Episodes

  • More War, No Oil

    More War, No Oil
    Sep 24 2026
    The conflict in the Gulf is now extending to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia is being attacked by the Houthi rebels from Yemen, and risks losing its other main oil shipping route. Meanwhile President Trump seems undecided whether to escalate his fight with Iran, or make concessions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. And global oil prices surge again. After almost nine months, is there any off-ramp for any of those involved? Phil and Roger ask Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University.

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    42 mins
  • Deep In the Red

    Deep In the Red
    Sep 17 2026
    Government debt around the world is at unprecedented levels - and so is the cost of borrowing, which means there's less to spend on hospitals, school and defence. So why is the debt so big, and the cost so high? And is it up to central banks to try to rebalance the system? Muhammad Ali Nasir, Professor Economics at Leeds University, tells Phil and Roger where the crisis came from, and what could help

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    43 mins
  • What’s In A Name?

    What’s In A Name?
    Sep 9 2026
    Lake America - Donald Trump has decided to rename Lake Ontario, and the Gulf of Mexico, and even the state of New Mexico. It seems a ridiculous distraction from more pressing problems, but can the US president just change the names of places as he pleases? Who decides? And why does it matter what we call mountains, lakes and cities? Phil and Roger talk names with Rhys Jones, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Aberystwyth

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    42 mins
  • A Right Mess?

    A Right Mess?
    Sep 2 2026
    As Reform UK hold their party conference, their polling numbers are dropping and the party leadership is beset by financial scandals and leadership arguments. Meanwhile Restore Britain is snapping at their heels, and the Conservatives seem to be back from the dead. So what is the future of the right in the UK? And what do they have to offer, beyond being tough on migration? Roger and Phil get the picture from Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London.

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    39 mins
  • The Russian Threat

    The Russian Threat
    Aug 27 2026
    Moscow is warning of consequences for the UK's support of Ukraine, but - short of all-out war - what could they be? There's already a level of hybrid war, with sabotage of major industries, destruction of warehouses and hacking of key utilities, but could that escalate? How prepared is Britain for what the Russians could do next? Phil and Roger ask Dr Christian Kaunert, director of the International Centre for Policing and Security at the University of South Wales

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    38 mins
  • Jail Fail - Why Do We Have Too Many Prisoners?

    Jail Fail - Why Do We Have Too Many Prisoners?
    Aug 20 2026
    The UK is running out of cells, but there’s an outcry that convicts are being let out early. We already lock up more people for longer than most comparable European countries, so are we a more criminal society, or just a more punitive one? What could or should the government do? Are more and bigger prisons the answer? Or should we take a more lenient view of offences at a time when overall crime is decreasing? Phil and Roger ask Dr Jake Phillips, Associate Professor and Director of Criminology and Penology at the University of Cambridge

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    43 mins
  • Football For Sale

    Football For Sale
    Aug 14 2026
    The head of FIFA is clinging to his job because he announced a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity firms - resulting in cries of outrage about the commercialisation of the beautiful game. But what’s wrong with getting the best return from a game that is already a billion-dollar cash machine? Or is there something beyond commercial advantage that matters to supporters and fans? Is making money from sport simply a recognition that it’s just another form of entertainment, or is it something special and personal that can’t be bought and sold? Simon Chadwick, Professor of Eurasian Sport at Emlyon Business School, gives his view to Phil and Roger

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    40 mins
  • Homing In on Homelessness

    Homing In on Homelessness
    Aug 5 2026
    Why do we still have people rough-sleeping in our cities? How can an advanced economy like ours allow people to slip through the net so far, they have to live on the street? Andy Burnham has promised to end rough-sleeping, but how can he do it? Jo Richardson, Professor of Housing and Social Inclusion at Nottingham Trent University, tells Phil and Roger it's a complicated problem, but there is a clear solution.

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    42 mins