Polis Podcast

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has begun 2022 in an uncertain position. A string of allegations around lockdown parties has dealt significant damage to his leadership. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Polis Analysts Harry and Cameron to discuss these turbulent recent weeks in Parliament.

For the first time in months, Labour are ahead of the Conservatives in the polls. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Polis Analysts Harry and Cameron to look at the UK election polls, by-elections results and what they indicate for the state of both parties.

As COP26 comes to an end, our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by special guest Ted Christie-Miller to discuss greenwashing, the need for greater transparency and the role of private companies in tackling climate change. Ted is Head of Carbon Removals at BeZero Carbon.

COP26 has kicked off today as world leaders (or most of them anyway!) come together in Glasgow to find a way forward to tackle climate change. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by special guest Alexander Baker and Jaye Seargent to discuss what COP26 is all about, why it matters and how we can expect the summit to unfold.Alex is a consultant at an international political consultancy with a focus on U.K. politics and international affairs. Jaye Seargent is a senior analyst at Polis covering climate issues and works for a leading international organisation.

The UK has just had party conference season and rumours are swirling of the next election being brought forward. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Polis' Head of Digital Harry Trelawny to look at the UK election polls, the state of the parties, and why all this matters worldwide.

Next May, voters in France will decide whether they stick with President Macron or ditch him for one of the many other likely candidates in the running. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Polis' Head of Content Anne Caroline to cover who the runners and riders are in the election, why the vote matters and what the current polls are revealing.

Democracy in countries in Central America is on the brink. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Latin America Analyst Fergus Fishburn to discuss what is happening in Central American politics and its consequences for citizens both in the region and the wider world.

Germans recently voted in national elections to determine the next government and who will place the longstanding Chancellor Angela Merkel. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by special guest Phil Hackemann, a German politician and journalist. They discuss the election result, its impact for Europe and the wider world, and who is likely to be the next Chancellor of Germany.

Fake news presents a real threat to the health of both citizens and democracy. Our Founder Thomas Barton is joined by Lead Editor Geremia Lizier-Zmudzinski to discuss the impact of fake news and the potential solutions to protect societies from misinformation.

Support for independence is alive and well in Scotland while increasingly brewing in Wales. Thomas Barton is joined by Polis researchers Cameron and Harry, and special guest Patrick from Gordon Brown's office to discuss the United Kingdom' future.

Political change is sweeping through various South American countries. Thomas Barton is joined by Polis Latin America Researcher Fergus to discuss the elections in the region and their broader impact on the international community.

Ethiopia's conflict with Tigray is in danger of escalating. Thomas Barton is joined by Polis Lead Editor Adam to discuss the conflict, its impact on Ethiopian citizens and the international community, and whether there is a risk of genocide.

Climate change is an issue that is increasingly dominating the minds of citizens and governments alike. Thomas Barton and Polis Analyst Jaye discuss the upcoming COP26 summit and whether we can expect action from global leaders.

As part of Polis Analysis' campaign against fake news, we have invited experts from the fields of journalism, academia, and politics alongside our own head of research to discuss, in-depth, the problem the world is facing with fake news. A fundamental part of this campaign has been not just to highlight the existence of the problem, but to play an important role in providing the solutions to it. This discussion provides a platform for our experts to begin to do just that. Clare Rewcastle Brown is an investigative journalist whose work has helped to expose corruption at the heart of governments and multinational media organisations. Professor Nicholas Oshaughnessy is professor emeritus of communication at Queen Mary University and visiting professor in the centre for strategic communications at KCL. He has written extensively on the topics of political marketing, propaganda, and more recently on the plight of misinformation. Melissa Fairfull is a legal expert and parliamentary aide to a senior member of the Scottish National Party in Westminster. They are joined by Polis Analysis' head of research and resident fake news expert, Geremia Lizier-Zmudzinski, who has led the way in establishing Polis Analysis as a force for highlighting the dangers of fake news. I would like to thank all of the panelists for taking the time to participate in the discussion

Relations between Western powers and Russia have historically shaped global politics and with it the lives of citizens. Thomas Barton and Polis' lead analyst Anne Caroline discuss the current state of West-Russian relations and what we can expect to unfold next.

The CDU is in full campaign mode ahead of a looming national election in Germany. Meanwhile, the U.K. Conservatives have experienced both a shock win and defeat in recent by-elections. Thomas Barton and Polis' German politics expert Darlyn discuss what is in store for these two leading governing parties in Western Europe.

New political leaders have emerged on the scene in the Middle East. Thomas Barton and Lead Editor Adam discuss the new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, including whether their rise to power will deliver change in the region.

The rise of fake news poses an increasing threat to our democracies. Thomas Barton and Head of Research at Polis Analysis Geremia explain what fake news is, why it is dangerous and what potential solutions exist to turn the tide on fake news.

US-China tensions have increased in recent years with consequences for citizens around the world. Thomas Barton and Lead Analyst at Polis Analysis Anne Caroline discuss what the rivalry between these two great powers means for Europe and the global economy, and what we can expect going forward.