Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

Jack Horgan-Jones and Theresa Reidy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

Ahead of Fine Gael’s ardfheis this weekend, a motion from the party’s executives to affirm its centre-right status was dismissed. How does Fine Gael move away from the “progressive centre” position it currently describes itself as occupying? After 15 years in power, it might prove an impossible task for the party to reinvent itself given how much compromise goes into being in Government.

A second one-day strike by public sector workers could happen next week after a pay offer of 7.75 per cent was rejected. Could a lack of relevant experience among Cabinet members be exposed as pay negotiations continue?

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan was dealt a blow this week in his bid to resolve the criminal legal aid dispute after a High Court judgment on Tuesday, in which Judge Mary Rose Gearty upheld a challenge by solicitor John Quinn to the scheme.

And have the Democrats sweeping US midterm election victories signalled the dying days of Trumpism? Where does the Republican party go from here? And what real legislative power will the Democrats have with Donald Trump still in the White House?

Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:
Supervalu fridges hacked, Bob Dylan meets the Pope, and outrage over Ger Gilroy’s alleged clothing allowance in his new RTÉ podcast gig.
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The US midterm results are in. Keith Duggan reports from Texas where Democratic nominee for US senate James Talarico has declared victory in the usually deep-red state. It is just one of the eye-catching Democratic victories on a historic night. Republicans have lost control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, with voters sending a clear message of disapproval to US president Donald Trump.
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Pat Leahy and Naomi O’Leary join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

A new Government body is to be tasked with scoping out the models and challenges for different potential “constitutional futures” for the island, including a 32-county united Ireland. Is this proactive move a response to Irish unity being a priority issue among younger voters?

Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed he spoke to his Fine Gael party colleague Patrick O’Donovan some hours before the Minister for Culture recently fell ill at an EU conference in Limerick. Harris wouldn’t share details of the call but rejected any suggestion he threatened O’Donovan’s Cabinet position.

Dramatic election results played out in Serbia and Brazil where a youth movement and mobilised electorate brought about change. But the most consequential election happened in Israel with Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and his right-wing ultra nationalist bloc defying pre-election predictions, and even exit polls, by winning the largest number of seats, but falling short of a majority.

And France has a very important election on the horizon too with the end of Emmanual Macron’s presidency next May. Right-wing populist Marine Le Pen looks well positioned to succeed Macron.
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As the day drew to a close in Israel on Tuesday, exit polls in the Knesset election suggested a lead for the bloc of parties opposing prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

As the sun rose and official counts were declared a very different picture emerged showing a slender lead for Netanyahu’s bloc.

On today’s podcast, Hugh asks our contributor in Jerusalem, Mark Weiss, to explain where things stand as counting continues.

That lead enjoyed by the prime minister “changes the entire political picture”, he says.

A strong performance by parties representing Israel’s Arab citizens has come at the expense of smaller anti-Netanyahu parties, making it harder for some opposition groups to clear the electoral threshold and enter the Knesset.

“This has played into Netanyahu’s hands”, says Weiss.

Another long protracted negotiation looks likely but the leading opposition figure, Gadi Eisenkot, has already ruled out forming a government with the Israeli Arabs.

The question is will Netenyahu secure enough support to begin another term, or might another election be looming?

The answer is unlikely to come anytime soon.

Presented by Hugh Linehan. Produced by Declan Conlon and JJ Vernon.
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It is one week out from US midterm elections with Democrats hoping to retake control of both the House of Representatives and the powerful Senate. Journalist and podcaster Galen Druke returns to Inside Politics to talk to Hugh Linehan about the state of play.

They look at the overall picture in the House of Representatives, which Democrats need just three seats to retake. Polls show that is likely but gerrymandering could limit their gains.

And they look at the contest for the governorship of Ohio, where one particularly egregious attack ad has drawn a backlash.

Plus: what the midterms can and can't tell us about the 2028 race to succeed Donald Trump, and how Galen's new podcast reunites a beloved old team.
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