Politics Weekly
Political analysis from the Guardian and Observer's top journalists and commentators.
Sunak cuts taxes and pledges to spend: Politics Weekly podcast
Heather Stewart, Larry Elliott and Aditya Chakrabortty break down what the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in the Commons on Budget day 2021. Plus, as we gear up for Cop26, Fiona Harvey tells Peter Walker about the man who’s leading the summit - Alok Sharma.. Help support our independent journalism at…
Manchin thwarts Biden’s climate plan: Politics Weekly Extra
As Joe Biden gears up for his trip to Glasgow for the Cop26 summit, Senator Joe Manchin continues to try to water down the reconciliation bill, which as it stands includes transformational provisions to stem the adverse affects of the climate crisis. Joan Greve and Oliver Milman look at the…
Westminster mourns the death of David Amess: Politics Weekly podcast
Following the death of the MP for Southend West, the second killing of an MP in five years, Jessica Elgot and Dan Sabbagh look at the security measures in place for public figures and what more could be done to keep them safe. Plus, Rupa Huq MP tells Aubrey Allegretti…
Why Virginia holds the key to the 2022 US midterms: Politics Weekly Extra podcast
This week Jonathan Freedland speaks to Jessica Taylor, of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. The pair discuss what the off-year gubernatorial elections coming up in a few weeks might tell us about Democrat and Republican chances in next year’s midterm elections. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Crises continue as Johnson holidays in Spain: Politics Weekly podcast
Heather Stewart and Gaby Hinsliff dissect a cross-party report that found the government’s response to Covid-19 contributed to ‘one of the UK’s worst ever public health failures’. Plus, as the UK and EU enter the latest negotiations over the Northern Ireland protocol, Lisa O’Carroll tells Rowena Mason why the UK…
McConnell hands Democrats surprising win: US Politics Weekly Extra
The US Senate has reached a deal to extend the debt ceiling until early December, which narrowly averted an ‘economic catastrophe’. But is this the end? Or will the crisis just re-emerge a few weeks from now? And can the Democrats finally agree on two separate major spending bills? Jonathan…
Johnson full of poems, puns, but not policy: Politics Weekly podcast
Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart dissect the prime minister’s speech at the Conservative party conference. Plus, Aubrey Allegretti looks at why some Tory MPs are warning the party over its plans to level up the country. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Why is Trump still making headlines? Politics Weekly Extra podcast
This week a rush of new stories and allegations came out about Donald Trump with the publication of two new books. Jonathan Freedland talks to Richard Wolffe about why it’s important to keep talking about the former president. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Starmer faces hecklers during conference speech: Politics Weekly podcast
In a 90-minute speech rounding off the Labour party conference, Keir Starmer promised a ‘strong plan for government’, and attacked his counterpart in Downing Street, calling him a ‘showman’. Jessica Elgot and the lobby team in Brighton bring us the highlights and lowlights of the event. Help support our independent…
Does the world trust Joe Biden? Politics Weekly Extra
This week, Joe Biden spoke to the UN General Assembly for the first time as president. After watching him oversee a disastrous exit from Afghanistan and sign up to a controversial nuclear submarine deal with the UK and Australia, Jonathan Freedland and Dr Leslie Vinjamuri discuss how the world views…
No US trade deal in sight for Johnson: Politics Weekly podcast
Rowena Mason is joined by Heather Stewart in the US, to discuss the prime minister’s UN speech and meeting with President Joe Biden in the White House. Plus Larry Elliott and Torsten Bell discuss the politics of an energy crisis.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Politics Weekly Extra: Hillary Clinton in conversation with Jonathan Freedland
Jonathan Freedland hosted a special Guardian Live event where he spoke to the former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. As the US commemorated the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks last weekend, the pair talked about her memories of the day, given she was the senator for New York at…
The aftermath of Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle: Politics Weekly podcast
There’s a new cabinet in town – or at least a different one than yesterday. Aubrey Allegretti and Rowena Mason look at the winners and losers of Boris Johnson’s reshuffle. Plus, Jessica Elgot and Rafael Behr analyse the government’s Covid winter plan. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Biden administration sues Texas over abortion law: Politics Weekly Extra
On Thursday night, the US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the US Justice Department would launch a federal lawsuit against Texas over the extreme abortion law that the state introduced last week. Jonathan Freedland speaks to Moira Donegan about what all of this means for Roe v Wade. Help…
Manifesto pledges are broken to ‘fix’ social care: Politics Weekly podcast
Heather Stewart and Zoe Williams discuss the prime minister’s announcement of a £12bn healthcare levy to be introduced through a rise in national insurance contributions. Plus, Libby Brooks and Peter Walker look at the state of Green party politics in the UK. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
A disastrous end to the Afghanistan war: Politics Weekly Extra
As the last of the US troops took off from Kabul on Tuesday, Jonathan Freedland spoke to Thomas Kean. Kean co-wrote the 9/11 commission report, detailing who was to blame for the events of September 11, and making recommendations to prevent a subsequent attack. He shares his thoughts on the…
Can David Frost actually make Brexit work? Politics Weekly podcast
In the last episode of our special summer series, Jessica Elgot asks her guests: Who is the elusive David Frost? When did he become such a Eurosceptic? And how will the continuous fallout from Brexit affect his legacy?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
From the archive: Republicans and race – Politics Weekly Extra
Jonathan Freedland revisits an enlightening conversation with Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican national committee, who campaigned for a Joe Biden victory in last year’s US presidential election. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Drakeford’s secret for Welsh Labour success: Politics Weekly podcast
In the third episode of our special summer series, Rowena Mason asks her guests: who is the first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford? Is it his politics, or his character, that drives his success? And what would he like his legacy to be?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
How did UK ministers fail to see the fall of Afghanistan: Politics Weekly podcast
Taking a break from our summer series, Jessica Elgot and Dan Sabbagh discuss what the UK government can do after the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan much more quickly than many ministers were expecting. How do they plan to help thousands of stranded Afghans looking for asylum?. Help support…