The Reaction Podcast

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Reaction is an online magazine dedicated to commentary and analysis on politics, geopolitics, economics and culture. The Reaction Podcast, hosted by Iain Martin, will feature some of the world's leading writers and thinkers about a variety of subjects ranging from politics and philosophy to economics and culture. Become a Reaction subscriber (https://reaction.life/subscribe/) to receive Iain Martin's weekly newsletter, the Reaction Daily Briefing, columns from Tim Marshall, Adam Boulton and Maggie Pagano, and much more.

The Reaction Podcast


    • May 22, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 137 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Reaction Podcast

    Henry Hemming on the Troubles, espionage and Stakenife

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 32:14


    On this episode, Reaction's political reporter Max Mitchell speaks to historian Henry Hemming about his new book Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Stakeknife, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland. They talk about the importance of intelligence during the Troubles, the evolution of the IRA and its eventual involvement in the democratic process, Margaret Thatcher's lack of interest and inept diplomacy in Northern Ireland and Operation Kenova's case against the agent known as Stakenife. 

    Sir Michael Fallon on rebuilding the West's military deterrence

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 34:59


    Ahead of the London Defence Conference, host Iain Martin speaks to Sir Michael Fallon, former defence secretary, about establishing Western deterrence in a new age of geopolitical uncertainty. They touch on AUKUS, Britain's relationship with its European allies, a potential national service and why deterrence saves lives and money in the long term.

    John Rentoul on the local elections and what Keir Starmer believes  

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 41:41


    On this episode, host Iain Martin speaks to John Rentoul about the consequences of the local elections, the Tory defections, Labour's readiness for government and what Keir Starmer believes in. 

    Tim Shipman on the Brexit decade

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 54:45


    On this episode of the Reaction Podcast, host Iain Martin is joined by Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at The Sunday Times, to talk about his new book, No Way Out: Brexit: From the Backstop to Boris. They discuss the political gambles, successes and failures that led Brexit Britain to where it is today, the legacy of Theresa May's premiership, what the Brexit moment tells us about historical revolutionary times, the dishonesty of both Brexiteers and Remainers and the future of Britain outside the EU.

    Kapil Komireddi on the history of modern India, Narendra Modi and the upcoming elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 44:23


    On this episode, Max Mitchell (standing in for Iain Martin) speaks to author and journalist Kapil Komireddi about the upcoming Indian elections. They discuss the domineering figure of Narendra Modi, the rise of Hindu nationalism, the tumultuous history of modern India and Kapil's book, Malevolent Republic: A Short History of the New India, which has just been released in a new and revised paperback edition.

    James Kaplan on Kind of Blue and the lost empire of cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 45:49


    In this conversation hosted by Reaction, Political Reporter and Podcast Editor Max Mitchell speaks to author and journalist James Kaplan about his new book 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool. They discuss the genius of Miles Davis, how these musicians came together to create the best-selling jazz album of all time, the economic and social conditions that affected mid-20th century jazz and Kind of Blue's lasting power.

    Maggie Pagano and Tim Montgomerie on the future of the Conservative party

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 26:55


    On this episode, Reaction's Executive Editor Maggie Pagano sits in for Iain Martin and is joined by commentator and founder of ConservativeHome Tim Montgomerie. They discuss whether Rishi Sunak will survive till the next election, who might take over the party, why Labour is courting the corporate world and what it means for a potential Labour government, the state of the economy and why DEI has gone too far. 

    Jade McGlynn on Putin's mythmaking

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 34:45


    On this episode, host Iain Martin speaks to historian and author Jade McGlynn about the Russian myths and propaganda powering the war in Ukraine. Calling in from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, Jade talks about her two important books on modern Russia, Russia's War and Memory Makers: The Politics of the Past in Putin's Russia. The discussion also touches on Ukrainian morale, the ethical catastrophe engulfing an ever more chaotic Russia, European military capacity and what might happen in the war's third year.

    A global conflict update with Tim Marshall

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 40:48


    In this episode, host Iain Martin speaks to geopolitical expert and Reaction columnist Tim Marshall about the state of global conflict. They touch on the recent developments in the Israel-Hamas war, the future of the Middle East, how the growing Axis of Resistance is enabling Putin's war in Ukraine, European rearmament and deterrence with or without the US and the end of the end of history.

    Merryn Somerset Webb on the rise and fall of ESG

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 40:16


    On this episode, host Iain Martin talks to Merryn Somerset Webb, Bloomberg columnist and author, about her prescient book Share Power. The discussion touches on the origins of ESG, how huge amounts of money poured into sustainability funds, its vague and subjective definitions, how ESG could only exist in a low interest rate environment, what Jeremy Hunt will do in the Spring Budget and the failure of central banks.

