The National Podcast

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss today's biggest stories - from the Scottish Labour leadership candidate to calls for a public inquiry into the media treatment of Jason Arday. Get a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

A young Scottish climate activist has said they are “terrified” that people seem to “forget” about the devastating impact of climate change. Dylan Hamilton, policy coordinator for the Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youth (Angry), told The National podcast that he wishes people in Scotland would take the changing climate “more personally”. Hamilton, who has advocated for climate justice on the global stage at COP28 in Dubai, said that the recent wildfires in Scotland and the UK should be a “signal for people” about the reality of climate change. In this episode, he is interview by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss the challenges our country faces. Support The National for just £1 for three months: www.thenational.sco/subscribe 

Abbi Garton-Crosbie is joined by Steph Brawn to analyse the Clacton by-election. Nigel Farage has been told 'this is no victory' as a major sleaze probe looms. Meanwhile, a row emerges over what police told Reform. Support The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Digital Editor Laura Pollock sits down with Scots language campaigner and independence activist Billy Kay in this episode of The National Meets. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Editor Xander Elliards discuss the GERS figures, plus new polling on independence. Elsewhere, there's anger over Batman filming in Glasgow. Join The National from just £1 for 3 months at thenational.scot/subscribe

Zack Polanski has called out the BBC’s coverage of Reform UK press conferences, but will it change the mainstream media's approach?  It's one of the topics reporters Steph Brawn and Lucy Jackson get their teeth into on this week's Media Watch podcast. The pair also react to former LBC host Sangita Myska  – who was dismissed following an interview with an Israeli government spokesperson in 2024 – revealing the extent to which she was silenced afterwards, with lawyers for Global reportedly "monitoring" her social media.

Former UK Labour leader and current Your Party Parliamentary Leader Jeremy Corbyn sat down with political reporter James Walker in an exclusive interview for The National. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss the latest polling putting Reform back into third place, Anas Sarwar's claim that he has the hardest job in the world, the true cost of Jackdaw and Rosebank and Nicola Sturgeon's verdict on the UK media. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot.subscribe Sign up to our newsletters at thenational.scot/newsletters

Steph Brawn is joined by Laura Pollock on Friday's National Podcast LIVE. The SNP have claimed Scottish Labour “don't exist” after it emerged the party is reliant on support from their London bosses to pay for staff. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Editor Xander Elliards meets Professor Thibault Laurentjoye to discuss Scotland's economic future as an independent nation. Support The National with a subscription from £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe

Rosie Hampton from Friends of the Earth Scotland joins Jamie Calder to discuss how Andy Burnham's arrival as Prime Minister will shape Scotland's energy future. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe from just £20 for a whole year in our summer sale

Laura Webster is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Jamie Calder to discuss the comments made by Outlander's Sam Heughan that AI data centres are a 'cash grab'. Join The National for a WHOLE YEAR for £20 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Steph Brawn is joined by James Walker for the latest edition of Media Watch. They ask if the BBC has changed the format of Newsnight in a bid to manufacture controversy and clips to gains clicks online. Also, has the BBC been too harsh in its portrayal of the Commonwealth games in Glasgow? Support The National with a subscription from £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe

Joyce McMillan and Dave Watson from Building A Local Scotland join Political Reporter James Walker to discuss how more power can be devolved within Scotland to benefit people's lives. Support The National with a subscription from £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss today's biggest stories, including drama in the Scottish Labour leadership contest and Nicola Sturgeon's warning to the SNP. Support The National with a subscription from £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster sits down with Ellie Harrison of Get Glasgow Moving as our week-long series focused on creating a better public transport system for Scotland kicks off. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Multimedia Journalist Jamie Calder discuss reports that the far-right could be impersonating police officers in Glasgow, whether we need a Scottish Secretary in this day and age, BP's North Sea oil sell off and what's happening with AI data centres in Scotland. Subscribe to The National from just £20 for an entire YEAR at thenational.scot/subscribe

