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The State of It

The Times
Israel
Iran
Hamas
Russia
Ukraine
India
United States
Gaza
Narendra Modi
Donald Trump
China
David Cameron
United Kingdom
US Presidential Election
Democracy
Congress
Military Aid
Joe Biden
Formula One
Titanic

Real reporting from the coalface of British politics.

Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Patrick Maguire, Steven Swinford, Gabriel Pogrund and Caroline Wheeler and 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 rea... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1327Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsGovernment

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Artwork for The State of It

Latest Episodes

The end of Britain’s political duopoly now looks complete, as Labour suffers a catastrophic by-election defeat to the Greens in Gorton and Denton. Reform comes second, while the Tories lose their deposit with just 2% of the vote. Keir Starmer is now ... more

Join Caroline as she visits Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion. Burner phones to make sure the Russians don't track them as they travel in on a train called the Bravery Express. A meeting with the first lady, and with a woman who ... more

Three separate scandals have raised serious questions over Keir Starmer's judgement. It's empowered Labour MPs who were once written off as cranks. And with many files still to come out, the questions will keep on coming.

Meanwhile, the PM is sellin... more

The Labour Together scandal is the latest storm threatening to capsize the government - and Gabriel has been right at the heart. For the first time, he describes what happened when a Labour think tank set private investigators on a journalist. Their ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Cormac Smith
Former British diplomat to Ukraine and communications specialist
Episode: Frontline special: former diplomat Cormac Smith
David Salvo
Managing Director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy
Alliance for Securing Democracy
Episode: Money casts shadow over Alaska talks
David Charter
Assistant US Editor at The Times
The Times
Episode: Russia, US weigh West Bank plan for Ukraine
Rear Admiral Dr. Chris Parry
spent 36 years in the Royal Navy commanding HMS Gloucester and HMS Fearless, now strategic forecaster, commentator, historian, and author.
Episode: Frontline special - retired Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry
Dr. Chietij Bajpaee
Senior research fellow at Chatham House's Asia-Pacific Programme, an Asia specialist with experience in the energy sector and think tanks.
Chatham House
Episode: India-US relations sour over Trump ultimatum

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

4.2 out of 5 stars from 392 ratings
  • Entertainment for ugly people

    Entertainment for ugly people. Unserious, inside-baseball chat. Patting each other on the back for ‘scoops’, then asking for your vote for some podcast award. Tittle-tattle orated with zero broadcast journalist presence/intellect/gravitas.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    WyzacHidmond
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • Smart, witty, and insightful

    The best podcast with real smart observations and critique

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sw1200
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Meh

    It’s okay, fairly interesting but very little to no policy talk and if there is it’s all framed through personalities gossip and potential drama they’re sniffing. Not sure what it does to the overall benefit of the state. Not sure what I learn that is meaningful or helpful long term. Quite snide, quite “oh look how hilarious this is” I’d love to get them out on the bins or doing a proper job for a while to give them some perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Propoganda pod

    Never written a review before but I felt I had to. Journalists that I used to hold in high esteem have debased themselves on this podcast. The way Nigel Farage is discussed like he’s a martyr, they should be ashamed. Not a balanced view at all, just right wing propaganda. Sadly deleted

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Disillusioned Dee
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Mehreen Khan

    How have I missed Mehreen Khan? Hands down the most interesting bit of analysis I’ve heard in months about the economy, instead of the same kind of thing you hear everywhere. More please!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom3 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
#229
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#45
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#96
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#127
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#48
Ireland/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. Politics Unpacked
2. Political Currency
3. Politics At Sam and Anne's
4. Quite right!
5. Political Fix

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. Ian Garner
2. Lord Peter Ricketts
3. Dr. Natalie Sabanadze
4. Jules Palayer
5. Cormac Smith
6. David Salvo
7. David Charter
8. Rear Admiral Dr. Chris Parry

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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