Best Peter Squire Podcasts (2024)

1
How To Deal With JD Vance 37:42

1h ago37:42

37:42

Donald Trump has picked JD Vance as his running mate and looks on course to return to the White House. How is the UK Government preparing for Trump 2.0, and does it matter that the foreign secretary once called him a ‘neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath’? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorle…

1
How To Whip Your New MPs 39:49

4d ago39:49

39:49

It's the first week of the next election campaign, and new MPs are arriving in Westminster in their hundreds. The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to find out how the parties will manage the new intake. They also discuss the balance of power in what's left of the Conservative Party, Liz…

1
EMERGENCY EPISODE: How To Win The NEXT Election 47:07

9d ago47:07

47:07

The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley in front of a live audience to unpack the election and look forward to the next four years. Who can rescue the Conservative Party, how influential will Nigel Farage be, and can they predict Keir Starmer's first U-turn? Send questions, comments and vo…

1
How To Stay Up For Truss 37:02

14d ago37:02

37:02

Election night is nearly here, but which seats will the political masterminds be keeping an eye on as the results start flooding in? Could Liz Truss provide the next 'Portillo moment'? Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to try to predict what surprises the night might have in store, and to give their verdict o…

1
Q&A: How To Replace Joe Biden 23:47

16d ago23:47

23:47

After Joe Biden's calamitous performance in the first US presidential debate, will the Democrats have to replace him as their candidate for the White House? The political masterminds Daniel Finkelstein and Polly Mackenzie join Matt Chorley to answer your questions, including how to be authentic in politics and when is the right time to launch a lea…

1
How Not To Talk About Brexit 40:22

22d ago40:22

40:22

It's the subject that none of the parties want to talk about - why hasn't Brexit played a bigger part in the election campaign so far? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley as the podcast passes one million downloads. They discuss whether we'll ever rejoin the EU, whether a Keir Starmer …

1
Q&A: How Not To Bet On Politics 23:15

26d ago23:15

23:15

We're answering your questions in another bonus episode, including: Does someone at Conservative HQ have a bet on the party being wiped out? If Labour wins, will it keep MPs at Westminster all summer while the Tories are in disarray? And who will win the 2034 election? Political masterminds Daniel Finkelstein and Polly Mackenzie join Matt Chorley t…

1
How To Oppose A Supermajority 38:01

29d ago38:01

38:01

As ministers admit on the airwaves that a Conservative victory looks unlikely, how will a small Tory rump in Parliament oppose a new Labour government? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt to look back at what happened in the aftermath of the 1997 Labour landslide, and to consider which way the…

1
Q&A: How Starmer Is Measuring The Curtains 23:35

1M ago23:35

23:35

With Reform UK now ahead of the Conservatives according to one poll, how should Rishi Sunak respond? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson and Daniel Finkelstein think the prime minister could electrify the campaign by tackling Nigel Farage head on. They join Matt Chorley to talk about whether the polls could still shift before July 4, and whet…

1
How Trump Will Win 41:31

1M ago41:31

41:31

We've got a special guest on the podcast this week, with American pollster and strategist Frank Luntz joining Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie, Daniel Finkelstein and Matt Chorley to discuss why Joe Biden is in trouble in the race against Donald Trump, and why the Tories are facing a Canadian-style wipeout. Was it wise for Rishi Sunak to head to a …

1
Q&A: How To Get D-Day Wrong 23:14

1M ago23:14

23:14

The podcast is going twice-weekly for the rest of the campaign, with the political masterminds answering your questions. First up today, how did Rishi Sunak get it so wrong when he decided to leave the D-Day ceremony in France early? Can being a good constituency MP save you from defeat? And what's the point of canvassing? Send questions, comments …

1
How To Fight Farage 39:41

1M ago39:41

39:41

How will Nigel Farage's decision to stand as a candidate for Reform UK affect the election result, and can things get any worse for Rishi Sunak? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the chances of a Conservative implosion, Peter's last-ditch plan to replace Sunak with Penny M…

1
How To Dodge A Dodgy Candidate 49:50

2M ago49:50

49:50

The race is on to get candidates in place for the general election, with the Tories having to deal with more MPs announcing their departure by the day. The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss who the parties will pick, and who they’ll come to regret. And has Rishi Sunak’s campai…

1
EMERGENCY EPISODE: How To Call An Election! 28:14

2M ago28:14

28:14

It's happened. Rishi Sunak has announced the General Election for 4th July - as predicted by Danny in the last episode of the podcast. The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt for an emergency episode, recorded at the Podcast Show in London. Send questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@theti…

1
How To Pull Off A Political Stunt 41:04

2M ago41:04

41:04

The long election campaign is well underway, and politicians are vying for attention with eye-catching photocalls, speeches, visits and stunts. The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein explain what happened when Blair and Brown shared an ice cream, when Ming Campbell pointed down the toilet, and when Danny w…

1
How To Tell When The Game's Up 41:15

2M ago41:15

41:15

Is there a point in an election campaign when you realise that the game is up and you're going to lose? And can you admit it when it happens? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss whether Rishi Sunak has another roll of the dice, why Polly planned for a coalition that never ha…

1
How To Leave A Legacy 40:08

2M ago40:08

40:08

What is Rishi Sunak's political legacy, and has he still got time to build one? The political masterminds discuss when leaders have left a lasting change - and whether they can ever leave the public wanting more. Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about legacy, why Rachel Reeves is using the word 'gasl…

1
LIVE: How To Spin Defeat 47:07

2M ago47:07

47:07

In a special bonus episode of the podcast, Matt and the political masterminds analyse the local elections results in front of a live audience. How easy is it to spin your way out of a heavy election defeat, has Rishi Sunak done enough to see off Tory rebels, and should Labour be talking more about Liz Truss? Send questions, comments and voicenotes …

1
How To Defy Political Gravity 39:54

3M ago39:54

39:54

Is there anything that Rishi Sunak can do to defy political gravity and deny Labour a majority? And after flying high for so long, can the SNP find a new leader that will help them turn the page? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the turmoil in Scottish politics, whether L…

1
How To Pitch For The Leadership 42:51

3M ago42:51

42:51

There's currently no vacancy for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but that hasn't stopped potential candidates from positioning themselves for life after Rishi Sunak. Matt Chorley asks the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein how to get the top job without being seen to wield the knife. After Rishi …

1
How To Learn From Liz Truss 40:05

3M ago40:05

40:05

How much lasting damage has Liz Truss done to the Conservative Party, and any future leaders hoping to pursue a radical tax-cutting agenda? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss the former prime minister's new book and whether she wants her party to win or lose the election. A…

1
How To Do A TV Debate 37:14

3M ago37:14

37:14

This week in 2010 saw the UK's first ever TV debate between the party leaders. Campaign insiders Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to remember the advice they gave at the time. Why did Tony Blair warn Peter not to talk up Nick Clegg's performance, why did David Cameron tell Danny he'd been nervous for the fir…

1
How To Win PMQs And The Papers 50:18

4M ago50:18

50:18

We're answering your questions this week, including whether Prime Minister's Questions really matters, how important is it to win the support of the newspapers, and does negative campaigning work? Matt Chorley is joined by the political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein. Send questions, comments and voicenotes to h…

1
How To Write A Manifesto 41:22

4M ago41:22

41:22

Who is writing the manifestos ahead of the General Election, and how are the parties planning to make them grab the public's attention without blowing up during the campaign? Election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to talk about 1983's 'longest suicide note in history', and the time Theresa May…

1
How To Win With Taylor Swift (And Other Celebrities) 42:58

4M ago42:58

42:58

In the US, Taylor Swift could have the power to swing the presidential election. As famous faces come out to back Keir Starmer's plans for the arts, we ask when a celebrity endorsement can boost a campaign... and when it can go badly wrong. The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discus…

1
How To Defect 40:18

4M ago40:18

40:18

Can Rishi Sunak hold his party together, or is former deputy chairman Lee Anderson's departure a sign of even more Tory unrest ahead? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to look at what happens when politicians defect, from the Gang of Four to Change UK. And how did Keir Starmer react …

