These Times - podcast cover

These Times

UnHerdunherd.com

UnHerd political editor Tom McTague and Cambridge professor Helen Thompson team up to investigate the history of today’s politics — and what it means for our future. Each week they will explore the great forces, ideas and events that led us to where we are, whether in Britain, the United States, Europe or beyond. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts — and, of course, to get in touch with all your questions and comments so we can respond in future episodes.


Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @thesetimespod

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

Episodes

Israel Invades: The Gazan Trap, with Shashank Joshi

In this episode, Tom and Helen chat to the The Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi, about the logistical challenges of a ground-war, what Israel seek to gain by invading Gaza, and the dangers that lie ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 31, 202352 minSeason 1Ep. 40

Israel vs Iran: The Deadliest Foes

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore the long and fraught history of Iranian-Israeli relations, and ask how Israel vs Iran became the most dangerous prospect in the Middle-East Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 23, 202357 minSeason 1Ep. 39

The Israel-Hamas War

In this week's episode Tom and Helen discuss the history of Israel and the geopolitical fault-lines running through the Middle East Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 20231 hrSeason 1Ep. 38

Jamie Carragher: My History of Liverpool

In this episode, Tom travels to Liverpool to meet on of the city's favourite sons: Jamie Carragher. They talk about Liverpool's sectarian past, Brexit, Keir Starmer and the phenomenon of secret Tory footballers... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 10, 202355 minSeason 1Ep. 37

Keir Starmer's Europe Problem

During the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Tom and Helen explore Labour's uneasy relationship with the Europe question - and the potential challenges it poses for Keir Starmer going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 09, 202357 minSeason 1Ep. 36

Rishi Sunak's Challenge

With the Conservative Conference currently taking place in Manchester, Tom and Helen discuss the upcoming challenges facing the Prime Minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 02, 202355 minSeason 1Ep. 35

The Race for the Arctic

Helen and Tom chat to one of the world's great geopolitical thinkers, Pippa Malmgren, about how the big player's on the world stage are jostling for position in earth's northernmost point. Does the race for the Arctic represent a new cold war? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 25, 202359 minSeason 1Ep. 33

How George Osborne’s All-In Bet On China Went Wrong

In the wake of revelations about Chinese spy activity in Westminster, Tom and Helen explore the recent history of British-Chinese relations, from Hong Kong, to espionage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 18, 202358 minSeason 1Ep. 31

How Worried Should We Be About Saudi Arabia?

In this episode, Tom and Helen explore Saudi Arabia - a place at once futuristic and authoritarian. From Aramco Oil to Cristiano Ronaldo, we discuss the ways in which the Kingdom in the Middle East is trying to take over the world, and how worried we should be.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 11, 202359 minSeason 1Ep. 29

Africa's Coup Belt

In this episode, Tom and Helen explore the African Coup's, from Gabon to Niger, and discuss what the turmoil across the Sahel reveals about today's world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 04, 202351 minSeason 1Ep. 28

The Strange Legacy of Tony Blair

In this episode, we turn to Britain's abiding political presence - Tony Blair. From his early beginnings in British politics, to The Tony Blair Institute, Tom and Helen ask whether we are entering a new era of Blairdom? If you would like to ask Tom and Helen a question about politics, history or whatever else which they will endeavour to answer on next week's podcast, please email us at [email protected] or dm us on Twitter @thesetimespod. Looking forward to hearing from you!   Hosted o...

Aug 28, 20231 hrSeason 1Ep. 27

Thatcher’s Legacy: An Interview with Charles Moore

In this episode, Tom sits down with former editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, and Margaret Thatcher's biographer to talk about the romance of Ms. Thatcher, and her influential legacy on modern British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 23, 202348 minSeason 1Ep. 26

From Bruges to Brexit

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen journey back 35 years to explore the forces surrounding Margaret Thatcher's speech in Bruges and how it set the future of British politics in motion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 202350 minSeason 1Ep. 25

The 1970s Strike Back with Dominic Sandbrook

In this episode, Tom and Helen sit down with Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the 1970s - from energy shocks to Stars Wars' new age spirituality and bin-bags lining the streets during the winter of discontent, Tom, Helen and Dom ask whether we are entering a neo-1970s, and what that might mean for Britain's future... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 14, 202358 minSeason 1Ep. 24

Special Report: Inside Tony Blair Inc.

In this special episode, Tom is interviewed by UnHerd's editor Freddie Sayers to explore Tom's new report into the inner workings of the Tony Blair Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 09, 202338 minSeason 1Ep. 23

American Power in the Age of Biden

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen discuss the politics of US foreign policy, from Vietnam to Ukraine and what that reveals about the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 07, 202349 minSeason 1Ep. 22

The Times of Joe Biden

In this week’s episode Tom and Helen discuss the US president’s long (and controversial) political record and ask what it reveals about the state of the nation today — and the country’s future. Follow us on Twitter @TheseTimesPod to join the conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 20231 hrSeason 1Ep. 21

Cancelled by Keir: An Interview with Jamie Driscoll

Meet Jamie Driscoll, the incumbent mayor blocked from standing to be Labour's candidate for the new north-east super mayoralty, now crowdfunding to stand as an independent left-winger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 26, 202356 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Europe's Right Turn?

After the elections in Spain, and a shock announcement in Germany, Tom and Helen discuss the underlying causes of Europe’s tilt to the right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 202353 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Keir's Blairite Ultra: An interview with Pat McFadden

In this episode, Tom McTague chats to Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Pat McFadden—the man tasked with making Starmer’s sums add up—on the lessons of Labour’s history, from Kinnock to Blair to Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 19, 202335 minSeason 1Ep. 18

Inside NATO's Summit

In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss how last week's meeting in Vilnius revealed fault lines in the organisation which can be traced all the way back to its founding. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a review. You can also find us on Twitter @TheseTimesPod, to join the conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 17, 202357 minSeason 1Ep. 17

Come on Arlene: An Interview with Arlene Foster

Come on Arlene: An interview with Arlene Foster. In this episode, we discuss the history of Northern Ireland through the lens of Arlene Foster's own turbulent life, covering everything from the IRA’s attempted assassination of her father to her own downfall as leader — and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 12, 20231 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 16

France on fire

This week, Tom and Helen are joined by John Lichfield — one of Britain’s most respected journalists based in France — to talk about the history of street violence in the country and what that means for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 202356 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Chaos in Russia

After last week’s march on Moscow, Tom and Helen discuss the Wagner group and the history of wars not going to plan and destabilising the political regime at home — from Ireland to Algeria, Vietnam to Iraq. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 03, 202345 minSeason 1Ep. 14

What would Thatcher do?

An interview with Charles Powell, Mrs Thatcher’s long time foreign policy adviser, covering everything from the war in Ukraine, the risks of humiliating Putin, chaos in Russia and the future of Britain in Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 20231 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 13

The Politics of Inflation

With inflation remaining stubbornly high and interest rates at their highest in 15 years, this week’s episode looks at the causes and political repercussions of today’s crisis as well as the parallels with previous governments — from Harold Wilson to Ted Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 26, 202348 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Britain's Place in the New World Order - Part 2

Tom and Helen discuss Britain's changing role overseas in the second instalment of our series on 'The New World Order'. They discuss Boris Johnson's AUKUS deal, David Cameron's involvement in the middle east and where Brexit has left Britain on the international stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 21, 202327 minSeason 1Ep. 11