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Where Politics Meets History

Join broadcaster Iain Dale and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop as they take a fresh look at the biggest news of the week - through the lens of history. Because nothing is ever truly new, and history has a habit of repeating itself.With wit, insight, and the occasional good-natured row, Iain and Tessa explore how today’s headlines echo the past, unearthing fascinating stories and unexpected parallels. Expect sharp analysis, engaging debate, and plenty of laughs along the way.Subscribe now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected]

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Jun 11, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 650

    152. Don't Ask Me No Questions

    In this special questions edition of the podcast, the listeners quiz Iain and Tessa on whether Carer's Allowance should be increased to take pressure off the social care sector, whether Zelensky is still in a strong position, whether camera glasses should be banned - and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  2. 649

    151. A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Clacton Please

    Iain and Tessa talk Farage's win in Clacton (and him not turning up to the declaration!), a row about melons and the Japanese PM, whether Reform UK voters care about climate change - and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  3. 648

    150. Early Release Me

    Iain and Tessa digest Iain's various Edinburgh Fringe interviews (Sturgeon, Streeting and more), as well as the history of Edinburgh, how Andy Burnham should tackle the prisons problem and much else besides.Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  4. 647

    149. Arday in the Life

    Iain and Tessa discuss the controversy around Jason Arday and whether Cambridge should be blamed, the controversy around the withdrawn Tory Crewkerne candidate and whether Kemi Badenoch should be blamed, the Welsh language and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  5. 646

    148. In the (Farage) Navy

    Iain and Tessa talk Jacqui Smith's wedding, the political crisis over migrants arriving in Ceuta, the Danube river drying out (and its history) and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  6. 645

    147. Drought and About

    Iain and Tessa talk wildfires, climate anxiety, reservoirs, Kemi Badenoch's views on net zero and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  7. 644

    146. Social Careless Whisper

    Tessa's on holiday - Natasha Clark's back! Iain and Natasha mull over how Andy Burnham might change the social care system, attempts from recent history to change that system, how sacked Cabinet ministers are feeling about the new government, whether the new PM can cut welfare - and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  8. 643

    145. Who Wants to Tax a Millionaire?

    Iain and Tessa discuss the millionaires wanting to pay more tax, ministers moving up north, reusing your shower water... and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  9. 642

    144. Here We Go Again

    Iain and Tessa speak about Andy Burnham's rise to power, the history of Downing Street, Tessa's new words and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  10. 641

    143. Tuchel Little, Tuchel Late

    Iain and Tessa talk the Falklands, Keir Starmer's last week, Thomas Tuchel, a frisson between Tessa and Alastair Campbell and more.Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  11. 640

    142. Remembering Ann Widdecombe

    Iain and Tessa discuss the reaction to the murder investigation into former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe's death, friendship across political borders and more.Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  12. 639

    141. A Binface in the Crowd

    Iain and Tessa discuss Farage facing off against Count Binface, Prince Harry losing his case against the Mail publisher, the posthumous pardon given to the last woman hanged in the UK, Tessa's travels and more.Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  13. 638

    140. Making Gifts for Nigel

    Tessa is still sailing the seven seas so LBC's Natasha Clark steps in for this one. Iain and Natasha talk Nigel Farage coming under further scrutiny, England's win against Mexico, whether Andy Burnham will call an election and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @NatashaC

  14. 637

    139. Letter to America

    Iain and Tessa discuss America at 250, whether Nigel Farage actually wants to be prime minister - and Tessa giving history lectures on a cruise ship!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  15. 636

    138. Ed over Heels

    Iain and Tessa discuss who Andy Burnham might pick for his chancellor, the King's tax returns, Iain's barbecue and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

  16. 635

    137. Feel the Heat

    Iain and Tessa bring you discussion on climate change, Kemi Badenoch vs Bridget Phillipson, whether the shine is coming off Nigel Farage and more!

  17. 634

    136. There Keir Goes

    Iain and Tessa dissect Keir Starmer's resignation - what went wrong, prime ministerial resignations throughout history, who might be in a Burnham cabinet if he takes over - and more!

