Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics - and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. Join us ...
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Persephonica Podcasts
Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast is for anyone who is not ready to give up on making the world a better place. For unrivalled conversations with decision makers, visionary thinkers and a community of like-minded climate optimists, join former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, political strategist Tom Rivett-Carnac and sustainable business consultant Paul Dickinson. Each week they make sense of all the top climate news stories, go behind the scenes at crucial talks and ensure you s ...
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Join friends since birth Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver twice a week for their transatlantic catch-ups, discussing everything from the highs and lows of their lives to the biggest cultural moments of the week. Every Monday, Lily and Miquita will throw the show open and invite questions on a theme; celebrity weddings, indie sleaze, orgasms, lies… Then on Thursdays, they’ll pick apart the world around them with unfiltered conversation on everything from intimacy to interiors, from exercise to e ...
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Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball lift the lid on the messy, everyday reality of trying to live well. Long-time friends and beloved broadcasters, they swap the studio for the sofa to catch up on everything going on in their lives — from homes and gardens to family life, health, ageing and music. New episodes every Monday and Wednesday on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Send your messages or voicenotes to: https://wa.me/447477038795 [email protected] Find us on social media @digitpod Dig It is ...
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This is the story of how two Heirs of Enslavement - Clive Lewis MP, a descendent of the enslaved, and Laura Trevelyan, of the enslaver - can come together to right the wrongs of the past. In this six-part series, Clive and Laura will travel to Grenada, Barbados, and back to London to delve into their shared history. They’ll be asking what people across the Caribbean and beyond want, how to find a way forward, and whether true reparatory justice can be achieved. New episode every Friday. Host ...
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What does it really take to become an elite Paralympian? To be the strongest, the fastest, the most fearless - to not just defy expectations, but shatter them entirely. In this new podcast, Paralympic silver medallist Matt “The Armless Archer” Stutzman and Olympic legend Michael Johnson interview 8 incredible Paralympians as they prepare for this summer’s Paralympic Games. This is a chance for listeners to get to know the elite athletes going for the medals, to invest in their journeys, and ...
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As billions around the world mark the beginning of a new year, many are pausing to ask the same questions: what do we carry forward, and what do we leave behind, as we cross from the old into the new? And as headlines fill with predictions about the rise of artificial intelligence, could a different kind of AI - ‘ancestral intelligence’ - offer ins…
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Lily Allen & Jade Thirlwall join Miquita Oliver & Jordan Stephens to reflect on where they’re at in life and love right now, and what’s next. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecuti…
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Bridget Phillipson on the two-child cap, Reform, and the deputy leadership
53:03
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53:03Education secretary Bridget Phillipson joins George Osborne on the podcast this week for a special conversation, giving him another sit down with a rising cabinet member after his interview with Wes Streeting in the summer. The pair talk about the challenges of entering government and whether Labour (or any party) still prioritises education, educa…
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50: Happy New Year from Dig It - Back on 2nd of Jan
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0:53here’s no full episode today, but Dig In returns on Friday 2nd January.By Persephonica
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51: DIG IN: Sex Cardigans, Sniffing Armpits, and Silencing Your Inner Critic
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32:41In the last Dig In of the year, no topic is off limits. We chat about Elphaba’s infamous sex cardigan, how to stay kind to yourself without chucking in the towel. Plus, we ask: has your child ever brought something into school that they definitely shouldn’t have? DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WIRES PODCAST FESTIVAL Our first ever Digit Live is happening a…
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Christmas EMQs: Who is the ultimate political traitor?
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40:09Pop the champagne, Ed and George are feeling Christmassy in the Political Currency studio, answering some very special questions. Claudia Winkleman asks who the ultimate political traitor is? Who do they pick for 2025… and of all time? Plus, our listeners ask Ed and George about the gifts they have bought for their loved ones - did George ever get …
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48: Dig In Special: Featuring Robbie Williams, Fearne Cotton & more
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31:30Robbie Williams kicks off with “hardest boyband member” chat, Rosie Ramsey calls in from a soft play hangover to talk hormone rage, and Scott Mills delivers an impossible Britpop dilemma. Plus: confidence tricks that actually work, what to watch next, and Dermot O’Leary’s plea for winter garden colour. Watch or listen now. DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WI…
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At a moment when the world feels noisier, faster, and more demanding than ever, what role can beauty play in helping us slow down, reconnect, and remember what matters? As the year draws to a close, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson step back from targets, timelines and political headwinds to explore how craft, design and th…
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We’ll be back on Boxing Day with a Dig In Special, featuring some well-known faces and voices bringing us their burning questions.By Persephonica
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Sir Ed Davey on his plan to take the fight to the far right
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48:18Can Sir Ed Davey really take the fight to the right when it comes to the next election? In this special episode of Political Currency, Ed Balls speaks to the Liberal Democrat leader - and his politician of the year from 2024. In this wide-ranging conversation, the two Eds talk about Ed Davey’s passion for care provision and his deeply personal conn…
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Lily Allen is back! She joins Miquita Oliver to answer your questions about success. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning Producer: Jake Willi…
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47: Martha Collison on Perfect Roasties and the Ultimate Christmas Gravy
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34:18We’re joined by the brilliant Martha Collison and we’re tackling the big stuff: perfect (and more importantly, easy) roast potatoes, gravy upgrades, and a gorgeous vegan centrepiece that never feels like an afterthought. GET SOME OF THE RECIPES MENTIONED https://digitpod.substack.com/p/christmas-cooking-with-martha-collison GET MARTHA’S LATEST BOOK…
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EMQs: What's your most embarrassing moment as a politician?
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27:00What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever had caught on camera? Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid asks George and Ed to walk down an excruciating memory lane. And she puts a question from ChatGPT to them, in light of George’s new gig. But which question is better? George reveals William Hague’s incredible method for making sure meetings run…
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How has 2025 changed the outlook for Britain’s political parties? George Osborne and Ed Balls reflect on the events that have defined public opinion and led to unprecedented changes in the polls. What went wrong for Keir Starmer’s government? Why does Kemi Badenoch’s leadership now look more stable? They also name what could potentially be the four…
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Follow The Money: Who’s driving climate disinformation?
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43:50At the very moment we need clarity and trust, information integrity is being polluted. Disinformation is profitable and the impact on truth is dangerous. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the discourse around climate. This week, Outrage + Optimism steps into the murky, fast-moving world of climate disinformation. Not simply misunderstanding and …
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens get festive and discuss when X Factor ruled Christmas and how Lily ruled SNL. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommis…
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46: Do We Really Give Fewer F**ks With Age?
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34:48It’s all kicking off in this week’s Dig It. Fashion really does come full circle… except those 90s jumpers are somehow much tighter than we remember. Jo and Zoe wonder whether we truly care less as we get older, or if we’re actually more consumed than ever with looking after parents, kids and everyone in between. Also, Jo once again lives out all o…
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Jo and Zoe are joined by Coco, India and Nelly for four rounds of proper Christmas trivia DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WIRES PODCAST FESTIVAL Our first ever Digit Live is happening at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on 5 July. Tickets available now and selling fast.... https://crossedwires.live/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with D…
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EMQs: What’s the hardest question you’ve had to answer?
35:08
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35:08George Osborne and Ed Balls reminisce on their most challenging interviewers…school children. George recalls being asked what seven times eight was, while Ed recounts misfires over school lunches. They also speculate on which Tory MP was glad to be sacked by Rishi Sunak… Elsewhere, they look at the peculiar case of the Canadian Conservatives where …
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Listen Bitch! It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times
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33:54Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about Great Christmas Expectations. Next week, we want to hear your questions about SUCCESS. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie Jam…
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Is the US turning its back on Europe?
1:01:59
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1:01:59What does the White House really think about Europe? George Osborne and Ed Balls take a look at President Trump’s new national strategy. George plays devil’s advocate for the plan, while Ed suggests that it could reveal JD Vance’s big strategy for 2028… They then turn to the US domestic agenda, and weigh up whether the Trump economy really is A+++.…
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Paris, 10 Years On - Has it Changed the World?
