PODCAST · news
Where Politics Meets History
by Global
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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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and Tessa discuss the controversy around Jason Arday and whether Cambridge should be blamed, the controversy around the withdrawn Tory Crewkerne candidate and whether Kemi Badenoch should be blamed, the Welsh language and more!Stay connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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625
127. Movin' On Out
Iain and Tessa discuss net migration (and the history of people arriving in, and leaving, the UK) - and more!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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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