  18. 633

    135. Burnham to Run

    Iain and Tessa react as Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield seat convincingly! But what are his core principles (does he have any?) and could the PM be ousted before the end of the summer? Plus, how do our divided times compare to politics in Tudor England? All that and more!

  19. 632

    134. Ban and Deliver

    Iain and Tessa talk the history of bans for children (in light of the social media ban), stereotypes against the English, the upcoming by-election and predictions thereupon - and Iain's views about hydration breaks at the World Cup.

  20. 631

    133. Rory Days

    Iain and Tessa are back for more. Tessa's been interviewing Rory Stewart, so she gives her review of that rival podcaster. There's also discussion about the unrest in Northern Ireland, what it means to be English, the future of the BBC and more.

  21. 630

    132. This Malthus Be The Place

    Iain and Tessa add a bit more history and discuss Reverend Thomas Malthus, If Bill Clinton is the best President since Reagan, and the BBC.

  22. 629

    131. It Musk Be Love

    Iain and Tessa discuss if Nigel Farage is fuelling social division (and whether Elon Musk is pouring petrol on the fire), why Canada may have more in common with Britain than America, and France's latest swipe at the UK — spoiler: it involves potholes.

  23. 628

    130. Tranche Like Nobody's Watching

    Iain and Tessa discuss what drones have done to warfare (and how the Ukraine war compares to wars through history) the latest tranche of Mandelson files and what their impact might be, why trade unionists are shifting to Reform UK - and more!

  24. 627

    129. NEET and Tidy

    Iain and Tessa discuss the crisis of youth joblessness, Tony Blair's return to the political conversation, the price of food in Europe - and more!

  25. 626

    128. Murrell of the Story

    Iain and Tessa talk the SNP Peter Murrell embezzlement scandal and similar scandals throughout history - as well as whether Wes Streeting would make a better PM than Andy Burnham, Iain's viral cake moment... and someone very special makes an appearance!

  26. 625

    127. Movin' On Out

    Iain and Tessa discuss net migration (and the history of people arriving in, and leaving, the UK) - and more!

  27. 624

    126. Can't Get EU Out of My Head

    Iain and Tessa talk about Wes Streeting reviving the Brexit debate, whether Andy Burnham stands a chance, whether Keir Starmer shares anything with Ted Heath - and more!

  28. 623

    125. Burnham Baby Burnham

    Iain is joined by LBC political editor Natasha Clark for this one while Tessa is ill! They talk Streeting, Burnham, Starmer, Farage and more!

  29. 622

    124. Hey Brother

    Iain and Tessa speak about Keir Starmer on the ropes, fallout from the local elections, a hundred years since the 1926 general strike - and Tessa's brother Duncan Dunlop speaks to our pair about his election win in Scotland.

  30. 621

    123. Everybody Wants to Rule the Ward

    Iain and Tessa digest the election results so far! Does it mean Nigel Farage will be the next PM? Does it mean people hate Keir Starmer? Does it mean Britain is ungovernable? Answers to those questions and more!

  31. 620

    122. Harborne Free

    Iain and Tessa discuss Nigel Farage's £5m gift from Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne, how Plaid Cymru grew into the force it is now, whether this podcast plays to their egos and more!

  32. 619

    121. Bright Ideology

    Iain and Tessa speak about Zack Polanski's Twitter antics, whether Iain is actually a liberal, whether grief counselling is a good idea - and more.

  33. 618

    120. I Just Can't Wait To (Meet The) King

    Iain and Tessa discuss the King's state visit to the United States, how to stop the Jewish community feeling unsafe in the UK, whether the SNP get enough scrutiny, Tessa's exciting event in Parliament and more.

  34. 617

    119. Another near miss?

    Iain dials in LIVE from washington as he and Tessa discuss the King's safety after THAT White House Correspondent's dinner.PLUS, has your life expectancy gone down?

  35. 616

    118. Perran Moon River

    Iain and Tessa discuss the latest twists and turns in the Westminster psychodrama, drawing in Christine Keeler, Harold Wilson, Profumo and more - plus, how did Tessa let herself down in front of Labour MP Perran Moon?

  36. 615

    117. When You Wish Upon a Starmer

    Iain and Tessa talk Keir Starmer's statement in the Commons re how he handled Mandelson - plus a hundred years since the Queen's birth, Tessa's tireless campaigning and more!

