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The State of It

The Times
Ukraine
Russia
Donald Trump
NATO
Israel
Iran
China
Vladimir Putin
United States
Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Gaza
Hamas
Middle East
The Times
Peter Mandelson
European Union
Drones
India
Germany

Real reporting from the coalface of British politics.

Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Patrick Maguire, Gabriel Pogrund and Lara Spirit as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight.

No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real busines... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1327Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Artwork for The State of It

Latest Episodes

Morgan McSweeney has told MPs that the revelations about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein were like a knife through his soul. The more we learn about the appointment process, the madder it sounds. And the odd thing is that crucial ... more

Sir Olly Robbins dropped bombshell after bombshell when he spoke to MPs. Robbins, who was sacked as the Foreign Office’s chief civil servant, has accused Downing Street of placing the department under constant pressure to get Lord Mandelson through v... more

Everything you need to know about the latest instalment of the Mandelson scandal. What Labour MPs are saying about Keir Starmer; our verdict on whether he can survive it, and why Patrick thinks the prime minister is doing "the political equivalent of... more

* Kidney machines replaced with rockets and guns: Keir Starmer says security is his priority but where will the money for defence come from and when will he tell us?

* On the road with Nigel Farage.

* If the polls are right, which major cabinet m... more

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Recent Guests

Lord Robertson
Former Labour cabinet minister, who chaired the strategic defence review
Labour government
Episode: Guns or Butter: the great defence spending row
Oliver Moody
The Times' Berlin correspondent and author of Baltic, The Future of Europe
The Times
Episode: Is Trump building support for Greenland takeover?
Ian Garner
Professor at the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw, specializing in Russian politics and propaganda.
Pilecki Institute
Episode: Frontline special: Ian Garner, Russian propaganda specialist
Lord Peter Ricketts
Former British ambassador to France, national security advisor
UK Government
Episode: Frontline special: Lord Ricketts, former diplomat
Dr. Natalie Sabanadze
Senior Research Fellow with Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia program.
Chatham House
Episode: Why the Black Sea is key to Putin’s grand strategy
Jules Palayer
Artificial intelligence specialist at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Episode: AI and nuclear weapons could change warfare
James Nixey
A long-time Russia analyst now with the Conflict Studies Research Centre.
Conflict Studies Research Centre
Episode: Over to You, Zelensky
Michael Bociurkiw
Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and author
Atlantic Council
Episode: Frontline special: author, Russia analyst Michael Bociurkiw
Cormac Smith
Former British diplomat to Ukraine and communications specialist
Episode: Frontline special: former diplomat Cormac Smith

Hosts

Steven Swinford
Political editor at The Times, provides insider analysis and reporting on key political events.
Gabriel Pogrund
Whitehall editor at The Sunday Times, known for his investigative reporting and political insights.
Patrick Maguire
Chief political commentator for The Times, providing critical perspectives on political dynamics and party leadership.
Caroline Wheeler
Political editor at The Sunday Times with a focus on current political events and party strategies.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 410 ratings
  • Not that great

    Says it’s not biased but the whole gossipy nature is essentially a perpetual take down on anything not right wing. That’s fine if that’s your sort of thing.

    I was auto-subscribed after the times finished their excellent world in 10 podcast series. This is a far cry in quality from that.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Southwestern123
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Best podcast

    My journalistic heroes all in one place. Brilliant. I listen to each podcast several times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skippy 63
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Explosive!!

    Always negative, always gossipy, never on policy, who’s down and who’s down. Everything slanted through the death of the UK narrative. “Government contingency planning” ho ho ho. Pretty toxic for guys that just write up WhatsApp messages all day

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Excellent

    Feels like I’m at a dinner party with well informed friends. Do one on the water companies following the Dirty Business programme.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Niggle12321
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Best UK political podcast

    Difficult to beat - 4 respected, insightful journalists at the top of their game. Listen, you won’t be disappointed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jjh297
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the conversational style engaging, noting it offers fresh perspectives on current political issues without unnecessary jargon.
Listeners appreciate the insightful analysis and insider access to political happenings, valuing the hosts' expertise and commentary.
Some express disappointment over perceived bias or a lack of serious policy discussions, critiquing the show's framing of political events.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#77
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#39
Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#88
Spain/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#99
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#110
Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Have a go if you think you're hard enough
Q: How do you get your stories?
The most important stories often come from non-public figures in Westminster who have vital insider knowledge.
Frontline special: Lord Ricketts, former diplomat
Q: Where at the moment do you think we are? Kyiv is, you know, how emboldened should they feel?
They feel supported by Europe and confident that Trump will disappoint Putin's expectations.
Frontline special: Lord Ricketts, former diplomat
Q: So do you think Putin is now emboldened by this and therefore it's going to push him further away from wanting to get some form of peace settlement?
Yes, Putin thinks Trump won't follow through on threats and feels confident he can string him along.
Journalist killings leave Israel under pressure
Q: Why isn't the increasing anti-war sentiment from within Israel impacting the prime minister?
Protesters believe Netanyahu has extended the war for political benefit, suggesting he should consider ceasefire agreements to release hostages.
Journalist killings leave Israel under pressure
Q: Will this international condemnation make Israel think differently about their impending plans for Gaza?
Samer Al-Atrush believes that the condemnation won't likely change Israel's plans, as similar past incidents haven't shifted the course of the conflict.

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 The State of It

What is The State of It about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides an insightful look into the rapidly changing landscape of British politics through discussions among seasoned political journalists. The hosts frequently analyze key events, unfolding political drama, and public opinion as they explore various dynamics affecting the Labour Party and its leadership. Notable segments include in-depth examinations of controversial political figures, electoral strategies, and the livelihoods of key politicians, all while maintaining a commitment to unbiased reporting. By emphasizing authenticity and engaging narratives, the podcast seeks to keep listeners informed about the complexities of the current political climate without political allegiance.

Listener engagement revolves around the ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The State of It?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The State of It:

1. How To Win An Election
2. Politics Unpacked
3. Coffee House Shots
4. Quite right!
5. Political Currency

How many episodes of The State of It are there?

The State of It launched 4 years ago and published 1327 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 The State of It?

Recent guests on The State of It include:

1. Lord Robertson
2. Oliver Moody
3. Ian Garner
4. Lord Peter Ricketts
5. Dr. Natalie Sabanadze
6. Jules Palayer
7. James Nixey
8. Michael Bociurkiw

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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