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Corbyn! Trump! Brexit! Politics has never been more unpredictable, more alarming or more interesting. TALKING POLITICS is the podcast that will try to make sense of it all. Each Thursday, in Cambridge, David Runciman will talk to the most interesting people around: novelists, comedians, historians, philosophers - and even a few politicians - and ask them what they think is going on... Democracy is feeling the strain everywhere. What might happen next? How bad could it get? As the crazy stuff happens, TALKING POLITICS will be on it. It’s the political conversation everyone is having: please join us.

Apple Podcasts: Customer Reviews

American Histories - Final Episode

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wiseowl7
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2020-01-09
Thank you for this episode - brilliant insight & had to listen to it twice to understand it & so well worth it

Excellent UK focused politics podcast with some international condiments

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curium
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2020-01-06
Really great discussion on a wide range of contemporary and historical topics that help place current events in context.
Can't recommend enough. The podcast is rapidly becoming the choice medium for people who don't just want to be informed about what's happening but also want to understand why and the potential consequences.
Keep it up!

Top-notch

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robcuz
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2020-01-02
Brilliant deep-dive every week by David and Helen, really trying to get under the skin of a topic without any of the political point scoring of the programmes that involve journalists, pundits and politicos. I also enjoy the mix of topics from analysis of the latest British political developments to a discussion of the theory behind Plato’s Republic. Keep up the good work!

Best Politics Podcast

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K Pilly
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2019-12-26
I’ve learned so much from this podcast- excellent for putting the chaos of 2019 politics in context.

My favourite podcast

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J. Lucia
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2019-12-19
Runciman & co have fantastic knowledge and deep understanding of constitutional questions that provides real added value over just reading the news. This podcast stands head and shoulders over other news podcasts that just rely on anecdotal knowledge and gossip retold by has-been politicos.

Great podcasts for current affairs and history of politics

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simoneHack
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2019-12-16
Can’t recommend it enough

Interesting analysis on a variety of politics, economics etc topics

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Cortex9
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2019-12-15
But please consider helping (if possible) :
One of your male guests breathing rhythm while talking, it feels like he is going to suffocate or yawn. It's not very pleasant to listen to.
There are people that can help him first breath properly and also help him with speaking on the radio/podcasts,instead of saying everything in one go..Not sure how these specialists are called but it would definitely help. Good luck

Well worth a listen.

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Ken WV
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2019-11-22
I saw David present at an evening event recently to promote his new book. This led me to start listening to this podcast series, now subscribed, highly recommended.

Adverts

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podnight
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2019-11-21
I can’t listen to this anymore because the adverts are so loud.

Excellent podcasts

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Scouse1960
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2019-11-08
I can readily understand why Esther Duflo won a Nobel Prize, wonderful understanding of human societies

You always learn from it

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johnnyfivestayalive
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2019-10-31
By far my favourite podcast and truly indispensable for understanding, reason and humour

Analysis

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@RBW
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2019-10-24
Excellent detailed analysis. No egos, no quips just straight detailed discussion. The stand out Brexit podcast in this regard.

The Best

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ipaul321
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2019-10-18
Informed, intelligent and interesting. Great host who listens well and steers debate gently with warmth and curiosity. Try it!

Intelligent & comprehensible

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*??!!
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2019-10-04
When it comes to contemporary politics, this podcast helps you to understand how to think about the state we’re in. Having listened to this podcast a little too exclusively, I tried a few others to get a balance.. and found them lacking.

Required listening!

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CastelloHouse
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2019-10-01
Far and away the most intelligent discussion on current political events available on public media.

Lefty Remoaner Bilge

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obafgkmn
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2019-09-30
yawn

Informative and unbiased

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scubashaun1
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2019-09-28
Excellent, sensible voices through dark times

Interesting and accessible

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crozzaxo
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2019-09-28
Love the way they break down complicated current events in a way that even a dummy like me can understand by far my favourite podcast

The best politics podcast out there...

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LeedsIrish
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2019-09-28
...bar none. Wise, considered, informed and above all non-partisan. In a political world gone utterly mad, a small voice of sanity and reason.

