Politics Unpacked

The Red Box christmas quiz returns to review another bizarre political year. In part two Matt Chorley introduces rounds such as "play your Farages right" as three teams go head to head. The reporters Patrick Kidd and Lucy Fisher attempt to defend their crown against Ruth Smeeth and Johnny Mercer, the MPs, while the columnists Danny Finkelstein and Matthew Parris attempt to find Matthew's glasses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Red Box christmas quiz returns to review another bizarre political year. Matt Chorley attempts to keep order as three teams of varying ability go head to head. The reporters Patrick Kidd and Lucy Fisher attempt to defend their crown against  Ruth Smeeth and Johnny Mercer, the MPs, while the columnists Danny Finkelstein and Matthew Parris mainly plead for bonus points for decent guesses. Part two airs on Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times Columnist Rachel Sylvester, Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, and Grant Tucker from the Times Diary. This week: Will anyone stand up for the benefits of Immigration? What are the conclusions we can draw from David Davis’ media appearances? What might 2018 look like?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent, who tells us about Labour's "purge", Matthew O'Toole, a former No10 Brexit spokesman, explains why it all comes back to Irish first principles, and Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, reveals the five political tribes crossing party and Brexit lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Times columnist Hugo Rifkind, who worries that the Tories are kitten-killers, Anne Ashworth, Times Money editor, who warns that we are all still losing interest from the major banks, and Patrick Maguire, political reporter, tries to explain the political fall out in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has chancellor Philip Hammond solved a housing problem? Will £2.8 billion really help the NHS? Or was it a "record of failure with a forecast of more to come". Matt Chorley welcomes Nicky Morgan, Alison McGovern, Sam Coates, Patrick Kidd and Alice Thomson to discuss the budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley welcomes Times columnist David Aaronovitch, Times religious affairs correspondent Kaya Burgess and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the crisis in Germany, religion’s place in politics, and politics place in the celebrity jungle.Philip Hammond’s attempt to save the economy and his own job will be covered in a podcast special later this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Chorley assembles a team of experts to answer your Brexit questions in an attempt to figure out what is actually going on and whether it's all very boring?On the panel: Times Brexit briefing pair, policy editor Oliver Wright and political reporter Henry Zeffman, and Jill Rutter, former No10 and Treasury policy guru who is now programme director of the Institute for Government.They answer among other questions: will we actually leave, how much will the divorce bill be, do we need urgent cross party talks, what is Labour's position and will the cost of your weekly shop suddenly sky rocket? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With nothing of interest happening in Westminster at the moment - Matt Chorley casts a critical eye over the first year of the Trump presidency. Joining him on the panel: Times columnist Jenni Russell, who argues Trump is not interested in helping anyone but himself, Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the US, who says we should finally now stop talking about the special relationship, and impressionist Rory Bremner on whether it is possible to satirise the most extraordinary character to inhabit the Oval Office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As parliament is gripped by a sexual harassment storm, Matt Chorley is in Westminster to find out what the so-called “dirty dossier” of Tory MPs means and asks how the culture in politics can be changed so people feel safe going to work. Times reporters Henry Zeffman and Hannah McGrath describe the challenge of corroborating the swirling litany of anonymous allegations.Jess Phillips, a Labour MP, warns that listing people in consenting relationships alongside those accused of serious offences risks discrediting victims.Jane Merrick, a Red Box columnist, describes her own experience of being humiliated by a Tory MP and Times columnist Rachel Sylvester warns of a rising tide of misogyny on the hard left. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.