The Times Red Box Podcast

Hugo Rifkind is here to unpack the politics of the day, and plenty of other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today he's joined by Manveen Rana and Patrick Kidd to discuss taking benefits away from pensioners, pausing free speech protections on campus, and whether human touch can ever be replicated by a machine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Rifkind is unpacking the action from Prime Minister's Questions, joined by Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman and comedian Ria Lina.As Rishi Sunak surprises everyone by still being leader of the opposition, Nigel Farage gets booed and Keir Starmer seems reluctant to leave his script. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Rifkind is back to unpack the politics of the day, and all the other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today he's joined by James Marriott and Libby Purves to discuss why so many people are going straight from university to long-term sickness, whether ID cards could tackle illegal immigration, and 'Judge Libby' delivers her verdict on some of the ethical dilemmas of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Rifkind is here to unpack the politics of the day, and plenty of other news, with the brightest minds from the Times and the Sunday Times.Today he's joined by Hadley Freeman and Patrick Maguire to discuss threats from the wealthy to flee the UK, Dominic Cummings' threat to start a new political party, and what we can tell about society from the rape case that has stunned France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the 335 new MPs elected at the last election continue to deliver their first speeches to Parliament, Ed Vaizey asks what is the secret to standing out from the crowd. He takes a look at some of the best (and worst) from the past, including Boris Johnson, Theresa May.... and Ed Vaizey. Plus: Columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss whether shutting libraries is cultural vandalism, if life’s greatest moments can be purchased, and we find out how James is getting on without a smartphone six months on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Vaizey interrogates the past, present and future of espionage, from moments that could have come from fiction to the reality of spying in the modern world. He speaks to former GCHQ director Sir David Omand and Lord Robin Renwick, former UK ambassador to the United States and author of 'The Intelligent Spy's Handbook'.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Timandra Harkness discuss how to make companies take responsibility for Grenfell, Tony Blair's call for closer links to Europe, and kicking hereditary peers out of Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PMQs is back from summer recess, with Rishi Sunak quizzing Keir Starmer - although the prime minister is still having a hard time getting used to his new job title.Ed Vaizey unpacks the action from the Commons chamber with the help of Tim Shipman and Lara Spirit. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss whether public inquiries are too expensive, whether Robert Jenrick is right to talk about segregation, and what does (and doesn't) make them proud to be British. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer says it's all about growth, growth, growth - but why do some economists and politicians say we're looking at it the wrong way? Ed Vaizey finds out about the radical theory of 'degrowth', and asks whether happiness is a better measure of success than GDP.Plus: Columnists Melanie Reid and Robert Colvile discuss Britain's faltering national pride, the crucial role of public libraries, and why the Tories are seen as a bit weird. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MPs are back in Westminster after the summer recess, and the government has big plans for the new term - but where will it be plain sailing, and where could it all go horribly wrong? Ed Vaizey guides us through the promises and the pitfalls.Plus: Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the scrapping of Ofsted's one-word judgements, the latest Tory leadership bid launches, and whether politicians can - or should - dance in public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the SNP gathering in Edinburgh, party conference season is well and truly upon us. Ed Vaizey is joined by a panel of political advisers to discuss what to expect this autumn, as well as looking back at some of the best (and worst) moments from conferences past.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss the four-day work week, whether you should let your dog lick your face, Keir Starmer moving Margaret Thatcher's portrait, and why AI may not be as revolutionary as originally promised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour Party was born from the trade union movement, but is Keir Starmer's government on a collision course with the unions over public sector pay? Ed Vaizey speaks to shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake and the FBU's Matt Wrack.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Timandra Harkness discuss whether ministers should ban smoking in pub gardens, the arrest of the boss of Telegram, and fossil fuel companies sponsoring the arts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been three years since the last British troops and diplomats left Afghanistan in the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces. Ed Vaizey finds out what's happened to the country since, with guests including Sunday Times chief foreign correspondent Christina Lamb.Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss the shoplifting epidemic, a hidden note found at the National Gallery, and whether former Cameron adviser Steve Hilton could be the next governor of California. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer uses his speech in the Downing Street rose garden to warn of a turbulent time ahead, with a 'painful budget' on the way. Ed Vaizey unpacks it with former cabinet minister Jack Straw and Times Radio's Theo Usherwood. Plus: What can the Tory leadership hopefuls learn from when the party was in opposition under Hague, Duncan Smith, Howard and Cameron? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Cockerell is one of the UK’s most experienced political film-makers, and has interviewed prime ministers from Macmillan to Johnson. He joins Ed Vaizey to reflect on his career and the art of making a political documentary.Plus: Columnists Libby Purves and Robin Brant discuss Keir Starmer's call for a decade of national renewal, whether Labour will change the way it elects its leader, and a new book assessing Liz Truss's (short) time in office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it ever possible to keep politics out of sport? Ed Vaizey looks at times when the two have collided, as well as how AI could change the world of athletics and whether we'll all be watching e-sport in the metaverse.Plus: Columnists James Marriott and India Knight discuss the extravagance of US politics, freedom of speech in universities, finding joy in YouTube comments, and why group holidays are terrible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's culture week here on the podcast, and today we're looking at the theatre - does politics still have a place on the stage?Ed Vaizey hears from playwrights including David Edgar, who’s been writing for the theatre for 50 years, and discusses some of the best political drama including James Graham’s This House.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Matthew Bell talk about the pressure on the government to give big public sector pay deals, why there's a culture war over 20mph zones, and Keir Starmer's choice of crisps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Barack Obama's speech to the Democratic Convention a reminder that great orators don't come along very often? Columnists Robert Crampton and Jane Mulkerrins discuss the speech by the former US president, the role of political spouses, and why Tories are all taking Ozempic to lose weight.Plus: We continue Ed Vaizey's culture week with a look at whether the golden age of the British TV and film industry has come to an end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Clinton once said that regulating the internet would be like ‘nailing jello to a wall’, but in the UK new rules are on the way. Ed Vaizey looks at whether they can end the Wild West on the web with a former tech minister and one of Ofcom's online safety directors.Plus Columnists: Libby Purves and Tim Montgomerie discuss the government's plans to let workers disconnect, the Tory leadership contest and the death of the theatre interval. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 years ago Vladimir Putin began his Russian reign in continuous positions as president or prime minister. How did the man in Moscow build his powerbase, how has he changed Russia since being there, and what should the UK look out for next? Theo speaks with those who've spent time dealing with the leader waging war on Western Europe. Plus: Columnists Timandra Harkness and Scarlett Maguire discuss how social media can radicalise, the influential female MPs on the Labour benches, and why maths is back in fashion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do people like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin really hold onto power? The Pulitzer-prize winning historian and author of 'Autocracy Inc', Anne Applebaum, gives her take on how dictators like the Russian president prop themselves up, and the approaching inflection point in American politics.Plus: Columnists Manveen Rana and Jimmy McLoughlin discuss the new deal to stave off rail strikes, the tug of war for Labour's affections between big business and union bosses and today's record-breaking A level results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.