Radical with Amol Rajan

As Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS is released, Nick and Amol take a look at what needs to be done to bring about real change. They speak to Professor Sir John Bell - one of the country's most decorated doctors and an adviser to government during the Covid-19 pandemic - who believes that more funding is not the only way of improving the NHS. Plus, the nation's favourite pub landlord Al...

A scathing report from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has concluded that all 72 deaths were avoidable – but were the result of a chain of failures by governments, "dishonest" companies and a lack of strategy by the fire service. Nick assesses whether anyone will now be held accountable – and whether this might be the moment that substandard social housing becomes a major political...

“Things will get worse before they get better.” That was the gloomy warning given by Keir Starmer this week, in his first major speech since becoming prime minister. Labour have previously blamed the Tories for the ‘economic black hole’ they say they’ve found in the public finances since taking office. But what did Starmer mean when he referred to a ‘societal black hole’ left by his predecessors?...

What tips would you give a government minister ahead of a Today programme interview? What was the best advice you got when you first became a Today presenter? And how do you get up so early? In this special summer edition of The Today Podcast, Amol and Nick take on questions from some invited guests and friends of the podcast, including the queen of the high street Mary Portas, historian Greg Jenn...

Amol and Nick use their decades of experience as journalists to discuss the future of news in this special episode of The Today Podcast. Joining them are Sun editor David Yelland and former No10 communications director Simon Lewis – the duo behind Radio 4’s When It Hits The Fan – to look at what’s happening in journalism, where the future lies for the profession... and why it really matters for us...

Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer on his platform ‘X’ this week over the handling of riots in England and Northern Ireland. The disorder follows the fatal stabbing last week of three young girls in Southport and has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment. This week Amol looks at whether social media companies should be forced to go furt...

Every week on The Today Podcast Amol and Nick share something significant that’s happened to them that week and they call it their ‘moment of the week’. But as Nick’s on holiday, Amol invited one of Britain’s best known comedians, Frank Skinner, to The Today Podcast studio to help him out. And they ended up talking for so long about faith, class, parenthood, grief - and, of course, poetry, we’ve m...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have been championing growth this week. But will their plans actually work? Amol has assembled an expert panel to provide their take on how to generate more wealth in the UK – Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson and venture capitalist and co-founder of Lovecrafts, Cherry Freeman. And comedian Frank Skinner joins Amol w...

Amol and Nick take on more questions from listeners – such as whether having younger MPs will lead to a change in policies and why do politicians sound more sensible when ejected from office? Plus they answer questions on the state of political journalism and whether podcasting makes it easier or more difficult to maintain impartiality. If you have a question you’d like to Amol, Nick and the Pod S...

This week Keir Starmer dealt with a Labour rebellion on the two-child benefit cap that saw the whip removed from seven of his MPs. Meanwhile in America, Kamala Harris has moved quickly to mobilise her campaign and define her Republican rival. To make sense of it all, Nick and Amol turn to Prof Mary Beard for a classical perspective on power, succession, and rebellions. What was Cicero’s advice for...

Joe Biden is out and has endorsed his vice president. But will Kamala Harris win the Democratic nomination – and can she beat Donald Trump in November? Amol and Nick are joined by fellow Today presenter and Americast host Justin Webb for his take on the big news. Who might Harris pick as her running mate? How will she frame Trump in the contest? And why might it all come down to the voters of Omah...

Sir Keir Starmer has been quick to meet with a host of world leaders since entering Downing Street. After his in-person meeting with Joe Biden, and a personal phone call to Donald Trump, Amol and Nick dissect how the new PM will navigate ‘the special relationship’ in turbulent times. And closer to home, European leaders are meeting this week in Blenheim Palace. Baroness Cathy Ashton, the EU’s form...

Amol and Nick look at whether the language of politics might now grow less heated after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump – and what effect the shooting will have on the US election. Keir Starmer will put the disappointment of the European Championships result behind him and look forward to this week’s King’s Speech – but will he face his own problem from the left wing? Plus, pollster and...

