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The State of It: What ministers won't say in public
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This week The Times is launching a new politics podcast. We're dropping the first episode here -- subscribe to The State of It for free, wherever you get your podcasts, to tune in every week.
Welcome to The State of It, coming to you from Liverpool where the Labour Party is finishing its annual conference. Keir Starmer's team seem happy after his leader's speech, but what are his MPs really saying about him? Was he wise to call Nigel Farage a racist? How will Rachel Reeves balance the books in November's budget? Oh, and which cabinet ministers excelled at last night's karaoke?
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times.
Featuring:
- Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
- Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
- Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
- Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
More episodes
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Flights, visas, and kidnappers: The new migrant route to Britain
22:10|The Times has discovered that thousands of migrants are using a new, hybrid route to try to come to the UK: legal flights and visas, combined with illegal border crossings. But most don’t make it; the smuggling gangs detain them in Libya, to use them as slaves or for organ harvesting. Our reporter went to meet them.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Shayma Bakht, news reporter, The TimesHost: Luke Jones.Producers: Olivia Case, Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: We stop two small boats a day from reaching Britain, say FrenchFurther listening: Were 60,000 migrants intentionally let into Spain?Photo: Denise Kelly, Dana Chan, Getty Images.
The fraudsters pardoned by Trump - The Sunday Story
26:03|In his second administration, Donald Trump has so far pardoned or released approximately 1,800 convicted criminals. That includes rioters who stormed the Capitol, fraudsters who stole millions from their victims, and people with connections to the president. So why is Trump on a pardoning spree? And what impact might it have on his support? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I voted Trump. Now he’s pardoned the $20m Ponzi fraudster who conned meFurther listening: Is the American Dream dying? Clips: CBS News.Photo: Getty Images.
I tried the Maga diet — here's what happened - The Saturday Story
15:25|It’s the diet Trump’s inner circle are said to swear by: protein, fermented food and... not much else. Its creator, Sean O’Mara, promises that it works magic on your gut. The Times' feature writer Damian Whitworth’s spoke to him, and tried out the diet.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Damian Whitworth, feature writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Robert Wallace.Read more: I tried the Maga diet — it's steak and sauerkraut againWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: John Angerson, The Times.
Best of: On the line - Whack-a-mole
33:12|This is episode five of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.In the final episode of our county lines series, we hear how county lines drug gangs are continuing to shift their business model to avoid detection.Policing minister, Sarah Jones, explains how the government is planning to fight back. Plus, The Times’ crime editor David Woode sits down with The Sunday Times’ northern editor David Collins to discuss what they've learnt about the inner workings of county lines gangs.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble, Edward Drummond, and Taryn SiegelWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I joined the police on a county lines crackdownPhoto: Getty Images.
Harry and Meghan are moving back to the UK — why now?
28:56|Harry and Meghan are reportedly moving back to Britain with Archie and Lilibet, more than six years after leaving royal life for California. But why now — and how will their return work in practice?Roya Nikkhah is joined by Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent of The Sunday Times, to discuss the Sussexes’ shock decision, the King’s reaction and what it could mean for Prince William.They also examine Harry’s security concerns, the couple’s life in America and whether their return risks creating an alternative royal court — blurring the “half-in, half-out” boundaries established at Sandringham six years ago .What do you want to know about Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.ukImage: GettyProducer: Robert WallaceVideo Producer: Eve ChadbournExecutive Producer: Priyanka DeladiaWatch us on YouTube.Read more: Prince Harry's third act: will it be a drama — or cause a circus?
Best of: On the line - Mike
35:24|This is episode four of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Mike started selling drugs for a county lines gang when he was just a teenager. After being arrested and getting stabbed, he left that life behind. But he's been willing to share his experiences with The Times’ crime editor David Woode for the first time, explaining how he got caught 'under a spell'. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel. With thanks to the St Giles TrustWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Inside the case of a 15-year-old caught with a machete and pistolFurther listening: Why I carried a knifePhoto: Getty Images.
Best of: On the line - the loophole
38:05|This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves.Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Drug gangs swamped York. This is how police stopped them | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.
Best of: On the line - the never-ending battle
26:59|This is episode two of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Today we go inside Operation Titan, as North Yorkshire Police fight back against county lines drugs gangs. But with each line the police shut down, another pops up in its place, sometimes within days. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins investigates how to break the cycle. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David Collins.Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.
Best of: On the line - a family business
32:24|This is episode one of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Today we reveal how police took down the family controlling the drug trade in one British city, creating a power vacuum that was filled by a new breed of violent, criminal operation - county lines.The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins is given unprecedented access to North Yorkshire Police as they fight back against the drug gangs. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Exposed: how drug gangs deal without fear as the law can’t keep up | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble, Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate, Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.