Review of 2025: another fine mess?

John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Pippa and Kiran speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again?, which is a compilation of his daily work starting from Rishi Sunak’s government to Keir Starmer’s. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Free Birth Society was selling pregnant women a simple message. They could exit the medical system and take back their power. By free birthing. But Nicole Garrison believes FBS ideology nearly cost her her life. This is episode one of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne Listen to the full series from The Guardian Investigates podcast. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris speaks to Yinka Bankole about his treatment as a nine-year-old at Dulwich college when Nigel Farage was a prefect. Plus, Kiran Stacey and John discuss whether Reform UK supporters will start to feel uneasy about the allegations of racism against Farage. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

As Keir Starmer hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what the ‘coalition of the willing’ can achieve. Also in the spotlight is Labour’s shifting position on the EU. Plus, with pressure mounting on Nigel Farage, can the Reform UK leader handle so much scrutiny?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Nigel Farage was handed a £9m donation this week, amid reports he said elsewhere that a deal with the Conservatives before the general election was ‘inevitable’. John Harris speaks to Kiran Stacey about what this means for Reform UK. They also discuss David Lammy’s plan to scrap some jury trials, and answer questions from Politics Weekly UK listeners. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Pippa and Kiran discuss the prime minister’s speech on Monday and ask whether it will take attention away from allegations that the chancellor misled the public with her budget statements. Plus: chaos at Your Party’s first conference. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey give their reactions to the chancellor’s autumn budget. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to silence her critics?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

It is finally budget week, so Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the context of Rachel Reeves’s big moment and how high the stakes are. Plus, Kiran talks about what happened behind the scenes of his trip to Johannesburg with Keir Starmer, including how talks over the Ukraine peace plan unfolded. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

There was outrage from Labour MPs on Monday evening as Shabana Mahmood outlined her plans to shake up the asylum system. Will these policies be watered down? John Harris finds out what is happening behind the scenes with Kiran Stacey. Plus, now that Labour has adopted Reform UK rhetoric on immigration, where does the party go from here? John talks to Guardian columnists Gaby Hinsliff and Rafael Behr. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod