The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Reporter Lindsay Bruce joins the podcast to describe what’s happening in communities affected by the crumbling concrete crisis caused by Raac in housing. Lindsay has spent months speaking with people who are losing their homes in places such as Torry in Aberdeen. Parts of Dundee are also caught up in the crisis, leaving local government with a hefty bill. And while we campaign for justice for thos...

Inverness GP Dr Iain Kennedy, the British Medical Association's Scottish council chairman, joins us for a full interview on the stresses and strains in the NHS. We look into the findings of our own survey which explores real-life experiences of the health service. Dr Kennedy has clear messages to the political leaders who will find the NHS front and centre of the May 2026 Scottish elections. He po...

The STUC’s Roz Foyer joins us in Dundee where union members held their annual congress. Roz sets out the big challenges ahead for jobs, the decline of Grangemouth refinery, higher education and the future of the economy. She reflects on speeches to union members from First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. And she warns Labour in particular have not lived up to promises...

We look at the fall-out from the Supreme Court ruling on women being defined by their biological sex in equalities law. What does it mean in practice? And how are politicians and activists responding? One MSP, the newly elected Dundee University rector Maggie Chapman, is at the centre of a backlash for calling the court “bigoted”. We also discuss whether John Swinney’s “summit” on tackling the far...

It’s Holyrood recess, but the headlines keep coming. This week, the team speaks to striking staff outside Robert Gordon University fighting cuts in an education funding crisis. We also look at First Minister John Swinney’s latest reset while the world tries to get used to Donald Trump’s tariff whims. And we take a close look at MSP “burn-out” as politicians wonder if it’s worth going for public of...

We speak to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey in Inverness as his party looks to the Highlands ahead of next year’s Holyrood election. He discusses the party’s hopes of making gains across the region – including in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency currently held by Kate Forbes. The Lib Dem leader also talks international affairs including the UK’s approach to handling Donald Trump and his party’...

We speak to Maggie Chapman, who saw off a challenge from TV Gladiator Sabre in an election to the role of Dundee University rector. She tells us about her plans to help fix the crisis-hit institution and how she learned from her previous rector post at Aberdeen University. We also bring the story up to date on the political angles and on-campus worries for jobs.

We speak with Willie Rennie, the former Scottish Lib Dem leader, on his decision to go public in support of assisted dying proposals. The MSP for North East Fife tells us what swayed his opinion while the debate plays out across Scotland and in all parts of the UK. We also hear what’s in store for his party’s upcoming conference in Inverness

Bosses at Dundee University admit the institution could have run out of cash by June without support. The revelations from parliament are the latest in a long-running saga. We discuss an extraordinary evidence session heard by Holyrood’s education committee on Wednesday. Plus, our reporters look at the big names leaving Holyrood at the next election. And we hear from Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP...

More than 600 jobs are at risk at Dundee University. While managers take desperate measures to cut a £35 million deficit, what happens next? We discuss our exclusive coverage including an interview with principal Shane O’Neill. Our reporters describe the impact among staff outside the university. And we look at what this means for Dundee, Scotland and government policy.

We’re joined by two Scottish MPs fresh from Ukraine where they saw first hand what Russia’s war means. Arbroath and Broughty Ferry SNP MP Stephen Gethins was in the country with Dunfermline and Dollar Labour MP Graeme Downie. They explain what it’s like to see a day in the life of a Ukrainian sheltering from Russian drones. And they reflect on the UK and Scottish response to Donald Trump, after hi...

Scottish First Minister John Swinney speaks to The Stooshie for a feature-length interview as he nears a year in the top job. He talks about the vital support of family, and how early morning runs listening to The Jam (and his friend Pete Wishart's band Runrig) keep him going. We cover the big challenges he faces in the NHS and education - including troubled Dundee University - as focus turns to t...

Anas Sarwar joins us as his party’s conference gets under way in Glasgow this weekend. Can he get over the obstacles since Labour’s general election win and be next first minister of Scotland? The Glasgow MSP joins us to discuss policies, polling set-backs and more.

