Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

Hannah McCarthy, an Irish Times journalist who reported from Cuba, describes the impact of tightened US oil restrictions. She discusses the US naval blockade and threats to Mexico and Venezuela. She highlights rolling blackouts, transport failures and the shrinking daily life for Cubans. She outlines shifting regional alliances, emigration pressures and risks of humanitarian collapse.

Denis Staunton, Beijing correspondent for The Irish Times and author of the Global Briefing newsletter, provides sharp analysis of Iran and the wider Middle East. He discusses America's unmatched military power and the shift to decapitation tactics. He traces how Iran lost regional influence, maps possible post‑war scenarios, and examines why China and Europe have stayed largely passive.

Cormac McQuinn, political correspondent known for Dáil reporting, and Ellen Coyne, incisive commentator on Irish politics, unpack a week of high-stakes moments. They discuss state apologies and survivors’ needs. They probe new rent rules, investor incentives and possible rent rises. They examine planning delays, the Rotunda row, and the unfolding Dublin Central and Galway West byelection contests.

Maria Steen, barrister, architect and political campaigner who sought a 2024 presidential nomination. She discusses her failed nomination push and why councils blocked her. She reflects on labels like conservative and right wing. She talks about faith in public life, media representation, voter dissatisfaction and barriers to building a coherent right-wing movement in Ireland.

Caroline O'Doherty, climate and science correspondent at The Irish Times, breaks down why Ireland is drifting from its climate law. She discusses missed 2030 targets, the surge in energy-hungry data centres, stalled offshore wind and the politics around agriculture and airports. Short, sharp scenes on legal fights, adaptation gaps and the trade-offs shaping Ireland’s climate future.

A fiery review of special needs assistant allocations sparks political uproar and forces a rapid government backtrack. Debate over banning under-16s from social media exposes legal and technical headaches. Limerick’s directly elected mayor struggles against local power limits. Fast-moving legislation aims to meet the EU migration pact deadline. A high-profile royal arrest prompts talk of accountability and reputation.

13 months in, Donald Trump's second term is proving to be a much more radical political project than his first. On today's podcast Hugh is joined by Fintan O'Toole to talk about whether the Trump administration's ideology, use of state power and rhetoric now make comparisons with the fascism of the 20th century appropriate. What would fascism look like in today’s media, institutional and geopolitical context? Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disputes over freedom of speech, censorship and the shifting norms of acceptable discourse are part and parcel of modern political debate. Now the debate has come to the Leaving Cert. A review of content of the optional Politics and Society subject is underway, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment saying consideration will be given “to potential risks associated with including theories that may be at odds with a human rights approach”. In response, one teacher wrote to Irish Times philosophy columnist Joe Humphreys to voice concern that proposed changes will prevent students from learning about 'difficult' ideas. Joe wrote about it in his latest Unthinkable column and on today's podcast he talks to Hugh about the teaching of politics in school, the leftward skew of 'key thinkers' featured in the curriculum and how the race for CAO points means the exploration of ideas is of secondary importance to second level students. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·       This week saw the European Parliament approve a € 90 billion package to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. The loan was approved by a comfortable majority, but among those who voted against it were Sinn Féin’s two MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion. The decision to oppose the measure put them in the company of the likes of Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland, Hungary’s Fidesz and France’s Rassemblement National.·       The Government has made a U-turn on the regulation of short-term lets here. After consultation with the tourism industry, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke decided to change the previous plan to restrict such lets in towns with populations of more than 10,000 to populations of at least 20,000, this move would effectively lift the threat of regulation from potentially thousands of Airbnbs across rural towns here.·       The mood was buoyant at the Social Democrat national conference in Cork with the afterglow of Catherine Connolly’s presidential election win in evidence, along with polls showing the party has begun to put daylight between itself and the Greens and Labour, who occupy the same political space. Are they about to spearhead a united left movement ahead of the next general election?·       Plus, sport and politics collide ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel in the autumn. There have been calls for a boycott, but the FAI confirmed on Thursday that the matches would go ahead as planned. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Ireland Voted is a regular publication featuring academic analysis of Irish elections. The latest edition looks at the 2024 general election and features an essay by Gail McElroy and Stefan Müller that puts party manifestos under the microscope, identifying which topics get the most attention and where the parties line up from left to right. The analysis suggests a major leftward shift in Irish politics over the past decade. Why has this happened, and who is filling the gap this move has left on the right of the political spectrum?Gail and Theresa Reidy, who edited the book, talk to Hugh and Pat about what the analysis tells us about Irish politics. They also talk about candidate selection practices, which is the subject of Theresa's own essay.Gail McElroy is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Trinity College, Dublin. Theresa Reidy is a professor in the Department of Government and Politics at University College Cork. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.