Politics Weekly

It’s been a tough week for Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer as the public vote in local elections on Thursday. With the cloud of beergate hanging over Starmer, and sex scandals and the cost of living crisis affecting Johnson, John Harris is joined by Guardian columnist Rafael Behr and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha to talk about how this all creates deep distrust between the public and politicians. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

With a week to go until the local elections, John Harris goes to Britain’s self-styled Ocean City, which is politically split 50:50 and voted for Brexit. How angry are people about Partygate? How bad is the cost of living crisis? And as the Tories flounder, are voters interested in what Labour has to offer?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

This week Boris Johnson has apologised again for breaking his own Covid lockdown rules while his home secretary, Priti Patel, has been heavily criticised over the legality of her plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff stands in for John Harris, and asks what happens when ministers no longer seem afraid to push the boundaries of the law? Gaby is joined by Guardian parliamentary sketch writer John Crace and Dr Hannah White, deputy director of the Institute for Government and author of Held in Contempt. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

On Tuesday Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were fined by the Metropolitan police for breaching lockdown rules. But neither have resigned. John Harris is joined by the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and the former special adviser Salma Shah to talk about how damaging this is for the PM, his party and the country. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

In a week when the Metropolitan police fined the former Cabinet Office’s director of ethics for attending a lockdown party, and Tory MP David Warburton faces allegations of sexual harassment and cocaine use, John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s Zoe Williams, and Miatta Fahnbulleh from the New Economics Foundation to talk about the return of a perception of sleaze and excess in the party. Plus, as Rishi Sunak’s popularity plunges after the spring statement, Miatta, who knows him personally, gives insight into where he has gone wrong.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To hear the full episode, be sure to search for and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. During the Senate confirmation hearings for Joe Biden’s nomination for supreme court justice, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was repeatedly asked about an unfounded claim that originated in the QAnon community. Joan E Greve and Alex Kaplan of Media Matters look at why some in the GOP are turning to a far-right extremist group for attack lines. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Boris Johnson is again defending himself against allegations he lied about lockdown parties in Downing Street. Guardian journalist John Harris speaks to columnist Gaby Hinsliff and political correspondent Peter Walker about how damaging this is for Boris Johnson within the Tory party and with the public, and asks why Labour doesn’t seem to be capitalising on the government being mired in scandal again. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To hear the full episode, be sure to search for and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. Florida’s governor seems to relish addressing whatever culture war is raging. He might have learned a thing or two from his former backer, Donald Trump. If the polls are right, the two might end up fighting against each other in the Republican primaries for the 2024 presidential election. So who is DeSantis, and what are his chances? Jonathan Freedland speaks to Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald and Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics to learn more about him.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

On the day of Rishi Sunak’s spring statement, Robin Burgess from the Hope Centre in Northampton tells Guardian political columnist John Harris just how desperate the cost of living situation is. John is also joined by Miatta Fahnbulleh, the chief executive of the New Economics Foundation, and David Gauke, former chief secretary to the Treasury, to discuss why the Tories seem resistant to helping those most in need. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To continue listening to Jonathan Freedland’s analysis of what’s happening in Washington and beyond, be sure to like and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, who has chosen to not to run again this November. She shares her thoughts on the war in Ukraine, why she chose to leave office, and who in the Republican party worries her the most for 2024.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Ukrainian MP Kira Rudyk, in Kyiv, tells Guardian political columnist John Harris how she and her fellow MPs are running the country despite escalating Russian aggression. John is then joined by the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, and Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, to discuss Nato and the Russian nuclear threat. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To continue listening to Jonathan Freedland’s analysis of what’s happening in Washington and beyond, be sure to like and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Dr Shadi Hamid about why Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark thought for anti-imperialists who question American power.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Guardian political columnist John Harris is joined by Guardian columnists Rafael Behr and Zoe Williams to discuss the growing refugee crisis – more than 2 million people have now fled Ukraine – and the government’s ban on Russian oil imports. What could this mean for net zero targets?To listen to Jonathan Freedland’s podcast Politics Weekly America, search ‘Politics Weekly America’ on Apple, Spotify, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To continue listening to Jonathan Freedland’s analysis of what’s happening in Washington and beyond, be sure to like and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. Retired Lt Col Alexander Vindman testified in front of Congress that he heard Donald Trump ask President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens. Trump was later impeached, and Vindman vilified by Republicans. In a week that saw President Biden give his State of the Union address, and Russia continue its invasion of Ukraine, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Vindman about his thoughts on how this war is informing the actions of American lawmakers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Guardian political columnist John Harris is joined by senior correspondent Luke Harding, in Lviv, Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and Salma Shah, special adviser to Sajid Javid when he was home secretary, to discuss Ukraine and Britain’s response. To listen to Jonathan Freedland’s podcast Politics Weekly America, search ‘Politics Weekly America’ on Apple, Spotify, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

To continue listening to Jonathan Freedland’s analysis of what’s happening in Washington and beyond, be sure to like and subscribe to Politics Weekly America wherever you get your podcasts. This week, as Russia invades Ukraine, Jonathan speaks to the former US ambassador to Nato, Ivo Daalder. The pair discuss why sanctions imposed on Putin by the west are probably too late for Ukraine. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris is joined by Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, and the Guardian columnist Zoe Williams to talk about Vladimir Putin’s shocking decision to invade Ukraine and its implications for British politics. To hear Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland and former US ambassador to Nato Ivo Daalder talking about Joe Biden’s response, search ‘ Politics Weekly America’ wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian political columnist John Harris hosts a cast of voices from across the country and political spectrum to analyse the week’s political news. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

As scepticism continues over Russia’s claims it has withdrawn troops from the Ukrainian border, Joan E Greve speaks to congressman Tom Malinowski of New Jersey, who was in Ukraine a couple of weeks ago. He shares his thoughts on the Biden administration’s approach so far. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

In the final episode hosted by the Guardian’s lobby team, Jessica Elgot and Aubrey Allegretti look at how the government is responding to the Ukraine crisis, and a criminal investigation into Downing Street parties. Jess is then joined by Heather Stewart and John Crace to look back at a wild few years in UK politics. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod