All the main parties backed some form of state intervention to save the Scunthorpe steel plant. Does this rare consensus mark a new era of the active state? Plus, the wider implications of the refuse strike in Birmingham. And which of us refers most to Mrs Thatcher in the podcast? A listener has monitored every podcast to provide the answer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opinion polls often determine the political mood but now party leaders face the first set of elections since the general election, and a by-election. If the polls are right, Reform is set to make a significant breakthrough in local government and the Conservatives face another electoral hammering. How significant is this campaign at a local and national level?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The market impact of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff war has been dramatic and disastrous already. The team asks whether Trump's political and corporate backers, and American voters, will stick with him or peel off as the ride becomes scary. Will he back down? Plus, how can and should the UK respond to Trump "unleashed"?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Labour targeting “working people” and implementing benefit cuts, and their opponents seeking to woo the better off who vote reliably, are the poor being left behind? Plus, a related issue, as supermarkets close their cafes and fracturing social media flourishes where are the institutions that bind communities together?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Trump on the verge of announcing tarrifs and negotiating sympathetically with Putin where does this leaves Starmer’s polite diplomacy? Are other leaders more effective in taking an aggressive stance? Plus our take on Ed Davey riding a toy horse to launch his party’s local election campaign and Le Pen’s route to the presidency being blocked dramatically.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump is unique for many reasons. One of them is his public projection, his near permanent presence on the TV screen commentating on his own presidency, updating on sensitive negotiations and announcing new ideas that are far from concrete policies. Compare him with other presidents who restrict their appearances to the point they can be close to silent or invisible for relatively long periods of time. What will be the consequences of Trump’s freakish ubiquity and are there lessons for more reticent leaders sticking to the old ways when they convey their messages?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another pivotal week for the Labour Chancellor our team discuss the degree to which Reeves is trapped and explore the options available. Our suggestions range widely and there is no consensus in the podcast around any of them, other than agreement that the Chancellor is in trouble. Our team ask: how long will Reeves be Chancellor?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our weekend magazine edition the team delve deep on the question of divided parties. The British system, with first past the post and traditionally dominant large parties, rests on leaders being effective party managers. Does Keir Starmer have a strategy for managing tensions and splits in Labour? Can Kemi Badenoch hold the Tories together? And can Nigel Farage manage the growing pains of Reform?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz Kendall has announced £5 billion of benefit cut but are her proposals an historic reform of welfare or driven speedily by Rachel Reeves’ need to meet her fiscal rules and Number Ten’s desire to please voters who support cuts in benefits ? What are the wider political implications? Starmer has a landslide Commons majority and largely pliant ministers but on this parts of his party are stirring.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are the policies of the new administration causing an anti-American backlash? And how will European governments respond? The Brits may need to recalibrate in spite of decades spend standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the US. Post-Brexit, is this geography re-asserting itself or a blip? Includes our top American cultural influences from movies to music.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.