Show Notes
It was a hole-in-one for the republican cause – the US president using a trip to his golf course in County Clare to lend his weight to the fight for a united Ireland. The timing couldn’t have been better for the first ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as they met to discuss further cooperation in the campaign for independence. But despite Donald Trump’s insistence that he would “love to see” a united Ireland – even if that means the break-up of the United Kingdom – Westminster should not worry just yet. Niall Paterson has been speaking to Sky’s Ireland correspondent, Stephen Murphy, about why there is not as much of an appetite on either side of the Irish border for reunification as you might expect. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]
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Winter is coming. So, a decision to finally allow drilling at the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea should be welcome. Well, not by environmental campaigners – who've accused the government of backtracking on its net zero commitments. And even supporters of North Sea expansion have admitted opening Jackdaw won’t reduce energy bills, even though it could start helping to supply homes within months. Why, then, has Andy Burnham invested so much political capital in giving the go-ahead? Gareth Barlow is joined by Sky’s science and technology editor Tom Clarke and business correspondent Paul Kelso. Have you got a question for the show? Email us: [email protected]
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Violent clashes, burning buildings, widespread looting and thousands of arrests. Even for France, the scale of the current protests across the country is extreme. What started off as student demonstrations, highlighting issues like a lack of staff and equipment in schools, has grown into a much bigger movement – which the government admits it’s struggling to contain. But France isn’t the only country where the young are protesting. Students in Albania, Italy, Spain and Portugal have also clashed with authorities. So, what’s caused such a huge disconnect between the state and young people across the continent? Gareth Barlow speaks to French journalist Catherine Guilyardi, who lives in Paris and witnessed the violence over the weekend. Have you got a question for the podcast? Email us: [email protected]
Surely, the first rule of being a press secretary is never to be the story. But it took Donald Trump's newest spokesperson just 14 minutes to put herself very much front and centre. That was how long Katie Zacharia's first - and only - White House briefing lasted. Now, the president has asked her to consider her position less than a week into the job, leaving her little choice but to stand down. Plucked from a role as a TV talking head, Zacharia had been trusted to replace Karoline Leavitt as the president’s press secretary – responsible for relaying the MAGA message to the media. But she was quickly embroiled in controversy – not least for appearing to overstate her credentials as a fully qualified lawyer. Recorded before her departure, Niall Paterson is joined by the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, Greg Swenson. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]