Ballot to Talk About

In the first of our April UK local elections series, this week's episode takes a look at the state of the main national UK political parties as they prepare to launch their 2021 election campaigns. It also includes a review of Scott Morrison and Mark McGowan's Cabinet reshuffles in Australia, as well as taking a look at the results of the Newfoundland and Labrador state elections over in Canada, a...

As March election madness comes to an end, this week's episode takes a look at the results of last week's Israeli legislative election where it is currently looking once again difficult for any group to form a stable majority. Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to continue his now 12-year premiership, but the maths is looking challenging, and a potential fifth election in two years looms. It also inclu...

March election madness continues! This week's episode takes a look at the results of last week's Dutch General Election where Prime Minister Mark Rutte looks set to lead his VVD back into a coalition Government on the back of national gains for his party and coalition partners. It also includes a preview of next week's Israeli General Election where Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to find a way out...

March election madness continues! This week's episode takes a look at the results of this weekend's Western Australia State elections and the astonishing landslide victory for Mark McGowan's Labor Party, as well as a wider look at the current state of Australian politics. It also looks at some prominent inspirational women leaders in the political sphere in the week that saw International Women's...

March election madness has begun! This week's episode takes a look at the upcoming Dutch General Election where Prime Minister Mark Rutte is hoping to lead his VVD party to a fourth straight election win. It also includes a preview of next week's Western Australia State Election and the upcoming elections in Baden Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, where the race to succeed Angela Merkel contin...

This week's episode takes a special deep-dive into Scottish politics in the week that Scottish Labour got a new leader and former First Minister Alex Salmond tesified before the Scottish Parliament inquiry. It also includes a look at broad themes in LGBTQ+ political history as the UK LGBT History Month comes to an end.  Scotland is just two months out from its latest parliamentary election, s...

This week's episode takes a special deep-dive into Italian politics in the week it got a new Prime Minister, and discusses just what makes Italy so seemingly politically unstable. It also includes analysis of the election results in Catalonia and Kosovo, as well as a review of the second Donald Trump impeachment trial that resulted in him being acquitted 57-43 by the US Senate.  As Mario Drag...

This week's episode takes a special look at the course and legacy of the Arab Spring, as we reach 10 years on since Hosni Mubarak's removal from power and the height of the upheaval across the region. It also includes analysis of the Swedish Cabinet reshuffle and a review of the Ecuadorian presidential election results, that leave Andres Arauz facing either Yaku Perez or Guillermo Lasso in the sec...

This week's episode of this international politics podcast focusses on the newly inaugurated Biden administration as the Cabinet begins to form, and the legislative agends gets underway. It discusses the Biden Cabinet as a whole, and analyses the state of the Democrat party in the aftermath of them taking control of the trifecta. This episode also features a preview of the first round of the Ecuad...

The latest episode of this international politics podcast focusses on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on elections, governments and public policy around the globe. As we approach nearly one year of domestic restrictions and global travel restrictions, we look at how politics has been affected by the pandemic, and what the future may look like for governments. This episode also features a revie...

The latest episode of this international politics podcast focusses on the election of the new leader of the CDU, Armin Laschet, and discusses the legacy of outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The episode also takes a look at the upcoming Portuguese presidential election, and the latest developments in Italy as Giuseppe Conte hangs on to the premiership.   A week on from Armin Laschet's...

This slightly extended episode of the all-new international politics podcast focusses on the the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and takes a more broader look at the impact of Trump on the Republican party as his administration comes to an end. The episode also takes a look at the recent Canadian Cabinet reshuffle, and the collapse of the Dutch and Estonian Governments in what has been a very...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast focusses on the United States and the recently concluded run-off elections for the two Georgia senate seats. Just a few days after Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock beat the two incumbent Republican Senators to take back control of the Senate majority for their party, Sam and Chern look at how they managed it, and what this m...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast focusses on the United States and the upcoming run-off elections for the two Georgia senate seats. With just 2 days to go until Georgians head to the polls to choose their Senators and determine which party holds the balance of power in the Senate, Sam and Chern look at what is going on in the state and what makes these elections so...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast continues our exploration of the UK's exit from the European Union, and the impact of this on UK politics. In the week in which the UK-EU trading agreement passed through Parliament, Sam and Chern take a look at how the UK got to this point and the impact of the turbulence along the way. This episode also includes a discussion of th...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast turns its attention to Brexit in the first part of our exploration of the UK's exit from the European Union, and the impact of this on UK politics. In the week that Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen unveil the UK-EU trading agreement, Sam and Chern take a look at how the UK got to this point and the impact of the turbulence alo...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast looks back on the year 2020 in politics, discussing contenders for the inaugural and prestigious Ballot Talk Awards. This episode also includes an update on the formation of Joe Biden's...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast once again turns the focus to the UK to look at the fortunes of the Labour Party. It includes a review of the first year of Keir Starmer's leadership as well as a discussion on how the...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast turns the focus to the UK and the current Johnson-led Conservative government. It includes a review of Cabinet performance, speculation about a January 2021 reshuffle and a discussion...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast wraps up the coverage of the 2020 US elections. This week's edition focusses on the formation of President-elect Biden's Cabinet as well as the 2019/20 session of the US Supreme Court,...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast discusses the recently concluded, but nonetheless ongoing, 2020 US elections. This week's edition focusses on results down the ballot, particularly assessing the mixed fortunes of the...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast discusses the recently concluded, but nonetheless ongoing, US Presidential Election. Joe Biden has been proclaimed President-elect, but the fallout continues, with this week's edition...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast discusses the recently concluded, but nonetheless ongoing, US Presidential Election. At the time of recording, Joe Biden had not been projected to be the winner, but was well on his way....

In the latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast, Sam and Chern discuss the upcoming US presidential and congressional elections and make some final predictions about what the results could look like. The episode also discusses the...

The latest episode of this all-new international politics podcast discusses the upcoming US Presidential Election, the recent debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, as well as how polling should be treated in the final 10 days. It also takes a look...