

Politics Unpacked
Times Radio
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or app 10am-1pm Monday to Friday. If you like what you hear, then read more at http://www.thetimes.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 18, 2017 • 18min
Snap Election Special from Parliament
As Theresa May stuns Westminster by calling a snap election Lucy Fisher sits in for Matt Chorley and is joined by Sam Coates and Henry Zeffman to discuss the repercussions.The panel consider May's hit to her trustworthy image, her motivations for calling the election now and how large her majority must be for this to be considered a success? Whether a heavy election loss for Labour would really signal the end for Jeremy Corbyn, and why the Lib Dems will be delighted to fight a 'Brexit Election' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 12, 2017 • 29min
Politics and Comedy Special 4: The MP's Joke Writers
In the final Red Box Politics and Comedy Special Matt Chorley is joined by a Ayesha Hazarika, James McGrory and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss what it's like writing jokes for politicians. They discuss their best and worst efforts before debating what's required to make famous political names appear funny and the potential problems when it goes wrong.Also covered, how Nick Clegg can strangle any joke, why Ed Milliband shudders at Hush Puppies and why William Hague might have been better suited to comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 2017 • 33min
Politics and Comedy Special 3 Al Murray
Recorded in a busy Portcullis House, Matt Chorley sits down with comedian Al Murray to discuss how he invented the pub landlord character, what it was like standing against Nigel Farage in the 2015 general election and what he learned about the life of a politician. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 10, 2017 • 33min
Politics and Comedy Special 2: Andy Zaltzman, Tiff Stevenson and Hugo Rifkind
Matt Chorley is joined by Andy Zaltzman, Tiff Stevenson and Hugo Rifkind to debate whether the current times are too serious for comedy. Also discussed are the fundamentals of the art, if certain subjects are taboo, whether acts needs a message behind the punchlines and whether Donald Trump can truly be parodied? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 10, 2017 • 38min
Politics and Comedy Special: Rory Bremner
In the first of a four-part series focusing on politics and comedy, Matt Chorley sits down with Rory Bremner to discuss his thirty year career, the lack of political satire on British television, how he formulates his impressions and why deep down he has a core respect for politicians. Check back tomorrow when Matt speaks to Andy Zaltzman and Tiff Stevenson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 5, 2017 • 29min
May in Vogue, Lib Dems in clover and Trump still in power
On the agenda: how Trump's survival will hinge on tax cuts, deficit spending and domestic deregulation, how the new liberal backlash against the populist surge will see the Lib Dems benefit, and what Theresa May's Vogue interview tells us about her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 2017 • 33min
War with Spain, morals vs trade and confusing policy announcements
For the podcast Matt Chorley is joined by Catherine Philp, Sam Coates and Oliver Kamm. This week, the panel tries to make sense of Michael Howard's Gibraltar comments and the resulting firestorm, there's debate over the prime minister's 'counterproductive' tour of the Middle East to drum up interest in trade deals and Sam can't understand ministers sheepishly pretending they're not really announcing anything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 28, 2017 • 38min
The Bluffer's Guide to Brexit
Matt Chorley is joined by Oliver Wright and Henry Zeffman, plus Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government to answer your questions and tell you how to impress your friends talking about tariffs, timetables and triggering Article 50. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 2017 • 29min
As political storm begins was Nicola Sturgeon shrewd or boxed in?
Matt Chorley is joined by Iain Martin and Emma Tucker in London, Lindsay McIntosh in Edinburgh and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels. They discuss Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second referendum and the commons passing the article 50 bill, in a week of more political drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 8, 2017 • 30min
Budget Special from Parliament
Recorded from parliament Matt Chorley welcomes Senior Political Correspondent, Lucy Fisher, Labour MP Wes Streeting, Times columnist and Tory peer Matt Ridley and former Chancellor Alistair Darling, to run the rule over Phillip Hammond's first Spring Budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


