The Econoclasts

After the elections in Spain, and a shock announcement in Germany, Tom and Helen discuss the underlying causes of Europe’s tilt to the right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom McTague chats to Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Pat McFadden—the man tasked with making Starmer’s sums add up—on the lessons of Labour’s history, from Kinnock to Blair to Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss how last week's meeting in Vilnius revealed fault lines in the organisation which can be traced all the way back to its founding. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a review. You can also find us on Twitter @TheseTimesPod, to join the conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come on Arlene: An interview with Arlene Foster. In this episode, we discuss the history of Northern Ireland through the lens of Arlene Foster's own turbulent life, covering everything from the IRA’s attempted assassination of her father to her own downfall as leader — and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tom and Helen are joined by John Lichfield — one of Britain’s most respected journalists based in France — to talk about the history of street violence in the country and what that means for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After last week’s march on Moscow, Tom and Helen discuss the Wagner group and the history of wars not going to plan and destabilising the political regime at home — from Ireland to Algeria, Vietnam to Iraq. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with Charles Powell, Mrs Thatcher’s long time foreign policy adviser, covering everything from the war in Ukraine, the risks of humiliating Putin, chaos in Russia and the future of Britain in Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With inflation remaining stubbornly high and interest rates at their highest in 15 years, this week’s episode looks at the causes and political repercussions of today’s crisis as well as the parallels with previous governments — from Harold Wilson to Ted Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Helen discuss Britain's changing role overseas in the second instalment of our series on 'The New World Order'. They discuss Boris Johnson's AUKUS deal, David Cameron's involvement in the middle east and where Brexit has left Britain on the international stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Tom and Helen debate whether America's global supremacy is coming to an end, replaced by a new multipolar world — and, if so, what that means for the world. From Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008 to the great financial crisis, from Obama's "pivot to Asia" to the presidencies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Tom and Helen explore this new age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss the tumultuous history of Boris Johnson and ask whether the ups and downs of his political career owe more to his unique character (warts and all) or the much deeper forces at play far beyond his control. The answer to this question will go a long way to determining his future in British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2015, Xi Jinping unveiled his central policy objective: to transform China into the world’s most powerful advanced economy which would no longer be dependent on Western technology. In the eight years that have passed since, the world has transformed — from the election of Donald Trump in 2016 to Joe Biden’s protectionist “inflation reduction act” last year and the European Union’s panicked resp...

Official figures released last week showed net migration into the UK had topped 600,000, a new record. But the politics of migration has a long history — from the Napoleonic wars, to Windrush, Enoch Powell and Brexit. In this week’s episode, Tom and Helen discuss this history and what it tells us about Britain today.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Keir Starmer seemingly on course for victory at the next election, Tom and Helen look back at the only other Labour leaders to have won a majority: Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair. What was it about these three leaders (and the age in which they served) which allowed them to triumph — and what does that tell us about Labour’s chances today? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

With the Tories struggling in the polls and the first “National Conservative” convention meeting in the UK this week, Tom and Helen take a look at the history of the Conservative Party and what it really means to be a conservative today. Tom and Helen debate who founded the Conservative Party, what it seeks to conserve and where its future lies. Take a deep dive into a party and an idea which has...

In this one-off special, Tom McTague interviews the conservative commentator, activist and former White House speechwriter David Frum — the man who coined George Bush’s famous “axis of evil.” Helen was away when David was in London. In the interview Tom and David discuss the war in Ukraine and lessons from Iraq, George Bush’s haunted retirement and the need for more “tragic thinking” when confront...

This week, Tom and Helen discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and to what extent it has changed the world order. Tom and Helen look at the security situation in Europe, the growing power of Turkey, and India — and, of course, how it all fits into the emerging battle for supremacy between the United States and China.  Twitter:  @tommctague @HelenHet20 @TheseTimesPod Please don't forget to s...

In the second of our two-part opening special on the Coronation of King Charles III, Tom and Helen discuss what the ceremony reveals about the state of the Union at home, the political fudge at its heart and how historical disputes about religion remain key in understanding how it still functions. Twitter:  @tommctague @HelenHet20 @TheseTimesPod Please don't forget to subscribe and tell all y...

The Coronation of King Charles III marks a momentous day not only in the life of the new monarch, but also for the British monarchy and the country as a whole. In this very first episode of These Times, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson discuss what this year’s ceremony reveals about Britain’s place in the world and how much has changed since previous coronations. Twitter:  @tommctague @HelenHet...

UnHerd political editor Tom McTague and Cambridge professor Helen Thompson team up to investigate the history of today’s politics — and what it means for our future. Each week they will explore the great forces, ideas and events that led us to where we are, whether in Britain, the United States, Europe or beyond. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the...