It was already going to be a tense Nato summit, but when the alliance's secretary general referred to Donald Trump as “daddy”, and the White House embraced it, it shifted the tone from awkward diplomacy to something closer to humiliation... but did the move actually work?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the daddy text and what it says about Europe’s willingness to placate Trump. They also ask whether the EU’s inability to act on Gaza and its quiet deference to US policy is becoming a liability for the whole project.Also: The cost of living remains high, and the government says it won’t bring back broad supports. Is “targeted help” going to be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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25:39
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25:39
The housing crisis needs a movement, not a moment
Is Ireland on the brink of another wave of public protest, or will it fizzle out, as so often before? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy explore why movements like water charges and Repeal caught fire, and why complex crises like housing still struggle to spark mass mobilisation. They also examine the blurred line between protest and personal abuse, and what rising tensions mean for political tone.Also: Ursula von der Leyen’s latest comments on Israel spark backlash from Irish MEPs and reignite questions about who the EU really speaks for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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28:19
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28:19
A long-term bet on housing that renters can’t afford
Anticipation had been growing for months over what the government's new rent plan would deliver. Could it bring about solutions that really help renters and ease the pressure they are under? Could it keep landlords happy at the same time? Housing Minister James Browne rolled out his reform of rent pressure zones yesterday — but what he says it will deliver and what it actually does don't exactly line up.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack what the new “rent pressure zone for the whole country” actually means, whether it will do anything to help renters in the short term, and why this may be less about impact than impression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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25:10
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25:10
Politicians probably shouldn’t let AI do all the talking
As one of our reporters read through an open letter on Gaza penned by Ciarán Mullooly, one detail stood out: a bizarre reference to Swedish House Mafia. A spokesperson for the journalist-turned-MEP quickly confirmed that artificial intelligence was used to generate portions of the letter. But surely he's not alone in using ChatGPT et al during his official duties? This is a case where it went badly wrong, but to what standards should we hold politicians when it comes to the use of AI?Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, and journalist-turned-AI-sniffer-dog Muiris Ó Cearbhaill have an entirely human conversation about the rise of AI and what it means for political discourse.Also: the clock is ticking, but will any politician give Jane an actual answer on who might be running for president? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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29:13
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29:13
Inside Leinster House: The unspoken rules of a really odd place to work
It’s the country’s most high-profile workplace, but is Leinster House actually designed to get anything done? What does a week in Irish politics actually look like? This week, we examine what life in the Dáil is really like, and the heady mix of routine, power, and pantomime that make it a dysfunctional place to work.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews are joined by someone who is a familiar face on television these days, but was also once a familiar byline on The Journal: Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News. He pays a visit to the people who taught him everything to share insights from his new book, The Secret Life of Leinster House.Also: why do some politicians not know when to step down? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland