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The State of It

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

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

Exclusive stories from the front line of the government's war over defence spending.

And there's a swagger about Andy Burnham's team: they're more and more confident that he'll win in Makerfield. What happens next? And how will the enmity between An... more

* Nigel Farage has said that the death of Henry Nowak is proof that "we’re living in a two-tier culture...where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities". Police bodycam footage shows Nowak, 18, being arre... more

In the Makerfield by-election, Reform UK have put forward a local plumber in the hope of derailing Burnham’s push for power — but a string of deeply questionable old social media posts has left the campaign wobbling. Meanwhile, on Reform’s right flan... more

* Scoop: Keir Starmer thinks he can remain prime minister till 2027, even if Andy Burnham wins in Makerfield...And if Burnham loses, what then?

* Fear and loathing in Number 10: we have details about the extraordinary levels of anger at the top of ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Zack Polanski
Greens leader discussed in analysis
Green Party
Episode: "They're going to have to drag him out" - Starmer prepares for a leadership battle
Lord Robertson
Former Labour cabinet minister, who chaired the strategic defence review
Labour government
Episode: Guns or Butter: the great defence spending row
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
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
Emily Ferris
Senior Research Fellow in the International Security Studies Department
Royal United Services Institute
Episode: Deal or no-deal? Unpacking the Trump-Putin meet
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

Hosts

Steven Swinford
Host with extensive leadership in political journalism; widely associated with The Times/The Sunday Times coverage.
Lara Spirit
Deputy political editor with deep newsroom experience and insider access.
Patrick Maguire
Chief political commentator and co-host with a reputation for sharp political analysis.
Gabriel Pogrund
Whitehall editor/Investigations editor providing in-depth government coverage and investigative context.
Stephen Swinford
Co-hosts and senior political reporters with strong Westminster reporting background.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 420 ratings
  • 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 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. 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
    Netherlands2 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Criticism often centers on perceived partisan alignment and the volume of industry scoops.
Many appreciate the balanced, no-spin tone and strong procedural commentary.
Listeners praise the rigorous insider reporting and high-caliber guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#62
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#250
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#163
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#55
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#83
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
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Frequently Asked Questions About The State of It

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

Real reporting from senior political journalists digging into UK power dynamics, leadership contests, policy battles, and on-the-ground reporting from Westminster and beyond. Episodes illuminate leadership struggles within major parties, high-stakes policy debates (defence spending, Iran policy, cost-of-living issues), and the backstage maneuvering shaping national politics. Expect sharp analysis, insider anecdotes, and timely scoops delivered with a brisk, informed tone that balances rigor with accessible storytelling. A standout trait is the team's ability to connect granular political maneuvering to broader economic and democratic implications, making it useful for listeners who want both depth and practical context for media, policy, an... 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. Nigel Farage
2. Zack Polanski
3. Lord Robertson
4. Ian Garner
5. Dr. Natalie Sabanadze
6. Jules Palayer
7. Emily Ferris
8. Cormac Smith

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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