Steph Brawn and Xander Elliards are back with this week's edition of Media Watch. Today they discuss Andy Burnham's social media presence since arriving as prime minister and how it may actually be affecting his performance in the top job. Meanwhile, Good Morning Britain are back in the headlines for their handing of news surrounding Nigel Farage and we ask why isn't the Commonwealth games on BBC? Get a National subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Editor Xander Elliards discuss calls to ban anti-migrant groups, Zack Polanski's Newsnight appearance and the latest in the Scottish Labour leadership race. Support The National with a subscription from just £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe in our summer sale

New SNP MP Lara Bird sits down with Editor Laura Webster to discuss her first few weeks in the job, why she's angered so many Unionists, Andy Burnham's first week as PM, how we win independence and much more. Join The National today from just £20 in the summer sale at thenational.scot/subscribe

Laura Webster is joined by Steph Brawn to discuss what really happened during Saturday's far-right disorder in Glasgow. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe - it's our summer sale! Get a subscription from just £20 for a WHOLE year.

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss Andy Burnham stating that another Scottish independence referendum is off limits, Iran saying UK bases are a legitimate target, and react to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe - it's our summer sale! Get a subscription from just £20 for a WHOLE year.

Laura Webster and James Walker are here to discuss the news that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is to quit to take up a job under new prime minister Andy Burnham in the UK Government. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Human rights campaigner and former refugee Mohammad Asif joins political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss Reform MSP Thomas Kerr's recent claims about refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow city centre. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe

Welcome to episode 1 of Steph Brawn's Media Watch podcast. Steph Brawn presents a new podcast "Media Watch" where she goes behind the headlines and unpacks the most eye catching moments of the week on UK TV and it print. This week she is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discus the BBC's 'desperate' advert during the World Cup half time show and how it proves they need public funding MORE than ever. They go on to discuss Laura Kuenssberg's questioning as to whether new Prime Minister Andy Burnham would be a good contestant on the Traitors. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Sign up FREE to the Media Watch newsletter at thenational.scot/newsletters    

Laura Webster is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to give their reaction to the cabinet of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe from just £1

Digital editor Laura Pollock and political reporter Steph Brawn discuss the Arthur's Seat and Cairngorms wildfires amid reports Andy Burnham could back new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The pair also reflect on Burnham's first morning as Prime Minister and the news that Yes Scotland has mocked claims of a “missing £1.5 million” in its first post on Twitter/X in 12 years. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at: thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss today's biggest stories - Nicola Sturgeon's response to David Davis using parliamentary privilege to accuse her of lying about Peter Murrell, our new investigation into how many landlord MSPs there are, and Thomas Kerr's 'fearmongering' about Glasgow city centre. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosby sat down with William Thomson from Scotland's Resilient Economy. He breaks down the Scottish Government’s new bond plans and years of FDI policy. They explain why foreign capital has become the “feather in the cap” of the SNP administration, how Scotland is sold as a top destination for investors, and why that headline success may mask deeper risks for workers, communities and long-term economic sovereignty. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster sits down with Dr Catherine Happer and Dr Lluis de Nadal Alsina to discuss how the UK media have told the story of the cost of living crisis, and what that has meant for people in Scotland who are living it every day. They unpack years of research into press and broadcast coverage of the crisis: who gets to speak, which sources are treated as “expert”, and how journalists frame the causes and solutions. Bad News on the Cost of Living Crisis: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gumg/ GUMG website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gumg/ GUMG Bluesky: @gu-mg.bsky.social

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn present Wednesday's National Podcast LIVE. They discuss how Reform UK have backtracked after a 'mess up' to an amendment that was drafted which would have seen political material in Gaelic become illegal in Scotland. Reform claim that criminalising Gaelic or Scots in Scotland had not been the “intention” of the amendment and that "there was an administrative mess up.” They added: “The amendment was intended for England and Wales. So, if you're publishing election material in Hartlepool in Gaelic, then yeah [it would be criminalised].” Meanwhile Douglas Alexander has instructed Scots to support England in tonight's game. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at: thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and James Walker discuss the big stories today, including the latest on anti-migrant disorder in Glasgow, the news about Ann Widdecombe's murder investigation, Yes Scotland funding and Labour's immigration bill. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe 

