This week, the lads discuss the lacklustre start to Ireland’s presidential election speculation, what the latest polling data tells us about the lay of the political land, and the Irish delegation that defiantly made its way to Hungary’s Pride parade over the weekend.

John and Sarah ask if the Irish Government is addicted to pointless statements on the middle east, discuss the ubiquity of the Pride Flag, and ask why RTE's current affairs shows are so poor. Also: Sarah's favourite new Netflix show is revealed:

With Ben on holidays this week, Jason is joined by Telegraph columnist Michael Murphy to discuss the week's news, including changes to US student visa vetting, questionable reasons for rejecting garda applicants and more.

John and Sarah discuss the Puska family's living arrangements and lifestyle, the free money Irish artists will keep getting, Paul Reid's new job, and the UK officials who still have jobs after the grooming gangs.

Ben and Jason discuss the ways in which a culture of civil mediocrity and bureaucracy is strangling Irish society, from media to AI.

In a packed episode, John and Sarah discuss the case of the Luas "bodily fluids" incident; the Ballymena riots; the French war on Pornhub; an Irish Times' Editor's views on Media Bias; Noisy Drones; and the folly of rent caps.

This week on 'The Long Game', Jason and Ben question whether Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is on top of his brief after a surprising exchange with Ben, the modern trend among Irish elites of denigrating Irishness, and whether Government is up to the task of regulating information itself.

John and Sarah debate the vexxed question of whether John is a racist, as Ruth Coppinger claims. Also: The power of NGOs; are Irish people homogenous; and is the Macron marriage just plain weird?

Poland’s choice of president and the state of that country more generally are on the cards for Ben and Jason this week, along with the decline of Pride month and the trials of short men in their dealings with the fairer sex.

John and Sarah devote most of this week's episode to the cost of living, and the various ways Irish families are feeling financial pressure. Also: Nick Delehanty runs for President; Cathal Crowe defends the Brits; and the Children's Hospital remains a disaster.