Katie reflects on comments by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the TV show ‘Uncharted’ on how he used to get regular abuse both in person and online and how the downsides of public life eventually overtook the good sides.

The trio also discuss the impact of social media on children and the growing industry of child influencers. They tease out if Ireland could follow Australia's lead and ban social media for under 16s.  

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Europe's highest court has sided with the New York Times after it challenged the EU Commission on its witholding of texts between its President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

The texts were sent ahead of the EU agreeing a deal for 1.8 billion vaccine doses in May 2021.

Fran, David and RTÉ’s Europe Editor Tony Connelly dissect the finer details of the case and go through why it is so significant.

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US President Donald Trump is embarking on a visit to the Middle East this week, and as he steps onto his plane it’s another one from the Qataris that has been making the headlines.

Reports suggest the country will gift him a new Air Force One jet, and its being dubbed the “palace in the sky”.

Fran and David discuss the latest news around the US president, which also includes a “deal” with China to end the tariff tit-for-tat, and another one in the UK that “isn’t worth the paper its written on” according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

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This week the Government published new AI guidelines for the public sector, which got David, Katie, and Fran thinking about the tech’s rapid growth.

AI is proving transformative for many industries, like health and education, but it is also threatening jobs, a generator for misinformation, and being used for scams.

The trio discuss the technology’s rise, and how it will impact us all in the near future.

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David, Katie and Fran discuss the Gaza aid blockade and RTÉ's call for discussion around Israel's participation in next week's Eurovision. The trio also tease out how the Papal Conclave will work and who might be the next Pope. 

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Fran and Katie are joined by reporter Jackie Fox to talk US politics, as the country is in the process of selecting its next ambassador to Ireland.

Trump’s golf buddy Edward Walsh is the current front-runner for the position, and yesterday he was told by the Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state was a ‘mistake’. 

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Fran, David and Katie discuss the recent controversy around the band, Kneecap. The band claims their controversial remarks were taken out of context, but Fran and Katie question what context those incidents are supposed to be taken in. The hosts look at their future gigs, from Glastonbury to their US tour due in October, and how their critics are mounting pressure on the organisers.

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Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as three of RTÉ’s top journalists, David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way. 

New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Starts April 30th 2025.

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