Politics Unpacked
by Times Radio
Is this your podcast?On the show
From 51 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Burnham Heads Further North
Oct 16, 2026
28m 32s
Zelensky Rallies His Allies
Oct 15, 2026
34m 18s
PMQs: Badenoch Accuses Burnham Of Putting His Foot In It
Oct 14, 2026
53m 47s
Why Everyone Is Talking About Brexit Again
Oct 13, 2026
29m 50s
Burnham's Brexit Claim Questioned
Oct 12, 2026
35m 52s
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Blended from 1 signal.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇬🇧United Kingdom · PoliticsHOME#248.4K to 52K
- 🇮🇩ID · Politics#35607 to 3.8K
- 🇹🇼TW · Politics#43196 to 1.2K
- 🇭🇰HK · Politics#31183 to 1.1K
- 🇿🇦ZA · Politics#47179 to 1.1K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
10K to 63K🎙 Daily cadence·1,000 episodes·Last published 3d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
34K to 211K🇬🇧82%🇮🇩6%🇹🇼2%+6 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
14K to 84K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/16/26 |  Burnham Heads Further North | Andy Burnham parks his tank on the SNP’s lawn, challenging John swinney to work with him on devolution - but is this an offer of cooperation, or is it mostly political fighting talk?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 28m 32s | ||||||
| 10/15/26 |  Zelensky Rallies His Allies | The Ukrainian President said he felt 'betrayed' by the US over the loss of access to Starlink. Andy Burnham has pledged to 'heal' the rift - but can he do so without American support? Hugo Rifkind is joined by Sarah Ditum and Andy Silvester to unpack the politics of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 34m 18s | ||||||
| 10/14/26 |  PMQs: Badenoch Accuses Burnham Of Putting His Foot In It | PMQs Unpacked is back after recess, as Kemi Badenoch presses Andy Burnham on Brexit and benefits - and asks whether he ever gets tired of putting his foot in his mouth.Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire and Ayesha Hazarika to unpack the exchanges from the Commons, live at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 53m 47s | ||||||
| 10/13/26 |  Why Everyone Is Talking About Brexit Again | Brexit is firmly back on the political agenda, but does anyone really mean it? And did Robert Jenrick really mean what he said about using ‘lethal force’ in the Channel?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 29m 50s | ||||||
| 10/12/26 |  Burnham's Brexit Claim Questioned | After Andy Burnham says said it's clear Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum, one of his ministers clarifies the Kremlin tried - but failed - to influence the vote. Has the PM been careless?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Seb Payne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 35m 52s | ||||||
| 10/9/26 |  Polanski's Battle To Remain Green Leader | Zack Polanski failed to take Holborn & St Pancras from Labour in the by-election - as criticism of his handling of a controversial Zionism policy continues, is he fighting for his survival?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 11s | ||||||
| 10/8/26 |  The Two-Party Fantasy | Labour and the Tories are feeling pretty good after party conference season - but is a return to two-party politics really on the cards, or are they kidding themselves?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Juliet Samuel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 33m 19s | ||||||
| 10/7/26 |  Kemi Badenoch’s Speech: What Did We Really Learn? | Kemi Badenoch has given her big speech at Tory conference, with a promise to scrap inheritance tax on family homes, and a warning that the country is running out of money.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the speech with Anna Mikhailova, Lara Spirit, Josh Glancy and Robert Colville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 14m 44s | ||||||
| 10/6/26 |  The Tory Conference Bubble | The Tories are in an upbeat mood at their party conference, but the polls are flat and plenty of seats are empty. Are they insulated from political reality? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 29m 40s | ||||||
| 10/5/26 |  Badenoch Channels Her Inner Thatcher | It’s the Conservative Party conference, and it’s all about what Kemi Badenoch is calling “Kemistry” - but why does the Tory obsession with Margaret Thatcher continue? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Seb Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 29m 41s | ||||||
