Behind the Ballot

Search for "RTÉ Behind the Story" in your podcast app for insightful and informed conversation as three of RTÉ’s top journalists, David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fran and Katie discuss the results of GE24, the winners and losers, and who might flirt with whom to form a government. They are also joined by David McCullagh but all is not as it seems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David and Katie discuss the exit poll with Mícheál Lehane and Joe Mag Raollaigh. Sinn Féin and Fine Gael appear neck and neck while Fianna Fáil are following closely behind, the team also ponder the unusual situation with the Limerick city ballot paper where Q comes before O!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie, Fran and David are joined by Liz Carolan of The Briefing to discuss which parties are the big spenders on social media. The trio also analyse the latest poll to drop and examine Simon Harris' reminder that there are two candidates running in Louth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David, Katie and Fran dissect the Prime Time Leaders Debate and are joined on the podcast couch by Miriam O'Callaghan and Sarah McInerney who give them the inside scoop on what the atmosphere was like in studio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fine Gael might want to forget about the last few days as the reaction from that exchange in Kanturk has put them under pressure. To compound things more, two polls were released indicating support for them had dropped. David, Fran, and Katie also take a look at a climate policy rating that has given Labour the bragging rights over the Greens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie, Fran and David are joined by a chilly Paul Cunningham to look back on the week that saw more squabbles breaking out, Sinn Féin put the spotlight on RTÉ and Paschal Donohue become a food influencer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accusations of bruised egos from Peadar Tóibín after Micheál Martin ruled out doing business with him. Sinn Féin’s policy on Ukraine has also been getting attention, but does foreign policy affect voting? And which parties are winning on social media? ThinkHouse's Donagh Humphreys is on hand to give Fran, David, and Katie the surprising stats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday took a feisty turn as Fine Gael launched a US-style attack ad on Sinn Féin, while Fianna Fáil are the latest party to find themselves in a spot of trouble with the teachers. David, Katie, and Fran were also joined by RTÉ Entertainment’s Alan Corr who talked them through the highs and lows of posters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a night of backstage chats, David is joined by Paul Cunningham to analyse a lively 24 hours. One person they've been wondering about is Fine Gael's John McGahon who is MIA on the campaign trail. Evelyn O'Rourke, Tommy Meskill, and Samantha Libreri also check in with their leader updates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.