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Reality Check

The Spectator
Inflation
Housing Market
Nicola Sturgeon
Brexit
Economics
Scottish National Party
Rachel Reeves
Mortgage Market
London
Economic Policy
Bank Of England
UK Budget
First-Time Buyers
Special Educational Needs
Taxation
Income Tax
Welfare Spending
Laffer Curve
Alex Salmond
Economic Growth

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 weeklyEpisodes33Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Business NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Reality Check

Latest Episodes

May local elections have finally arrived. As 5,066 seats are contested in local councils many are wondering whether there is any point in voting at all. These councils manage budgets worth hundreds of millions of pounds – budgets decided by national ... more

Britain has recorded the highest drug deaths in Europe. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared that this means the so called 'war on drugs' is not working, and favours a more liberal approach of legalisation. Michael Simmons is joined by John ... more

YouTube

Unemployment unexpectedly fell to 4.9 per cent this week. Some in government may been using this to mark a healthy economy but don't believe the headlines. Whilst unemployment may be down, economic inactivity is up. And figures show its predominately... more

YouTube

Buying a flat in Britain has increasingly become a fool's errand, driven in part by the leasehold system trapping homeowners into flats. When Labour wrote their manifesto they promised reform to the leasehold system, but it remains a sticking point i... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Zack Polanski
Leader of the Green Party
Green Party
Episode: Polanski slams the 'war on drugs' – here's why he's wrong about legalisation
John Power
Reality Check reporter
Reality Check / The Spectator
Episode: Polanski slams the 'war on drugs' – here's why he's wrong about legalisation
Charlie Mullins
Founder of Pimlico Plumbers
Pimlico Plumbers
Episode: Don't believe the headline: the truth about unemployment data
Harry Scoffin
Founder and campaigner from Free Leaseholders
Free Leaseholders
Episode: How the leasehold mafia screwed a generation of homeowners
Robert Jenrick
Treasury spokesman for Reform
Reform UK
Episode: Benefits Britain exposed: are you paying for someone else's day out?
Rebecca Harris
Mother discussing experiences with benefits
Private individual
Episode: Benefits Britain exposed: are you paying for someone else's day out?
Vicky Price
Economist
Episode: Could the Iran war wreck your mortgage?
Ross Clarke
Spectator writer
Spectator
Episode: Energy bailout? Why Britain can’t afford a cap on household bills
Tyler Goodspeed
Former chairman of Donald Trump's Council of Economic Advisers
U.S. government (CEA)
Episode: This oil crisis could be the worst we've ever seen – former Trump economist Tyler Goodspeed

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 54 ratings
  • Well informed

    Episode on leasehold was fascinating. Very revealing. Michael cuts to the chase and has no agendas or metropolitan bias, which is a rare thing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tom Walton Temmy
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • 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 Kingdom5 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 Kingdom6 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 Kingdom6 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.

Benefits Britain exposed: are you paying for someone else's day out?
Q: What is your take on benefits being used to subsidize day-out activities for families on universal credit?
The guest argues that subsidies distort incentives, improperly allocate public funds, and should be reined in to prevent working families from subsidizing others' leisure; there is emphasis on strengthening the welfare safety net while removing unintended benefits.
This oil crisis could be the worst we've ever seen – former Trump economist Tyler Goodspeed
Q: How susceptible is the president to market signals in this crisis?
Markets signal that the economic costs could be higher than initially expected, and policymakers may adjust accordingly, balancing strategic objectives with the economic impact of higher energy prices.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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

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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. Coffee House Shots
2. Quite right!
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 33 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. Zack Polanski
2. John Power
3. Charlie Mullins
4. Harry Scoffin
5. Robert Jenrick
6. Rebecca Harris
7. Vicky Price
8. Ross Clarke

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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