    Goodbye Globalisation with Elisabeth Braw

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 53:30


    On this week's podcast, host Iain Martin speaks to Elisabeth Braw, senior fellow at Atlantic Council and author of the new book Goodbye Globalisation. Since the end of the Cold War, many saw the adoption of market economies by previously communist countries as a sign that a liberal democratic system of government had prevailed definitively over authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. Those who argued for globalisation said that if goods, services and dollars crossed borders, then soldiers would not. But the world is changing again. War has returned to Europe with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US and China are at loggerheads over Taiwan and there's the Middle East once again in crisis. There are concerns about supply chains and the viability of the global trading system. All themes addressed in Goodbye Globalisation. Iain and Elisabeth discuss the development of globalisation, the philosophy underpinning it, the huge financial and cultural successes, its increasing volatility, whether it will last and what financial system might replace it.

    Ed Conway on the Material World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 69:01


    Host Iain Martin talks to Ed Conway about his book Material World. From the extraction processes to treatment, through the supply chains and on to the consumer, Ed's new book follows the stories of the key substances that have built the modern world: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. We are heavily reliant on these substances but often ignorant of where they come from, how they are made and how civilisation would crumble without them. In this episode, Iain and Ed discuss how climate change, the energy crisis and the threat of new global conflict will affect our relationship to the material world.

    Francis Hoar on the Covid disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 53:47


    This week, host Iain Martin talks to Francis Hoar, barrister and legal commentator, about the disaster of political decision-making during the pandemic. The discussion ranges from the fallacy of zero Covid to the embarrassment of politicians standing in the way of an honest reckoning with the mistakes made. Francis argues that society has to reassess its relationship with risk, health and liberty.

    Lord Arbuthnot on the Post Office scandal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 35:47


    On this episode, host Iain Martin interviews Lord Arbuthnot, Post Office scandal campaigner, about the heroic role he played, helping to pave the way for justice. They discuss the history of the scandal, the groupthink of Post Office and Fujitsu employees, the fallacy of blind faith in machines, the scandal's similarities to the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash and potential governmental and judicial reforms.

    2024: the year in politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 55:31


    On the first episode of the new year, host Iain Martin sits down with Tim Montgomerie to look at the year ahead in politics. With almost two billion people in 60 countries heading to the polls in 2024, it is sure to be a year of geopolitical shifts. Iain and Tim discuss what the Tory party can do to salvage the election, the rise of the Labour party and its potential style of governance, the seeming inevitability of Donald Trump's return, the consequences of the EU elections for European security and whether 2024 will see further escalations in Ukraine, Israel and other conflicts.

    Gerry Baker on the breakdown of American politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 53:49


    Host Iain Martin speaks to Gerry Baker, editor-at-large of the Wall Street Journal, about his new book American Breakdown: Why We No Longer Trust Our Leaders and Institutions and How We Can Rebuild Confidence. They talk about the loss of legitimacy in American politics, hyperpartisanship, inequality, how American democracy can be saved, what next year's presidential election means for global politics and Henry Kissinger.

    Can it get any worse for the Tories?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 43:18


    Host Iain Martin and guest Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, discuss the crisis facing Rishi Sunak and long-term Tory problems.

    How bad is it for the Tories?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 40:14


    Host Iain Martin and guest Tim Montgomerie on the Autumn Statement, immigration numbers and the rise of Reform, the party that with Nigel Farage could turn Conservative defeat into a rout.

    Helen Thompson on the geopolitics of energy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 50:25


    This week, Iain Martin speaks to Helen Thompson about the geopolitics of energy. They touch on why the Ukraine war hasn't sparked a European awakening on energy security, the energy picture around Israel and the Middle East, why Trump 2.0 could be bad news for European security and her book Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century which is now out in paperback.  

    The Braverman debacle, the Autumn Statement and the upheaval of the coming election year

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 41:09


    On this episode, Iain Martin talks to Maggie Pagano, executive editor of Reaction, about the Suella Braverman debacle, the state of the economy ahead of the Autumn Statement, the potential of electoral reform, the influence of social justice activism on businesses, the coming year of elections and a potential Biden-Trump re-run.

    David Petraeus on a new age of conflict

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 36:54


    This week, Iain Martin speaks to David Petraeus, retired four star US Army general and former director of the CIA, about a new age of global conflict. They discuss his book Conflict, co-authored with Andrew Roberts, the danger of the Gaza ground invasion, what the Middle East looks like post-war, his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, China's geopolitical goals and the war in Ukraine.

    Robert Dingwall on the Covid inquiry

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 52:55


    What's going wrong at the Covid inquiry? This week on the Reaction Podcast, host Iain Martin is joined by  Robert Dingwall, emeritus professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University and Alastair Benn, deputy editor of Engelsberg Ideas. They discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, the revelations from the inquiry and whether we have learned any lessons for next time round.

