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Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1049Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for Inside Politics

Latest Episodes

Returning to the podcast today is UK political commentator, broadcaster and author Iain Dale to talk to Hugh about the arrival of Andy Burnham as prime minister and the death of Iain's friend Ann Widdecombe.

Burnham's excellence as a communicator a... more

Michel Barnier is best known in Ireland for his central role in the EU's negotiations with the UK over Brexit almost ten years ago. But Barnier has also played a central role in French politics for decades, including a brief stint as prime minister. ... more

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

* The Government’s report into Aughinish Alumina is expected to say that material produced there may or may not have been used in Russia’s war machine, citing a ... more

As the Dáil shuts down for the summer it's time for Hugh, Pat and Jack to take stock of the term gone by. But the biggest political event of the year didn't happen in Leinster House. The April fuel protests left their mark on Irish politics as few ot... more

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Recent Guests

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?
Galen Druke
GD Politics podcast host and FiveThirtyEight alumnus
GD Politics / FiveThirtyEight
Episode: Inside Politics Meets GD Politics: A crossover episode with Galen Druke
Darragh O'Brien
Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Energy
Irish Government (Fianna Fáil)
Episode: Darragh O'Brien on Ireland's missed climate targets, new help to buy EVs and Fianna Fáil's leadership
Shane Ross
Author of RTÉ Saints, Scholars, and Scandals; former business editor of The Sunday Independent; former TD and minister
Author, RTÉ Saints, Scholars, and Scandals
Episode: Shane Ross: Why politicians won't fix RTÉ - or let it fail
Helen Lewis
Staff writer at The Atlantic, author of Furious Minds
The Atlantic
Episode: Why do these men want to strip women of the right to vote?
Sinead O'Sullivan
Regular columnist for The Irish Times and writer on sub stack 'But This Time It's Different'
The Irish Times, Substack
Episode: What's wrong with Ireland? Sinead O'Sullivan has an answer
Mark Paul
London correspondent for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Keir Starmer finds himself in office without power

Hosts

Hugh Linehan
Host of Inside Politics with The Irish Times; lead moderator with a background in Irish political analysis
Pat Leahy
Politics editor and commentator; frequent panelist and in-studio contributor

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • 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
    Ireland4 months ago
  • Oliver sears interview

    Great interview with Oliver Sears. Informative. Good to get an insight to him to understand his columns better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blackbird365!
    Ireland4 months ago
  • Informative and informal!

    I love this show. The relaxed nature of it makes it easy to listen to, yet all the important topics are covered. It hits the right note for me

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caitinv
    Ireland5 months ago
  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    Very interesting and informative, presented in a pleasant style, with good humour, and good sense.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tartaraghan
    Ireland5 months ago
  • The Horserace Politics Podcast

    Occasionally has good episodes when guests like Fintan O Toole, Aidan Regan or Una Mullaly , keep the hosts on track. Doesn’t delve into how these issues affect people’s lives. Mainly polls and who is winning one nil up 2-1 down type analysis.

    They seem more interested in politics that is entertains for them instead of explaining the nuances of how it affects peoples lives

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Patches D Fitz
    Ireland5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critique perceived bias or mic issues, but overall praise for insights.
Many praise the host banter and access to strong guests.
Listeners appreciate deep, balanced Irish politics analysis with credible sourcing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#127
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#212
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#228
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#143
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#201
Italy/News/Politics
Spotify
#49
Ireland/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Darragh O'Brien on Ireland's missed climate targets, new help to buy EVs and Fianna Fáil's leadership
Q: Is Darragh O'Brien likely to be Fianna Fáil leader, and what would qualify him?
There is discussion of leadership prospects with several names mentioned; O'Brien is portrayed as a potential candidate with a track record in housing and energy, but the leadership outcome is contingent on future party dynamics and timing, not a foregone conclusion.
Darragh O'Brien on Ireland's missed climate targets, new help to buy EVs and Fianna Fáil's leadership
Q: Can you explain the new EV scrappage pilot and who it helps?
The pilot uses 10 million euros from the Climate Action Fund to top up vehicle grants, offering up to 8,500 euros for buyers of new EVs who scrap an old car 13 years or older, with a rural focus to improve equity and broaden access.
Darragh O'Brien on Ireland's missed climate targets, new help to buy EVs and Fianna Fáil's leadership
Q: What are the main factors driving Ireland's delay in meeting its 2030 emissions targets?
The minister points to planning delays, bureaucratic inertia, and the contrast between ambitious targets and the slow pace of approving offshore wind and other infrastructure, while noting progress in transport electrification and the need for more aggressive measures to bridge the gap.
Inside Politics Meets GD Politics: A crossover episode with Galen Druke
Q: What was the impulse behind doing a crossover with GD Politics?
To blend Irish and American perspectives on data-driven politics and to explore how different political systems handle similar challenges.
Byelections: campaign trail stories and final predictions
Q: It's extremely unpredictable. Okay, Harry, who's going to win the two seats?
Daniel Annes looks like the favorite in Dublin Central, while Sean Conway is a strong contender in Galway West, with transfer dynamics likely to decide the outcome.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Inside Politics

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

The show provides in-depth, conversation-driven analysis of Irish politics, with a steady mix of host-led briefings, historical context, and expert guest commentary. Recent episodes cover by-elections, party dynamics (Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Fine Gael), housing and economic policy, and Ireland's relationship with international politics, including UK politics and U.S. media dynamics. Notable strengths include strong Irish Times staff continuity, rigorous policy/context discussion, and a willingness to interrogate institutional reform and long-term governance, often balanced with accessible banter. It's likely to appeal to politics professionals, policy-minded listeners, and anyone who wants nuanced, journalist-led takes on current Irish affa... more

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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 Indo Daily
5. The David McWilliams Podcast

How many episodes of Inside Politics are there?

Inside Politics launched 13 years ago and published 1049 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. Alex Kane
2. Pat Rabbitte
3. Aidan Regan
4. Galen Druke
5. Darragh O'Brien
6. Shane Ross
7. Helen Lewis
8. Sinead O'Sullivan

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