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UCL Uncovering Politics

UCL Political Science
Donald Trump
Social Media
Populism
Political Identity
Climate Change
Liberia
Gaza
Election Campaigns
Discrimination
Ukraine
American Presidency
Clientelism
Liberalism
Identity Politics
Programmatic Competition
Structural Injustice
European Union
Political Science
Election Debates
Policy Information

The podcast of the Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy at University College London (UCL). Through this podcast we explore key themes of contemporary politics and spotlight some of the fantastic research that takes place within our department.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes170Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for UCL Uncovering Politics

Latest Episodes

Six prime ministers, a Brexit referendum, and an (unlawful) prorogation of parliament — it has been an extraordinary decade to lead the UCL Constitution Unit. Meg Russell steps back from that role and joins host Emily McTernan to reflect on a career ... more

YouTube

Parading — when members of the unionist community march to commemorate historical events such as the 1690 Battle of the Boyne — is one of the most visible expressions of Northern Ireland's deep social divisions. But does it actually inflame tensions ... more

YouTube

Good policy depends on evidence, but the statistical methods behind the best research are complex and few policy-makers can master them in depth. So how do we equip people to engage critically with research without being trained statisticians?

A new... more

YouTube

Social media has a content problem. Some posts incite violence or hatred; others spread misinformation or promote self-harm. The instinctive response is removal, but is that always the right tool?

A new paper argues that platforms should often demot... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Meg Russell
Professor of British and Comparative Politics
University College London (UCL)
Episode: Six Prime Ministers and a Brexit: Meg Russell Reflects on British Democracy
Kit Rickard
Senior Researcher at Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
Episode: The Impact of Parades in Northern Ireland
Giovanni Hollenweger
Assistant Professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen
CUHK Shenzhen
Episode: The Impact of Parades in Northern Ireland
Kristin M. Bakke
Professor of Political Science and International Relations
UCL
Episode: The Impact of Parades in Northern Ireland
Julia de Romémont
Lecturer in quantitative research methods and political science
UCL
Episode: Teaching The Use Of Evidence In Policymaking
Ben Lauderdale
Professor of Political Science
UCL Department of Political Science
Episode: How Do Judges' Personal Views Affect Asylum Rulings?
Judith Spirig
Associate Professor of Political Science
UCL Department of Political Science
Episode: How Do Judges' Personal Views Affect Asylum Rulings?
Handi Li
Lecturer in comparative politics, UCL Department of Political Science
University College London
Episode: Transparency As A Tool Of Authoritarian Governance In China
Jared Finnegan
Lecturer in public policy at the UCL Department of Political Science
University College London
Episode: Which Companies Oppose Climate Action?

Hosts

Emily McTernan
Host and co-creator; affiliated with UCL School of Public Policy and Department of Political Science, University College London (UCL).
Alan Renwick
Co-host; long-time host focusing on political institutions and democratic processes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 61 ratings
  • Always interesting.

    Very interesting, stimulating, discussions & analysis. I’ve enjoyed listening to each episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Enough Trump.
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Fantastic podcast for anyone interested in the public service and politics

    Ideal for anyone and everyone interested in public life, the nature of the state, global health, inequality, sustainable development, human rights and other challenges being faced by governance.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CampTrav
    Canada4 years ago
  • Love it!

    As someone new to learning about politics, I have really enjoyed getting to grips with the key issues spoken about on this podcast. Great range of speakers and hosts. Particularly liked the episode on Monarchy. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChloeWalsh1994
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Intriguing and informative!

    Truly a great listen! — outstanding political scientists discussing meaningful topics in an engaging and accessible manner.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eddie S Milev
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Such a good listen !

    Very informative podcast making politics much more accessible for all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lol123344
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging, accessible, and rigorous discussions worth following for policy insights.
High-quality experts and thoughtful conversations; hosts keep complex topics understandable.
Thoughtful, well-researched episodes that connect theory to real-world governance.
Accessible yet deeply informed, with a strong academic perspective that doesn't overwhelm.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#209
Norway/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#226
China/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Teaching The Use Of Evidence In Policymaking
Q: How does the module approach causal inference without heavy statistics?
The module builds intuition around comparing comparable groups and considering alternative outcomes, using designs like randomized trials where feasible and quasi-experimental designs to infer causality while acknowledging limitations.
Teaching The Use Of Evidence In Policymaking
Q: How are measurement inferences taught, and why is question wording important?
Students examine how survey questions determine what is being measured, critique wording to understand its impact on results, and learn to interpret measurements as representations rather than exact truths about democracy.
Remove Or Reduce? Social Media Content Moderation Through The Lens Of Human Rights
Q: What about climate change misinformation, should platforms demote or label it?
Climate misinformation can be demoted to reduce its visibility and allow rational discourse to continue, while labels or fact-checks can be used in tandem; removal is generally seen as unnecessary for such content, especially when it is part of ongoing public debate.
Remove Or Reduce? Social Media Content Moderation Through The Lens Of Human Rights
Q: How does your normative framework decide when to demote versus remove content?
The framework uses legitimacy, legality, suitability, necessity, and proportionality. Demotion is often required when removal would be too harsh or disproportionate; it reduces visibility to protect the information ecosystem while preserving free expression and allowing debate.
Six Prime Ministers and a Brexit: Meg Russell Reflects on British Democracy
Q: Why are MPs particularly important in protecting constitutional democracy in the UK?
Because the UK relies on parliamentary sovereignty without a codified constitution, MPs serve as the main safeguard of democratic legitimacy, ensuring scrutiny, checks on executive power, and acting as a counterweight to reduce the risk of autocracy.

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 UCL Uncovering Politics

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

The show features thoughtful conversations with leading political scientists and policy experts from UCL and partner institutions, focusing on contemporary governance, constitutional design, public policy, and the politics of the UK and beyond. Episodes routinely unpack complex topics—ranging from parliamentary reform and constitutional theory to evidence-informed policymaking and ethical questions in technology and media—through rigorous research, multi-method analyses, and actionable implications for practitioners. Listeners can expect accessible but technically grounded discussions, diverse guest voices, and clear links between scholarly work and real-world political dynamics. A notable strength is the mix of theoretical depth with polic... more

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Which podcasts are similar to UCL Uncovering Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with UCL Uncovering Politics:

1. The Politics Show
2. Political Fix
3. Past Present Future
4. The LRB Podcast
5. The Rachman Review

How many episodes of UCL Uncovering Politics are there?

UCL Uncovering Politics launched 6 years ago and published 170 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 UCL Uncovering Politics?

Recent guests on UCL Uncovering Politics include:

1. Meg Russell
2. Kit Rickard
3. Giovanni Hollenweger
4. Kristin M. Bakke
5. Julia de Romémont
6. Ben Lauderdale
7. Judith Spirig
8. Handi Li

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