    Maggie Pagano on the Middle East crisis, the death of corporate Britain and the Covid inquiry

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 47:29


    This week on the Reaction Podcast, Iain Martin is joined by Maggie Pagano, executive editor and columnist at Reaction, to discuss the Middle East crisis, the death of corporate Britain and the Covid inquiry. They touch on the geopolitical consequences of escalation in the Middle East and what it means for US-Iran relations, how the pro-Palestinian protests have turned sour across the West, why Britain's pensions and capital markets are in such a mess, how Britain can stimulate growth and the recent revelations of the Covid inquiry.

    Tim Marshall on Israel, Hamas and the Middle East crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 40:03


    This week on the Reaction Podcast, Iain Martin is joined by Tim Marshall, leading geopolitical expert, best-selling author and Reaction columnist to discuss the Middle East crisis. They discuss the geopolitical consequences of the Hamas attack on Israel, how Israel was caught off-guard, the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the geographical complications of Israel's potential war on several fronts and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's future as his nation's leader.

    Mick Ryan on the future of war

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 48:16


    This week on the Reaction Podcast, Iain Martin is joined by Mick Ryan, leading strategist and retired major general from the Australian Army. They discuss the prospects for the war in Ukraine, the geopolitical threat of China, his own experiences in the field and as a military adviser and what we can learn from military history.  

    Why did HS2 go off the rails?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 32:29


    On this week's edition, Iain Martin is joined by George Trefgarne, CEO and Founder at Boscobel & Partners, to discuss the disastrous HS2 project and Max Mitchell from Reaction's Young Journalist's Programme talking party conferences and the second Republican debate. 

    Walter Russell Mead on China, the US and Europe's declining status

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 48:27


    On the latest Reaction podcast Iain Martin talks to Walter Russell Mead, WSJ columnist and leading geopolitical commentator. They discuss the US election, China-US tensions, Taiwan, Europe's declining status, the rise of Asia, and Britain post-Brexit.

    Tim Montgomerie on the state of British politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 29:35


    Iain Martin is joined by political commentator Tim Montgomerie. They discuss the state of British politics, Rishi Sunak's prospects, the next Tory leadership contest, the transformation of the Labour party and what the future of British politics looks like.

    Daniel Finkelstein on his new book: Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 52:18


    The Reaction Podcast is back. Host Iain Martin sits down with his friend and Times colleague Daniel Finkelstein to talk about his new book, Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad: A Family Memoir of Miraculous Survival.

    S3 Ep14: Reaction Podcast: Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 30:59


    Maggie Pagano, editor of Reaction, talks to Joe Murphy, doyen of Westminster hacks and former political editor of the Evening Standard, and Mark Fox, deputy chairman of Reaction, about Liz Truss's departure, who might take over and what it means for the future of the party. And whether the Tories can still win the next election with a new "unifying" leader. 

    S3 Ep13: Reaction Podcast: By-election special - Tim Montgomerie and Iain Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 25:00


    Can Boris Johnson survive the twin by-election defeats? Why has Dowden resigned? What on earth are the Tories playing at?

    S3 Ep12: Will Boris survive inflation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 42:50


    In this episode, Iain Martin is joined by Tim Montgomerie. They discuss the Tory leadership, inflation and central banks, and divides in the West over Ukraine.

    S3 Ep12: Reaction Podcast: Will Boris survive inflation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 42:42


    In this episode Iain Martin is joined by Tim Montgomerie. They discuss the Tory leadership, inflation and central banks, and divides in the West over Ukraine.

    S3 Ep11: Reaction Podcast: Partygate fallout and Rishi to the rescue - can he save Britain from recession?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 34:41


    In this week's podcast, Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss Britain's energy crisis and the Chancellor's package to help Britons with the cost of living. Plus, what will be the legacy of Partygate for Boris Johnson's leadership?

    S3 Ep10: Reaction Podcast: NI Protocol in trouble, Putin's battle for the Donbas and WFH - is it here to stay?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 57:48


    n this week's podcast, Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss a possible trade war between the EU and the UK, whether Putin is making progress in the Donbas, and the pros and cons of WFH.

    S3 Ep9: Reaction Podcast: Macron's victory, Parliament in meltdown and the West's changing strategy in Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 44:35


    In this week's podcast, Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss the results of the French Presidential Election, Covid fines and the cost of living, and shifting war aims in Ukraine.