Labour politicians are getting flak over energy job promises again, but seem to think the public don’t really mind. Do you? We spoke to UK Government Kirsty McNeill, and Scottish Labour’s Michael Marra, about economic fortunes. And after big SNP promises of budget boosts, what do Fife paramedics on the frontline think about reality for the NHS?

After the death of Elgin bus driver Keith Rollinson, is justice too soft for young offenders? How are doctors reacting to John Swinney’s big NHS speech? And we explain the upcoming NHS Fife trans doctor tribunal, with all its implications.  

Donald Trump is back in the White House and the world is braced for what comes next. As he eyes up taking over the continent from North Pole to Panama, how will Russia react? And crucially, are we exposed to increased risk of sabotage in our waters around the Atlantic and North Sea coasts? We also look closer to home on the future of mental health support for new mums, and how institutions such as...

The polls are in, and it’s grim reading for Keir Starmer. Reform are on the rise, and the SNP shows no sign of rolling over for Scottish Labour. As Scottish Secretary Ian Murray wonders aloud if the public like honesty after all, we look at the tough road ahead. We also take a look inside Donald Trump’s mind and wonder what’s in store for us after his inauguration this month. And is it really true...

The team returns for a new year to consider what the big stories will be.  Budgets take centre stage, including alarm over university finances and the NHS. Money can be found for a broken mountain railway in the Cairngorms, so why not everywhere else? And will our politicians find a way to respond to Donald Trump and social media doomscroller-in-chief Elon Musk?

When you really think about, 2024 seems more like a fever dream than anything else. Remember Rishi Sunak’s rain-drenched resignation? Ed Davey’s bizarre attention grabbing stunts? Humza Yousaf’s abrupt, self-inflicted implosion? Play along with our team of politics reporters in our end-of-year quiz to see if you’ve been switched on or turned off.

We discuss the crisis at Dundee University after weeks of difficult headlines over finances and senior leadership. Is there a problem in Scottish higher education? We also have a featured interview with a Stonehaven cancer survivor who spent £30,000 on a private breast reconstruction op to avoid the prospect of years waiting on NHS. Why are so many women faced with this difficult choice in the fir...

This week’s Stooshie focuses on the political questions for gun control in the wake of the Skye shooting spree, which ended in court last week. We hear from P&J investigations reporter Dale Haslam for the inside story. We also speak to Labour MP Graeme Downie about his hopes to restart talks to bring back the ferry link between Rosyth and Europe. And we look at the budget crisis engulfing NHS...

We are joined by The Courier’s Dundee Area Editor Laura Devlin to discuss her exclusive on Dundee and Angus College’s £265 million transformation plans. The college’s ambitious plans involve creating two new campuses, in the City of Discovery and Angus, and expanding its third campus at Gardyne. We also discuss some of our exclusive coverage on the funding crisis hitting Scottish universities, inc...

Scotland’s justice secretary, Angela Constance, explains plans to release more prisoners earlier in their sentences. We hear about aims to improve prisons in places such as Inverness, as well as her hopes to focus on community-based justice. The team wraps up a week of SNP intrigue sparked by our exclusive coverage of Stephen Flynn’s ambition to sit at Westminster and Holyrood. And we look at Scot...

We discuss our exclusive on SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hoping to move to Holyrood. We hear from energy historian Ewan Gibbs on lessons from the past on a “just transition” for oil workers. And we hear climate lawyer Tessa Khan as the Court of Session looks at the future of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields off the Scottish coast. Finally, we look at the annual ambulance service...

Conservative MP Andrew Bowie joins us to talk about his new role shadowing the Scotland Office, and admits they promised lots but fell short in government. The Aberdeenshire politician is also quizzed on his energy brief as rural pylon plans generate opposition. We look at Donald Trump’s shock return, the Scottish reaction, and the way-off predictions of a Kamala Harris victory. And we join Holyro...