Best Another Europe is Possible Podcasts (2025)

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‘A hot mess of uncoordinated gibberish’ 47:03

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18m ago47:03

47:03

Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The inauguration of Ireland’s 10th president in in St Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle, on Tuesday, saw Catherine Connolly deliver a stirring address, amid a real testament to the health of democracy in this country, with all sides coming together after an at times bru…

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What is wrong with Ireland’s housing and planning system? 54:54

11m ago54:54

54:54

The government has come under increasing intense criticism of its record on housing, and the sluggishness with which its addressed the need to build more affordable homes. Today on Inside Politics, Hugh Linehan discusses the issues with the planning and regulatory system that some argue is slowing down the process of boosting housing supply in Irel…

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How is Catherine Connolly viewed in Europe? 38:05

15m ago38:05

38:05

As Catherine Connolly is inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th President on Tuesday, Inside Politics asks how the country’s European partners will be preparing for her presidency. What issues from the Connolly campaign may have raised eyebrows on the continent, and how might she navigate Ireland’s EU presidency in 2026? Hugh Linehan is joined by The Irish …

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Is it possible to have a coherent debate on immigration? 48:09

35m ago48:09

48:09

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With renewed criticism from left-wing Opposition leaders of Tánaiste Simon Harris, over remarks he made about migration numbers in Ireland being too high, has it become almost impossible to have an honest discussion around immigration? · Taoiseach Micheál Marti…

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Iain Dale, chronicler of British leaders, turns his attention to Irish taoisigh 59:47

1d ago59:47

59:47

Iain Dale has written books profiling prime ministers, monarchs and dictators. Next up from the LBC broadcaster and podcaster is a book on the people - all men - who have served as taoiseach. The Taoiseach: A Century of Political Leadership profiles all who have held the office and explores the evolution of the role. But Dale didn’t write it himsel…

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How does Micheál Martin quieten dissenting voices in Fianna Fáil? 44:29

6d ago44:29

44:29

Ellen Coyne and Naomi O’Leary join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: · In the wake of Catherine Connolly’s emphatic presidential election win, could there now be a legitimate prospect of a left-wing government arising from the next general election? · With anger still simmering in Fianna Fáil’s ranks after a disastrous presidential ca…

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What would a united Ireland actually involve? 57:28

8d ago57:28

57:28

This week’s Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan explores what a united Ireland would actually involve, Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole and Belfast Telegraph journalist Sam McBride have written a new book that addresses the case both for and against Irish unity. The structure of the book is unusual. Each journalist writes two long chapter…

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How outspoken will Connolly be as president? 30:04

17d ago30:04

30:04

Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan for the final episode of Election Daily for this campaign. They look at the impact of Connolly's victory on left-wing politics, wonder if Ireland is about to have a more outspoken president than ever before and consider Simon Harris and Micheál Martin's political futures. Thanks to everyone who listened to Election Dail…

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Catherine Connolly wins the presidency on a disastrous day for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil 42:10

12d ago42:10

42:10

Votes are still being counted but it is already clear that Catherine Connolly has won the presidency by a huge margin. Connolly's victory will be confirmed at Dublin Castle this afternoon. Hugh, Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne are there and sat down to discuss the emerging results and what they mean. How did Catherine Connolly get her campaign so…

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Election Daily: The highs and lows of a strange campaign 25:24

14d ago25:24

25:24

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the final day of campaigning before voters go to the polls. They look at how the Connolly campaign has managed to create momentum that sustained her push for the Áras since July and why the Humphreys campaign did not live up to expectations. Finally they pick their high and low po…

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Election Daily: Will the 'spoil the vote' campaign be felt on Friday? 23:04

15d ago23:04

23:04

What does a two-horse race look like in our PR-STV electoral system? What happens when you throw a zombie candidate and a 'spoil your vote' campaign into the mix? And what about turnout? Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan nerd out with a look at how the count could play out this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Election Daily: Who came out on top in the final debate? 25:40

16d ago25:40

25:40

The two remaining candidates in the presidential election came into the final televised debate of the campaign needing different things. Well behind in the polls, Heather Humphreys needed to come across convincingly while landing some blows. Catherine Connolly needed not to slip up. So how did they do? On today’s episode of The Irish Times Election…

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Election Daily: Can the 'Vicar Street Alliance' hold after this election? 24:50

