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Politics Unpacked
How To Rebuild Parliament
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80 years ago, Winston Churchill announced a plan to rebuild the Palace of Westminster after the Commons chamber was hit during the last major raid of the blitz. Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley looks at the building's history from the Great Fire of London to the present day, and speaks to the chairman of Parliament's Restoration and Renewal programme Nigel Evans.
Plus: Columnists James Marriott and Isabel Hardman discuss the power of the individual backbencher, play a round of Hansard Hoedown, and ask how to write a good sex scene.
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The AI President
29:55|Donald Trump insists the AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure actually depicts him as a doctor. He's faced a backlash from all sides, but it's not his first AI post to cause controversy. Did this one go too far?Hungary, The 'Boriswave', And Trump vs The Pope
32:50|Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Libby Purves. Is the tide shifting away from the hard right in Europe? Would Nigel Farage really put Boris Johnson on trial over immigration? And why are the US President and the Pope fighting?Starmer "Fed Up" With Trump
30:43|Keir Starmer has stepped up his criticism of Trump, but could that put the UK in the firing line for retaliation from the US?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd.Are The Fringe Parties Still The Fringe?
30:47|Reform UK and the Green Party are expected to do well at next month's elections at the expense of the established parties. But is the electorate ready for some of their more radical policies?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the news and politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Sonia Sodha.Has Trump Won The War?
29:53|Iran has agreed to a ceasefire with the US after Trump promised to destroy it - but with the biggest issues still unresolved, can he really claim victory?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Trevor Phillips.Kanye West, Strikes and 90s Nostalgia
34:17|The rapper Ye - formerly known as Kanye West - has been blocked from headlining a festival in London this summer over anti-semitic behaviour. Can we separate the art from the artist? We also discuss the cumulative impact of doctors' strikes, and ask why politics - and society - can't get over its obsession with the nineties and noughties.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.Trump's Foul-Mouthed Diplomacy
33:02|Donald Trump has threatened to turn Iran into "hell" in a profanity-laden rant on social media. But with so many conflicting messages and shifting deadlines, should his threats be taken seriously?Plus, do religious leaders still have a role to play in preaching peace to the world?Guto Harri unpacks the news and politics of the day with Sebastian Payne and Patrick Kidd.Trump Mocks Starmer (Again)
30:53|The US President mocks Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron at an Easter event at the White House. Does Macron's response reflect growing anger in Europe over Iran?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby. They also discuss why teachers are turning to the Green Party, Reform UK's pension policy. and why a new deal with the EU could change the name of marmalade.Trump's 'Stone Age' Threat
32:22|As Donald Trump threatens to send Iran “back to the Stone Age”, Hugo Rifkind is joined by Times columnists Josh Glancy and Sarah Ditum to unpack the history and significance of that phrase.