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

New World, New Labour

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore whether Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves can create a mode of governance for for the new geopolitical world economy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 202457 minSeason 1Ep. 70

How the US Controls the World

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore the power of the US dollar, and why in a more multipolar, economic and political world, it remains king... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 06, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 69

The Future of the City, with Bim Afolami and Francesca Carlesi

In this bonus episode sponsored by Revolut, Tom and Helen talk about the geopolitics of the city of London, before Tom chats to MP Bim Afolami and CEO of Revolut, Francesca Carlesi about the future of the city... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 202449 minSeason 1Ep. 68

Can Britain Afford More On Defence?

After Rishi Sunak announced that Britain will increase its defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030, Tom and Helen explore the history of Britain's defence, and whether it will be able to align what it can spend on defence with a changing geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 20241 hrSeason 1Ep. 67

The Next Oil War?

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and explore what it means for the rest of the world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 22, 202454 minSeason 1Ep. 66

Crisis: Iran Attacks

Tom and Helen turn to the crisis unfolding between Iran and Israel, and explore the likelihood of US intervention after they were forced to take direct military action in defence of Israel for the first time in their history... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 202458 minSeason 1Ep. 65

These Times Live: War and Peace in the Middle East

From Houthi ship attacks to the spectre of Iranian aggression, the Middle East seems set to become the next front for violent conflict. Could the turbulent history of the region tell us something about what its future holds? Join These Times’ Tom McTague and Helen Thompson for the first live recording of their hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Apr 11, 202449 minSeason 1Ep. 64

The Return of ISIS

As the dust settles in Moscow, Tom and Helen ask from where did Isis come, and why are they still here... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 08, 202458 minSeason 1Ep. 63

Paul Morland: The Power of Population

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen chat to demographer Paul Morland about the geopolitics and economics of demography, and why population matters... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 01, 202459 minSeason 1Ep. 62

We Need to Talk About Turkey

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to Turkey, the country at the crossroads of global geopolitics, and ask why it is so important to the future of the 21st Century... Please join us at the UnHerd Club on 8th April for our first live event "War and Peace in the Middle East", where Tom and Helen are diving deeper into the geopolitics of the Middle-East... Don't miss it! Tickets below https://club.unherd.com/event/these-times-live/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Mar 26, 202455 minSeason 1Ep. 61

What’s the Matter with Western Europe?

After their extensive analysis into the economic binds of France and Germany, Tom and Helen explore why the geopolitical world has become so much harder for Western Europe to navigate over the last decade... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 19, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 60

What's the Point of Emmanuel Macron?

This week, Tom and Helen turn to France's divisive leader, Emmanuel Macron, and explore whether there is any strategic substance behind the grand speeches, declarations and interventions.... Elsewhere at UnHerd, we have launched our new Spring Sale which gives subscribers unlimited access to our articles, subscriber-only app, and ability to join the conversation in the comment section, and that’s all for just £4.99 per year, and for all our UK listeners you can get your first month free. Just vi...

Mar 12, 202459 minSeason 1Ep. 59

Britain's Lethal Economic Bind

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore what has happened to the British economy over the past 20 years, and why is it becoming increasingly difficult for it to adjust to the new economic and geopolitical world.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 05, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 58

Germany's Economic Reckoning

In this episode, Tom and Helen turn to Germany, and ask why it was last year's worst performing major economy, and what those difficulties reveal about the present economic and geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 27, 202457 minSeason 1Ep. 57

Europe’s Reckoning with Ukraine

In this week's episode, Tom Mctague and Helen Thompson look back at Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, and explore why it has been so difficult for the United States and the European Union to protect Ukraine's independence... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 20, 20241 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 56

The War for Ukraine: How History Came Roaring Back

In the wake of Putin's fast and loose interview with Tucker Carlson, Tom and Helen turn to the history of Ukrainian independence, and ask what it means for the future of Ukraine, Europe and NATO... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 13, 202458 minSeason 1Ep. 55

Biden Resumes America’s Forever War in Iraq

In the wake of recent US/UK led bombings of Iraq and Syria, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson ask why America continues to embroil itself in the Iraq quagmire, and whether further escalation lies on the horizon... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 06, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 54

Trump, the Borderlands, and a Global Crisis

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the current border crisis unfolding in Texas, and explore how a set of global and domestic crises, from the drug cartels in Mexico, to the situation in Ukraine, might play into Trump's hands come the end of the year... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 30, 202459 minSeason 1Ep. 53

Iran Lashes Out, with Ali Ansari

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen talk to Ali Ansari, director of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University, about the history of Iranian power - from the 1979 Islamic revolution, to the most recent exchange of airstrikes with Pakistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 23, 20241 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 52

The War for Taiwan

With the new anti-Chinese President elected in Taiwan, Tom and Helen turn to the most important body of water in the world: the Western Pacific, and explore what's at stake there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16, 202457 minSeason 1Ep. 51

The War for the Red Sea

This week, Helen and Tom explore the geopolitical history of the Red Sea, from the erection of the Suez Canal, to the waring Houthi Rebels patrolling the waters, and what it all tells us about where power lies in the world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 09, 202453 minSeason 1Ep. 50

New Year, New World

Tom McTague and HelenH Helen Thompson look back at the major events that took place in 2023, from Ukraine's stalled counter-offensive and the Israel Hamas War, and ask what they mean for the year ahead... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 03, 20241 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 49

Europe’s Lost World: The Radetzky March and The Leopard

For this Christmas Special, Tom and Helen discuss two of their all time favourite novels that share the same themes of empire, nationalism and loss - Joseph Roth's The Radetzky March (1932) and Giuseppe Tommasi, The Lampedusa's The Leopard (1958). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 26, 202351 minSeason 1Ep. 48

Europe’s Civilisational Turn?

This week, Tom and Helen sit down with Hans Kundnani to discuss the domestic politics of European countries and the reshaping of Europe's collective future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 19, 202337 minSeason 1Ep. 47

Ukraine's Dark Winter Ahead

Tom and Helen sit down with Shashank Joshi to ask why supporting Ukraine has been so politically difficult in many Western countries, and what are the consequences for Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and the geopolitical conflicts around the Middle East? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 12, 202351 minSeason 1Ep. 46

Europe's Bet on Net Zero

As world leaders meet in Dubai for COP 28, Tom and Helen turn to one of the most important political issues of our age - Net Zero, and ask where Europe's ambition to be the first carbon dioxide free continent comes from, and whether it can succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 05, 202348 minEp. 45

Can British Growth Ever Recover?

In this week's episode, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson dissect the sorry state of Britain's economy with policy-expert Torsten Bell - and ask whether darker days do indeed lie ahead, or whether there's still cause for hope... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 202354 minSeason 1Ep. 44

David Cameron's Failed Foreign Policy

On the day that David Cameron is sworn into the House of Lords, Tom and Helen explore the history of his foreign policy, and look ahead at what kind of Foreign Secretary he might make... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 21, 202358 minSeason 1Ep. 43

Britain's Israel-Palestine Dilemma

In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss the history of Britain's relationship with the Israel-Palestine question; from Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, to Starmer's recent opposition to calls for ceasefire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 07, 202356 minSeason 1Ep. 41