It’s Keir Starmer’s first full week in government and he’s already facing an impending crisis: overflowing prisons. Amol and Nick speak to the former justice secretary Alex Chalk, who tells us what his successor, Shabana Mahmood, should do to fix it. Journalist and podcaster Helen Lewis swings by to assess Labour’s first week and the Conservative leadership race. And – what a row over an AI candid...

Amol and Nick are back for Labour’s first week in government to look at Rachel Reeves’ plan for growth and how Keir Starmer can position himself on the world stage as he jets off for a Nato summit in the US. Plus, Nick is in Normandy to provide his assessment of what the final round of the French elections might mean for Emmanuel Macron’s political future. And they answer listener questions – shou...

It’s the afternoon after the night before and Amol and Nick are back after 14 hours of live radio for a post-election podcast. How will Keir Starmer govern as prime minister? Will the Conservative leadership contest be taken over by Nigel Farage? How did the Liberal Democrats do so well? And why has there been such a pronounced splintering overnight in British politics? Plus – an update on pod squ...

Amol and Nick look ahead to election night, with a run down of the key moments and the best time to get some sleep (if you must!) They also discuss one of the big challenges the next government faces - whoever enters Downing Street on Friday - what to do about small boats crossing the Channel. What could the elections in France mean for any future agreement? Lord Ricketts, former ambassador to Fra...

Should there be an alternative to voting for the least-worst candidate? Why are we obsessed by cult of personality politicians? And what are the election night words to avoid? Amol and Nick return with another bonus question and answer episode as The Today Podcast prepares for polling day. If you have a question you’d like to Amol, Nick and the Pod Squad to answer get in touch by sending us a mess...

With just a few days to go before people go to the polls, Amol and Nick reflect on the strategies behind the parties’ get-out-the-vote messages. And they reflect on the shift to the far right in the French elections with Justin Webb, who joins them from the Paris café he presented Radio 4’s Today from. Plus Amol and Nick answer a listener question – how do they prepare for political interviews? Ep...

There’s a week to go before votes are counted and barely a day goes by in the campaign without a new poll. So are the Conservatives really on course for an election "wipe out"? Are Labour set for a so called ‘supermajority’? Where did the term ‘supermajority’ even come from and should we be sceptical about poll findings? Amol and Nick are joined by the doyenne of polling, psephologist Prof Sir Joh...

The Today Podcast, Newscast and When It Hits The Fan have come together for a special episode, to look at the role of the media in the general election campaign. Alongside The Today Podcast's Amol Rajan are Adam Fleming and Alex Forsyth from Newscast; David Yelland and Simon Lewis from BBC Radio 4 podcast When it Hits the Fan and Marianna Spring, the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media correspon...

With ten days until polling day Amol and Nick look at the ongoing betting crisis for the Conservatives and discuss why gender is back in the headlines for Labour. They dissect Nick’s TV interview with Nigel Farage, which dominated the news over the weekend after the Reform UK leader said West provoked the war in Ukraine. Plus, pollster and friend of the podcast James Kanagasooriam is in the studio...

Why do politicians use big numbers in interviews? How will political reporting change in the future? And why do we vote using pencils? Amol and Nick answer these questions and more in this bonus episode of The Today Podcast. If you have a question you’d like to Amol, Nick and the Pod Squad to answer get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Tod...

Amol and Nick take a look at why politicians are so keen to talk about economic growth in this election campaign – and whether any have the right policies to deliver it. They’re joined by professor of economics at the LSE, Tim Leunig, who worked as an advisor to the Lib Dems during the coalition government and went on to formulate the furlough scheme for Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor. They as...

With the first postal votes being cast this week, Amol and Nick look at how parties are hoping to change voters' minds at a crucial point in the campaign. They assess Nigel Farage’s chances of winning seats with Reform UK, whether Keir Starmer is running out of things to say – and Amol has a theory about Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party. Plus, they answer your listener questions: what will Boris...