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Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

The Irish Times
Ireland
Fianna Fáil
Sinn Féin
Donald Trump
Catherine Connolly
European Union
Fine Gael
Housing Crisis
Irish Politics
Jim Gavin
Gaza
Ukraine
Labour Party
Brexit
Irish Presidential Election
NATO
Heather Humphreys
Tariffs
Irish Times
Housing

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Hugh Linehan.

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1061Founded13 years ago
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PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Inside Politics

Latest Episodes

Hugh, Pat, Ellen and Jack took to the stage at Electric Picnic on Saturday to discuss politics and take some uestions from the audience. They discussed UK prime minister Andy Burnham's controversial comments on the possibility of a border poll before... more

Ellen Coyne and Jack Power join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:

·      All 27 EU foreign ministers will gather in Druids Glen in Wicklow next week for a “Gymnich” meeting. What is that you ask, it is characterised as a more informal ... more

Inside Politics Live is coming to Cork on September 30th. Get your tickets here. 

Pat Leahy is joined by Ellen Coyne and Liz Carolan to talk about the response to the circumstances around the recent fatal M9 motorway crash. They examine Coimisiún na... more

Inside Politics Live is coming to Cork on September 30th. Get your tickets here. 

Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

* Today the Government announced that it will stall the planned increase to... more

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Recent Guests

Liam Kneafsey
Author on paper, researcher
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Why does Ireland support Palestine and does anti-Semitism play a role?
Miceal Canavan
Author on paper, researcher from University of Ulster
University of Ulster
Episode: Why does Ireland support Palestine and does anti-Semitism play a role?
Rahul Bedi
Journalist covering Indian affairs for the Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Could India’s ‘Gen Z’ protests bring down Narendra Modi?
Iain Dale
Author, broadcaster, podcaster, political expert, historian
Independent/Author
Episode: Does salesman Andy Burnham have a product to sell?
Michel Barnier
Former EU chief negotiator for Brexit; French politician
European Union / French government
Episode: How Europe's chief negotiator sees Brexit 10 years on
Enda O'Doherty
Former foreign desk colleague and joint editor of the Dublin Review of Books
The Irish Times / Dublin Review of Books
Episode: Marine Le Pen's bid for power and the history of France's far right
Alex Kane
Political analyst and commentator
Independent / The Irish Times contributor
Episode: How the duplicitous double life of Jeffrey Donaldson threatens the future of unionism
Pat Rabbitte
Labour Party veteran and former minister
Labour Party of Ireland
Episode: Pat Rabbitte: 'you’re not going to get a broad left alliance'
Aidan Regan
Professor of Political Economy at UCD
University College Dublin
Episode: Is meaningful climate action possible in a democracy?

Host

Hugh Linehan
Host with long-running role in Irish political analysis; affiliated with The Irish Times.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • IT podcast

    If smugness had a sound, it would be this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Stephen P.H.
    Ireland15 days ago
  • Insight into Ireland past and present

    Really enjoyed the recent series on the PDs. Great insight into an organisation which charts the story of how Ireland changed in the late 20th century. As usual, well researched and well told.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    141197
    Ireland19 days ago
  • Enjoyable

    Really enjoy Inside Politics. Listening to it is a great way to inform myself without getting weighed down by facts, figures and concepts. The banter between the hosts and guests adds to it. Particularly enjoyed Iain Dale’s contribution today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caroline Heffo
    Irelanda month ago
  • Sinead O’Sullivan

    What an insightful episode. Sinead is amazing…. When she has finished rewiring Dublin, can you send her to London please? You may have noticed, we are in need of some assistance!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mike N21
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Centrist Dads.

    Always great to listen in on the thoughts & feels of the national centrist dad’s conversation. That said, Pat Leahy’s seeming inability to use a mic is as, if not more, frustrating than the unimaginative, conservative positions to be (un)heard on the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MrsMinMin
    Ireland5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Live episodes with strong guests are especially well-received.
Many praise the relaxed but informative style and accessible explanations.
Listeners value clear, well-informed analysis and balanced guest choices.
Some critique pacing or perceived centrist bias, wishing for more diverse viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#80
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#202
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#119
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#140
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#197
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#243
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why does Ireland support Palestine and does anti-Semitism play a role?
Q: How did you measure anti-Semitism in the survey?
They used a social distance measure—how comfortable respondents were with Jewish neighbors—combined with open-ended questions to capture broader explanations, acknowledging this as a simple, cross-disciplinary proxy rather than a definitive anti-Semitism metric.
Why does Ireland support Palestine and does anti-Semitism play a role?
Q: Is it true that Ireland is more pro-Palestinian than other European countries?
Yes. The researchers find that Ireland has higher pro-Palestinian sympathy and places greater importance on the conflict than many Western European peers, though the effect is explained through multiple explanations beyond simple anti-Semitism.
Could India’s ‘Gen Z’ protests bring down Narendra Modi?
Q: What sparked the Gen Z protests and why did they gain traction so quickly?
They originated from a leaked medical entrance exam scandal and broader grievances about unemployment and corruption, aided by social media and tech-enabled organization that allowed tens of thousands of students to mobilize nationwide.
How Europe's chief negotiator sees Brexit 10 years on
Q: How did you handle negotiations to maintain unity among the 27?
He explains a strategy built on transparency, constant communication with all 27 delegations, and making national problems a shared concern to prevent divisions among member states.
Marine Le Pen's bid for power and the history of France's far right
Q: How significant was the Dreyfus Affair in shaping the French right and republicanism?
It crystallized the divide between secular republicanism and nationalist-reactionary forces and established a template for the ongoing struggle over memory, identity, and anti-Semitism in French politics.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Inside Politics

What is Inside Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers sharp, newsroom-style analysis of Irish politics, frequently featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers, and occasional politicians. Episodes cover Irish governmental policy, elections, party dynamics, and EU–Ireland relations, often with a balanced, centrist lens and a mix of historical context and current events. Notable strengths include deep reporting, thoughtful guest selections, and lively banter that keeps complex topics accessible. A few critiques from listeners center on perceived biases or pacing, but the show remains a go-to for listeners seeking clear, informed Irish political analysis and candid conversations with influential voices.

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How many subscribers and views does Inside Politics have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Inside Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Inside Politics:

1. In The News
2. Path to Power
3. Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock
4. The David McWilliams Podcast
5. The Other Hand

How many episodes of Inside Politics are there?

Inside Politics launched 13 years ago and published 1061 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 Inside Politics?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Inside Politics?

Recent guests on Inside Politics include:

1. Liam Kneafsey
2. Miceal Canavan
3. Rahul Bedi
4. Iain Dale
5. Michel Barnier
6. Enda O'Doherty
7. Alex Kane
8. Pat Rabbitte

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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