{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/6650aba3c82f8300120b495a?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Sunak’s doomed gamble and anger at Fianna Fáil’s election launch","description":"<p>Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn to discuss the week in politics:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rishi Sunak’s decision on Wednesday to announce a snap election for July 4th, four months earlier than predicted, caught everyone off guard. Will it prove to be a gamble worth taking?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cormac was present at Fianna Fáil’s European election launch this morning where tensions boiled over as Senator Niall Blaney got into a public disagreement with Fianna Fáil leader, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, over the level of support he was getting from the party amid their three-candidate strategy in the Midlands North-West constituency.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And on Friday, June 7th – the same day voters across the country will elect representatives to local councils and the European Parliament – the people of Limerick will decide who will be the country’s first directly elected mayor. But what powers will the successful candidate have to go with their €154,000 salary?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And the panel pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:</p><p><br></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Laura Slattery writes about “king of the airwaves” Pat Kenny.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The passing of Ireland’s first business superstar, Tony O’Reilly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pedestrians best be on their guard against the quiet threat of electric vehicles as outlined by Shauna Bowers.</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}