Sinopsis
LBC presenter Iain Dale and former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith untangle the world of politics and media. Expect plenty of jokey banter and informed speculation.
Episodios
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94. Jinping Me Sunshine
30/01/2026 Duración: 58minIain and Tessa talk Starmer in China, what Trump could do in Iran, Melania's new film and more!
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93. A Reformer Named Sue
27/01/2026 Duración: 01h02minIain and Tessa talk Suella Braverman defecting to Reform UK, Labour blocking Andy Burnham, ICE killing someone else in Minnesota, a little Polish history, police reform and more.
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92. Gone With The Wind Turbine
23/01/2026 Duración: 58minIain and Tessa talk Trump's U-turn on Greenland, his mistakes about Chinese wind, whether Brooklyn Beckham did the right thing, whether Tessa is too mean to Iain - and more!
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91. Tariff You Leave Me Now
20/01/2026 Duración: 59minWith Iain in London and Tessa in Madeira, our pair talk Trump vs Europe, Jenrick vs Badenoch and Harry vs the Mail, among other things!
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Introducing: Explosive Lies
17/01/2026 Duración: 02minWe've got a podcast we think you'll love: Explosive Lies - your next podcast binge. Jim McCormick was a cocky English salesman with an outrageous claim: a black plastic gadget that could sniff out bombs using “electromagnetic energy.” The science was pure fiction. But in the panic after 9/11, governments bought the lie - paying up to $60,000 for a device that started life as a $20 novelty golf-ball finder.McCormick sold hope to armies and security forces across the globe. But hope turned deadly. Behind the deals were fragmented friendships, betrayals, and a truth so dangerous it would take years to drag into the light.In this series, Alice Levine uncovers the jaw-dropping story of a con that likely cost countless lives - and the unlikely people who stopped at nothing to uncover the truth.All episodes available now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for 'Explosive Lies'.Explosive Lies is a Global Original podcast, produced by Forest Sounds in partnership with Dentsu Entertainment.
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90. Regime Changes
15/01/2026 Duración: 50minIain and Tessa debate whether the Iranian regime will fall, and what involvement Trump could have in that - as well as a bit of Iranian history to put it all in context! They also discuss the proposed new Chinese embassy in London, whether Labour MPs should stop worrying about their leader... and one of Iain's exes!
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89. Zahawi Ready?
13/01/2026 Duración: 48minTessa has the lurgy so Iain is joined by Aggie for this one! They discuss whether the West will get involved in Iran, ex Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defecting to Reform UK, whether we should listen to Peter Mandelson... and a mistake involving ABBA Voyage!
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88. Seize the Tanker
09/01/2026 Duración: 46minIain and Tessa are back to talk Trump's further threats to take Greenland (and the history behind it!), ICE shooting a woman in Minneapolis, Moldova's Maia Sandu and whether Labour is losing the young...
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87. It's Not Easy Being Greenland
06/01/2026 Duración: 59minIain and Tessa discuss President Trump capturing Venezuela's Maduro, whether he might invade Greenland, Brigitte Macron winning a cyberbullying case and which former newsreader's boots Tessa is wearing.
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86. Firework (and the EU flag)
02/01/2026 Duración: 49minIain and Tessa review the party leaders' new year messages, the government vs the ECHR on Shamima Begum, the fireworks and more!
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85. All I Want for Twixtmas Is You
30/12/2025 Duración: 46minIn this interesting limbo period between Christmas and the New Year, Iain and Tessa discuss their predictions for 2026, Trump's hopes for peace in Ukraine, Iain's views on newsreaders with regional accents and Tessa's Christmas reading (Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea, by Luka Ivan Jukic).
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84. Crackin' Around the Christmas Tree
26/12/2025 Duración: 59minIn this special festive episode we recorded earlier, Iain and Tessa give out some fabulous festive awards! There's also discussion about the history of the humble Christmas cracker... and the A11 (stick with it)!
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83. Never Ending Storeys
23/12/2025 Duración: 58minIain and Tessa are back together the day after Tessa's Christmas party at her (very tall) house! They discuss the big political and news events from history which have fallen around Christmas, comparisons between Trump and Nixon - and what happened to the bottle of champagne Iain bought Tessa for Christmas...Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.
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82. Blaise of Glory
19/12/2025 Duración: 58minIain and Tessa chat about the new chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli, whether Keir Starmer will face a leadership challenge in the new year, Bonnie Blue and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.
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81. My Sweet Lords
16/12/2025 Duración: 55minIain and Tessa discuss the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney and the heroism of fruit shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed, whether Keir Starmer should have given Reform UK at least one peer - and Tessa's school reunion.
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80. Mary's letter on a cross
12/12/2025 Duración: 01h02minIain and Tessa chat about David Lammy's idea to wipe childhood criminal record, Trump's seizing and Venezuelan oil tanker and Mary Queen of Scots Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.
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79. Monarchy in the UK
09/12/2025 Duración: 01h06minIn this special Q&A edition of the podcast, Iain and Tessa discuss who will be the PM in a year's time, whether there's public support for the Monarchy, stocking filler books from the worlds of politics and history - and more!
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78. Witkoff The Wall
05/12/2025 Duración: 54minIain and Tessa jostle and joust over political donations, the importance of state visits, why US peace envoy Steve Witkoff isn't winning Putin over - and dodgy pronunciations!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.
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77. OBR U Mine?
02/12/2025 Duración: 53minIain and Tessa chat about whether the government lied before the Budget, whether the BBC is censoring Rutger Bregman, what constitutes life's moral purpose... and Iain's trip to see Cliff Richard.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.
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76. If Books Could Kill
28/11/2025 Duración: 57minIain and Tessa talk the Budget (SPOILER: neither is impressed!), French military service, how our reading habits have changed and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepoliticsmeetshistory@global.com.