    S3 Ep8: Reaction Podcast: Partygate divisions, Ukraine war update and French election

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2022 27:15


    Partygate divisions, scandal that will bring him down, Ukraine war and French election

    S3 Ep7: Reaction Podcast: The sinking of Sunak

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 36:56


    In this week's podcast Iain Martin and Maggie Pagano discuss Sunak's non-dom downfall, British science giving grounds for optimism and the conference hosted by Reaction and King's College London's on the Defence of Europe scheduled for the 9th of May. 

    S3 Ep6: Reaction Podcast: The spring statement

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2022 39:47


    In this week's podcast Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss  how bad the UK economy is going to get and how world leaders can avoid escalating the war in Ukraine.

    S3 Ep5: Reaction Podcast: Iain Martin in conversation with Justin Webb

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 56:00


    S3 Ep4: Reaction Podcast: The course of the war

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 49:14


    In this week's podcast Iain Martin talks to Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn about the West's astonishing economic response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, what has surprised them most about the course of the war and whether the war means Boris Johnson will survive.

    S3 Ep3: Reaction Podcast: how far will Putin go?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 59:01


    In the latest edition of the Reaction podcast, Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss the crisis in Ukraine and the historical backdrop. How should the West respond? Will sanctions work? Is this a war likely to be limited to Ukraine or should the West prepare for a wider conflict if Putin challenges NATO?

    S3 Ep2: Reaction Podcast: Covid and the second draft of history

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 52:30


    In the latest episode of the weekly Reaction podcast, editor Iain Martin and Alastair Benn discuss the impact of the pandemic. We all want it gone, but before it slips into the rear view mirror of history what lessons are there to learn about the way it reshaped our politics and society?

    S3 Ep1: The Reaction Podcast: Is Britain right on Russia?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 48:46


    The Reaction podcast is back in its original format. This week, the team Britain has taken a robust position on Russia and Ukraine. Have British policymakers called it right or the French drive for compromise more sensible. Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn, from the Reaction team, also discuss Boris Johnson's chances of survival, post-Covid politics and gender neutral toilets.

    Press Review 19 | Putin's capacity to withstand sanctions | New Zealand and Covid

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 47:40


    Reaction Press Review, the show where Reaction editors discuss the best stories, writing, podcasts and videos that have caught their attention in the last week. This week on episode 19, Iain Martin is joined by Mattie Brignal and Alastair Benn.  They discuss whether the West has underestimated Vladimir Putin's capacity to withstand sanctions, whether New Zealand will ever move on from Covid, and how Boris et al have taken us all for fools, as well as earbuds, Jacques Rueff's quest for monetary order, and the wonders of Essex.

    S2 Ep18: Press Review 18 | Tory turmoil | Biden's troubles | The threat of war | Shane Warne

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 37:21


    On this latest episode of Press Review, editors Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss Tory turmoil, Biden's troubles, the threat of war, some economic good news, Shane Warne and more.

    Merryn Somerset Webb | Share Power - Changing the way capitalism works and how to make money too

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 29:02


    Merryn Somerset Webb talks to Reaction editor Iain Martin about her new book Share Power: How ordinary people can change the way that capitalism works - and make money too. Who is shaping the big investment decisions globally? What should companies care about? Why don't more shareholders realise they have individual and collective power? What can be done to fix it? This is the latest episode of the Author in Conversation show on Reaction. Merryn Somerset Webb is Editor-in-Chief of MoneyWeek, a columnist for The Financial Times and one of the world's leading commentators on investment.

    Authors in conversation - Azheem Azhar - Exponential: How Accelerating Technology is Leaving us Behind and What to do About it

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 34:39


    Azeem Azhar is the author of Exponential: How Accelerating Technology is Leaving us Behind and What to do About it. Here he talks to Reaction editor Iain Martin, in the latest of our authors in conversation series. There is a growing gap between technologists and the rest of us, what Azeem describes as the exponential gap. What are the implications and how should we adapt?

    S2 Ep16: Season 2 episode 16: Reaction Podcast: Rapid Reaction on the leadership race and Press Review 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 51:27


    S2 Ep15: Reaction Podcast: Iain Dale on US Presidents, and two episodes of Press Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 108:14


    In this extended podcast Iain Martin speaks to Iain Dale about his new book The Presidents: 250 Years of American Political Leadership. Iain Martin hosts Press Review episode 14 where the team cover stories on fears over the next pandemic, central banks and growing fears of inflation, the migration crisis in Europe, why the supply chain bottlenecks are finally easing up and the ongoing fallout following the Owen Paterson scandal. Maggie Pagano hosts Press Review episode 15 on US stocks slide on news of new covid variant in South Africa, the English Channel tragedy, the flooding at The Smithsonian, how the internet has stopped us all being able to forget and the decline of the male novelist.

    S2 Ep14: Reaction Podcast: Rory Stewart, crisis in Ukraine and Tim Marshall

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2021 67:40


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