics resonates positively with audiences, making complex subjects more accessible.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Andy Burnham’s bond blip, scrapping the OBR & why Rishi Sunak deserves more credit – James Nation
Q: Are traders really alarmed at Burnham's brand of pro-small business socialism?
James discusses the significance of the bond market movements in response to Burnham's comments but suggests not to overreact to day-to-day fluctuations.
Electrify everything! Octopus boss on Britain's energy problems
Q: What are the worst examples of these regulatory costs, policy costs that are added on?
The regulatory costs include various fixed costs and boondoggles that inflate the electricity prices, making them a dumping ground for policies, which ultimately means bills won't go down even if wholesale prices drop.
2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
Q: Can you give one quick comment to Reality Check? There's no evidence that wealth taxes work, is there?
No solid evidence supports that wealth taxes effectively generate revenue as intended.
2025: a year of tears, tariffs & taxes
Q: How far wrong are we?
The optimal tax rate on the Laffer curve for Britain is far from what is being discussed, indicating that current tax policies are ineffective.

Audience Metrics

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

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

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

Focused on deciphering complex economic and political narratives, this podcast provides a platform for in-depth discussions on current events, governance, and societal issues. With a keen emphasis on data-driven insights, topics often include the implications of budgetary policies, tax reforms, the effects of Brexit, and the intertwining of historical events with contemporary economic challenges. The tone balances serious discourse with light-hearted commentary, making it both informative and engaging for listeners interested in economics and public policy. Notably, the podcast features a blend of expert guests from various fields, enriching the discussions with diverse perspectives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Reality Check?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Reality Check. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Reality Check and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Reality Check get?

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What are the audience demographics for Reality Check?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Reality Check, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. The Edition
4. Americano
5. Best of the Spectator

How many episodes of Reality Check are there?

Reality Check launched 3 years ago and published 21 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Reality Check?

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What guests have appeared on Reality Check?

Recent guests on Reality Check include:

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

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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