These Times

This week Tom and Helen discuss Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race to be the next U.S President and what this means for the Democratic Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen discuss the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and what this says about not only America, but violence in politics, where it comes from, and what we can learn from previous points in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the three largest political stories in the world right now - the last-minute surge by France's left-wing coalition, the increasing pressure on Joe Biden to step down, and Starmer's first few days in government in the weeks to come... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnHerd's Freddie Sayers chats to These Times' Tom McTague about an extraordinary night in British politics - take a closer look at the numbers, and there's another story under the surface... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this emergency election episode, Tom and Helen reflect on the scale of the Conservative's defeat and what Labour's landslide triumph on just 33. 7 percent of the vote means for British politics... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom McTague reflects on the election campaign, from Rishi in the rain to Boris Johnson's appearance as a last-ditch substitute, and his journey across Britain, from Uist to Kent, to discover what's really going on... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen and Tom turn to Joe Biden's catastrophic performance at the recent election debate. Will the Democrats really force out Biden, and if so what will that mean for the United States? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom travels deep into the Tory heartlands, where the Liberal Democrats are threatening the infamous Blue Wall. Is there a wipeout on the horizon in the Tory's own backyard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore the extraordinary situation developing in France, sparked by Emmanuel Macron's dramatic decision to call snap parliamentary elections. What is happening in France, and what does it mean for Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Tom travels to the Outer Hebrides, Scotland's wild western edge, where one of the most interesting hustings of this election is taking place. Then we head to Glasgow, to find out whether the Indy dream is still alive after a catalogue of spectacular SNP failures... Join us on the road! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Helen turn to the situation north of the border, and explore what the last decade of Scottish elections reveal about British politics more widely... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Tom's pursuit of Farage's rebel army, he heads into London to explore the left's breakaway factions. From Chingford, to Stoke Newington, via Corbyn's stronghold in North Islington, Tom finds out what challenges might lie ahead for Keir Starmer... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen react to the shock European election results, and Macron's sudden snap election....is Europe on the brink? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first episode of a new mini-series from These Times, Tom McTague is on the search for Nigel Farage's rebel army. Reporting from the ground in Great Yarmouth, Tom speaks to the people who are going to shape the election.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen return to the desperate situation in Gaza, following Joe Biden's peace proposal on Friday. Where has this peace proposal come from? Why is it being made now? And what does it mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Helen and Tom dissect Rishi Sunak's shock snap election, and explore why we are seeing such swings in UK opinion between general elections... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Joe Biden announced a new 100 percent tariff on the import of Chinese electric cars, Tom and Helen explore whether the United States can stop China's industrial ascendancy through the energy transition... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore whether Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves can create a mode of governance for for the new geopolitical world economy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore the power of the US dollar, and why in a more multipolar, economic and political world, it remains king... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode sponsored by Revolut, Tom and Helen talk about the geopolitics of the city of London, before Tom chats to MP Bim Afolami and CEO of Revolut, Francesca Carlesi about the future of the city... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Rishi Sunak announced that Britain will increase its defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030, Tom and Helen explore the history of Britain's defence, and whether it will be able to align what it can spend on defence with a changing geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and explore what it means for the rest of the world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Helen turn to the crisis unfolding between Iran and Israel, and explore the likelihood of US intervention after they were forced to take direct military action in defence of Israel for the first time in their history... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Houthi ship attacks to the spectre of Iranian aggression, the Middle East seems set to become the next front for violent conflict. Could the turbulent history of the region tell us something about what its future holds? Join These Times’ Tom McTague and Helen Thompson for the first live recording of their hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the dust settles in Moscow, Tom and Helen ask from where did Isis come, and why are they still here... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen chat to demographer Paul Morland about the geopolitics and economics of demography, and why population matters... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to Turkey, the country at the crossroads of global geopolitics, and ask why it is so important to the future of the 21st Century...Please join us at the UnHerd Club on 8th April for our first live event "War and Peace in the Middle East", where Tom and Helen are diving deeper into the geopolitics of the Middle-East... Don't miss it! Tickets belowhttps://club.unherd.com/event/these-times-live/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After their extensive analysis into the economic binds of France and Germany, Tom and Helen explore why the geopolitical world has become so much harder for Western Europe to navigate over the last decade... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tom and Helen turn to France's divisive leader, Emmanuel Macron, and explore whether there is any strategic substance behind the grand speeches, declarations and interventions....Elsewhere at UnHerd, we have launched our new Spring Sale which gives subscribers unlimited access to our articles, subscriber-only app, and ability to join the conversation in the comment section, and that’s all for just £4.99 per year, and for all our UK listeners you can get your first month free. Just visit the link belowhttps://unherd.com/spring-sale/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore what has happened to the British economy over the past 20 years, and why is it becoming increasingly difficult for it to adjust to the new economic and geopolitical world.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen turn to Germany, and ask why it was last year's worst performing major economy, and what those difficulties reveal about the present economic and geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom Mctague and Helen Thompson look back at Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, and explore why it has been so difficult for the United States and the European Union to protect Ukraine's independence... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of Putin's fast and loose interview with Tucker Carlson, Tom and Helen turn to the history of Ukrainian independence, and ask what it means for the future of Ukraine, Europe and NATO... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of recent US/UK led bombings of Iraq and Syria, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson ask why America continues to embroil itself in the Iraq quagmire, and whether further escalation lies on the horizon... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the current border crisis unfolding in Texas, and explore how a set of global and domestic crises, from the drug cartels in Mexico, to the situation in Ukraine, might play into Trump's hands come the end of the year... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen talk to Ali Ansari, director of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University, about the history of Iranian power - from the 1979 Islamic revolution, to the most recent exchange of airstrikes with Pakistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the new anti-Chinese President elected in Taiwan, Tom and Helen turn to the most important body of water in the world: the Western Pacific, and explore what's at stake there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Helen and Tom explore the geopolitical history of the Red Sea, from the erection of the Suez Canal, to the waring Houthi Rebels patrolling the waters, and what it all tells us about where power lies in the world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom McTague and HelenH Helen Thompson look back at the major events that took place in 2023, from Ukraine's stalled counter-offensive and the Israel Hamas War, and ask what they mean for the year ahead... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this Christmas Special, Tom and Helen discuss two of their all time favourite novels that share the same themes of empire, nationalism and loss - Joseph Roth's The Radetzky March (1932) and Giuseppe Tommasi, The Lampedusa's The Leopard (1958). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tom and Helen sit down with Hans Kundnani to discuss the domestic politics of European countries and the reshaping of Europe's collective future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Helen sit down with Shashank Joshi to ask why supporting Ukraine has been so politically difficult in many Western countries, and what are the consequences for Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and the geopolitical conflicts around the Middle East? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As world leaders meet in Dubai for COP 28, Tom and Helen turn to one of the most important political issues of our age - Net Zero, and ask where Europe's ambition to be the first carbon dioxide free continent comes from, and whether it can succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson dissect the sorry state of Britain's economy with policy-expert Torsten Bell - and ask whether darker days do indeed lie ahead, or whether there's still cause for hope... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the day that David Cameron is sworn into the House of Lords, Tom and Helen explore the history of his foreign policy, and look ahead at what kind of Foreign Secretary he might make... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and Helen sit down to discuss the next U.S election and what's at stake for Israel, Ukraine, and the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss the history of Britain's relationship with the Israel-Palestine question; from Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, to Starmer's recent opposition to calls for ceasefire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen chat to the The Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi, about the logistical challenges of a ground-war, what Israel seek to gain by invading Gaza, and the dangers that lie ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore the long and fraught history of Iranian-Israeli relations, and ask how Israel vs Iran became the most dangerous prospect in the Middle-East Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Tom and Helen discuss the history of Israel and the geopolitical fault-lines running through the Middle East Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom travels to Liverpool to meet on of the city's favourite sons: Jamie Carragher. They talk about Liverpool's sectarian past, Brexit, Keir Starmer and the phenomenon of secret Tory footballers... