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Artwork for Politics Unpacked

Politics Unpacked

Times Radio
Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Donald Trump
Andy Burnham
Reform UK
Peter Mandelson
Nigel Farage
Ukraine
Kemi Badenoch
Conservative Party
Green Party
Iran
UK Politics
Brexit
NATO
Jeffrey Epstein
Rachel Reeves
Wes Streeting
Immigration
Angela Rayner

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.

You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at www.thetimes.com/

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2023Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Politics Unpacked

Latest Episodes

At PMQs, Andy Burnham says that national security "can't come at the expense of social security". 

But if he won't cut benefits to fund defence, where will he find the money?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with Lara Spirit, Deputy Political Edi... more

Andy Burnham's first policy move risks angering President Trump, will there be a backlash from the US?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

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

John Healey made his first major speech since becoming Chancellor, saying the economy is 'turning a corner' and promising growth. Is his optimism justified?

Hugo Rikfind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

Hosted o... more

Reform UK's conference is underway in Birmingham - but allegations the party breached political donation rules threaten to derail the event.

Nigel Farage insists his party has broken no laws. But with two senior officials stepping aside, the questio... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ben Riley-Smith
Brand new political editor of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
Episode: PMQs: Vibes Aren't Enough?
Sarah Ditum
Times columnist and guest analyst
Times
Episode: Burnham's Continuity Government?
Michael Binyon
Senior journalist providing political and historical context
The Times
Episode: Burnham's Continuity Government?
Sebastian Payne
Times columnist/journalist
The Times
Episode: Burnham On The World Stage
Jess Phillips
Labour MP for Birmingham, Yardley
Episode: The Problem With Labour's Asylum Leaflet
David Bull
Former chairman of Reform UK
Reform UK
Episode: Farage Bins The Count
Yvette Cooper
Former Labour MP, discussed via interview fragment about policy contrasts
House of Commons (Labour)
Episode: Is Burnham Moving Fast Enough On Growth?
Jacob Rees
Conservative MP referenced in discussion
UK Parliament
Episode: Is Burnham Moving Fast Enough On Growth?
Holly Willoughby
Television presenter, interviewed for a profile piece
Times Magazine
Episode: Is This Burnham's Week Of Chaos?

Hosts

Ed Vaizey
Host of the show, discusses topics with panel; known for political commentary
Carolyn Quinn
Host/guest contributor, sits in for discussions and interviews

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Elitist and biased

    Appallingly elitist and biased. People like this is the reason the country left the EU because they don’t want to listen to anyone who lives outside of their right wing millionaire bubble.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ArlenBales
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • grim

    just the worst people alive ain’t they

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LogenNo9
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Know Your Enemy

    I listen to this to know what the entitled establishment think. Significant arrogant twattishness is prevalent here.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Rhysie Babes
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • More of Stephan/Stefan across the board pls

    He’s got a bit of edge, and an improvement on Theo and Lara who were a bit dry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thorpe_jd
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Sometimes vacuous contributors

    Ie Alice Thomson and Trevor Phillips. So uninformed and frankly pointless. Just seemingly toeing the Times line.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Saoifre
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, audiences appreciate smart, fast-paced debates with diverse viewpoints.
Balanced panel with strong media insiders, though some listeners feel tone can be partisan.
Guests bring timely insights but hosts' questions can feel brisk or confrontational at times.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#226
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#13
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#81
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#179
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#230
Germany/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reform's Welfare Bombshell
Q: What about the media's role in handling sensitive cases like the Jason Arday situation?
Libby stresses the need to differentiate between responsible reporting and vile online harassment, emphasizing the difficulty of balancing fair comment with protecting individuals from online abuse.
Reform's Welfare Bombshell
Q: Libby, what do you think about Reform UK's welfare plans?
Libby expresses concern about the practicality and fairness of excluding foreign nationals from benefits, noting the potential impact on settled status and EU nationals, while also acknowledging the political appeal of reforming welfare.
PMQs: The Sun Sets On Starmer's Premiership?
Q: What is the potential leadership dynamic discussed for the Labour Party?
There is speculation about Andy Burnham and leadership contests, with discussions about whether cabinet resignations would trigger a leadership change and how that would impact Labour's positioning on defence and welfare.
PMQs: The Sun Sets On Starmer's Premiership?
Q: How is Badenoch perceived in PMQs and what does that imply for Labour's strategy?
Badenoch is described as having evolved from abrasive to more showmanship-like delivery, which Labour views as a rhetorical asset that could be used to frame the defence debate and impose pressure on the government economics.
PMQs: The Sun Sets On Starmer's Premiership?
Q: What is the mood around the defence investment plan and its publication timeline?
There is a sense of delay and scrutiny; critics argue the plan should be published before NATO, while supporters emphasize careful budgeting and avoiding hasty conclusions, pointing to a broader debate about how money translates into defense capability.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Politics Unpacked

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

The program delivers brisk, discussion-driven politics analysis with a panel of experienced columnists, journalists, and political commentators. Episodes frequently dissect current UK political events, leadership dynamics, policy debates, and media narratives, often pairing sharp critique with light banter and personal anecdotes. Noteworthy is the salon-style format, blending insider knowledge from Times and Sunday Times contributors with guest insights, eyeing both policy nuance and public-facing messaging. Potential listeners will find timely takes, cross-party perspectives, and a balance of hard analysis and accessible commentary, though the tone can be polarizing for some audiences.

This show is likely to attract listeners who enjoy fa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Politics Unpacked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Politics Unpacked:

1. How To Win An Election
2. The State of It
3. Political Fix
4. Coffee House Shots
5. The Politics Show

How many episodes of Politics Unpacked are there?

Politics Unpacked launched 13 years ago and published 2023 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 Politics Unpacked?

Recent guests on Politics Unpacked include:

1. Ben Riley-Smith
2. Sarah Ditum
3. Michael Binyon
4. Sebastian Payne
5. Jess Phillips
6. David Bull
7. Yvette Cooper
8. Jacob Rees

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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