Dispassionate, thoughtful and original

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Marklawrence33
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2019-09-27
Always worth turning to during the Brexit saga for cool and original analysis, but clearly differering underlying views on this issue. Leave and Remain CAN argue with civility, thoughtfulness and flexibility.

😍Helen😍

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Jmennis
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2019-09-27
Just sharing some love for Helen. Recently I went on a date with someone and nearly fell in love with him because he said he was once supervised by Helen. Thank you for all the extra episodes!!

European Union

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nicwg
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2019-08-26
A strung together list of historical unions largely aimed at undermining the core fundamentals of the modern EU.
These podcasts are veering off it to quasi populist territory. As an issues that’s fine. As a theme, it is not!

Just a brilliant podcast.

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Brail21
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2019-06-13
High brow but for everyone. Easy to listen to. No complaints at all

Best British politics podcast

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noodledoodle
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2019-06-05
This is pretty much my favourite podcast (I listen to a lot of podcasts). Fantastic range of topics and unparalleled analysis. If you like political theory, economics, modern history or international relations you'll love this.

White people talk establishment politics

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dirtyfoucault
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2019-05-21
Sometimes fascinating, usually worth a listen. But don’t be fooled by the pretence of academic objectivity and analytic distance. The podcast entrenches establishment political thinking, centre-right biases frequently foaming to the surface. Just listen to any discussion of Brexit, May, Labour, Corbyn etc.
To some extent, bias is in the ear of the beholder. Undeniable though is TP’s diversity problem. For example, it might just be the whitest podcast around. BAME academics and political thinkers rarely get a look in. I suppose there’s nothing more political than who we allow to ‘talk’ politics. It just makes for a rather narrow listening experience.

Brilliant

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RWorth62
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2019-05-05
Just an excellent set of well balanced intelligent political debates

Liquid Oxygen

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StephanieT888
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2019-05-03
This podcast series has totally reinvigorated my love of politics. David Runciman’s insight is an absolute tonic, giving the listener a greater understanding and dept of knowledge. Runciman and guests fit the pieces of the jigsaw to show the big picture. I was going to say it’s a breath of fresh air, in reality it’s liquid oxygen. And breathe...

Like no other

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rdauster
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2019-04-30
Deeply insightful. Every episode is a must- listen; some are worthy of multiple listens.

Superb

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Mid East Expat
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2019-04-20
Absolutely the best political podcast!

Best Politics Podcast

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VeganKim
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2019-04-19
Talking Politics @TPpodcast_ is among my top five favourite podcasts. Intelligent debate. Interesting arguments. Insightful thinking. (Great alliteration there.) Highly recommended if you want to understand what's going on politically.

Insightful and analytical

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luketoot
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2019-04-08
Highgly recommended for: Considered and informed analysis of the big picture (both bredth and historical depth) of current UK, EU and Global politics.
With so much spin, fluff and idologically entrenched (especially during Brexit) discussion, it's refreshing and eye opening to have broad, intelligent and open discussion of our current political crises.

Unmatched

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Estelle China
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2019-04-03
This podcast surely should win awards. It provides unbiased intelligent commentary. I love it so much... my poor suffering other half is a little fed up with me telling him about what Helen Thompson (is is) said this week... :-)

Fabulous

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Field Marshal Keith 1696-1758
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2019-04-01
Brilliant weekly political insights from a panel of senior political scientists at Cambridge University.

A regular highlight of my week

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James Evans 1990
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2019-03-24
The best political podcast available, bar none. Absolutely brilliant to listen to every week.

Great insights delivered really well

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Karlwilding
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2019-03-24
This has rapidly become one of my favourite podcasts. I love that they discuss big, challenging topics and take their time to do that. It’s a perfect podcast to listen to when going for a run because it needs your attention. Much as I love Twitter, this is the perfect antidote.

Great Pod; wide ranging and incisive

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Scarlet_Shoulder
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2019-03-19
The host (and guests!) have a nice way of dissecting complex issues into manageable, understandable logic. Helps idiots like me to understand:-)

A must listen

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martin k harvey
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2019-03-19
A podcast which shines an analytical light on what appear to be unfathomable problems.