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| 10/2/26 |  Polanski's Polling Problem | The Green Party has slipped in the polls since Andy Burnham became Labour leader. Is it a temporary setback, or does Zack Polanski have a bigger problem? And could a motion on Zionism risk alienating some of his supporters?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 29m 49s | ||||||
| 10/1/26 |  Andy Burnham Reopens Old Brexit Wounds | The prime minister has said a future Labour election manifesto could promise a new in-out referendum on the EU - but does Britain want to spend any more years debating Brexit? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Juliet Samuel and Alice Thomson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 28m 48s | ||||||
| 9/30/26 |  Old Labour Is Back | Andy Burnham's conference speech was bold - but was it, as some are claiming, the most left-wing speech by a prime minister since the 1970s? And does the PM mind if it is?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 31m 48s | ||||||
| 9/29/26 |  Labour's Harsh Winter Ahead | Andy Burnham wants to project a message of hope, but with rising costs, is the country - and the Labour Party - facing a challenging winter to come?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day at Labour Party conference with Janice Turner and Patrick Maguire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 37m 03s | ||||||
| 9/28/26 |  Burnham's Big Cheques | The chancellor says the money simply isn't there, but Andy Burnham began party conference with a big pledge on free adult social care in England. What are the hard choices needed to pay for it?Plus: Polling expert Sir John Curtice on how popular it would be with the public.Hugo unpacks the politics of the day live from Labour Party Conference in Liverpool with Noa Hoffman and Theo Bertram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 32m 35s | ||||||
| 9/25/26 |  Trump Flip-Flops On China | Donald Trump said the US and China had "never gotten along better" as he laid on a lavish banquet for Xi Jinping at the White House. Why is he rolling out the red carpet for his biggest rival?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Daisy McAndrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 29m 10s | ||||||
| 9/24/26 |  Blair Urges Burnham To Reverse Brexit | Tony Blair is flexing his muscles, telling Andy Burnham that Britain should rejoin the EU within a decade - without another referendum. Could Burnham put it in Labour’s next manifesto?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Ayesha Hazarika Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 59s | ||||||
| 9/23/26 |  Burnham Bows To Trump Over Chagos | Andy Burnham has agreed to review the Chagos deal after Donald Trump called it 'terrible' at their meeting in New York. But can it be renegotiated, or is it dead in the water?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 19s | ||||||
| 9/22/26 |  Trump, Danny Dyer & Dressing Like A Lib Dem | Andy Burnham is having his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the United Nations. But will Burnham’s past comments about the US president make for an awkward encounter?Plus, Danny Dyer's expletive-filled view on Andy Burnham and fashion tips for Liberal Democrats. Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Carol Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 35m 28s | ||||||
| 9/21/26 |  Ed Davey Fights Accusations of Irrelevance | Ed Davey is trying to re-energise the Liberal Democrats at the party’s conference in Brighton - but do his speeches reveal a party struggling to find a clear national message?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Timandra Harkness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 33s | ||||||
| 9/18/26 |  Stay-At-Home Burnham | While 'Never-Here-Keir' was accused of spending too much time abroad, Andy Burnham has preferred to host foreign leaders in the UK - and often away from Downing Street.Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 31m 06s | ||||||
| 9/17/26 |  Not Your Traditional Socialist Government | With the public finances under pressure, the unions meet John Healey and make a series of demands ahead of the Budget. Can Andy Burnham avoid the sense that he's running a 'traditional tax and spend socialist government'?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Andy Silvester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 32m 36s | ||||||
| 9/16/26 |  Trusting The Tech Broligarchy | Open AI boss Sam Altman says people are "right to be afraid" of artificial intelligence but that firms like his can be trusted to "do the right thing" - so should we rely on Silicon Valley to regulate itself?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and Robert Crampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 31m 17s | ||||||
| 9/15/26 |  Trump and the AI 'Hoax' | Donald Trump dismisses warnings about AI as a “hoax” by those who want to regulate the industry. But how worried should we be - and what happens if the president doesn’t take the threat seriously?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 35s | ||||||
| 9/14/26 |  Reform's Record-Breaking Donations | Reform UK is confident that the £72m in donations it received from two crypto-billionaires are legal, but could the government still change the law to force them to return the money?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Sonia Sodha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 33m 13s | ||||||
| 9/8/26 | politicsUS relations+3 | Charlotte IversJames Marriott | Times Radio | — | Andy BurnhamTrump+3 | — | 33m 27s | ||
| 9/7/26 | economypolitics+3 | Libby PurvesPatrick Kidd | Times Radio | — | John HealeyChancellor+4 | — | 35m 35s | ||
| 9/4/26 | political donationsReform UK+4 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | Reform UK | Birmingham | Reform UKpolitical donations+5 | — | 29m 38s | ||
| 9/3/26 | Channel crossingsUK-French relations+3 | Lara SpiritSarah Ditum | Times Radio | — | Andy BurnhamEmmanuel Macron+5 | — | 31m 24s | ||
| 9/2/26 | PMQspolitics+3 | Andy Burnham | The TimesThe Sunday Times+1 | — | PMQsAndy Burnham+4 | — | 47m 05s | ||
| 9/1/26 | politicsLabour Party+4 | Charlotte IversMatthew Parris | Labour PartyAcast | — | Andy BurnhamPrime Minister+7 | — | 33m 27s | ||
| 8/31/26 | reshuffleshadow cabinet+3 | Sebastian PayneLibby Purves | Times Radio | — | Kemi Badenochshadow cabinet+5 | — | 26m 57s | ||
| 8/28/26 | continuity governmenteconomic policies+3 | Sarah DitumMichael Binyon | Andy BurnhamKeir Starmer+2 | — | Andy BurnhamKeir Starmer+5 | — | 33m 56s | ||
| 8/27/26 | politicsLabour party+3 | Josh GlancyDaisy McAndrew | LabourTimes Radio | WalesWelsh | Andy BurnhamWales+6 | — | 35m 08s | ||
| 8/26/26 | sanctionsWest Bank settlements+3 | Alice ThomsonRobert Crampton | Labour partyAcast | West BankIsrael | Andy Burnhamsanctions+4 | — | 35m 15s | ||
| 7/21/26 | politicscabinet assembly+3 | Charlotte IversJames Marriott | Keir StarmerTimes Radio | — | Andy Burnhamcabinet+6 | — | 31m 54s | ||
| 7/20/26 | UK politicsPrime Minister+3 | Janice TurnerSeb Payne | Times Radio | UK | Andy BurnhamPrime Minister+5 | — | 25m 19s | ||
| 7/17/26 | Labour leadershippolitics+3 | Theo BertramAlys Denby | LabourTimes Radio | — | Andy BurnhamLabour leader+3 | — | 33m 09s | ||
| 7/16/26 | politicscabinet announcement+3 | Cindy YuMatthew Parris | Times Radio | — | Shabana MahmoodAndy Burnham+6 | — | 34m 23s | ||
| 7/15/26 | Prime Minister's QuestionsKeir Starmer+3 | Patrick MaguireLara Spirit | Times Radio | — | Keir StarmerPMQs+3 | — | 53m 13s | ||
| 7/14/26 | political safetycounterterrorism+4 | Charlotte IversJames Marriott | Reform UKTimes Radio+1 | — | politicianssafety+5 | — | 34m 23s | ||
| 7/13/26 | politicsgovernment plans+4 | Seb PayneJanice Turner | LabourTimes Radio | — | politicsAndy Burnham+5 | — | 34m 28s | ||
| 7/10/26 | political powerLabour party+3 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | LabourTimes Radio | — | Andy BurnhamCount Binface+7 | — | 30m 38s | ||
| 7/9/26 | Labour Partypolitical strategy+3 | Sarah DitumPatrick Kidd | LabourWhips' Office+2 | — | Andy BurnhamKeir Starmer+4 | — | 29m 42s | ||
| 7/8/26 | PMQspolitics+5 | Lara SpiritMatthew Syed | Reform UKTimes Radio | — | PMQsDavid Lammy+5 | — | 46m 19s | ||
| 6/12/26 | politicsKeir Starmer+3 | Michael BinyonAlys Denby | Times Radio | — | Keir StarmerJohn Healey+5 | — | 30m 25s | ||
| 6/11/26 | politicsmilitary funding+4 | Patrick MaguireAnna Mikhailova+2 | The TimesNew Statesman+1 | — | John HealeyKeir Starmer+5 | — | 38m 12s | ||
| 6/10/26 | PMQsdefence spending+3 | Patrick MaguireStefan Boscia | Times Radio | — | Keir StarmerKemi Badenoch+5 | — | 44m 52s | ||
| 6/9/26 | politicspublic opinion+3 | James MarriottCarol Lewis | Times Radio | — | politicspublic opinion+3 | — | 29m 07s | ||
| 6/8/26 | Keir Starmerpolitics+3 | Libby PurvesPatrick Kidd | Times RadioAcast | UK | Keir Starmerlegacy era+3 | — | 32m 19s | ||