1
How To Do The Budget (And The Dishwasher) 40:36

4M ago40:36

40:36

Can Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak use the Budget to shift the dial, leave the cupboard bare for Labour, and even prepare the ground for a May election? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to look at when budgets go right, and when they go wrong. And as the prime minister and his wife dis…

1
How To Deal With Truss 38:58

5M ago38:58

38:58

Liz Truss has been in the US, appearing alongside Trump strategist Steve Bannon and blaming the 'deep state' for forcing her from office. Should Rishi Sunak act, and even kick her out of the party? Matt Chorley and the election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss whether the prime minister could take a stand …

1
How To Win In A Recession 38:38

5M ago38:38

38:38

Is it the economy, stupid, that will decide the election? Could green shoots come to the government's rescue? Political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to look at what happens when the country goes to the polls during a recession. They also find out why Polly's gone viral, how parties vet candid…

1
How To Survive The Campaign 55:10

5M ago55:10

55:10

Working round the clock, sleeping in the office and eating sugary cereals. How do the people working on the inside of a campaign survive all the way to polling day? Is Boris Johnson's coalition of voters lost forever? And where's the best place to watch the exit poll come in? The political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Fin…

1
How To Follow A Focus Group 38:44

5M ago38:44

38:44

Focus groups, along with opinion polls, are vital for political parties and election campaigns. Peter Mandelson discusses introducing them to British politics, Polly Mackenzie explains why the Lib Dems could never afford them, and even Daniel Finkelstein agrees they make a difference. The political masterminds join Matt Chorley to talk about when t…

1
How To Form A Coalition 37:35

6M ago37:35

37:35

How do you plan, negotiate and form a coalition? Should Labour be thinking more seriously about doing a deal with the Liberal Democrats? And have we finally found out what Danny thinks makes a difference to the outcome of the election? Matt Chorley is joined by political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein to lift th…

1
How Not To Split The Vote 39:37

6M ago39:37

39:37

Will Nigel Farage and Reform UK split the Conservative vote, and could Jeremy Corbyn launch a new left-wing party to take votes from Labour? Political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley to discuss local elections, access talks, and have they ever been inspired by The West Wing or The Thick Of It? S…

1
How To Win A By-Election 37:46

6M ago37:46

37:46

With at least two by-elections on the way, what impact will they have on Rishi Sunak if he keeps losing? Do they tell us any more than an opinion poll? And how did an American intern saddle Peter with an apocryphal story about mushy peas? Matt Chorley and election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein also discuss how …

1
How To Destroy Ed Davey 38:33

6M ago38:33

38:33

With Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey in the headlines for his role in the Post Office scandal, will his opponents be able to turn his track record against him? Matt Chorley is joined by Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss Davey's (possible) downfall, whether Rishi Sunak really will wait until the autumn to go to …

1
How To New Year Relaunch 36:45

7M ago36:45

36:45

It's the start of a huge political year, and Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are planning big speeches to try and frame the coming general election. Should the Conservatives 'let Sunak be Sunak', does Dominic Cummings have the answers, and is Labour's plan to borrow £28bn a gift to the Tories? Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein jo…

1
How To Answer Your Questions 43:12

7M ago43:12

43:12

In a special end of year episode we answer some of your biggest political questions, including: Who will be in Downing Street and the White House this time next year? Will Nigel Farage try to join the Tories? And do the closing days of an election campaign make any difference? There are Christmas crackers in the studio as election masterminds Peter…

1
How To Tell A Political Joke, And Not Become One 35:26

7M ago35:26

35:26

Can Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer tell a decent gag, and does it matter? Why did 'From Stalin to Mr Bean' do so much damage to Gordon Brown, and why did Nick Clegg once compare David Cameron to Toilet Duck? Matt Chorley and election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein remember when politicians being funny made a diffe…

1
How To Raise A War Chest - And How To Waste It 36:39

7M ago36:39

36:39

The next election is set to be the most expensive in history. But why are people giving so much to the Conservatives when the party is in chaos? Does the party with the deepest pockets win? And was the Ed Stone a cold hard waste of cash? Matt Chorley asks election masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein about the role of…

