In The News

Once again the State has run out of places to put asylum seekers. Those newly arriving face the prospect of sleeping rough as temperatures fall and with tensions high after recent riots. Nick Henderson of the Irish Refugee Council explains how we got here, how the system could never keep up with the pace of arrivals and why help from the Defence Forces may be needed to handle the crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US commentator Tucker Carlson interviewed MAGA figurehead Steve Bannon about Irish society and politics in the wake of the Dublin riots. The men agreed Ireland is a ‘powder keg’ ready to explode thanks to a sinister globalist conspiracy. Then comedian Russell Brand tackled the subject on his online show, touching on the same themes and coming down heavily on Ireland’s proposed new hate speech laws. The three alternative media stars also focussed on the role and influence of MMA fighter Conor McGregor in recent events. Could McGregor become a political leader - or perhaps a political influencer like them? On today’s In the News podcast Irish Times writer and Inside Politics host Hugh Linehan separates the kernels of truth from the misinformation and explains why it all matters. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a “breathless rollick” says Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clarke; Joaquin Phoenix makes the character his own and Vanessa Kirby is a terrific Josephine. But since its release, historians have been carping from the aisles pointing out the inaccuracies in the sprawling blockbuster. Among other things they point out that Napoleon didn’t fire on the pyramids; he wasn’t at Marie Antoinette’s execution and he did not, when general, participate in cavalry charges. But so what? Does it matter? How faithful does an historical biopic be to the facts? Clarke, who has interviewed the veteran British film director many times, including most recently to discuss Napoleon, gives his take. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COP28, the UN’s annual climate change summit kicks off today in Dubai. This year the COP President is Sultan Al Jaber, who is both the UAE’s special envoy on Climate Change and the CEO of the State’s oil and gas company Adnoc. Campaigners have likened his appointment to a tobacco CEO chairing a forum on cancer cures. So how damaging is this to the credibility of COP and how can this conflict of interest be reconciled? Sorcha Pollak speaks to Patrick Galey, journalist and senior fossil fuels investigator for Global Witness. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week's stabbing attack on primary school children and subsequent riot have left Dublin city shaken. One child and her after-school carer are still in a serious condition, as is the man who is suspected of attacking them. Street violence has left immigrants and city-centre workers fearful. And the political fallout is serious - especially for Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Conor Gallagher and Pat Leahy report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When musician and therapist Ailie Blunnie first caught Covid in 2021, she expected to recover quickly. Yet, more than two years later, the once active 38-year-old has never returned to full health and lives with symptoms of long covid, including chronic fatigue and exhaustion. In this episode, Blunnie talks to Sorcha Pollak about how she manages this debilitating illness. We also hear from long covid specialist Dr Jack Lambert, who says the State funding of long Covid services needs to be allocated differently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RTÉ’s TV advertisements have been good fun with new Late Late host Patrick Kielty getting advice from some very opinionated children on how he should present The Late Late Toy Show. The bottom line – don’t mess up. The station bosses will be hoping the same thing when the razzamatazz kicks off tonight. There’s a lot at stake – not least the fact that the annual toyfest is a cash-cow for the cash-poor station. Irish Times media columnist Laura Slattery explains why the seasonal show is now such a key programme for the station. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The streets of Dublin city centre were ablaze on Thursday night, with at least one Garda vehicle, a double-decker bus and a Luas tram set alight and several shops looted.In the wake of the stabbing attack on several schoolchildren on Parnell Square, a major riot broke out on O’Connell Street, the city centre’s main thoroughfare, and surrounding streets.Large numbers of gardaí were mobilised in an attempt to restore order, clashing with large groups of rioters. The shops broken into and looted include Arnotts and Footlocker.Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher and reporter Jack Power covered the stabbing attack and witnessed the riot. They talk to In the News producer Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Javier Milei will be sworn in as president of Argentina next month. But just why is this political outsider called "The Madman" - and what can Argentinians expect from his administration? Tom Hennigan reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, millionaire businessman and former Dunnes Stores chief executive Ben Dunne died suddenly in Dubai. He was 74 years of age,In 1992, Dunne made headlines again when he was arrested in his Florida hotel room for cocaine possession. Shortly afterwards, back in Ireland, Dunne’s siblings moved against him to wrest control of Dunnes Stores from him. It was this intense family feud that led to journalists exposing Ireland’s deeply entrenched political and financial corruption in the 1980s and 1990s.Had it not been for Dunne’s cocaine-fuelled psychosis in Florida, would the revelations of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey’s secret financial dealings ever have happened?On today’s podcast, columnist Fintan O’Toole reflects on Dunne’s eventful life and the extraordinary impact he had on Ireland.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.