Radical with Amol Rajan

Bonus: Frank Cottrell-Boyce edits Today

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK Children's Laureate, is Today's first guest editor this Christmas. His programme focuses on whether we should rethink our...

News Review of the Year 2024

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson are joined by Today programme colleague Justin Webb to discuss a bumper election year that saw the UK elect a new prime m...

Interview: Kemi Badenoch talks to Amol

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks into her new job, Amol sits down with the Conservative Party leader for a wide-ranging interview about her brand of politics, what she wou...

Political Turmoil in France and Germany

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

French prime minister Michel Barnier was forced to resign when his government collapsed in the wake of a no-confidence vote and German Chancellor Olaf...

Nigel Farage, Reform and the Future of British Politics

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When Nigel Farage accepted the Spectator’s Newcomer of the Year Award, he suggested that his Reform UK party could get hundreds more MPs at the next...

Keir Starmer's Reset

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a bumpy first few months in power Keir Starmer is giving a speech to outline his milestones for the next five years, so in this episode Amol and...

Esther Rantzen on the Assisted Dying Debate

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When Dame Esther Rantzen told Amol and Nick that she had joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland she helped reignite a debate about assisted dying i...

Interview: Frank Cottrell-Boyce talks about being a Today Christmas guest editor

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Each year the Today programme gives guest editors the chance to explore the issues that matter to them. In this bonus episode one of this year’s g...

Blair and Brown pay tribute to John Prescott

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode two former Labour prime ministers, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, reflect on the life of the former deputy prime minister who ha...

Can you smash the gangs to stop the boats?

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has said Labour will “smash the gangs” to stop the small boats carrying migrants across the Channel, so Nick joins Amol from the busi...

Special report: Europe’s frontline against illegal migration

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick joins Amol from the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, which is also the border between the EU and rest of the world. What happens here has a di...

Rural Revolt

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a planned protest by farmers who are angry about the Budget, Amol and Nick talk to farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks.Plus, as Dona...

US Election Q&A

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus live episode Amol and Nick are joined by fellow Today presenter Justin Webb who is in Washington DC. Together they answer questions abou...

Trump 2.0

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we look forward and discuss what a second Trump presidency could mean for the world with Lord Sedwill who was the UK’s most senior c...

Analysis: A Budget for the history books

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How will the first Budget by a female chancellor and the first from a Labour government since 2010 be remembered? Nick is joined by Stephanie Flanders...

Interview: Rachel Reeves talks to Nick about the Budget

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we bring you Nick’s full interview with the Chancellor after she delivered the first Labour Budget since 2010.Later Nick will be joi...

Bonus Q&A: Swearing, spin and social media

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, Nick and Amol answer more of your questions. How much power does a political spin doctor have? How do journalists look after th...

Interview: Kate Bush talks to Today

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this exclusive interview Kate Bush talks to Today presenter Emma Barnett about a new short film she has made for the charity War Child, her music r...

Musk goes all-in for Trump

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX is backing Donald Trump in the US election, so what are his motivations and how should politicians deal wi...

Michael Gove on right-wing politics, the Tories and Trump v Harris

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After two decades in politics, including 10 cabinet positions under four prime ministers, Michael Gove is no stranger to the heat of a Conservative le...

Is Labour working?

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week marks 100 days of Keir Starmer’s government. But the new Prime Minister has already faced several setbacks, with stories swirling of freeb...

Iran, Israel and the Middle East crisis explained

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the week that Israel invaded Lebanon and Iran attacked Israel with missiles, Nick and Amol take a step back to ask how we got here.They’re joined...

Ruby Wax talks to Amol

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ruby Wax began her career as a classically trained actor. She’s also starred in sitcoms, made documentaries and done celebrity interviews. Now she’...

Keir Starmer’s interview - the analysis

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick with their take on Keir Starmer’s first Today interview since becoming PM and behind the scenes insights about what it’s like doing ...

The Keir Starmer interview

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, Nick talks to Keir Starmer after his first Labour conference speech as prime minister.Check back later to get Amol and Nick’s...

Will the Lebanon blasts lead to an escalation in the Middle East?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah have exploded across Lebanon killing several people and injuring thousands more.Israeli defence minister Y...

