Newstalk Daily

A new Michael Jackson biopic has become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.  Fans are filling cinemas, his music is back at the top of charts, and younger audiences are discovering him again.  But critics have panned the film, calling it sanitised and accusing it of avoiding the allegations that have long surrounded Jackson’s legacy.  So why is it still such a huge hit? Ciara is joined by broadcaster Sarina Bellissimo and Professor Ellis Cashmore, author of the book The Destruction and Creation of Michael Jackson

The fallout from Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction is now spreading beyond the courtroom.  The former DUP leader has been found guilty of serious sexual offences against children.  Questions are being asked as to who knew what and when?  The DUP has announced an independent review, Edwin Poots says he has nothing to answer for, and others are asking whether warnings, concerns or rumours were ignored. Ciara is joined by Allison Morris, Crime Correspondent and columnist with the Belfast Telegraph.

Ireland takes over the EU presidency today.  For the next six months, Irish ministers and diplomats will help steer the Council of the European Union.  But this is not a quiet moment to take the chair, and the role itself might not be clear to a lot of us.  So what does it really mean for Ireland? Ciara is joined by Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief with Bloomberg News

Six months ago, Australia brought in the world’s first social media ban. It focused on people under-sixteen, and was a real test to see how an outright ban could work, in a similar way to alcohol and cigarettes.  But here we are six months later with the Australian government saying it is about to double the fines. So, has this ban been a failure? Ciara is joined by Newstalk's Jess Kelly & Clare O’Donoghue Velikić, Founder and Director of ODV Digital.

On a sweltering June day last year, The Dublin-based French Mancel family left their apartment in Leopardstown in south Dublin, headed to Dublin Airport.  They flew to Reykjavik and checked into the luxury Edition hotel for what seemed like a holiday for Emeric Mancel, his wife Ming Ting and their daughter, Catherine. However, on the day they were due to fly home, Emeric and Catherine were found dead in the hotel.  What happened? Ciara is joined by Karen McHugh, a freelance journalist based in Reykjavik

Dublin’s Pride celebrations have been well underway since the start of the month.   But as the Pride parade is set to take the streets on Saturday, it may be an opportunity to remember what Pride is really about and who Pride continues to exist for.  Ciara is joined by Dr. Paraic Kerrigan, Assistant Professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin and author of ‘Reeling in The Queers: Tales of Ireland’s LGBTQ past’

On December 14, 2025, the world watched in horror as the worst terrorist attack in Australian history was carried out on its most famous beach.   A local man, later identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed confronted the attackers and managed to disarm one of them.  Mr. Al Ahmed was shot repeatedly during the attack and continues to recover from his wounds.   His commendable bravery was lauded by the highest levels of government with PM Anthony Albanese calling him "the best of our country."  However, a few months later, he started to fall out of the public’s good graces. Why? Ciara is joined by Journalist Jonathan De Burca Butler

New research from Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology has found a significant year-on-year increase in restorative justice referrals and victim participation in Ireland. The process allows those harmed by a crime and those responsible for that crime to communicate in a safe way. Janet O’Brien’s eldest son Luke was killed in a one-punch assault in Tallaght in 2017 on Halloween night.  Ms. O’Brien met the perpetrator and has since been advocating for restorative justice to inmates in Irish prisons.  Ciara is joined by Janet O'Brien.

The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of raping a woman while she was a primary school child.    Mr Donaldson was also convicted on four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child and 13 counts of indecent assault on a female in relation to crimes that were committed between 1985 and 2008. His wife Eleanor was facing a trial of the facts, meaning she could not be found guilty. But in five charges, including four related to aiding and abetting, the jury found she had done the acts.The verdict marks one of the most incredible political downfalls ever seen on this island.  Ciara is joined by Newstalk reporter Jamie O Hara and Suzanne Breen, Political editor at the Belfast Telegraph.

Former British Health secretary Andy Burnham made headlines last week with his resounding win in the Makerfield byelection.  Having swept aside the challenge of Nigel Farage’s Reform party candidate some are already speculating that Manchester’s outgoing Mayor might have views on Downing Street... So who will be the next British PM? Starmer, Farage or Burnham? Ciara is joined by Mark Paul, London Correspondent for the Irish Times and Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times.

