Where Politics Meets History

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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?

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?

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

Iain and Tessa talk about the shifts in the political system demonstrated in the run-up to the Gorton and Denton by-election, the latest Tony Blair documentary, the history of youths being out of work and more!

Iain and Tessa talk Boris Johnson's comments on sending troops to Ukraine, the arrest of Peter Mandelson, how to fix the student loan system and what should be done about special educational needs provision!

Iain and Tessa discuss Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest and what it could mean for the wider Royal Family - as well as the history of Royals and the law. They also talk about Iain's speeding, what to do with the Houses of Parliament, suggestions for new right-wing party names and more!This episode was recorded yesterday afternoon, before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's release on bail.Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, not sexual offences which he also denies.

Iain and Tessa connect remotely, Iain in London and Tessa in Bucharest! They do battle over the government U-turning on local elections, Palestine Action, defence spending and Iain's speeding...

Iain and Tessa discuss whether Lord Doyle is being treated fairly, the history of the age of consent, whether enough attention is being paid to Ukraine, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's remarks about immigration and whether Tessa is heightist.

Iain and Tessa talk Keir Starmer's future (and the history of PMs facing issues mid-term), whether the Royals are getting their response to Andrew right, the new Japanese PM and more!

Iain and Tessa talk Keir Starmer's apology for ever making Mandelson US ambassador, they delve into the Profumo affair and what it tells us about political scandals, whether the UK punches its weight on the world stage - and more!

Iain and Tessa talk Lord Mandelson and whether he should give up his peerage or be forced out of the Lords, whether Andrew Mountbatten will testify in the US, whether Matt Goodwin will win for Reform UK in Gorton and Denton - and more!

Iain and Tessa talk Starmer in China, what Trump could do in Iran, Melania's new film and more!

Iain and Tessa talk Suella Braverman defecting to Reform UK, Labour blocking Andy Burnham, ICE killing someone else in Minnesota, a little Polish history, police reform and more.

Iain and Tessa talk Trump's U-turn on Greenland, his mistakes about Chinese wind, whether Brooklyn Beckham did the right thing, whether Tessa is too mean to Iain - and more!

With Iain in London and Tessa in Madeira, our pair talk Trump vs Europe, Jenrick vs Badenoch and Harry vs the Mail, among other things!

Iain and Tessa debate whether the Iranian regime will fall, and what involvement Trump could have in that - as well as a bit of Iranian history to put it all in context! They also discuss the proposed new Chinese embassy in London, whether Labour MPs should stop worrying about their leader... and one of Iain's exes!

Tessa has the lurgy so Iain is joined by Aggie for this one! They discuss whether the West will get involved in Iran, ex Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defecting to Reform UK, whether we should listen to Peter Mandelson... and a mistake involving ABBA Voyage!

Iain and Tessa are back to talk Trump's further threats to take Greenland (and the history behind it!), ICE shooting a woman in Minneapolis, Moldova's Maia Sandu and whether Labour is losing the young...

Iain and Tessa discuss President Trump capturing Venezuela's Maduro, whether he might invade Greenland, Brigitte Macron winning a cyberbullying case and which former newsreader's boots Tessa is wearing.

Iain and Tessa review the party leaders' new year messages, the government vs the ECHR on Shamima Begum, the fireworks and more!

In this interesting limbo period between Christmas and the New Year, Iain and Tessa discuss their predictions for 2026, Trump's hopes for peace in Ukraine, Iain's views on newsreaders with regional accents and Tessa's Christmas reading (Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea, by Luka Ivan Jukic).

In this special festive episode we recorded earlier, Iain and Tessa give out some fabulous festive awards! There's also discussion about the history of the humble Christmas cracker... and the A11 (stick with it)!