1
How To Bury Boris Johnson (And Other Political Ghosts) 38:17

7M ago38:17

38:17

Is it time for Rishi Sunak to condemn Boris Johnson? Is Keir Starmer right to dream of Margaret Thatcher? And why is Danny being fair to Ed Miliband? Matt Chorley and political masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein discuss how to deal with the ghost of a former party leader. Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: …

1
How To Crush (Or Cuddle) Your Rebels 39:15

8M ago39:15

39:15

Rishi Sunak is behind in the polls and under pressure from his MPs over immigration. But should a leader try to compromise with party rebels, or confront them? Matt Chorley is joined by Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein to discuss Sunak's troubles, the threat to Keir Starmer from the left, where Nick Clegg went wrong over tuit…

1
How To Make Slogans Great Again 44:22

8M ago44:22

44:22

Yes We Can. Are you Thinking What We're Thinking? Labour Isn't Working. New Labour, New Britain. Take Back Control. When it comes to campaign slogans, what separates the good from the bad? And how are they being used to sell Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer? Matt Chorley is joined by Daniel Finkelstein, Polly Mackenzie and Peter Mandelson to pick their…

1
How To Make A Shock Comeback 39:02

8M ago39:02

39:02

What's the secret to a successful cabinet reshuffle? What will Suella Braverman do next? As David Cameron returns, three-time comeback kid Peter Mandelson remembers when Gordon Brown asked him for help a decade after they had fallen out. Daniel Finkelstein explains how Rishi Sunak kept Cameron's appointment under wraps, and Polly Mackenzie reveals …

1
How To Win At Policy 39:11

8M ago39:11

39:11

As the government sets out its plans in the King's Speech, we ask whether policies can win or lose an election. Peter Mandelson regrets backing HS2 to upstage the Tories, Polly Mackenzie thinks the pension triple lock was a terrible idea, while Daniel Finkelstein remembers the time his peer's robes were mistaken for a Father Christmas outfit. And i…

1
How To Decide When To Call An Election 40:15

9M ago40:15

40:15

With Rishi Sunak still behind in the polls, will he wait a full year before calling a General Election? And at a time when many voters feel pessimistic about the future, can either Sunak or Keir Starmer generate a sense of hope and change? In this first episode of How To Win An Election, electoral masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Da…

1
Introducing: How To Win An Election 13:58

9M ago13:58

13:58

Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley for How To Win An Election - your weekly guide through the twists and turns of a tumultuous campaign. Follow the podcast now to never miss an episode. Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati…

1
How best to open a podcast

1y ago

—

I haven’t posted much here lately about my work with the talented team I helped assemble a decade ago at Rivet (now formally known as Rivet360)—mostly in secret at the beginning. That’s partly because, as I’ve shifted focus since 2017 to my award-winning Chicago Public Square email news briefing (subscribe free!), I’ve eased into a role as Rivet’s …

1
Science fiction writer Greg Bear in 1994: The Internet’s future

1+ y ago

—

[Updating this original post—from March 1, 2015—on Nov. 20, 2022: Greg Bear is dead at 71.] Science fiction writer Greg Bear in a 1994 interview with me on WNUA-FM, Chicago, on the future of the Internet: “It’s going to be a huge intellectual telephone line, with graphics and library materials, all available at a few minutes’ notice. That, I think,…

1
Why I should never sing in public

2y ago

—

Chicago Reader columnist Ben Joravsky was kind enough to invite me on his show this week—we talked Wednesday, the podcast was published Saturday—to answer questions about how and why I do what I do for Chicago Public Square. I was honored along the way to express my admiration for columnists Neil Steinberg and Robert Feder, Reader critic Jack Helbi…

1
1995: Peter David, Chris Claremont and Gary Colabuono discuss the comic book industry’s flirtation with disaster

2y ago

—

[It’s been a while since we dove into the archives. But now that hour’s come round at last—again.] In 1995, the comic book industry was approaching what later became known as “the Great Comics Crash of 1996”—triggered in part by Marvel Comics’ 1994 purchase of the business’ third-largest distributor, converting it to distribute Marvel’s stuff exclu…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Peter Squire Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide