The Times Red Box Podcast

Ahead of local elections Matt Chorley is joined by Hannah Al-Othman who is News Reporter for the Sunday Times based in Manchester,Scottish Political Editor at The Times Kieran Andrews, Sam Cook who is a Presenter at Cardiff TVand Grainne Mckinney Senior Broadcast Journalist at u105 Belfast to get the news form the 4 corners of the UKPLUSTimes columnist Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two days out from the local elections, Matt Chorley is joined by former Number 10 pollster James Johnson to convene the Times Radio focus group, this month with SNP voters. PLUSTimes columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As campaigning for the local elections hots up, Matt Chorley looks at some of the most iconic political stunts, from the the Mirror Chicken to Dave the Chameleon and speaks to the brains behind the photos. PLUSTimes columnists Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester discuss the day's news  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the US mission to capture al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which resulted in his death. Matt Chorley speaks to Times War Correspondent Antony Loyd, former Foreign Secretary William Hague, former British Army Colonel Simon Diggins, and US foreign policy expert Julie Norman about the impact his death had on the region. PLUSSunday Times columnist India Knight and The Atlantic's Tom McTague discuss the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnists Alice Thomson and Rosamund Urwin pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Redbox Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales for the 20th anniversary of the site, and asks him why he isn't a tech billionaire. PLUSTimes columnists David Aaronovitch and Daniel Finkelstein discuss the chatty rat and No.10's refurb woes.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do protests make a difference? Luke Jones is joined by General Secretary of CND Kate Hudson, organiser of the Women's March Dr Sholu Moss-Shogbamimu, Anna Birley from Reclaim These Streets and climate activist Noga Levy Rapaport to talk about whether protesting actually makes any political difference. PLUS Times columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the ongoing Number 10 leak saga.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After 10 years of the Office for National Statistics measuring the nation's life satisfaction, Matt Chorley asks the happiness tsar Lord Layard what the government should do to make us happier.PLUS: Knight at the Marriott: India Knight and James Marriott on why we are so judgy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Times columnist Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton pick over the day's news, then Matt Chorley and Redbox Editor Patrick Maguire pause the action at Prime Minister's Questions to explain the Commons exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As two films focus on the 1960s political group, Matt Chorley speaks to the Black Panthers' photographer Stephen Shames about how the organisation was born, and how many racial injustices still exist today.PLUS: Finkelvitch - Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch on the politics of sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

20 years since Robin Cook's "chicken tikka masala" speech, Matt Chorley is joined by food historians Dr Rachel Rich from Leeds Beckett University and Dr Lisa Smith from University of Essex for a trip down memory lane, from John Gummer’s burger and David Cameron’s pasty, to Liz Truss’s cheese and Ed Miliband’s bacon sandwich.PLUS: Libberachi - Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing down later this year, and her party, the Christian Democratic Union, are choosing her successor. Matt Chorley speaks to CDU MEP David McAllister, former Conservative Europe Minister David Lidigton and journalist Katrin Pribyl about the candidates and what it will mean for Germany's relationship with Britain. PLUSColumnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss lobbying and contrarianism.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman pause the action to explain what's going on at Prime Minister's Questions.PLUSColumnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss lobbying and supporting women in the workplace.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An inquiry into the government's handling of Coronavirus seems inevitable; Matt Chorley is joined by the chair of the inquiry into Bloody Sunday Lord Saville and expert inquiry lawyer Peter Jones to discuss in the ins and outs of holding an inquiry, and how long the one into Covid might take. PLUSTimes Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch remember Shirley Williams.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pubs are back open in England and Matt Chorley is live from the Ship Tavern in London, where he speaks to landlords from across the country including Tim Martin from Wetherspoons, Jack Stein and [insert names of other landlords here from script].PLUSTimes columnists Rachel Sylvester and Libby Purves discuss the day’s news.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to Sir Alan Duncan on his new memoir In The Thick Of It about life as an MP and foreign minister. Plus our columnists India Knight and James Marriott on Astrazeneca vaccine confidence and their favourite diary entries.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley and he speaks to the UK's National Statistician Professor Sir Ian Diamond on why data is key. Plus Robert Crampton and Rosamund Urwin on vaccine passports and female billionaires. And the incredible life of Dr Ike McKinnon, the former Detroit Police chief on the Chauvin trial.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks t Lord Heseltine and Akash Paun from the Institute Government on the power of mayors and devolution.Plus Danny Finklestein and David Aaronovitch on Boris Johnsons roadmap  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to; Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Prison Reform, former prisoner Andrew Morris and the national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association Mark Fairhurst on how prisons have been during the pandemic.PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester give their take on the day's news.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final instalment of Prime Ministers Week, Matt Chorley looks to the future, and convenes the Times Radio focus group to find out swing voters in Red Wall seats think of Keir Starmer's chances of becoming PM. PLUS:Times columnists India Knight and James Marriott discuss the day's news, and the war on human nature.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.