Bonus Q&A – BBC jargon, who makes Today and covering the US election

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do independent MPs work together to hold the government to account? What do the producers behind Today do? And why does the programme mark the end...

Doom, Gloom and the NHS

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS is released, Nick and Amol take a look at what needs to be done to bring about real change. They spea...

Will the victims of Grenfell ever get justice?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A scathing report from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has concluded that all 72 deaths were avoidable – but were the result of a ch...

Starmer’s ‘black holes’: What will fill them?

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Things will get worse before they get better.” That was the gloomy warning given by Keir Starmer this week, in his first major speech since becom...

Summer special – celebrity Q&A

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What tips would you give a government minister ahead of a Today programme interview? What was the best advice you got when you first became a Today pr...

Summer special: Is journalism in crisis?

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick use their decades of experience as journalists to discuss the future of news in this special episode of The Today Podcast.Joining them a...

Social media and the riots: Musk, misinformation and moral responsibility.

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer on his platform ‘X’ this week over the handling of riots in England and Northern Ireland. The d...

Bonus episode - Frank Skinner opens up to Amol

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Every week on The Today Podcast Amol and Nick share something significant that’s happened to them that week and they call it their ‘moment of the ...

How do we turbo-charge Britain’s economy?

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have been championing growth this week. But will their plans actually work? Amol has ...

Bonus Q&A: Young MPs, podcast impartiality and the state of political journalism

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick take on more questions from listeners – such as whether having younger MPs will lead to a change in policies and why do politicians so...

Mary Beard on power, succession and rebellions

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Keir Starmer dealt with a Labour rebellion on the two-child benefit cap that saw the whip removed from seven of his MPs. Meanwhile in Americ...

Biden quits - but can Kamala beat Trump?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden is out and has endorsed his vice president. But will Kamala Harris win the Democratic nomination – and can she beat Donald Trump in Novemb...

Starmer, Trump, and the New World Order

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Keir Starmer has been quick to meet with a host of world leaders since entering Downing Street. After his in-person meeting with Joe Biden, and a ...

Can political rhetoric kill?

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick look at whether the language of politics might now grow less heated after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump – and what effect ...

New MPs, new government... new politics?

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Keir Starmer’s first full week in government and he’s already facing an impending crisis: overflowing prisons. Amol and Nick speak to the f...

Reeves goes for growth in the Treasury, Starmer takes to the world stage

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick are back for Labour’s first week in government to look at Rachel Reeves’ plan for growth and how Keir Starmer can position himself o...

Post-election pod: How will Labour govern? And who will take charge of the Tories?

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the afternoon after the night before and Amol and Nick are back after 14 hours of live radio for a post-election podcast.How will Keir Starmer ...

Election Night Fever and the Challenge across the Channel

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick look ahead to election night, with a run down of the key moments and the best time to get some sleep (if you must!)They also discuss one...

Bonus Q&A – 'None of the Above' on ballot papers & election night cliché bingo.

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should there be an alternative to voting for the least-worst candidate? Why are we obsessed by cult of personality politicians? And what are the elect...

It’s election week!

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With just a few days to go before people go to the polls, Amol and Nick reflect on the strategies behind the parties’ get-out-the-vote messages.And ...

Should we trust the polls?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a week to go before votes are counted and barely a day goes by in the campaign without a new poll.So are the Conservatives really on course ...

Newscast x The Today Podcast x When It Hits The Fan

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Today Podcast, Newscast and When It Hits The Fan have come together for a special episode, to look at the role of the media in the general electio...

Sunak’s betting crisis, Starmer’s gender row and Farage takes on the Mail

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With ten days until polling day Amol and Nick look at the ongoing betting crisis for the Conservatives and discuss why gender is back in the headlines...

Bonus Q&A – Why do politicians use big numbers and why do we vote with pencils?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do politicians use big numbers in interviews? How will political reporting change in the future? And why do we vote using pencils?Amol and Nick an...

Growing pains: how to grow an economy and get young people voting

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick take a look at why politicians are so keen to talk about economic growth in this election campaign – and whether any have the right po...

Farage’s non-manifesto, should Corbyn have stood for the Greens and where’s Boris Johnson?

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the first postal votes being cast this week, Amol and Nick look at how parties are hoping to change voters' minds at a crucial point in the campa...

Extra! The Today Podcast Live! Bonus episode ft. James May

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the second part of The Today Podcast Live!Recorded in the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London in front of a live audience, Amol a...

The Today Podcast: Live!

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of our listeners assembled in the BBC Radio Theatre for the first ever live recording of The Today Podcast!Nick and Amol were joined on stage...

Manifesto week, political earthquakes and interview tactics

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick look ahead to the week in which the release of party manifestos could well reset the narrative of the election.They consider what the ri...

Sunak squares up, Farage steps in

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick look at two possible game-changers in week two of the election campaign: Nigel Farage returning to lead Reform UK, and Rishi Sunak and K...

Sunak and Starmer go head to head

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of our election campaign Monday bonus episodes, Amol and Nick look ahead to the head-to-head television debate between Rishi Sunak and Ke...

Starmer, Socialism & Diane Abbott - whose side is he really on?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick has long thought that the most important question in politics is ‘whose side are you on?’It turns out Keir Starmer might think the same. On T...

Rishi Sunak Talks to Today

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Less than a day after calling the general election, Rishi Sunak kicked off his campaign with a set-piece interview with Nick on Today. Amol and Nic...

Election announcement special

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called an election on July 4th. But why did he choose today to do it and what can we expect in the coming weeks?Amo...

What does Keir Starmer really believe in?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a week in which Keir Starmer outlines his six ‘first steps for change’ (just don’t call it a pledge card), Amol and Nick look into what defin...

Hung parliament or thumping majority? And why do we all feel so skint?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol asks what the local elections results really tell us about what might happen in a general election and why so many Britons feel skint.Pollster Ja...

Cutting through the spin – elections bonus ep

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As votes the continue to be counted Amol and Nick give their take on where the election results leave both the Tories and Labour.Pollster James Kanaga...

AI and humanity’s future: chilling or thrilling?

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’ve taken inspiration from friend of the podcast, Stephen Fry, who challenged Amol and Nick to look at what the future of AI means for u...

Could an MP present the Today programme?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a week where broadcasters with shows hosted by politicians were warned they could face fines if they break impartiality rules during the next gener...

Q&A – lightweight politicians, interviews that made you blush… Ft Esther Rantzen & Stephen Fry

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode of The Today Podcast, Amol and Nick take on more of your questions – on politics, AI and their approach to journalism.Friends ...

Smoke-free generation: Is this Sunak’s legacy?

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How big a social change will Rishi Sunak’s smoking bill prove – and why does he want this to be his legacy?On this week’s podcast Amol and Nick ...

Where’s the money coming from?

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In an interview with Nick on Radio 4’s Today this week, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined how Labour would try to plug the gap in NHS funding...

Tragedy in Gaza: Will this week’s events change anything?

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two events in the Middle East have grabbed the headlines this week - the killing of seven aid workers, including three British nationals, in Israeli s...

Why should you have to pay for the BBC?

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

BBC director general Tim Davie has outlined his vision for the future of the BBC. He fired the starting gun on a consultation on the future of the lic...

Alastair Campbell on the changing face of Starmer’s Labour

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a week where shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves echoed Margaret Thatcher when outlining her vision for the UK economy, we ask, is Labour ready for gov...

Revolt on the right! Reform, Rishi and (Red) Wall-to-Wall Chaos

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lee Anderson grabbed the headlines this week as he defected from the Conservatives to become Reform UK’s first MP. This prompted rumours of further ...

Why the Home Office is ‘dysfunctional’ - Sacked immigration chief speaks out

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

David Neal was sacked last month from his job as Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration for leaking details of critical reports which ministers ha...

Hunt’s Budget - will it make a difference?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Jeremy Hunt done enough with his Budget to change the political and economic weather? Amol and Nick assess the politics of the Chancellor’s spee...

By-election bonus: Rochdale, Galloway, Gaza… what now?

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

George Galloway is back in parliament with a resounding win in the Rochdale by-election.In this bonus episode of The Today Podcast Amol and Nick discu...

Mob rule: Where should we draw the line on protest?

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With pro-Palestinian marches in the spotlight, the prime minister saying mob rule is replacing democratic rule and the government announcing more mone...

Disgrace! Why are MPs playing politics with the Middle East?

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the fallout continues from the chaos in the Commons over a ceasefire vote, Amol and Nick look at the issues the unprecedented night in parliament h...

How did the culture wars take over? Ft Jon Ronson

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rarely a week goes by without a fresh skirmish in the culture wars between the right and the left. Whether it’s cancel culture, wokeism, defining a ...

Why we need to talk about cancer ft. Stephen Fry

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a week in which King Charles III shared his cancer diagnosis, Amol and Nick ask why it’s important to talk about cancer. Stephen Fry talks about ...

Does nanny (state) know best?

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a week in which the government told us more about its plans to create a smokefree generation, Amol and Nick look at why many politicians from acros...

How do we deal with President Trump (again)?

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shockwaves from the Republican primary in New Hampshire are reverberating through the streets of Westminster and across Europe as political leaders co...

Does Starmer need Scotland to win the general election?

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does the route to a Labour election victory at the next general election run through Scotland?With Nick in Glasgow this week we turn our attention to ...

Is democracy dying?

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are younger voters around the world turning their back on democracy in favour of strongman leaders who are prepared to defy parliaments?In a year ...

The Moments In History Amol and Nick Wish They’d Covered

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick answer your questions on how Radio 4’s Today is put together and which historical figures they most wish they could interview.Episodes...

News Review of the Year

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick review the year in news, featuring the biggest moments and their favourite interviews from the Today programme in 2023. They’re join...

Esther Rantzen on a Christmas she did not expect to see

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dame Esther Rantzen is a broadcasting legend, responsible for some of the most famous moments in television history. She blazoned a trail for women in...

Is Putin in danger of winning in Ukraine?

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ukraine is back in the news with Vladimir Putin holding his first press conference since the outbreak of war. But in the last few weeks the story has ...

Sunk! Is Sunak’s Tory Party over?

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a bruising 24 hours for Rishi Sunak including a ministerial resignation, emergency prime ministerial press conference and a former home se...

Why Generation Rent are so angry

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Private rents are soaring, homes to rent are in steep decline, house building has stalled. No wonder young people are full of rage about their chances...

Are these tax cuts for real?

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s right? Are these really the biggest tax cuts since the 1980s? Or are we paying more tax than ever? Or might both things be true? Amol and N...

James May: On Top Gear, tea and driverless cars

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this extra edition of The Today Podcast, James May talks to Amol and Nick about Top Gear, tea and driverless cars, as he is announced as one of thi...

Revolting! How much trouble are Sunak and Starmer in?

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a week of turmoil in British politics culminating in the government losing its Rwanda case then taking on the Supreme Court – and Labour l...

David Cameron In, Suella Braverman Out

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This morning on the Today programme the news of the sacking Suella Braverman broke and we heard the surprise announcement that former Prime Minister D...

The Politics of Protest: Suella Braverman vs the police

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why did the Home Secretary write a newspaper column that puts her on a collision course with both the UK’s most senior police officer… and seeming...

Covidshambles: The human cost of chaos in No 10

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been an explosive week of evidence at the Covid inquiry. Government by WhatsApp and chaotic scenes at Downing Street. Amol and Nick discuss how...

Your Questions Answered

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who decides which presenter does which interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme? Does it create any tensions? In a busy newsroom how do you work out...

What hope for peace?

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick turn their attention this week to what conditions will need to be reached before Israelis and Palestinians are able to sit down with eac...

What Is This War Really About?

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick discuss how the war in Israel and Gaza shows two competing versions of history. They look at what’s at stake and why it matters. They ...

Horror in Israel and Gaza - What next?

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen to Amol and Nick reflect on the Israel and Gaza conflict as they talk about what it might mean for the wider world. They talk to Martha, who’...

I cried after presenting my first Today programme

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amol and Nick are two of the BBC’s most experienced journalists. In this bonus episode of The Today Podcast they talk through their first day presen...