  37. 614

    116. Vetting Away With It

    Iain and Tessa discuss the PM's new crisis over Mandelson - and whether it's a Westminster village story (Tessa thinks so!) - they also talk about the decline in reading, welfare vs warfare and more!

  38. 613

    115. The Man Who Sold the War

    Iain and Tessa discuss whether men are more prone to start wars than women, Trump's planned blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - and the historical parallel to the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, Viktor Orbán's defeat in Hungary and more!

  39. 612

    114. No Orbán, No Cry

    Iain and Tessa talk the ceasefire under stress in Iran, whether JD Vance is hurting Viktor Orbán's chances in this weekend's election in Hungary, the dying art of letter-writing and more!

  40. 611

    113. Mr Nobody Does It Better

    Iain and Tessa discuss President Trump's expletive-laden social media post, whether Putinism will outlast Putin, Iain's trip to the cinema and more.

  41. 610

    112. Space Oddity

    Iain and Tessa speak about the King's divisive US visit, which politician has benefitted from the Iran war, the Space Race, and more!

  42. 609

    111. Piano Manosphere

    Iain and Tessa speak about the Houthis, why the BBC is obsessed with itself, Louis Theroux's journey into the manosphere and more!

  43. 608

    110. Hello, This Is Pope Joannie

    Iain and Tessa unpack Dame Sarah Mullally’s historic enthronement after 1,400 years of male predecessors, explore the legend of Pope Joan, examine the impact of the Iranian war on Asia, and answer your questions.

  44. 607

    109. If You’re Lookin’ for a Way Out

    Iain and Tessa explore whether the world may be edging towards WW3, examine the shocking antisemitic attack in London involving Jewish ambulances set on fire, and give their take on the debut of SNL UK, plus plenty more insights and unexpected turns along the way.

  45. 606

    108. Strait from the Heart

    Iain and Tessa speak about what the West should do about the Strait of Hormuz, why Trump official Joe Kent resigned, whether Brexit should be reversed, Tessa appearing on Romanian Hell's Kitchen and more!

  46. 605

    107. Automatic, Systematic, Problematic

    Iain and Tessa talk the Strait of Hormuz and whether the UK Navy should get involved, whether Tom Bower is right or wrong about Harry and Meghan - they have a row about Lord Ashcroft and Iain name-drops like never before!

  47. 604

    106. Every Hegseth You Take

    Iain and Tessa talk strong men, the Mandelson files, whether Iain is right on Iran, Pete Hegseth and more!

  48. 603

    105. Love Me Donut

    Iain and Tessa talk about the UK's naval forces and whether they're good enough, Cyprus and the UK's history with it (and Aggie reports after her recent visit!) - they also talk public distrust in politicians, donuts and more!

  49. 602

    104. Puff the Magic HMS Dragon

    Iain and Tessa joust over the UK's position on what's happening in Iran and historical parallels, failed asylum seekers being offered thousands to leave, where to cut spending and more!

  50. 601

    103. I Fought the International Law

    Iain and Tessa digest the events of the last few days -whether Starmer should have supported Trump's actions in Iran from the start, what could happen next and what we can learn from history!

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Join broadcaster Iain Dale and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop as they take a fresh look at the biggest news of the week - through the lens of history. Because nothing is ever truly new, and history has a habit of repeating itself.With wit, insight, and the occasional good-natured row, Iain and Tessa explore how today’s headlines echo the past, unearthing fascinating stories and unexpected parallels. Expect sharp analysis, engaging debate, and plenty of laughs along the way.Subscribe now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: [email protected]

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Where Politics Meets History have?

Where Politics Meets History currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Where Politics Meets History about?

Join broadcaster Iain Dale and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop as they take a fresh look at the biggest news of the week - through the lens of history. Because nothing is ever truly new, and history has a habit of repeating itself.With wit, insight, and the occasional good-natured row, Iain and Tessa...

How often does Where Politics Meets History release new episodes?

Where Politics Meets History has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Where Politics Meets History?

You can listen to Where Politics Meets History on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Where Politics Meets History?

Where Politics Meets History is created and hosted by Global.
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