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Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1080Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Inside Politics

Latest Episodes

In less than a month US voters will get a chance to express their feelings about the direction of the country in elections for seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. While president Donald Trump is not on the ballot, his unpopularity i... more

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

* The fallout from Budget 2027 has been minimal, save for Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan’s eleventh-hour decision to cut State subvention to RTÉ by €20 million.... more

Ireland is politically and economically stable, as Simon Harris pointed out in his Budget speech yesterday. But keeping it that way is getting more expensive. Increased capital spending, increased day-to-day spending, tax cuts - yesterday’s Budget de... more

Last year Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor co-authored an essay in The Guardian with a provocative title: The Rise of End Times Fascism. In it they argued that a new alliance was emerging on the political right, made up of Christian fundamentalists, Sili... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Astra Taylor
Documentary filmmaker; co-founder of the Debt Collective; author
Debt Collective
Episode: 'Traitors to creation': Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on the far right's apocalypse alliance
Siobhán Fenton
Former Sinn Féin press office staffer and author of Ourselves Alone
Sinn Féin (former press office)
Episode: Siobhán Fenton worked for Sinn Féin. She explains why it has not won power
Mark Little
Former journalist, entrepreneur, co-founder of Kinzen
Kinzen, former journalist
Episode: Can we escape the algorithm? Mark Little is still optimistic
Anthony Scaramucci
Author of All the Wrong Moves; former Director of Communications in the Trump administration
All the Wrong Moves (book)
Episode: Where Anthony Scaramucci and America went wrong
Shana Cohen
Director of TASc, independent think tank
TASC
Episode: What's the best way to make Ireland more equal?
Jack Horgan-Jones
Irish Times journalist
The Irish Times
Episode: Trump's support for reunification grabs the headlines on a colourful day
Jack Chambers
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Government of Ireland
Episode: 'Disruptive' Jack Chambers talks tough on HSE overspending and budget negotiations
Paul Mason
Author of Reds: A Global History of Communism, left-wing commentator
New World Magazine / author
Episode: P aul Mason on communism, China and the crisis of the left
Paul Howard
Author and satirist
Author of A Nation Once Again
Episode: 'Equal-opportunities satirist' Paul Howard takes aim at Irish reunification

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.
    Ireland2 months 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
    Ireland2 months 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
    Ireland3 months 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 Kingdom5 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
    Ireland6 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
#73
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#197
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#108
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#130
Australia/News/Politics
Spotify
#43
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#109
Ireland/Trending

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'Traitors to creation': Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on the far right's apocalypse alliance
Q: Which word did you decide was most apt to describe the current moment, fascism, and why is that label appropriate now?
We believe fascism is a through line in history, not a strict blueprint; it encompasses the crisis-capitalism dynamic and the way elites weaponize fear, inequality, and tech power to reshape democracy, even if the exact form changes with time.
What to watch as Xi visits Washington
Q: What should Ireland, Europe, and global markets expect from Xi's Washington visit?
The guests suggest that expectations should be tempered by the realities of a complex, high-stakes engagement where trade tensions, security commitments, and AI leadership compete for clarity, with a likely emphasis on extending a truce while keeping strategic leverage.
'Disruptive' Jack Chambers talks tough on HSE overspending and budget negotiations
Q: What could be done on stamp duty or other marginal elements for the budget?
Internal discussions have focused mainly on the income tax side, with marginal elements discussed closer to the budget, while not foreclosing other measures.
'Disruptive' Jack Chambers talks tough on HSE overspending and budget negotiations
Q: What does escalating the controls mean?
There will be much greater centralization, particularly for four regions, where they will lose autonomy on day-to-day spending and there will be tighter controls on pay and non-pay spending.
P aul Mason on communism, China and the crisis of the left
Q: What are the risks for modern left movements in the era of social media and identity politics?
The host and Mason discuss how new Leninism and allied forces abroad influence younger activists, and how left movements risk fracturing when aligning with authoritarian-backed narratives.

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 Indo Daily

How many episodes of Inside Politics are there?

Inside Politics launched 13 years ago and published 1080 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Inside Politics?

Recent guests on Inside Politics include:

1. Astra Taylor
2. Siobhán Fenton
3. Mark Little
4. Anthony Scaramucci
5. Shana Cohen
6. Jack Horgan-Jones
7. Jack Chambers
8. Paul Mason

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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