126 | Italy vs. Europe

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We try to make sense of the big story in European politics this week: not Brexit (not yet!) but the high stakes standoff between the Italian government and the EU. Why has the proposed Italian budget produced this showdown? Who is really pulling the strings? And what does it tell us about the current prospects for populism in Europe? Plus we assess the ups and downs of the Macron project and ask what its fate means for the future of France and of the wider European project. With Helen Thompson, Chris Bickerton and Lucia Rubinelli.

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76 | Reformation Then and Now

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Before we get stuck into 2018, we go back to the sixteenth century to explore another technology revolution that overthrew the established order.  John Naughton recently published his 95 theses for the digital age and we talk to John about the theology of technopoly and the Church of Facebook.  Plus we're joined by Helen to discuss the parallels between the current revolt against the elites and what happened five hundred years ago.  From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: where does this story end?
 

73 | That was 2017

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With Christmas round the corner, we pick some personal highlights and lowlights from another rollercoaster year of politics.  What are our most memorable Trump moments?  What stays with us from the UK general election six months on?  And, with all the usual caveats, what do we think is coming down the pipe in 2018?  With Helen, Aaron, Chris, Chris and David

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72 | Deal or No deal

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This week we try to work out who's up and who's down in the great game of European politics.  Has May won anything significant in the Brexit deal?  Is Merkel any nearer to forming a government?  Is Macron the big winner from recent events?  Plus we ask what prospect of Martin Schulz getting his United States of Europe, and what chance now of Jeremy Corbyn making it to No 10.  With Helen Thompson, Chris Brooke and Chris Bickerton.

 

63 | Catalonia

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As the face-off between Madrid and Barcelona continues, we explore how this happened and where it might end.  Marc Weller, chair of the independent commission on Catalan independence, explains the legal background and historian Brendan Simms sets out what is at stake for European politics.  Could this be the crisis that brings the whole thing crashing down?  With Helen Thompson and Chris Brooke.

60 | The Mystery of Germany

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 We talk with historian Chris Clark and Helen Thompson about whether German politics is as stable as it seems.  With the federal election coming up in a few days, and Angela Merkel seemingly on course for another comfortable victory, we ask what could happen next.  Why would a Jamaican coalition be bad for France?  What's going on in Bavaria?  And is East vs West still the central division in German politics?  Plus we catch up with the other general election taking place this weekend - in New Zealand.