Episodes

  • Henry Hemming on the Troubles, espionage and Stakenife

    Henry Hemming on the Troubles, espionage and Stakenife
    May 22 2024
    On this episode, Reaction’s political reporter Max Mitchell speaks to historian Henry Hemming about his new book Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Stakeknife, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland. They talk about the importance of intelligence during the Troubles, the evolution of the IRA and its eventual involvement in the democratic process, Margaret Thatcher’s lack of interest and inept diplomacy in Northern Ireland and Operation Kenova’s case against the agent known as Stakenife.
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    32 mins
  • Sir Michael Fallon on rebuilding the West’s military deterrence

    Sir Michael Fallon on rebuilding the West’s military deterrence
    May 17 2024
    Ahead of the London Defence Conference, host Iain Martin speaks to Sir Michael Fallon, former defence secretary, about establishing Western deterrence in a new age of geopolitical uncertainty. They touch on AUKUS, Britain’s relationship with its European allies, a potential national service and why deterrence saves lives and money in the long term.
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    35 mins
  • John Rentoul on the local elections and what Keir Starmer believes

    John Rentoul on the local elections and what Keir Starmer believes
    May 10 2024
    On this episode, host Iain Martin speaks to John Rentoul about the consequences of the local elections, the Tory defections, Labour’s readiness for government and what Keir Starmer believes in.
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    42 mins
  • Tim Shipman on the Brexit decade

    Tim Shipman on the Brexit decade
    May 1 2024
    On this episode of the Reaction Podcast, host Iain Martin is joined by Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at The Sunday Times, to talk about his new book, No Way Out: Brexit: From the Backstop to Boris. They discuss the political gambles, successes and failures that led Brexit Britain to where it is today, the legacy of Theresa May’s premiership, what the Brexit moment tells us about historical revolutionary times, the dishonesty of both Brexiteers and Remainers and the future of Britain outside the EU.
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    55 mins
  • Kapil Komireddi on the history of modern India, Narendra Modi and the upcoming elections

    Kapil Komireddi on the history of modern India, Narendra Modi and the upcoming elections
    Apr 18 2024
    On this episode, Max Mitchell (standing in for Iain Martin) speaks to author and journalist Kapil Komireddi about the upcoming Indian elections. They discuss the domineering figure of Narendra Modi, the rise of Hindu nationalism, the tumultuous history of modern India and Kapil’s book, Malevolent Republic: A Short History of the New India, which has just been released in a new and revised paperback edition.
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    44 mins
  • James Kaplan on Kind of Blue and the lost empire of cool

    James Kaplan on Kind of Blue and the lost empire of cool
    Apr 11 2024
    In this conversation hosted by Reaction, Political Reporter and Podcast Editor Max Mitchell speaks to author and journalist James Kaplan about his new book 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool. They discuss the genius of Miles Davis, how these musicians came together to create the best-selling jazz album of all time, the economic and social conditions that affected mid-20th century jazz and Kind of Blue’s lasting power.
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    46 mins
  • Maggie Pagano and Tim Montgomerie on the future of the Conservative party

    Maggie Pagano and Tim Montgomerie on the future of the Conservative party
    Mar 28 2024
    On this episode, Reaction’s Executive Editor Maggie Pagano sits in for Iain Martin and is joined by commentator and founder of ConservativeHome Tim Montgomerie. They discuss whether Rishi Sunak will survive till the next election, who might take over the party, why Labour is courting the corporate world and what it means for a potential Labour government, the state of the economy and why DEI has gone too far.
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    27 mins
  • Jade McGlynn on Putin’s mythmaking

    Jade McGlynn on Putin’s mythmaking
    Mar 20 2024
    On this episode, host Iain Martin speaks to historian and author Jade McGlynn about the Russian myths and propaganda powering the war in Ukraine. Calling in from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, Jade talks about her two important books on modern Russia, Russia’s War and Memory Makers: The Politics of the Past in Putin's Russia. The discussion also touches on Ukrainian morale, the ethical catastrophe engulfing an ever more chaotic Russia, European military capacity and what might happen in the war’s third year.
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    35 mins