A peace deal has been signed between the US and Iran.   Donald Trump will hope that this solidifies what was a shaky ceasefire born of fraught relationships within the region and a resounding lack of confidence at home.   But has the United States emerged as the loser of the war they started?   Where does this new deal leave Iran and Israel?   And, most importantly. Can it hold? Ciara is joined by Gina London, International Communications Strategist & Trainer, and a former Award-winning CNN correspondent and Borzou Daragahi, long time Foreign Correspondent and Founder of Badlands Newsletter.

New constituencies are due to be drawn and may jostle the political landscape many of us were already familiar with.   The goal is to accommodate the population growth the country has seen.   But with constituencies clashing and political lines growing jagged, is the prospect of a satisfactory solution unrealistic?Ciara is joined by Sean Defoe, Newstalk’s political correspondent.

Fifty years ago, three men were convicted of carrying out the Sallins train robbery.  Their convictions were based on confessions that had been obtained under duress.  Two were later cleared, the third was pardoned, and all three received compensation.  But the State has never apologised, and there has never been a public inquiry into what happened. So, why not? Ciara is joined by contributor to The Irish Times, Patsy McGarry.

Ireland will play Israel in the Nations League.  But the home game will no longer take place in Dublin.  The FAI has moved it overseas, to a neutral venue, behind closed doors.  This has, as imagined, not satisfied anybody really... Now the dispute may be getting to the courts. Ciara is joined by Stuart Gilhooly, legal adviser to the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland.

A public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane began last week.  He was shot dead in front of his family in 1989.  For 37 years, his widow Geraldine, and their children, have campaigned for a full public inquiry into allegations of British state collusion.  And finally, after all these years and campaigning, the hearing begins. Ciara is joined by Pat's son Michael Finucane

Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick is one of the biggest alumina refineries in Europe. It is also owned by Rusal, the Russian aluminium giant founded by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska.  Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, questions have been raised about whether alumina linked to the plant is feeding supply chains connected to Moscow’s war effort. But four years into the war, Aughinish remains open, Russian-owned, and outside any sanctions. Ciara is joined by Journalist and Author of Leaving Russia: How Putin Forced a Country’s Future to Flee, Jason Corcoran.

Switzerland is about to vote on whether to cap its population at ten million people. The proposal comes from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party.  They are saying that immigration is putting too much pressure on housing, schools, healthcare and transport.  But opponents say it could damage Switzerland’s relationship with the EU — and maybe create its own version of Brexit. Ciara is joined by Imogen Foulkes, BBC Geneva correspondent

The World Cup finally begins this week, after years of build up, much of which was in the form of criticism.  For the first time, it will be played across three countries — the US, Canada and Mexico.  48 teams, 104 matches, and record revenues for FIFA.  But with ticket prices rising, hotel bookings well below forecast, and questions over the sheer size of the tournament, is the football at risk of fading to the background as big business takes over?Ciara is joined by the host of Newstalk's Breakfast Business, Joe Lynam.

Donald Trump has walked out of another major TV interview.  This time, it was with NBC’s Kristen Welker, after he was challenged on his claims about the 2020 election and a proposed fund for people prosecuted under Joe Biden.  The row has opened up questions about January 6th and about Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.Ciara is joined by Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and US politics commentator, Larry Donnelly.

Nearly 6,000 former racing greyhounds born in Ireland over just two years are now dead.  These animals were only between 4 and 5 years old are presumed to be destroyed after their “careers” ended.  This is also an industry that the Irish Government gives over 19 million euro annually, despite declining attendances.  So should the tax payer continue to support greyhound racing in this country?Ciara is joined by Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman & former Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill, a lifelong greyhound racing fan and advocate.

A murder case in Southampton has now become a major row about policing, racism, and the far right.  Henry Nowak was stabbed last December but while he lay dying, police handcuffed him and forcefully arrested him.  Now there’s been violent protests across Southampton, championed by Tommy Robinson and the fallout in the UK could prove disastrous. Ciara is joined by London Correspondent with The Irish Times, Mark Paul.

Ireland is due to play Israel in October, with those calls for a boycott being raised since the game was announced back in February.  The Government says it is a decision for the FAI.  Opposition parties say that’s nothing but a cop-out. So, who should really be making the call and paying the price if the boycott goes ahead? Ciara is joined by OTB's Cameron Hill and Group Political Correspondent at Bauer Media, Sean Defoe.