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Tom and Helen explore Labour's uneasy relationship with the Europe question - and the potential challenges it poses for Keir Starmer going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Conservative Conference currently taking place in Manchester, Tom and Helen discuss the upcoming challenges facing the Prime Minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another Q&A episode, Tom and Helen turn to your questions on Brexit and Britain's relationship with the wider European Community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen and Tom chat to one of the world's great geopolitical thinkers, Pippa Malmgren, about how the big player's on the world stage are jostling for position in earth's northernmost point. Does the race for the Arctic represent a new cold war? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Helen answer the your questions on British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of revelations about Chinese spy activity in Westminster, Tom and Helen explore the recent history of British-Chinese relations, from Hong Kong, to espionage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Tom McTague sits down with Rory Stewart to chat about populism and spycraft, John le Carré and Lawrence of Arabia, and his prospective route to Number 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen explore Saudi Arabia - a place at once futuristic and authoritarian. From Aramco Oil to Cristiano Ronaldo, we discuss the ways in which the Kingdom in the Middle East is trying to take over the world, and how worried we should be.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen explore the African Coup's, from Gabon to Niger, and discuss what the turmoil across the Sahel reveals about today's world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we turn to Britain's abiding political presence - Tony Blair. From his early beginnings in British politics, to The Tony Blair Institute, Tom and Helen ask whether we are entering a new era of Blairdom?If you would like to ask Tom and Helen a question about politics, history or whatever else which they will endeavour to answer on next week's podcast, please email us at thesetimes@unherd.com or dm us on Twitter @thesetimespod. Looking forward to hearing from you!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom sits down with former editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, and Margaret Thatcher's biographer to talk about the romance of Ms. Thatcher, and her influential legacy on modern British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen journey back 35 years to explore the forces surrounding Margaret Thatcher's speech in Bruges and how it set the future of British politics in motion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Helen sit down with Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the 1970s - from energy shocks to Stars Wars' new age spirituality and bin-bags lining the streets during the winter of discontent, Tom, Helen and Dom ask whether we are entering a neo-1970s, and what that might mean for Britain's future... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Tom is interviewed by UnHerd's editor Freddie Sayers to explore Tom's new report into the inner workings of the Tony Blair Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen discuss the politics of US foreign policy, from Vietnam to Ukraine and what that reveals about the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode Tom and Helen discuss the US president’s long (and controversial) political record and ask what it reveals about the state of the nation today — and the country’s future.Follow us on Twitter @TheseTimesPod to join the conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Jamie Driscoll, the incumbent mayor blocked from standing to be Labour's candidate for the new north-east super mayoralty, now crowdfunding to stand as an independent left-winger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 more information.

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 response in between. In this episode, Tom and Helen trace the origins of the Sino-American stand-off and map out the implications for the rest of the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 for more information.

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 shaped Britain and much of the world beyond.Twitter: @tommctague @HelenHet20 @TheseTimesPodPlease don't forget to subscribe and tell all your friends about These Times. If you have any feedback or questions for a future episode, email Tom and Helen at thesetimes@unherd.comThese Times, from UnHerd. The history of today’s politics with Tom McTague and Helen ThompsonEach week Tom and Helen explore the great forces and ideas that led us to where we are right now. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 confronting the world’s problems.Twitter: @tommctague @HelenHet20 @TheseTimesPodPlease don't forget to subscribe and tell all your friends about These Times. If you have any feedback or questions for a future episode, email Tom and Helen at thesetimes@unherd.comThese Times, from UnHerd. The history of today’s politics with Tom McTague and Helen ThompsonEach week Tom and Helen explore the great forces and ideas that led us to where we are right now. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 @TheseTimesPodPlease don't forget to subscribe and tell all your friends about These Times. If you have any feedback or questions for a future episode, email Tom and Helen at thesetimes@unherd.comThese Times, from UnHerd. The history of today’s politics with Tom McTague and Helen ThompsonEach week Tom and Helen explore the great forces and ideas that led us to where we are right now. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@TheseTimesPodPlease don't forget to subscribe and tell all your friends about These Times. If you have any feedback or questions for a future episode, email Tom and Helen at thesetimes@unherd.comThese Times, from UnHerd. The history of today’s politics with Tom McTague and Helen ThompsonEach week Tom and Helen explore the great forces and ideas that led us to where we are right now. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@HelenHet20@TheseTimesPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts — and, of course, to get in touch with all your questions and comments so we can respond in future episodes.Email us at thesetimes@unherd.com or tweet us at @thesetimespod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.