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49:05Ten years ago, a gavel dropped in a conference hall north of Paris. It was the moment the world agreed on a strategic plan for one of the most consequential transformations in human history. But, a decade later, what has the Paris Agreement truly delivered? Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson pull back the curtain on the momen…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens revisit Christmas movies, and talk about aging and flying reindeers. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning P…
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Spoiler alert: may contain mice destroying treasured advent calendars, teenagers issuing hostile birthday-party ultimatums, and a Proud Mum crying her way through a graduation. Also featuring: a shockingly effective Christmas wreath crafted from a humble potato. DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WIRES PODCAST FESTIVAL Our first ever Digit Live is happening at…
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43: DIG IN: Virginity Cake, Mug Wars, and Help for Thinning Hair
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34:02Jo and Zoe are back in the potting shed tackling everything from thinning hair to teenagers in love and the chaos of Christmas. Hair guru Michael Douglas shares calm, practical advice for midlife hair loss, while the girls swap stories about talking to teens about sex, virginity cakes and keeping communication open. DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WIRES POD…
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EMQs: Is it time to abolish the state pension triple lock?
34:41
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34:41Will any government be brave enough to abolish the triple lock on pensions? The cost-saving case has been made by many, but Ed Balls and George Osborne explain why it could be politically calamitous to try and ditch it. They debate William Hague’s theory that, were Rachel Reeves sacked, Keir Starmer would follow and look back at how chancellors and…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about hair. Next week, we want to hear your questions about Christmas Expectations. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTech…
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When will Labour’s communication catastrophe end?
54:16
54:16
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54:16The drama rages on, one week after Chancellor Rachel Reeves stood at the dispatch box to deliver her second Budget. Richard Hughes has resigned as OBR chair following the catastrophic budget leak and calls for Rachel Reeves to do the same have not let up. Ed Balls and George Osborne look at the “shambolic” fallout of the budget, and how Labour have…
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Jacinda Ardern and… Is It Time to Talk About Geoengineering?
47:59
47:59
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47:59This week, hosts Tom Rivett Carnac and Paul Dickinson delve into the rapidly emerging - and faintly surreal - world of solar geoengineering. Politico journalist Karl Mathiesen joins us to unpack his investigation into Stardust, a VC-backed startup claiming it’s ready to spray particles into the stratosphere. Karl explains why this technology is sud…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss memes, what makes them laugh, Christmas cards and trigger warnings. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissi…
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42: Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka SELF ESTEEM on Aging, Ambition and the Pressure to Perform
39:10
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39:10The brilliant Rebecca Lucy Taylor joins Jo and Zoe for a wide-open conversation about aging, ambition, burnout and the pressure to perform a version of yourself that isn’t always true. They chat about her new book A Complicated Woman, the wobble around turning 40, egg freezing, misogyny in music, and learning to slow down after years on the road. D…
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41: DIG IN: I Accidentally Sent My Dad a Filthy Text
30:28
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30:28Today, when do you finally stop letting your parents’ advice (and gentle nagging) steer your life? They also decode the delicate art of leaving a Hen Do WhatsApp without causing uproar. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It — new updates every Friday straight to your inbox. 👉 https://digitpod.substack.com/subscribe GET IN TOU…
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EMQs: How much power do chancellors have?
31:38
31:38
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31:38How many times did Gordon Brown save Tony Blair from a calamitous decision? Ed Balls and George Osborne recount the times chancellors stepped in to save their PM from disaster. Does George wish he'd done it a bit more with David Cameron? And why does the Opposition leader respond to the budget and not the shadow chancellor? Ed and George try to wor…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about anger. Next week, we want to hear your questions about HAIR. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: W…
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Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves abandoned growth?
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1:01:06
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1:01:06Does Rachel Reeves have a credible plan for growth? One day on from her Budget Statement, George Osborne and Ed Balls debate her headline measures and ask if she’s built enough of a narrative to save her job. Health Secretary Wes Streeting asks about two Osbornian policies: the sugar tax and two-child limit. How can Labour win the argument? They al…
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Kim Stanley Robinson on Pre Traumatic Imagination and the stories that change us
36:35
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36:35This week on Outrage + Optimism, we’re taking a breath. After two intense weeks of daily updates from COP30 in Belém, we’re returning to weekly programming with something different - a slower, deeper, more reflective conversation that felt too valuable to cut. While in the Blue Zone, we sat down with Kim Stanley Robinson, the acclaimed author of Th…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss friendship and lighting. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning Producer for BBC: Jake WilliamsCommis…
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Budget Hot Take: Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves saved herself? | LIVE reaction
36:53
36:53
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36:53After months of speculation, briefings and leaks, Rachel Reeves has finally delivered her fated second budget. Has she done enough to save herself, Keir Starmer, and the Labour government? In a special YouTube LIVE episode, Ed Balls and George Osborne give their immediate reaction to the Chancellor's budget. They dive into who the budget was for, t…
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40: Winter Wobbles Club and ‘The Sexiest Man Alive’?
36:24
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36:24It’s a lively one this week: Zoe’s just emerged from her birthday-weekend marathon of mates, kids and three birthday cakes, while Jo’s been off making memories and soaking up some much-needed girl time with her daughters. Meanwhile, Nemo continues his silent campaign of destruction. And if you’re already teetering on the edge of the Winter Wobbles,…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about seasonal clothing. Next week, we want to hear your questions about ANGER. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnica…
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39: DIG IN: Insomnia, Huge Nipples & Invisible Eyebrows
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32:15Jo and Zoe investigate the mysteries of sleepless nights, magnesium baths and the age-old question — does one armpit smell more than the other? There’s a hunt for invisible eyebrows, as well as teenage independence and a lively debate about when it’s actually acceptable to deck the halls. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It…
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EMQs: Is it time for a Tory/Labour truce?
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43:59With politics fraying and radical parties growing in strength, could the Tories and Labour come together and merge into a grand coalition of the centre? Surely George Osborne and Ed Balls have proven on this podcast that great things can happen when the two parties come together… And, as budget week looms, former Treasury civil servant Jill Rutter …
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Inside COP: The Final Hours of COP30 - and the road ahead
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37:49This is our final episode of Inside COP. For two weeks we’ve tried to bring you as close as possible to the heart of COP30 - the pace, the pressure, the progress, and the perspectives of those working inside and around the process. The closing plenary on Saturday began amid unexpected tension. Already running a day behind schedule, the Presidency m…
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Inside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue Zone
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38:16We recorded this episode across Friday afternoon and deep into the evening inside the Blue Zone at COP30. At the time of publishing, there is still no final deal. The negotiations are ongoing, positions are shifting, and the outcome remains uncertain. We know that by the time you listen, some of what we heard today may already have changed, but we …
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Inside COP: Friday Morning in Belém - what’s changed and why it matters
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15:40It’s Friday morning in Belém and COP30 is moving fast. After yesterday’s fire and the overnight closure of the venue, the Brazilian Presidency worked through the night and released a new draft text early this morning. It has immediately triggered significant pushback. In this emergency episode the team talks through what changed overnight, and why …
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Inside COP: Fire at COP30 - and the work still to be done
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12:45Today was not meant to be this episode. At around 2pm local time, a fire broke out near the country pavilions, triggering the full evacuation of the Blue Zone. As COP30 entered its final stretch, we’d planned to bring you an update on the negotiations, and to share some of the many extraordinary stories of progress and perseverance that surface her…
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Is Shabana Mahmood the heir to Blair?
1:11:46
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1:11:46A dramatic U-turn from Labour has stopped them from breaking their manifesto, but it has also left the Budget looking messy and wide open to risk. The expected income tax rise has been shelved in favour of what some insiders call a “smorgasbord” of smaller taxes. In this episode of Political Currency, Ed Balls and George Osborne dig into whether th…
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Inside COP: Storms in Belém - Lula’s arrival, the carbon tariff debate, and the COP31 decision
38:09
38:09
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38:09We’re approaching crunch time in Belém, and a long-running COP30 saga may finally have found its landing spot. After days of rumour, diplomacy and thunderous rainforest downpours, the question of who will host COP31 looks close to being resolved - and it all plays out over the course of our day’s recording. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith trace th…
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Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss private member’s clubs, sober confidence, and remember their friend Caroline Flack. This episode contains very strong language, adult themes, and upsetting scenes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExe…
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Inside COP: China, India… and the Text on the Table
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44:38It’s the middle of week two at COP30, and the negotiations are entering their crunch phase. A draft cover text has finally landed, ministers are on the ground, and the presidency is pushing hard to close before Lula heads to the G20 in Johannesburg. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith look at the issues still holding up progress - from finance and ada…
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