"After months of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing amid talk of economic decoupling and a new cold war, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping sought in Bali to turn down the heat" wrote Irish Times China Correspondent Denis Staunton about this week's G20 summit. Denis joins Hugh to talk about how the relationship between China and the West is evolving.

But first Denis gives his early impressions of life in China, having taken up the role of China Correspondent this autumn.

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The world’s most powerful media and technology companies use their market power to lock their customers into a relationship they can’t escape, while immiserating the creative people whose work the customers are paying for.

Companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Spotify, Clear Channel, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have generated enormous revenues for their shareholders while slashing the incomes of writers, journalists and musicians.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, say Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin, who argue, as they explain in their new book, Chokepoint Capitalism, that it’s time to fight back against the power of big tech and big media.

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Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh to look at the week's politics:

• A Supreme Court ruling creates a headache for Government
• How a stricken tech sector could change the political landscape
• Still searching for that Brexit / Protocol "landing spot"
• Do US midterm results spell the end for Trumpism?

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New legislation will give extra protection to members of groups affected by crimes motivated by hatred.

But critics say the law will be an unacceptable infringement on freedom of speech.

To dig into a thorny subject Hugh talks to speech rights expert Eoin O'Dell, a Fellow and Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin's School of Law.

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The latest Irish Times/Ipsos opinion poll shows that despite a strong desire to support Ukraine, 61 per cent of voters are concerned that “too many refugees” are coming here. And more than half of voters also disagree that Ireland should continue to accept refugees from Ukraine “no matter how many arrive”. To discuss this and more of the findings from the poll, including an unexpected rebound in support for the government and a slightly more optimistic outlook for the country in terms of the cost of living crisis, Hugh is joined by Political Editor Pat Leahy. 

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“Time to look at the big picture; what does it mean for me?”

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan on this week’s Inside Politics to discuss Rishi Sunak’s elevation to PM, his appointments to cabinet and what the changes might mean for relations with Ireland.

This week saw another heated row between Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald and the Taoiseach in the Dáil; this time over the Ukrainian accommodation crisis.

Plus, after McDonald’s husband, Martin Lanigan, threatened legal proceedings against Shane Ross over his new book, we ask how far should the scrutiny of politicians’ assets extend?

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Many Irish Times readers were talking this week about Fintan O'Toole's column on the subject of the IRA and the appropriateness of chanting "Up the 'Ra'.

Hugh talks to Fintan about his column, the debate around the chant and how the history of the Troubles is understood today.

Plus, a look at what's happening in Westminster following an extremely turbulent week for prime minister Liz Truss.

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"A grim agenda" of recession, UK bond crisis and global energy crisis awaits later in today's podcast, so first the team enjoy a relatively light topic: The mini-controversy over Shane Ross's axing from RTÉ radio. The former minister had been due on air to discuss his new biography of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Censorship, or run-of-the-mill editorial decision?

Plus: Is a u-turn on the controversial concrete block levy imminent?

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