Path to Power

Matt is joined by Danny McConnell and John Lee to discuss the changing government generosity towards Ukrainians and how this may have been influenced by the by-election in Galway West and Dublin Central. On the latter, they explore why a Sinn Féin win in Mary Lou's home constituency is not the slam dunk it should be, due to the presence of Gerry Hutch and possible voter confusion about what Sinn Féin stands for. They discuss the potential for Dara Calleary to become the leader of Fianna Fáil. Matt condemns the failure to get electric buses on the road and expresses bafflement at dust in the ducts at the National Children's Hospital, and they finish with praise for the financial generosity of former President Michael D. Higgins.

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Long-time protest activist Brendan Ogle takes issue with the conduct of the diesel protests and the government’s capitulation to unlicensed protesters. He details his own experiences with the Locomotive Drivers' Association, the Right2Water campaign, and the Apollo House protest against homelessness.

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Shane Coleman and Lise Hand join Matt, and they start with the suggested split in the Healy-Rae dynasty. They discuss all the issues related to the rural-urban divide, with particular emphasis on deprivation in urban areas. What would the public reaction be if people living in the inner cities did what the farmers did? Could the protesters bring us towards having an Irish Trump? Is the government, awash with cash, going to be a soft touch to further protests? A debate on the merits of bringing back social partnership, are we on the road to anarchy, and have we forgotten the crash? They discuss the controversy caused by Leo Varadkar’s comments about the rural-urban divide and who really pays the bills. The highly paid Robert Watt, cause he’s worth it? And how clever has Catherine Connolly’s immigration legislation position been?

Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

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As Trump continues his suspension of the assault on Iran, Matt and Marion divert to the case of Kash Patel's sobriety, Pete Hegseth's use of a Pulp Fiction script as scripture, and RFK Jr.'s interest in the penises of raccoons. They discuss the sincerity of Tucker Carlson recanting his support for Trump, and how Marjorie Taylor Greene brings it all back to the Epstein files. Why MAGA is losing faith in the story it believed about the Trump assassination attempt. Trump's Fed nominee, Kevin Warsh and accusations that he's a 'sock puppet'. The many problems besetting the FIFA World Cup. And Joe Rogan persuades Trump to be interested in psychedelic drugs.

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Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and former political correspondent Áine Kerr join Matt to analyse the politics of the past fortnight, dominated by the diesel protests. They look at Jim O’Callaghan’s use of the army, Patrick O’Donovan’s aborted assault on the media, and what the protests tell us about the rural-urban divide. The resignation of Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae. How the opposition parties behaved during the protests. The Fianna Fáil youthful backbencher revolt. Dáil member behaviour towards and overall decorum. And Trump and the Pope.

Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

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