The European Union is once again talking seriously about getting bigger.   Countries like Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and even Iceland are all on the path toward membership.  But expansion brings complications — from decision-making to political trust — and now, even ideas like limiting veto powers for new members are being floated.Ciara is joined by John O’Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration in Maynooth University and Journalist based in Iceland, Karen McHugh.

For generations in Ireland, communion and confirmation have marked an important moment in a child's life. For some families, they remain deeply religious occasions, and for others, they're just as much about tradition and family and celebrating a milestone. But as Ireland changes, more people are beginning to ask whether these ceremonies and the way they're organized through schools still reflect the country we are today. Should these milestones remain part of school life? Are families simply following tradition, and what options exist for those who want to celebrate growing up differently?Ciara is joined by Dr Maedbh King who works on policy and strategy at Trinity College Dublin and is an advocate for a pluralist education system in Ireland.

Donald Trump’s 80th birthday is being marked in a way few US presidents ever have... A full UFC event planned on the White House grounds.From an octagon on the Ellipse to weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial, “UFC Freedom 250” is shaping up to be one of the most unusual political-sport crossovers in modern history.So how did this alliance begin? And is this about a celebration or something more calculated?Ciara Doherty is joined by Petesy Carroll of Uncrowned and Yahoo Sports to unpack the growing connection between the UFC and Donald Trump and who's really helping who here.

Saudi Arabia has spent the last decade trying to reinvent itself — pouring hundreds of billions into futuristic cities, global sports, and infrastructure mega projects.  At the centre of it all is Mohammed bin Salman — MBS — the young, ambitious leader who promised to transform the Kingdom through something called Vision 2030.  But now, some of those biggest, boldest ideas are being scaled back.  So what happened to the Saudi spending spree? Ciara is joined by Economist and host of Newstalk's Taking Stock, Susan Hayes-Culleton and Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Lecturer in Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster University.

Sinn Féin has spent the last number of years positioning itself as the natural leader of Ireland’s left.  But now, that position is being questioned after bruising by-election results and growing tensions with parties like the Social Democrats and Labour,   There are now real questions about where Sinn Féin is going and whether it still owns that space at all.  So, does Sinn Féin need to change tact?Ciara is joined by Aoife Moore, journalist, and author of The Long Game: Inside Sinn Féin and also by Siobhán Fenton, former Sinn Féin Press adviser

Pope Leo The Fourteenth has called for artificial intelligence to be designed to achieve the common good and welfare of mankind.His Holiness has finally weighed in on the AI debate, but there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye. He’s comparing it to nuclear power… warning it could be used for domination, exclusion — even harm — if left unchecked. So, who is the Pope really calling out? Ciara is joined by Founder of Get Started with AI and host of Futureproof on Newstalk, Jonathan Mc Crea  and Theologian Gina Menzies.

Ireland today feels like it’s in the middle of a conversation about immigration & identity.  We often think ourselves part of the great diaspora making communities amongst ourselves in other nations.  And we think immigration to our island is something relatively new.  But in reality, Ireland’s history with migration is a lot more than the famine and economic crises, it’s previously been a place that welcomed (and sometimes rejected) communities from all across the globe .Shane Beatty is joined by Kieran Connell, History lecturer in Queen’s University Belfast.

Seventeen years after the financial crash, one of the most powerful institutions created in its aftermath is coming to an end. NAMA — set up to take toxic property loans off the banks and stabilise the economy — says it returned billions to the State and helped rebuild parts of Dublin. But critics argue assets were sold too cheaply, developers were shut out, and international funds walked away with huge profits. So, was NAMA a necessary fix at a moment of crisis, or did it reshape Ireland’s property market in ways we’re still dealing with today? Ciara is joined by Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post. 

Gen Z is having less sex than the generations before them... They’re approaching dating in a completely different way. And increasingly, they’re learning about intimacy not from real-life relationships — but from what they see online.  Arguments, disagreements and fundamental beliefs are being discussed online daily. The latest debate is about whether watching porn in a relationship is acceptable or not.  So, are these arguments arbitrary, or is an issue like porn just more prevalent for younger generations than it was before? Ciara is joined by Journalist Tessa Ndjonkou and Family Psychotherapist specialising in porn addiction, David Kavanagh 

Married At First Sight on Channel 4 has been pulled from streaming after allegations of rape and non-consensual sexual activity during filming.  Police are now urging anyone who may have been affected to come forward, as investigations continue.  Some of the claims are understood to have been raised while filming was ongoing and yet the programme still aired.  So, at this stage, in the twenty-first century – why does reality TV still have so many skeletons in the closet?Ciara is joined by TV Critic and Broadcaster Scott Bryan and Professor of Film and Feminist Media Studies and Research Lead/Director for the Cambridge School of Creative Industries, Tanya Horeck