| 6/5/26 | Labour leadershipby-election+4 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | LabourTimes Radio | — | Andy BurnhamKeir Starmer+4 | — | 31m 16s | ||
| 6/4/26 | politicsdivision+3 | Matthew ParrisCindy Yu | — | UK | Keir StarmerElon Musk+7 | — | 31m 38s | ||
| 6/3/26 | Prime Minister's Questionspolitical debate+4 | Patrick MaguireStefan Boscia+1 | Reform UKTimes Radio+1 | — | PMQsStarmer+7 | — | 44m 33s | ||
| 6/2/26 | Labour Partywelfare+4 | Charlotte IversJames Marriott | LabourTimes Radio+1 | — | Labour Partywelfare+4 | — | 34m 14s | ||
| 6/1/26 | trade unionspolitical support+4 | Libby PurvesPatrick Kidd | LabourReform UK | — | trade unionsLabour+5 | — | 34m 35s | ||
| 5/8/26 | British politicsLabour party+4 | Will LloydAlys Denby+2 | LabourReform UK+1 | — | British politicsLabour party+5 | — | 35m 44s | ||
| 5/7/26 | UK electionsLabour Party+4 | Sarah DitumMatthew Parris | Labour PartyConservatives | UK | Labour PartyConservatives+6 | — | 30m 57s | ||
| 5/6/26 | politicsGreen party+3 | Alice ThomsonRobert Crampton | Green partyTimes+1 | — | Zack PolanskiKemi Badenoch+3 | — | 31m 03s | ||
| 5/6/26 | local electionsLabour voters+4 | Tom Lubbock | JL PartnersLabour+1 | 2024 | Andy BurnhamKeir Starmer+6 | — | 23m 53s | ||
| 5/5/26 | Labour PartyKeir Starmer+4 | Charlotte IversJames Marriott | LabourKeir Starmer+1 | — | Labour MPsresignation date+7 | — | 31m 13s | ||
| 5/4/26 | Labour leadershippolitical speculation+3 | Carol LewisSebastian Payne | Times RadioAcast | — | Labour PartyKeir Starmer+3 | — | 32m 48s | ||
| 5/1/26 | terror threatpublic safety+3 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | Metropolitan Police | Palestine | terror threatpublic safety+3 | — | 30m 40s | ||
| 5/1/26 | local electionsvoter behavior+4 | James Johnson | JL PartnersLabour+3 | — | Reform UKlocal elections+5 | — | 24m 56s | ||
| 4/30/26 | antisemitismpolitics+3 | Sarah DitumMatthew Syed | Britain’s Jewish community | — | antisemitismpolitics+3 | — | 23m 32s | ||
| 4/29/26 | PMQslocal elections+3 | Tim ShipmanPatrick Maguire | — | — | PMQsKemi Badenoch+5 | — | 45m 30s | ||
| 4/28/26 | Commons committeePeter Mandelson+4 | Tom McTagueOllie Cole | Commons committeePeter Mandelson+1 | — | Commons committeePeter Mandelson+5 | — | 12m 07s | ||
| 4/27/26 | politicsLabour Party+4 | Libby PurvesSebastian Payne | Times Radio | — | Keir StarmerPeter Mandelson+5 | — | 32m 35s | ||
| 4/24/26 | US-UK relationsFalkland Islands+3 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | Acast | BritainUS+1 | TrumpFalklands+4 | — | 30m 25s | ||
| 4/23/26 | Donald Trumppolitics+4 | Matthew ParrisCindy Yu | Times Radio | IranUS | Donald TrumpMatthew Parris+6 | — | 32m 36s | ||
| 4/23/26 | local electionsConservative Party+4 | Tom Lubbock | JL PartnersReform UK | England | Torieslocal elections+5 | — | 26m 25s | ||
| 4/22/26 | PMQspolitical scandal+4 | Ed VaizeyFraser Nelson | Times Radio | — | PMQspolitics+5 | — | 44m 02s | ||
| 4/21/26 | politicsgovernment+3 | Ollie ColeCharlotte Ivers+1 | No.10Foreign Office+1 | — | Olly RobbinsKeir Starmer+5 | — | 26m 12s | ||
| 4/20/26 | politicsKeir Starmer+4 | Seb PayneLibby Purves | civil serviceTimes Radio | — | Keir StarmerPeter Mandelson+4 | — | 34m 40s | ||
| 4/17/26 | political crisissecurity vetting+4 | Alys DenbyMichael Binyon | Times Radio | — | Keir StarmerPeter Mandelson+6 | — | 29m 01s | ||
| 4/16/26 | food shortagesgovernment crisis drill+3 | Josh GlancyDaisy McAndrew | Times Radio | UKIran+1 | UKfood shortages+5 | — | 31m 00s | ||
| 4/15/26 | PMQsdefence spending+3 | Patrick MaguireAndrew Maxwell | Times RadioAcast | — | PMQsKemi Badenoch+5 | — | 44m 41s | ||
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Chart history for Politics Unpacked
Peaked at #24 in United Kingdom, currently #24 in United Kingdom.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | — | #24 | #24 | — |
| HK | — | #31 | #31 | — |
| ID | — | #35 | #35 | — |
| TW | — | #43 | #43 | — |
| South Africa | — | #47 | #47 | — |
| United Kingdom | — | #58 | #58 | — |
| IS | — | #76 | #76 | — |
| SG | — | #84 | #84 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #99 | #99 | — |
| SA | — | #102 | #102 | — |
| Ireland | — | #126 | #126 | — |
| PH | — | #128 | #128 | — |
| KE | — | #137 | #137 | — |
| GR | — | #144 | #144 | — |
| AE | — | #145 | #145 | — |
| NG | — | #147 | #147 | — |
| HK | — | #151 | #151 | — |
| TH | — | #151 | #151 | — |
| VN | — | #153 | #153 | — |
| Australia | — | #154 | #154 | — |
Chart Positions
23 placements across 19 markets.
Chart Positions
23 placements across 19 markets.