16d ago24:50

24:50

Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk about today's news from the presidential campaign trail: A concert in support of Catherine Connolly's campaign brought top musical artists and thousands of young people together in Dublin's Vicar Street on Monday night. The event also brought together Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, the Social Demo…

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Election Daily: Has Fine Gael's 'new low' attack video backfired? 29:24

17d ago29:24

29:24

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about the all the latest from the presidential election campaign. There is one topic dominating the campaign today, or two related topics: Catherine Connolly's record as a barrister who worked on behalf of financial institutions in the aftermath of the property crash, and Fine Gael's negative campaigning …

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Election Daily: Is it all over bar the shouting for Heather Humphreys? 24:33

20d ago24:33

24:33

With Catherine Connolly showing an unprecedented lead for a presidential candidate one week out from polling day, could her campaign only be derailed by something extraordinary at this stage? Cormac McQuinn and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to discuss Connolly’s seemingly unassailable lead, the repetitive nature of recent debates, and with posters …

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POLL: Catherine Connolly opens huge lead in presidential race 21:15

21d ago21:15

21:15

Catherine Connolly holds a commanding lead in the presidential election with just over a week to go before votes are cast, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll. The poll finds that Connolly, on 38 per cent, has almost double the support of her nearest rival, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, on 20 per cent. Support for the Fianna…

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Election Daily: Is Humphreys playing it too safe? 24:37

22d ago24:37

24:37

As independent candidate Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys enter the final nine days of the campaign, Jack Horgan Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to launch our daily podcast coverage. A motion of no confidence in Simon Harris over controversies in Children’s Health Ireland and waiting times for scoliosis surgery w…

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Is this the end of the gay rights revolution? 49:51

24d ago49:51

49:51

Hugh talks to Ronan McCrea, professor of constitutional and European law at University College London, about his new book, The End of the Gay Rights Revolution. McCrea believes that the achievements of the most successful civil rights movement of the last few decades may be more politically fragile than most people assume. He argues that these succ…

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Head-to-head: Presidential election gets confrontational 59:02

27d ago59:02

59:02

Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With Jim Gavin gone, the presidential election is now a two-horse race between Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, and a more combative one at that as the third live debate on Thursday on RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime will attest. Is Heather Humphreys trying to appe…

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'Cooking the books': Is Budget 2026 a 'cynical wheeze'? 48:02

29d ago48:02

48:02

Yesterday’s budget spelled out the Government’s tax and spending plans for next year. But what happens after that? Barra Roantee of Trinity College Dublin’s Department of Economics says it is “shocking” that there is no plan beyond 2026. “Last year we had five-year-ahead forecasting. The year before was four-year. We’re meant to be submitting a med…

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Calamity for Fianna Fáil as Jim Gavin drops out of the presidential race 48:47

1M ago48:47

48:47

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk about the stunning news of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the presidential race, leaving Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly in a head-to-head battle. The news has infuriated Fianna Fáil backbenchers and leaves party leader Micheál Martin and campaign director Jack Chambers with big questions to…

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Jack Chambers channels 'Margaret Thatcher' as 'big squeeze budget' looms 49:14

1M ago49:14

49:14

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the week in politics: We already know next Tuesday’s budget is going to be a much less generous affair than recent years. Jack and Pat share what they know about the tough stance being taken by Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers in negotiations, including one Government source…

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American carnage: Keith Duggan at the Ryder Cup 39:26

1M ago39:26

39:26

Fresh from the hostile grass arena of Bethpage, where supporters of the US Ryder Cup team spent the weekend abusing their European opponents, Washington correspondent Keith Duggan returns to the podcast to discuss the latest: Some commentators have tried to link the boorish behaviour of US golf fans to the ascendancy of Trumpism. Is that justified?…

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Presidential debate: who came out on top and who struggled? 17:16

1M ago17:16

17:16

Pat Leahy joins Hugh to talk about the first televised debate of the presidential campaign which took place on Virgin Media Television tonight. Independent Catherine Connolly, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin debated a range of issues and did their best to come across as plausible candidates. But who dominated, and who stru…

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Lea Ypi investigates a family mystery and hidden history 47:44

1M ago47:44

47:44

Hugh interviews Albanian academic and author Lea Ypi about her new book Indignity: A Life Reimagined. The book is an exploration of political, historical and philosophical themes through the story of Ypi's grandmother, Leman Ypi, who experienced Albania’s tumultuous 20th century, from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, through fascism, Nazism, com…

