These Times
UnHerd political editor Tom McTague and Cambridge professor Helen Thompson team up to investigate the history of today’s politics — and what it means for our future. Each week they will explore the great forces, ideas and events that led us to where we are, whether in Britain, the United States, Europe or beyond. It’s a politics podcast for those who want a deeper, historical understanding of the news, to understand what has really shaped our world and why. We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts — and, of course, to get in touch with all your questions and comments so we can respond in future episodes.
Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @thesetimespod
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- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 53 minutes
- Episodes
- 131
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
The War for the Red Sea
This week, Helen and Tom explore the geopolitical history of the Red Sea, from the erection of the Suez Canal, to the waring Houthi Rebels patrolling the waters, and what it all tells us about where …
00:53:13 |
Tue 09 Jan 2024
New Year, New World
Tom McTague and HelenH Helen Thompson look back at the major events that took place in 2023, from Ukraine's stalled counter-offensive and the Israel Hamas War, and ask what they mean for the year ahe…
01:04:33 |
Wed 03 Jan 2024
Europe’s Lost World: The Radetzky March and The Leopard
For this Christmas Special, Tom and Helen discuss two of their all time favourite novels that share the same themes of empire, nationalism and loss - Joseph Roth's The Radetzky March (1932) and Giuse…
00:51:14 |
Tue 26 Dec 2023
Europe’s Civilisational Turn?
This week, Tom and Helen sit down with Hans Kundnani to discuss the domestic politics of European countries and the reshaping of Europe's collective future.
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00:36:31 |
Tue 19 Dec 2023
Ukraine's Dark Winter Ahead
Tom and Helen sit down with Shashank Joshi to ask why supporting Ukraine has been so politically difficult in many Western countries, and what are the consequences for Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and the …
00:51:22 |
Tue 12 Dec 2023
Europe's Bet on Net Zero
As world leaders meet in Dubai for COP 28, Tom and Helen turn to one of the most important political issues of our age - Net Zero, and ask where Europe's ambition to be the first carbon dioxide free …
00:47:53 |
Tue 05 Dec 2023
Can British Growth Ever Recover?
In this week's episode, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson dissect the sorry state of Britain's economy with policy-expert Torsten Bell - and ask whether darker days do indeed lie ahead, or whether there…
00:53:40 |
Tue 28 Nov 2023
David Cameron's Failed Foreign Policy
On the day that David Cameron is sworn into the House of Lords, Tom and Helen explore the history of his foreign policy, and look ahead at what kind of Foreign Secretary he might make...
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00:58:10 |
Tue 21 Nov 2023
Decision 2024: What’s at stake for Israel, Ukraine, and the world next year
In this episode Tom and Helen sit down to discuss the next U.S election and what's at stake for Israel, Ukraine, and the world.
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00:53:48 |
Tue 14 Nov 2023
Britain's Israel-Palestine Dilemma
In this episode, Tom and Helen discuss the history of Britain's relationship with the Israel-Palestine question; from Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, to Starmer's recent opposition to calls for c…
00:56:03 |
Tue 07 Nov 2023
Israel Invades: The Gazan Trap, with Shashank Joshi
In this episode, Tom and Helen chat to the The Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi, about the logistical challenges of a ground-war, what Israel seek to gain by invading Gaza, and the dangers …
00:51:44 |
Tue 31 Oct 2023
Israel vs Iran: The Deadliest Foes
In this week's episode, Tom and Helen explore the long and fraught history of Iranian-Israeli relations, and ask how Israel vs Iran became the most dangerous prospect in the Middle-East
Hosted on Aca…
00:57:14 |
Mon 23 Oct 2023
The Israel-Hamas War
In this week's episode Tom and Helen discuss the history of Israel and the geopolitical fault-lines running through the Middle East
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00:59:34 |
Mon 16 Oct 2023
Jamie Carragher: My History of Liverpool
In this episode, Tom travels to Liverpool to meet on of the city's favourite sons: Jamie Carragher. They talk about Liverpool's sectarian past, Brexit, Keir Starmer and the phenomenon of secret Tory …
00:55:09 |
Tue 10 Oct 2023
Keir Starmer's Europe Problem
During the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Tom and Helen explore Labour's uneasy relationship with the Europe question - and the potential challenges it poses for Keir Starmer going forward.
Ho…
00:57:01 |
Mon 09 Oct 2023
Rishi Sunak's Challenge
With the Conservative Conference currently taking place in Manchester, Tom and Helen discuss the upcoming challenges facing the Prime Minister.
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00:54:47 |
Mon 02 Oct 2023
2. YOUR QUESTIONS: Charles De Gaulle, Brexit and Britain's History within the European Community
In another Q&A episode, Tom and Helen turn to your questions on Brexit and Britain's relationship with the wider European Community.
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00:26:38 |
Wed 27 Sep 2023
The Race for the Arctic
Helen and Tom chat to one of the world's great geopolitical thinkers, Pippa Malmgren, about how the big player's on the world stage are jostling for position in earth's northernmost point. Does the r…
00:58:35 |
Mon 25 Sep 2023
1. YOUR QUESTIONS: Will Northern Ireland ever truly be British; Blair’s missed opportunity; missing England; most surprising general elections.
Tom and Helen answer the your questions on British politics.
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00:26:01 |
Wed 20 Sep 2023
How George Osborne’s All-In Bet On China Went Wrong
In the wake of revelations about Chinese spy activity in Westminster, Tom and Helen explore the recent history of British-Chinese relations, from Hong Kong, to espionage.
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00:58:03 |
Mon 18 Sep 2023
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