The best podcast on politics there is

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Bill Chidley
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2019-03-03
No further explication necessary.

Often great but...

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Jamie43704768
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2019-03-02
My favourite podcast but could be more consistently good:
1) Helen should be on every episode. She has a unique perspective and everything she says is interesting. Also Adam Tooze and Stephen Bush should be on as often as possible.
2) Too much Trump, Brexit and whatever was in the news that week. Not enough India, Italy, Germany, China, international finance, the EU... The podcast is at its best when it covers v important topics / countries that are often ignored and goes into the history/context.
3) Too many centre-left academics and novelists spouting conventional wisdom and saying they cried when they heard trump was elected. You can get this on the Guardian podcast or a million other podcasts. It’s not super interesting.

Brilliant

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Richard0
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2019-01-31
The best of all the politics podcasts

Every Toze tells a story.

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New Hickory
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2019-01-23
First off. This is an excellent podcast, both in terms of production, but much more importantly content. The host and regular contributors are thoughtful and engaging public intellectuals, with views that are always succinctly and persuasively argued.
So, why the score? Well, because I was rendered almost speechless by the smug self-serving, self-pitying tripe offered-up by this weeks guest - Adam Toze. I bought and thoroughly enjoyed his history of the Nazi economy. I was considerably less impressed with his anaemic treatment of the 2007 Crash, but that was nothing compared to his whimpering, shallow and self-serving analysis of Brexit. If you were in need of a demonstration of why so many lower middle class Britons voted the they they did, look, or rather listen no further than this. A man who is the epitome of an uber entitled, rootless cosmopolitan class, chastising the idiots ‘below’ him and insinuating that their actions were some how a precursor to some re-run of the 1930’s. All because a voting majority in the UK finally had the opportunity to make clear their unqualified rejection of European federalism, and in the process reassert the primacy of their own democratic institutions!
Jesus, you have to ask what is the purpose of a podcast ‘on’ matters political that so completely subverts the central thesis of the demos?

Essential

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aidandw
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2019-01-17
Best podcast I have found in years. I am tired of mainstream political coverage, the infantilism of question time, the tribalism of print media. Talking Politics has filled the political void in my life. The coverage of global politics is particularly impressive, have a listen to the episode on Italian politics, or the totally brilliant episode with Adam Tooze.

Keeps me sane

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PaulSh51
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2019-01-17
The wonderful David Runciman and team provide clarity and sanity in the increasingly unhinged world of British Politics. Thanks guys.

The best political podcast I've found..

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sallysally15
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2019-01-14
excellent commentary and analysis on the issues of today - also informed by history and always explained clearly.. I understand and learn about complex issues.. thanks!

Great all round podcast

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Ruzi G
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2019-01-11
Well informed and well thought out podcast. I listened to some of their earlier podcasts to gauge how their thoughts aligned with reality and most of their then-assertions came out to be correct. I especially love the guides that they produce.
Definitely within my top 3 podcasts and would highly recommend to anyone!

Talking Politics

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Oiseau19
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2019-01-01
Best informed analytical discussion about global politics today and what it means for our future.

this podcast will make you love politics

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Godfrey63
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2018-12-29
I’m ashamed to admit that I have spent most of my life not really keeping up with the politics of this country or indeed that of the world. This podcast had changed all that and has made me much more aware ( and angry) of what’s going on. Unlike the Briefing Room, it is not a primer- you have to work hard to keep up. But the benefits of doing so are huge and the main presenter, David Runcimann, is fantastic- clear thinking, witty and eloquent.

Please hire an audio engineer!

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Waldo Jeffers 2011
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2018-12-27
Great podcast but please sort out the audio post production! The dynamic range (especially between adverts and the discussions) is massive and makes this almost unlistenable in a louder car.

The Best Politics WebCast

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Rupert Hacker
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2018-12-23
Excellent pod cast. Insightful and stimulating discussion that provides a perspective on current politics.