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And then there were three – the presidential candidates set off on the campaign trail 39:54

1M ago39:54

39:54

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin got their campaigns into full swing this week as they got out and about to meet voters and give their pitch ahead of voting day on October 25th. And while Connolly made headlines this week when she told a fire…

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Maria Steen falls at the final hurdle 37:32

1M ago37:32

37:32

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how independent candidate Maria Steen came close but ultimately failed to secure a nomination to run for the presidency. Why did the coalition that supported her take so long to decisively swing behind her? And what does it mean for the race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati…

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What our 'Charlie versus Garret' series got wrong - with Eoin O'Malley 49:59

2M ago49:59

49:59

Last year The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast released a three-part series looking back at the political rivalry between Charles Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald. That series helped to inspire DCU’s Eoin O’Malley as he set out to write a book on the same subject. Eoin talks to Hugh and Pat about the two men and what he wanted to add to the story: …

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Can Sheridan or Steen get a presidential nomination over the line? 54:25

2M ago54:25

54:25

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chance, needing two more local councils to back him. A report today looking at Sheridan’s business partner’s links with Russia may no…

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Charlie Kirk: A conservative's view on the fallout from a momentous crime 44:01

2M ago44:01

44:01

Hugh talks to Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer at National Review, about the murder of right wing activist and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk and the vociferous reaction that has exposed and deepened America's political divides. Michael talks about Kirk's significant influence on young conservatives, the media's portrayal of Kirk before…

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Leo Varadkar speaks his mind on reunification, Covid, Eoghan Murphy and Phil Hogan 1:00:48

2M ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Leo Varadkar's new memoir promises readers an insight into what the former taoiseach really thought about the monumental events - Covid, Brexit, the housing crisis - that he was centrally involved in. He talks to Hugh Linehan and Irish Times Britain and Ireland editor Mark Hennessy about the book and his life and times in politics. He explains why …

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Charlie Kirk shooting another example of escalating political violence in US 51:15

2M ago51:15

51:15

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The assassination of the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk on stage at a college campus in Utah on Wednesday is the latest chapter in America’s increasingly toxic political climate. A Donald Trump loyalist, Kirk was instrumental in mobilising yo…

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Kelleher's rousing speech isn't enough to overcome Micheál's man 43:07

2M ago43:07

43:07

The run-in to October’s presidential election continues to pick up pace this week with the selection of Jim Gavin as Fianna Fáil’s nominee. Jack Horgan-Jones brings us behind the scenes at Fianna Fáil’s special meeting where members had to choose between newcomer Gavin and party stalwart Billy Kelleher. Could the manoeuvring that took place around …

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Starmer's Labour in disarray as the UK's divisions deepen 39:42

2M ago39:42

39:42

Keir Starmer's Labour government seems to be in big trouble, with opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a dramatic reshaping of British electoral politics in favour of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner last week has shown yet more Labour weakness for Farage to eagerly exploit. It's all happening …

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It’s all systems go for this presidential election 52:23

2M ago52:23

52:23

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With polling day expected to be October 24th, nominations are now open for the office of president and to close on September 24th. Another date to keep in mind is next Tuesday September 9th which will see a vote among Fianna Fáil’s 71-strong parliamentary party…

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The broken UN, and Ireland's role: 'There's cynicism among member states towards our so-called neutrality' 41:38

2M ago41:38

41:38

The absence of a coherent international response to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine has raised questions about what used to be called the international rules-based order. Does it still exist at all, or has the reality of raw military and economic power trumped every other consideration? Against that backdrop, what role, if any, does the United Natio…

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Does the Presidency matter? Live at Electric Picnic 35:20

3M ago35:20

35:20

Today we bring you a recording of a live episode that took place yesterday in the Mindfield area of Electric Picnic. Hugh talked to Ellen Coyne, Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy about the meaning of the presidency, the prospects of all the potential candidates and the political calculations being made by the big parties as the race begins. Thanks to…

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Does Jim Gavin have what it takes for a presidential campaign? 43:20

3M ago43:20

43:20

Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · It seems highly likely that former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has the blessing of Taoiseach Micheál Martin to seek a nomination to contest the presidential election for Fianna Fáil. Cork MEP Billy Kelleher is also seeking support for a nomination throug…

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Are we still living in De Valera's Ireland? 46:26

3M ago46:26

46:26

Éamon De Valera died on August 29th, 1975. Fifty years on, the Ireland of today would hardly be recognisable to the revolutionary leader, taoiseach and president who famously extolled the simple virtues, comely maidens and frugal comforts of the traditional Ireland he wished to see. But in many ways, argues Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan …

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Heather Humphreys is the likely Fine Gael candidate, but Fianna Fáil are yet to show their hand in this presidential race 36:56

3M ago36:56

36:56

Harry McGee and Ellen Coyne look back on the week in politics: · The presidential race is the only show in town with Fine Gael recovering remarkably well from the news last week that Mairead McGuinness was dropping out for health reasons. Within days of that bombshell, Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly emerged as rivals for the party candidacy, but …

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Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting 44:24

3M ago44:24

44:24

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Monday’s summit at the White House with US president Donald Trump as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years and towards setting up a trilateral meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and Trump in the coming weeks. The meeting, attended by European leader…

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Crash, part three: Ireland hits rock bottom and politics changes forever 42:18

3M ago42:18

42:18

Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan bring the story of Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government to its conclusion. Following Cowen’s embarrassing appearance on Morning Ireland in late 2010, many in the country and within his own party gave up on him. For Cowen and Fianna Fáil, the writing was on the wall. But first, the country’s worsening fiscal situat…

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McGuinness's shock withdrawal throws the presidential race wide open 47:40

3M ago47:40

47:40

The surprise withdrawal from the presidential election race of Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness on health grounds has introduced even more uncertainty to an already unpredictable contest. On today's podcast Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to assess the state of the campaign. Who will Fine Gael choose to replace McGuinness on their ti…

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Crash, part two: austerity bites and Cowen’s Morning Ireland humiliation 58:29

3M ago58:29

58:29

In part two of a three-part series on Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan continue the story. After the fateful 2008 decision to bail out Ireland’s banks, Cowen and his Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan spent the next year struggling to shore up Ireland’s worsening finances. Throughout 2009 and 2010 the mood in…

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Crash, part one: Brian Cowen and the unravelling of Ireland 52:35

3M ago52:35

52:35

Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in 2008, just as Ireland’s economy was going into free-fall. For the next three years he struggled to lead the country through some of its darkest days, with public opinion quickly souring against him and Fianna Fáil. In a new three-part series from The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast, Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy loo…

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Is Dublin one of the most dangerous cities in Europe? No. 47:23

3M ago47:23

47:23

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Fox News and its standard of journalism were highlighted during an episode of The Will Cain Show this week that featured media commentator and author Douglas Murray talking about open borders migration. During the segment Murray claimed Dublin had gone from being on…

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What lessons does the Irish Boundary Commission hold for how borders are made – and unmade – in contested spaces? 52:04

3M ago52:04

52:04

In today’s episode, Hugh is joined by historian Dr Cormac Moore to discuss one of the most consequential but little-known episodes in modern Irish history: the Irish Boundary Commission. Based on Moore’s new book The Root of All Evil, the conversation explores the hopes, fraught negotiations, and ultimate anticlimax that defined the commission’s wo…

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Labour backs Connolly, and Flatley jumps the shark 50:26

4M ago50:26

50:26

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The Labour Party has backed Independent TD Catherine Connolly’s bid for the Áras. And there is little appetite in Sinn Féin for Mary Lou McDonald to run for president as party figures move closer to the idea of also backing Connolly. Elsewhere, presidenti…

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'Will we live to see a Taoiseach not in Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil?' More listener questions answered 35:12

4M ago35:12

35:12

It's part two of our summer Ask Me Anything, with the panel tackling questions sent to [email protected] by listeners. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac address topics from disapora voting rights to the lack of representation of migrant communities in Dáil Eireann, the meaning of populism and the efficiency of government spending. Host…

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'Why are there no pro-Israel voices in the Dáil?' Listener questions answered 33:43

4M ago33:43

33:43

It's summer holiday season and that means it's time to open the floor to questions from the Inside Politics audience. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac sift through the [email protected] inbox and pick out questions on the presidency, Gaza, the State's struggle to solve complex problems, and more. Thanks for listening to Inside Politic…

Another Europe Is Possible Podcasts