Stand-up comedian Jacob Hawley of the Screen Rot podcast joins Political Editor Xander Elliards to discuss bringing politics into comedy in a crazy world, why Scotland fans should want England to lose at football, why the Fringe isn't championing Scottish talent, and more. Head to https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/jacob-hawley-tickets/artist/5391850 for tickets for his upcoming show. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss the SNP's plans to put a temporary ban on data centres, the latest on Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election mess, and more Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Editor Xander Elliards and Editor Laura Webster discuss Nigel Farage's resignation as an MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton. This is a political stunt - will the media be prepared to call it that? Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Digital Editor Laura Pollock discuss Andy Burnham's rejection of a second independence referendum, Nigel Farage's questionable financial arrangements, the scandal facing Highland Council and proposals for a mansion tax in Scotland. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Campaigner Talat Yaqoob joins Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss the state of Scotland's media, with a particular eye on the lack of diversity we see.  Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter Steph Brawn is joined by Sophie Johnson of Stop the War to discuss the Defence Investment Plan.  Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Digital editor Laura Pollock is joined by political reporter Steph Brawn on The National Podcast LIVE where they dissect the news that fascist-style demonstrations on Scotland’s streets have been “emboldened” by the likes of Reform UK. Later, the pair discuss whether fears that Scottish Labour may have been compromised by Russian spies and Laura talks to Rob Murray, the British Red Cross Director for Scotland, about how his team is managing the crisis in Venezuela. To donate to the emergency DEC appeal, visit their website here.

Multimedia Reporter Alasdair Ferguson sits down with Claire Duffy of Glasgow TV Festival to discuss Edinburgh TV Festival moving to Manchester and what comes next for Scotland's screen sector. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster is joined by Political Editor Xander Elliards for today's National Podcast LIVE. They discuss the news that John Curtice has given his verdict on what an Andy Burnham premiership might mean for Scottish Labour and the SNP. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had to be prepared for war to be able to deter potential enemies as he set out the £15 billion defence investment plan yesterday and the Home Office will make it more difficult for asylum seekers from Gaza to flee the ongoing genocide by coming to the UK. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe from just £1

Campaigner and peace advocate Samah Salaime joins Political Editor Xander Elliards on The National Podcast to discuss her work in Neve Shalom and wider activism.   Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe  

Political Reporter James Walker interviews Green MSP Q Manivannan, who has been faced with hate as a result of their immigration status. Here, they discuss their experience of Holyrood so far, Scottish independence, and more. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Editor Laura Webster discuss Andy Burnham's speech on his vision for the UK, and what it means for Scotland. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 for 3 months at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Editor Xander Elliards discuss Reform's behaviour in the Scottish Parliament this week, Andy Burnham's new U-turn on Scotland, and Kate Forbes's appearance at a hard-right summit   Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe

The UK's likely next prime minister wants to “tear up” the funding mechanism for Holyrood, The National revealed on Tuesday. Political Editor Xander Elliards and Editor Laura Webster discuss this story and the other big stories of the day on today's National Podcast. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot.subscribe

*Apologies for audio issues at the beginning* Keir Starmer has resigned, so what now for Scotland? Political Reporter Steph Brawn and Digital Editor Laura Pollock discuss the aftermath, as well as the recent anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe from just £1

The BBC has "evaded tough decisions" and been "badly managed", broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove has said, after the corporation announced plans for sweeping cuts which will hit Scotland. Reacting to the news on The National podcast Cosgrove, who presents football show Off the Ball with Tam Cowan, said: "The BBC have, maybe, in the past, evaded the tough decisions." Cosgrove, who used to work on Channel 4 as controller of arts and entertainment and then as head of programmes, spoke about how the model there was largely focused on a small core team of staff and other content was commissioned from independent suppliers. Listen to the full interview with political reporter Steph Brawn.

Join our political reporters Steph Brawn and James Walker as they discuss the upcoming Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-elections, as well as Makerfield down south. Later, the pair chat about today's More in Common poll which found Scots have more pride in the country's men's national team compared to England and Wales ... Remember, you can subscribe now for £1 for three months of coverage! Don't miss out: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter Steph Brawn meets new Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy of Scotland Stephen Gethins to discuss Scotland on the world stage in the context of the World Cup.    Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe