This Election Day, Here Are The Best Politics Podcasts To Keep You In The Loop
With the election dawning, the future of the country is up in the air, to put it one way. Regardless of who wins, there are plenty of issues that need addressing, and they’re not always easy to understand. Luckily, these days a whole host of podcasts are dedicated to the news and politics, and making it more digestible in a chatty way, to help us all make sense of the world around us. It’s not just our election either: more than 2 billion voters will be casting their votes in elections around the globe. Here are nine of the best political podcasts to keep you in the loop.
The News Agents
A great podcast for a journalistic point of view on politics, The News Agents has gathered a devoted following for its regular and speedy breakdowns of news at home and abroad. Former BBC News journalist and presenter Emily Maitlis (recently played onscreen by Gillian Anderson in Netflix drama Scoop, US politics expert and former BBC correspondent Jon Sopel, and Newsnight policy editor Lewis Goodall co-present as they discuss a wide an array of issues, from the day to day drama of Westminster to elections around the world, to sudden breaking news stories like an unexpected resignation.
With their immense shared experience and journalistic contacts, together they make the show one of the very best for getting insider knowledge and expert analysis on the nooks and crannies of Downing Street and beyond. They regularly interview guests who are at the heart of politics (and give them a grilling), and Maitlis and Sopel cover American news in special The News Agents USA episodes, too.
The Rest Is Politics
The Rest Is Politics has fast become one of the UK’s most popular podcasts, as unlikely as it might initially seem. It’s hosted by two men from opposite ends of the isle: former Conservative MP and cabinet member Rory Stewart, and former advisor to Tony Blair and spin doctor during the New Labour years Alistair Campbell. Together, they give unique perspectives on politics, having both been at the top of government, and while they agree on much occasionally spar on a few issues. It’s formed a huge audience of different ages and backgrounds for its affable but informative view of the news.
TRIP Leading, a spin-off podcast under the same umbrella, might be even better than the main show, with each episode seeing guests such as former prime ministers, business leaders, world diplomats and more being interrogated (Bill Gates, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hillary Clinton and Sadiq Khan to name a few.) TRIP USA meanwhile examines US news, hosted by the BBC’s Katty Kay and former Trump advisor turned sworn enemy Anthony Scaramucci.
Politics without the Boring Bits
If you’re looking for something a little lighter that doesn’t always overbear you with buzzwords and heavy-going news, then Politics without the Boring Bits, created by The Times, is a good shout. It’s hosted by Matt Chorley, and aims to keep things more accessible and a way of keeping in touch with the ups and downs of politics without being too dense. There’s less in-depth discussion of things like “universal basic income” and “free trade agreements” and more about how politics really matters and connects with you at home- allowing you to feel informed and entertained. Matt is joined by various guests across the series, and while there’s plenty of proper chat about the news and current affairs, it’s not afraid to poke fun at the various political figures standing at lecterns or arguing in Parliament.
Newscast
The BBC’s Newscast is, effectively, BBC News in podcast form. Hosted by former chief political correspondent Adam Fleming, the show is one of the most popular on BBC Sounds, and takes a look at the day’s main politics events, analysing the news and combing through talking points. The show, in essence, seeks to help you gain a better understanding of what’s going on in the political world in a more balanced and impartial way than other podcasts out there and acts to inform rather than give opinions.
Newscast interviews a variety of guests for their take on things happening in the world, from politicians (Keir Starmer) to celebrities (Zoe Ball) to experts and analysts (money-saving guru Martin Lewis). There are also sister shows Americast, which is a similar podcast covering US news and issues, and Ukrainecast, launched to focus on the war in Ukraine. All are a great listen to keep you informed and in the loop. To tie in with the election season, Newscast is currently retitled as “Electioncast”, so if you need to get a sense of what’s been happening, give it a play.
Pod Save America
Travelling across the pond for our one non-British podcast on this list, Pod Save America is one of the most popular current affairs podcasts in the US, and is hosted by former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett, and Dan Pfeiffer. Borne out of the early days of the Trump administration, the show generally takes a pro-Democrat or at least anti-Trumpism slant to things and covers both politics and a range of important current issues affecting America.
The show has featured plenty of guests (again largely from the Democrat Party), including both Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and others, and aims to have a “no-bullshit” conversation about politics. With the continuing influence of Trump and events like the overturning of Roe V Wade, Pod Save America attempts to act as a beacon of light and trustworthiness in tumultuous times for the country.
Politics Weekly UK
A straight-laced look at the week’s events and political news, Guardian political columnist John Harris hosts this show that provides insight into current affairs and helps break down what’s going on in the world in an accessible yet still informative way. While acting as the official podcast of The Guardian, Politics Weekly UK makes sure to feature a diverse cast of voices from around the country, as well as from different parts of the political spectrum, to make sure all bases are covered and all viewpoints heard. It’s one of the best and most popular politics podcasts for its straight-to-the-point and insightful approach, which cuts through the noise so that you can get a firm idea of the latest political developments.
The Inquiry
The Inquiry from The BBC’s World Service is a particularly good listen for anyone who wants to know more about glocal affairs and to get really in-depth about it. Rather than a quick whistle-stop tour around the day’s events or breaking news stories, it takes a deep dive approach by making every episode themed around a question relating to a certain topic. For example, AI is discussed in the recent “Do we have enough energy to power AI?”, while Bangladesh is examined in “Why is Bangladesh in turmoil?”. Rather than one or two key presenters that stick around for every episode, it features various journalists from across the BBC, alongside opinions and insights from experts and analysts around the world. It has the same journalistic rigour and story-telling that’s made The World Service such a prestigious outlet.
Electoral Dysfunction
Electoral Dysfunction is a quite recent addition to the growing world of political podcasts, and comes from Sky News, with their chief political editor Beth Rigby as one of the main hosts. It borrows a bit from The Rest Is Politics by also being presented by Labour MP Jess Phillips and Conservative MP Ruth Davidson. Together, the three take a look at some of the issues of the day, but the main focus has been on the current UK election and the lead-up to it. Both MPs criticise or praise their own and each other’s parties and aren’t shy to point out that perhaps Westminster and its often antiquated ways are probably in need of a real overhaul. It’s another worthwhile listen if you want a bit more info on the election’s big issues.
Oh God, What Now?
The title of this pod is a sentiment we’ve probably all had in the last few years, as politics has swayed from bizarre to infuriating to depressing, and back again. Billed as the “no bullshit” politics podcast (but then, quite a few claim that description), Oh God, What Now? wades into the often head-spinning and exasperating world of the news, with a pinch of humour, too. Presenters include Dorian Lynskey from The Guardian, columnist Alex Anderou, and journalist Ros Taylor, as they discuss topics like Rishi Sunak’s leadership and the various parties vying for government. It’s had quite a few notable guests, including sitting MPs like Caroline Lucas and David Lammy, former politicians like Nick Clegg and Tony Blair, and business people like Deborah Meaden.
For more on podcasts, check out our Inspirational Podcasts Guide.
Interested in finding out what podcasts the Handbook team is listening to? Click here.