Gardaí are warning of a rise in door-to-door scams across Ireland, with bogus traders targeting homes offering cheap repairs and taking payment for unfinished work.At the same time, online fraud is escalating, with over 200 scam websites identified last year impersonating trusted services like An Post and Revenue Commissioners.So, how do we spot these bogus traders and what can we do to protect our more vulnerable loved ones when scamming seems to be everywhere?Josh Crosbie reports on the growing problem, with Pat Lordan, former Detective Chief Superintendent at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau Financial Intelligence Unit, discussing how these scams operate — and how to avoid them.

Voters in Dublin Central and Galway West head to the polls this week. By-elections have a long history of delivering tough verdicts on governments — and the signs suggest these contest could follow that trend.In Dublin Central, Sinn Féin is leading and the Social Democrats are gaining ground, while Fianna Fáil faces a challenging fight. Add in high-profile independent candidates like Gerry “The Monk” Hutch, and the race becomes even more unpredictable.But this campaign has also been overshadowed by a more unusual controversy — an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on the Polymarket platform, with over $1 million wagered and the majority of trades flagged as potentially irregular.Ciara Doherty is joined by Newstalk’s Sean Defoe and political scientist Theresa Reidy to break down the latest polling, the key battlegrounds, and the controversy that has added a new layer of intrigue to this race.

More controversy in football — and VAR is once again at the heart of it.  A last-minute Premier League goal ruled out after a lengthy video review, a decision that could prove decisive in a title race. Days later in Scotland, another major VAR intervention — a penalty call that swung the balance of the Scottish title. As debates rage over consistency, transparency, and the authority of match officials, one question has become impossible to ignore: are referees still deciding football matches — or has VAR taken over that role entirely? Ciara Doherty is joined by football writer Jonathan Wilson and Off The Ball’s David Wilson to unpack the biggest recent VAR flashpoints, the impact on title races in England and Scotland, and whether the technology has fundamentally changed how football is decided. 

The Murdaugh family once ruled South Carolina’s Lowcountry like a legal dynasty — generations of power, political influence, money, and fear. Then came the murders. Alex Murdaugh, the high-profile lawyer convicted of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul at the family’s sprawling hunting estate, is now heading for a possible retrial after his murder convictions were sensationally overturned. How did one of America’s most powerful Southern families collapse into allegations of fraud, addiction, corruption, and brutal double murder? And could the jury in the original trial have been improperly influenced? Ciara Doherty is joined by Mandy Matney — the journalist whose reporting turned the Murdaugh saga into a global true crime obsession. 🎧 Listen to True Sunlight here: https://truesunlight.com/ 

Donald Trump is in Beijing for a summit dripping in spectacle, symbolism and global stakes. As China rolls out the military salutes and billboard diplomacy, is Xi Jinping flattering Trump — or strategically manipulating him? From Taiwan and trade wars to Iran and a shifting world order, we ask whether this meeting marks the beginning of a deeper global realignment. Ciara Doherty is joined by UCD’s Professor Scott Lucas and Dennis Staunton of the Irish Times. 

Maybe it’s something we only notice when the sun comes out, but it's always a hot button issue when we do see it.  Why can’t you have a drink in a park or on the street in Ireland? And it feeds into a bigger question, not just about alcohol, but about space, and who gets to use it.Ciara is joined by Una Mullally, columnist with the Irish Times and Sunday Independent columnist, town planner and urban theorist, Conor Skehan

It's meant to be a celebration of music spectacle and European unity but as the Eurovision Song Contest marks its 70th anniversary this year, the atmosphere surrounding the competition is more complicated than ever.What does the future hold for the Eurovision?Ciara is joined by Johnny Fallon, Director at Carr communications and Eurovision analyst,  and Mara Hvistendahl, author of a recently published piece in the New York Times about how Israel has turned the Eurovision into a soft power tool.

This week marks 100 years since Fianna Fáil was founded by Éamon de Valera in May 1926.It's a century in which the party helped to shape modern Ireland and dominated Irish politics. But at 100 years old, is Fianna Fáil now a remarkable survivor story, or a warning about how Irish politics struggles to change?Ciara is joined by Irish Examiner Special Correspondent Mick Clifford and Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East, James O’Connor.

