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The State of It

The Times
Ukraine
Russia
Donald Trump
Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Israel
Iran
NATO
China
United States
Vladimir Putin
Andy Burnham
Gaza
Hamas
Nigel Farage
The Times
Middle East
Peter Mandelson
Reform UK
India

What’s really being said inside the corridors of power.

Join Steven Swinford, Patrick Maguire, Ben Riley-Smith and Lara Spirit for exclusive interviews, political scoops and the best analysis from Westminster.

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1327Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for The State of It

Latest Episodes

Andy Burnham has pulled the lever marked ‘Brexit’, threatening to reignite the wars of yesteryear. The soft left are delighted, but there’s unease in his cabinet. Is this a route back to a referendum, or just a meagre SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary)... more

Zack Polanski's defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election puts him in a tough position. The Green leader lost the by-election by 3,300 votes to Sagal Abdi-Wali, the Labour candidate. He's also facing criticism after the Green Party voted to decl... more

Kemi Badenoch's attack on Reform UK was all about character and her attack on Labour was all about economics. In her speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, she said she would to scrap inheritance tax on family homes and that under... more

The Labour Party is jubilant. Andy Burnham has fired the starting gun for the next general election with one of the most consequential conference speeches in recent memory. He used it to set out a series of major proposals, including an end to the tr... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

John Healey
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Labour Party
Episode: EXCLUSIVE - John Healey: budget will prove I'm pro-business
Fraser Nelson
Columnist for The Times, co-host/guest on this episode
The Times
Episode: Burnham's three big tests - and trouble at Reform UK
Rupert Lowe
Founder/leader of Restore
Restore
Episode: Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Colin Sutton
Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk
Reform
Episode: Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Zac Polanski
Leader of the Green Party
Green Party
Episode: Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Georgina Maloney
European right-wing figure referenced in context
National Future (Italy)
Episode: Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Gabriel Pogrund
Insight Editor of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
Episode: The Burnham Bounce: how long can it last?
Andy Burnham
Leader figure and guest on the episode
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Labour Party
Episode: No, you're a factionalist: Labour's new battle lines
Nigel Farage
Leader of Reform UK, interviewed on the road segment
Reform UK
Episode: "They're going to have to drag him out" - Starmer prepares for a leadership battle

Hosts

Steven Swinford
Host of The State of It; senior political journalist for The Times.
Lara Spirit
Co-host/commentator; Deputy Political Editor/Editor-level political journalist.
Patrick Maguire
Co-host/Chief Political Commentator; senior political journalist.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 440 ratings
  • Biased

    Tried this, but their Conservative bias makes my teeth itch. I’d rather be nibbled to death by ducks 🦆

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SocksyG
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Asking the tough questions

    Like how long is a piece of string? A: Twice the distance from the middle to the end. A concept too complex for the hosts to comprehend.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ❤️Radio4Comedy
    Netherlands2 months ago
  • Lost all respect for this one

    Overstepped mark in comments regarding Al Carns in latest episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nicboomaxt
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Fabulous

    The State of It is always worthwhile, always good. One tiny bit of feedback, the excellent Lara Spirit needs to slow down a little. Her thinking is too fast for listeners to digest. She needs to remember that her audience isn’t the chaps in the studio but us, the public, going about our lives at the same time as listening to the pod. But she’s clearly brilliant!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlexMarcusAur
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Asking the tough questions

    Like how long is a piece of string? A: Twice the distance from the middle to the end. How do we find the money to arm the military? A: Same way as the last 1000 years. Those who can pay must pay to keep the country they own, their own. That’ll be the rich then. And the poor deploy in a war, sacrificing their lives. Any other questions you guys are struggling with?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ❤️Radio4Comedy
    Netherlands6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality journalism with credible sourcing and timely, relevant topics.
Strong guest lineup and sharp policy analysis that helps understand UK politics beyond headlines.
Some listeners perceive bias or gossipy tone in certain episodes; others praise the candid, no-spin approach.
Insightful, authoritative discussions with strong reporting and context.
Can feel like a dinner-table briefing with top reporters and insiders.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#74
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#221
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#229
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#20
China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#25
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Q: What is the likelihood of a formal right-wing realignment around Reform and Restore?
The hosts suggest it's possible but uncertain, given the deep distrust between Reform and Restore and the risk of internal resistance within Reform if a deal undermines their base.
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.

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?

A hard-hitting politics podcast pairing sharp insider reporting with strategic analysis of UK power dynamics. Regular hosts—prominent Times and Sunday Times journalists—dig into recent by-elections, party leadership battles, reform movements, and Westminster maneuvering, often weaving in exclusive briefing-style details and guest perspectives to illuminate how decisions really get made. The show stands out for its straight-talking tone, timely scoops, and a willingness to challenge party lines, making it feel like a high-signal briefing from the heart of British politics for listeners who want sharp, actionable context for policy and elections.

Where can I find podcast stats for The State of It?

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How many listeners does The State of It get?

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What are the audience demographics for The State of It?

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How many subscribers and views does The State of It have?

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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. Politics At Sam and Anne's
4. The State of It: USA
5. Political Currency

How many episodes of The State of It are there?

The State of It launched 5 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.

How do I contact The State of It?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The State of It?

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What guests have appeared on The State of It?

Recent guests on The State of It include:

1. John Healey
2. Fraser Nelson
3. Rupert Lowe
4. Colin Sutton
5. Zac Polanski
6. Georgina Maloney
7. Gabriel Pogrund
8. Andy Burnham

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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