Inside Politics

Jennifer Bray and Harry McGee join Hugh to discuss the week in politics: The Government is completing what it can of its unfinished legislative programme before the general election, and that means the 'guillotine' - a procedure that shortens the time needed to debate bills as they pass through the Oireachtas - is getting heavy use this week. Which bills are getting chopped - and which are getting dropped? Clare Daly's decision to run in Dublin Central adds another colourful and effective political character to the mix in that constituency. But with so many independents in contention around the country, the 34th Dáil is likely to be diverse. Jennifer calls out Hugh's obsession with Seanad reform. Is there some Seanad-related trauma deep in Hugh's past?Plus they pick their Irish Times articles of the week:On-the-ground coverage from the US by Keith Duggan and Steven Carroll who are meeting voters and surveying swing states as the historically close US election draws nearPatrick Freyne's review of a steamy Jilly Cooper TV adaptationJustine McCarthy warns the coalition parties not to gloat over Sinn Féin's failures - their own records are far from perfect

Now that it is confirmed there will be a general election this year, the Irish Times politics team can finally unleash their predictions - or should that be possible future outcomes - of which candidates and parties will emerge victorious from some of the most competitive constituencies in the State. Jennifer Bray, Harry McGee and Pat Leahy tackle Dublin Central, Dublin Bay South, Carlow-Kilkenny, Mayo, Cavan-Monaghan and both Tipperarys.

Trump or Harris? We'll know America's answer in just two weeks, but until then the race is too close to call. With the margins so tight, Democrats and Republicans are desperately seeking advantage in the key swing states, spending millions of dollars on TV ads. But it is the Republicans feeling happiest, with polls tightening in Donald Trump's favour in places like Wisconsin. That's where Washington correspondent Keith Duggan talks to Hugh from today. They discuss the last-minute attacks each candidate is directing at their opponent, Donald Trump's declining rhetoric and the shifting landscape of class- and race-based political loyalties that makes American politics so unpredictable.

Host Hugh Linehan is joined by Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn to look back on the week in politics:·     With a general election now likely a matter of weeks away, it is the main opposition party, and not government parties, who continue to dominate the headlines. And they are unwanted headlines relating to former TD Brian Stanley, former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile and former press officer Michael McMonagle. ·     And with all those controversies piling up for Sinn Féin, are the Government in danger of overreach should they seek to force a vote on Brian Stanley’s replacement as PAC chair? ·     And could former Fine Gael TDs Alan Shatter and Kate O’Connell’s decisions to run as independents give their old party cause for concern in Dublin-Rathdown and Dublin Bay South respectively come election time? Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:·     Newton Emerson on Britain’s anti-obesity jab plan.·     Kathy Sheridan urges us not to write off celebrity candidates.·     Keith Duggan writes about why a small Democratic stronghold in Detroit is deserting Kamala Harris for Donald Trump. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin sits down with Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy to talk about the timing of the next general election. For the first time he states clearly that he is open to the vote taking place before Christmas - but with some caveats. Martin also talks about his attitude to Sinn Féin as a potential future partner in government and whether Ireland could take unilateral action

The resignation from Sinn Féin of Laois TD Brian Stanley on Saturday, and the party's referral to the Gardaí of information it gathered during an internal inquiry into an unspecified allegation made against Stanley, has triggered a fresh crisis for Mary Lou McDonald.The Sinn Féin leader is now struggling on multiple fronts as the party faces demands for an explanation as to why the Gardaí were not involved at an earlier stage.McDonald must also be worried that this latest bad news story will combine with other crises of recent weeks to set in voters's minds an image of a party in disarray. With a general election looming, this latest distraction from Sinn Féin's favoured issues of housing and health has come at the worst possible time. Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to set out what we know about this fast-developing story and what it means for Sinn Féin.

Host Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn to look back on the week in politics:·      With the giveaway budget done, will this government conclude in time for an early general election? Timing is vital, but can the Coalition arrive at a consensus given their advanced preparation for an election campaign?·      Sinn Féin’s difficulties are the Government’s opportunities with the Michael McMonagle scandal rumbling on, and now TD Patricia Ryan’s resignation from the party after hitting out at its leadership for “not listening” to members and TDs.·      US actor and activist Mark Ruffalo was heavily critical of the Green Party in a social media post pointing to the Government’s planning legislation allowing for use of ‘strategic’ liquefied natural gas reserves.Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:·      Miriam Lord’s report from Mary O’Rourke’s funeral on Monday.·      Trinity’s Berkeley Library is now the Eavan Boland library.·      A twist in the Tory leadership race suits PM Keir Starmer.

As the US presidential election nears, Hugh talks to American journalist Ben Smith about the intertwining of media and politics in the United States:how political campaigns operate like media companiesthe decline in trust toward mainstream mediathe impact of digital platforms on political discourseThey assess Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's use of the media as a campaign tool in this election cycle and look at how the media landscape is changing, with references to Ben's experiences at Politico, BuzzFeed News, and his current role at Semafor. Ben also reflects on the consequences of publishing the notorious Steele dossier on Donald Trump's alleged links to Russia during his time at BuzzFeed News.