Politics Unpacked

As the government says the Spending Review is settled, ministers are still facing questions about the U-turn on the winter fuel allowance. Should the chancellor just admit she got it wrong?Plus: Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and James Mariott 

Nigel Farage says he wants to reopen a steelworks in South Wales and even open new coal mines. Is he winning the battle for Labour's post-industrial heartlands?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and Sebastian Payne.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s friendship imploded in dramatic fashion overnight - as simmering tension between the two escalated into all-out war across their social media platforms.Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Michael Binyon 

It's the government's biggest u-turn so far - but will Rachel Reeves' new winter fuel payments policy succeed?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Matthew Parris.

After five years and something like 150 episodes, Tim Shipman is leaving the Sunday Times and the podcast. What has he learned from unpacking all those exchanges at PMQs?He hands over to Times chief political commentator Patrick Maguire, and with Hugo they unpack the exchanges between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch - as the PM refuses to be drawn on plans to end the two child benefit cap.

Keir Starmer has promised to make Britain "battle ready" as he unveiled plans to improve the military - but will taxpayers be prepared to pay for higher defence spending?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Libby Purves.

Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour and Reform of 'fantasy economics', the day after Keir Starmer made the same charge about Nigel Farage. Is it doing any of them any good?

Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at Nigel Farage - making a speech warning that Farage's "fantasy" economics will lead to a Liz Truss-style economic meltdown. So would Reform UK's policies crash the economy? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Zoe Strimpel.

After police chiefs publicly raised their concerns about budget cuts making it harder to keep us all safe, Rachel Reeves is under renewed pressure over government spending.  Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.