Politics Unpacked

Matt Chorley speaks to David Charter, The Times’ new US editor, about adjusting to life in Washington, the numerous threats to the Trump presidency and the challenge of being a foreign correspondent in a town where contacts can suddenly - and dramatically - lose their jobs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If sometimes you think politics seems to trivial this might not be the episode for you.Matt Chorley assembles three of the biggest brains filled with useful (and useless) facts about politics and only one can emerge victorious.Showing off their knowledge are Patrick Kidd, The Times sketchwriter and diarist, Esther Webber, Red Box reporter, and Mark Mason, author of Question Time: A Journey Round Britain's Quizzes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at a TimesPlus event, Lucy Fisher speaks to Stig Abell, editor of the Times Literary Supplement, about his new book, How Britain Really Works, an in-depth look at the challenges facing the UK.Getting to grips with Britain is harder than ever – a nation that chose Brexit, rejects immigration but is dependent on it, is getting older but less healthy, is more demanding of public services but less willing to pay for them, and is tired of intervention abroad but wants to remain a global authority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our special looking at political shows on the Edinburgh fringe, Matt Chorley is joined by Andrew Maxwell, who you’ll know from Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Celebrity Mastermind. He is at the fringe with his show Shake a Leg.Lolly Jones, whose show Fifty Shades of May is a comedy/burlesque hybrid described as Downing Street on poppers, with a P45, suspenders, and a chunky metal necklace!And Fin Taylor tackles the politics of sex with his show When Harassy Met Sally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by three comedians taking political shows to the Edinburgh fringe.Nick Hall brings his show Spencer, the story of Spencer Percival, the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. He asks if, in this age of Brexit, Trump, Corbynista and Maybot, could we still learn something from the past?Jess Green’s show is pretty self-explanatory: A Self-Help Guide to Being in Love With Jeremy Corbyn. She’ll describe how it was impossible to resist the Labour leader’s raw communist sex appeal.And Pierre Novellie’s show See Novellie, Hear Novellie, Speak Novellie promises satire for people without a team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why a cross-party effort makes sense, but won't happen.PLUS Leaving Labour and replacing MayMatt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Philip Collins, Times deputy diary editor Grant Tucker and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the week in politics.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biographers of Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson help Matt Chorley write the first draft of political history.Sir Anthony Seldon argues Theresa May could still rescue Brexit and avoid bgeing remembered as the worst PM ever.Rosa Prince, biographer of Jeremy Corbyn, asks what the Labour leader needs to do to become PM himself.And Andrew Gimson, biographer of Boris Johnson, on what the ex-foreign secretary will do next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resignations, reshuffles and May's survival.In this special recorded in Westminster, Matt Chorley is joined by The Times' Henry Zeffman, Sam Coates and Lucy Fisher to discuss why political crises are linked to the hole in Sam's trousers.Alastair Campbell describes helping Robin Cook write his resignation letter. Katie Perrior, Theresa May's former director of communications, and Rupert Harrison, George Osborne's former chief of staff, on the threat posed by Boris Johnson and the PM's chances of fighting the next election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Ben Rhodes, whose new book, The World As It Is, charts a decade at Barack Obama’s side, from the campaign in Chicago to flying with him to California on the day he left the White House for the final timeHe was at the table for the Iran nuclear deal, the opening up of relations with Cuba, the night US Navy seals killed Osama Bin Laden.And he was there when David Cameron asked Barack Obama for his help to stop Brexit.More than just a speechwriter, he sought to recast the American story, but it was a story that had an unhappy ending for Team Obama, with the election of Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLUS Tories bash business and handling Brexit badlyMatt Chorley is joined by James McGrory, from Open Britain, Rachel Shabi, a left-wing commentator, and Anthony Wells, from pollsters YouGov. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.