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Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1034Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for Inside Politics

Latest Episodes

Cormac McQuinn and Harry McGee join Hugh to discuss the week in politics:

The disorder in Northern Ireland since a knife attack in Belfast on Monday reached levels not seen since “the worst possible days of the Troubles”, the Police Service of North... more

In a new book coauthored with fellow political scientists, UCD’s Aidan Regan argues that the three goals of democracy, economic growth and effective climate action are at odds with one another, and that the resulting “trilemma” requires novel politic... more

For a special crossover episode of Inside Politics Hugh Linehan welcomes US podcaster Galen Druke, the host of GD Politics and formerly of the FiveThirtyEight politics podcast, for a discussion of the Irish and US political scenes. They cover topics ... more

Pat Leahy and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

·       Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has come out this week to demand the Rotunda maternity hospital withdraw permission for consultants on public-onl... more

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

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Recent Guests

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
Pat Leaghey
Politics analyst and commentator
The Irish Times
Episode: Two-way race for Sinn Féin and Soc Dems in Dublin Central byelection
Ronan McGreevy
Irish Times journalist and historian
Irish Times
Episode: How Fianna Fáil was formed - with Ronan McGreevy
Keith Duggan
Washington correspondent for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Another violent attack on Trump brings a short-lived truce in his battle with the media
Ellen Coyne
Member of The Irish Times political staff
The Irish Times
Episode: What the fuel protests meant
Ivan Nagy
Award-winning Hungarian political journalist and analyst
Hungarian media
Episode: The end of the Orbán model

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
    Ireland2 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!
    Ireland2 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
    Ireland4 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
    Ireland4 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
    Ireland4 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
#102
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#174
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#181
Australia/News/Politics
Spotify
#47
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#85
Ireland/Trending

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
What's wrong with Ireland? Sinead O'Sullivan has an answer
Q: What would a reform-oriented path look like for Ireland?
It would involve building durable institutions, separating politics from long-term infrastructure planning, and shifting from a revenue-driven subsidy culture to investment in housing, transport, and public services that endure over decades.
What's wrong with Ireland? Sinead O'Sullivan has an answer
Q: Why does the current system persist despite widespread dissatisfaction?
Because the political economy rewards subsidies and short-term fixes, and there is a powerful middle-class, professional services, and asset holders who benefit from this arrangement, making reforms politically costly.
What's wrong with Ireland? Sinead O'Sullivan has an answer
Q: What is the fundamental problem with how Ireland organizes its infrastructure and services?
The problem is a structural mismatch and lack of long-term institutions to plan and fund infrastructure, leading to short-term political decisions and misalignment between what is needed and what is delivered.
Two-way race for Sinn Féin and Soc Dems in Dublin Central byelection
Q: What impact did the Bertie Ahern immigration remarks have on Fianna Fáil's standing in this poll?
The controversy likely hurt Fianna Fáil, contributing to a weaker showing in a Dublin Central environment where voters are dissatisfied with government handling and migration policy; however, the exact effect depends on how voters transfer and respond in the final week.

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. Path to Power
2. In The News
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 12 years ago and published 1034 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. Shane Ross
2. Helen Lewis
3. Sinead O'Sullivan
4. Mark Paul
5. Pat Leaghey
6. Ronan McGreevy
7. Keith Duggan
8. Ellen Coyne

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