Fuel prices… cost of living pressure… and protests that, at first glance, looked like they were coming straight from the ground up.  But online, there was a different conversation being had...  Some were amplified… shaped… and pushed by voices far outside Ireland.  So, how much of what we saw was actually homegrown and who is attempting to control to narrative? Ciara is joined by Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Neale Richmond and by Aidan O’Brien, analyst with the European Digital Media Observatory Ireland, which is part of the FuJo institute. 

For nearly 50 years, Irish troops have been deployed to southern Lebanon as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.  Now, that half a century mission is coming to an end.  But, is now the right time, or could the UNIFIL Mission be needed now more than ever? Ciara is joined by security analyst Declan Power and Senator Tom Clonan, both of whom served in Lebanon.

In August, 2020, 21 year old Katie Simpson was rushed to hospital in Derry with severe injuries. The explanation given at the time was that she had tried to take her own life, but almost immediately, there were questions. Quiet ones at first from those who knew her, from people who felt that something about the story didn't sit right.What followed was a case that would unravel layer by layer, exposing inconsistencies, missed opportunities, and one that would become the focus of a murder investigation and ultimately a damning review of the PSNI's handling of the case.Ciara is joined by Allison Morris from the Belfast Telegraph and Katie's aunt Paula Mullan

A multi-platinum superstar — a TikTok icon — on trial for murder. David Anthony Burke, the 21 year old singer from Los Angeles known as D4vd, is now on trial for the murder of a 14-year-old girl. Details of this case have been heard over the last few weeks, and some are truly disturbing.Ciara is joined by journalist Dani Anguiano.

They’re everywhere again… baggy jeans, low-rise fits, VHS filters… even Italia ’90 references creeping back into everyday life.From TikTok trends to pop music and fashion, the 1990s revival is in full swing.It's a longing for a simpler time… When we weren’t so chronically online.Our nostalgia paints the time as carefree and cool…The reality was more complicated — from extreme body standards to a culture that wasn’t always as liberating as it looked.So why are Gen Z and millennials so obsessed with 90s culture right now?And what are we choosing to remember — or forget?Ciara is joined by journalist Kate Henshaw and broadcaster Sarina Bellissimo to separate the aesthetic from the reality — from 90s fashion trends and Y2K style… to diet culture, “heroin chic,” and the return of low-rise jeans.

They’ve been hailed as miracle drugs… reshaping bodies... changing lives... and fuelling a global weight-loss boom. But now, there’s a new phrase creeping into the conversation — “Ozempic breasts.” It might sound flippant... Maybe even a bit ridiculous. But doctors have finally confirmed that the changes behind it… are anything but. Ciara is joined by Rosalind Skillen from Irish Country Living & GP Specializing in Obesity, Mick Crotty

A drug feud.A chase.A discarded gun found and subsequently fired by an 11 year old.What is going on, on the streets of Dublin?Ciara is joined by Stephen Breen, the Irish Sun’s Crime Editor

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is back, confirming he’ll run in the Dublin Central by-election after narrowly missing out on a Dáil seat in 2024. His candidacy blurs the line between notoriety and politics, raising fresh questions about protest votes, public frustration, and what kind of TD voters are willing to elect. With nominations closing this Friday and the race tightening, how serious a contender is he — and who stands in his way? Ciara Doherty is joined by Louise Burne of the Irish Examiner and Craig Hughes of the Irish Daily Mail to assess the impact of Hutch’s return the political scene. 

Tina Satchwell went missing from her home in March 2017.  In the months that followed, there were appeals, media interviews, and repeated searches of the house that she shared with her husband Richard in Youghal.  He spoke publicly... Spoke to journalists... He even invited them into the home.  And for a long time, the case remained officially one of a missing person.  In 2023, that all changed, and a missing person was found dead in her own home.Ciara is joined by journalist and author of Buried Secrets: The Murder of Tina Satchwell and a Journalist’s Journey into Ireland’s Most Chilling Cold Case, Barry Cummins.

Almost 48 hours on from what appears to be a third attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, we’re left with more questions than answers.  Has political violence become the norm in US politics?  Does the President have adequate security in place?  And what will it all mean for the coming mid terms? Ciara is joined by Sky News’s US Correspondent, David Blevins who was at the White House Correspondents dinner.