# Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

A podcast by BBC Radio 4. Nick Robinson talks to people who shape our political thinking about what shaped theirs. Each episode of Political Thinking features an in-depth conversation with someone who is shaping our politics. The people who run our country (and those who want to), campaigners, business and union leaders, and people who run other countries. All of them join Nick in the studio, not for a news-y interrogation, but for an extended and relaxed conversation, delving into their past and how it shaped their worldview. New episodes drop on Fridays on BBC Sounds. You can also watch them on BBC Two at 12:15 pm on Fridays or on BBC iPlayer. And you can listen on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 17:30.

Feed: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/b08qmsh6.rss

## Latest episodes

- ['We can't leave it to tech bros and oligarchs': AI minister Kanishka Narayan](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/273f46a73f43) (2026-10-23, 40 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pj29gg.mp3
- [Suella Braverman: 'I'm not imposing my idea of Englishness on anyone else'](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/de3fdefbfee9) (2026-10-16, 37 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pgxzny.mp3
- [Tom Watson: Don't bow to 'mob rule' on Palantir](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/10668271bcaa) (2026-10-09, 41 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pfw8p4.mp3
- [We're failing the next generation: Alan Milburn on getting young people into work](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/269450744c14) (2026-09-30, 40 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pd6g78.mp3
- ['Can you not hear their rage?': Film-maker Paul Greengrass](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/701c5b04cd39) (2026-09-24, 41 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pc3jmq.mp3
- ["Weakness is provocative": Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat on the UK's role in the world](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/ed2e95cdeab5) (2026-09-18, 41 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pb3jk9.mp3
- [Angela Rayner on her return to the top table: 'It’s good to give people a second chance'](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/dcafce4fc9d6) (2026-09-11, 46 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0p9099z.mp3
- ["It's not a purge!" Kemi Badenoch on forging a future for her party](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/deacfc87171f) (2026-07-23, 36 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0p09nkk.mp3
- ['Our donors are brave people': Reform's Robert Jenrick on wealth, power, and the establishment](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/20c53ee89c38) (2026-07-17, 40 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nz78hx.mp3
- [We've got a plan: Louise Haigh on her journey back to power](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/3061320f68ca) (2026-07-09, 43 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nxnn6n.mp3
- [The Treasury was in denial: John Healey on why he resigned as defence secretary](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/25fe642da25d) (2026-07-06, 29 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nx6ydf.mp3
- [What went wrong for Starmer: Morgan McSweeney gives his side of the story](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/68615f8b44f0) (2026-07-02, 66 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nwcp4t.mp3
- ['A bad start even before he starts' - Welsh First Minister on why trouble's brewing with Burnham](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/82f4b6442b10) (2026-06-26, 35 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nv63hg.mp3
- [From Downing Street... to California Governor? Former Tory adviser Steve Hilton on making the Golden State great again](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/6b002e5b6bdf) (2026-06-19, 33 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nsvnwp.mp3
- ['We need some daydreaming': lawyer Theodor Meron on surviving the Holocaust, and issuing Netanyahu’s arrest warrant](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/e1dd73049f1a) (2026-06-12, 32 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nrjj6c.mp3
- [Why Starmer will survive: The Attorney General on human rights, small boats, and his ‘dogged’ friend the Prime Minister](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/2f4fe1f188a2) (2026-06-05, 36 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nq6n8q.mp3
- [“Inequalities don’t happen by accident” Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson on trans rights, Islamophobia, and why equality still matters](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/e62379cea243) (2026-05-29, 37 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nnvgq0.mp3
- ['What the hell are we doing?' Wes Streeting on his promise to young people, resigning from government, and wanting to be PM](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/96dc8d525796) (2026-05-21, 53 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nmcsns.mp3
- [Why the PM has to go: Miatta Fahnbulleh on being the first minister to break with Starmer](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/634c64b5d7f8) (2026-05-15, 50 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nlbwgw.mp3
- ['It's been a whirlwind': Zack Polanski on storytelling, Zionism and Zackonomics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/858b6fe6253e) (2026-03-20, 55 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n7q5nd.mp3
- [From Sky boss to Number 10: Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/c60a2351dfae) (2026-03-13, 40 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n69ymk.mp3
- ['We cannot have chaos': Emily Thornberry on the law of war and Labour's struggles](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/da08c7596b22) (2026-03-06, 42 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n4w9yf.mp3
- ['This is Iran's Berlin Wall moment': Omid Djalili, comedian and actor](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/b13c53ba89fc) (2026-02-27, 47 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n3k224.mp3
- ['We're appeasing the tech bros': Beeban Kidron, from film-maker to lawmaker](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/2d109a6a4c4a) (2026-02-20, 48 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n245fg.mp3
- [Nigel Farage: 'Broken Britain', national identity and lessons from Trump](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/c82a2b64ec05) (2026-02-13, 53 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n0ty6v.mp3
- [How to tell England’s story: James Graham, playwright](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/7b97fdc57d8e) (2026-02-06, 44 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0n01d2h.mp3
- [Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: From boxing to politics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/b26c6f5978ae) (2026-01-30, 35 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0my06tk.mp3
- [David Lammy: The old world order isn't coming back](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/6ea5fec000e6) (2026-01-23, 51 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mxpl55.mp3
- [The union leader who agrees with the Tory leader: Daniel Kebede](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/9218a792974d) (2026-01-16, 44 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mv4gsr.mp3
- [John Swinney: Trump, Independence and Scottish Troops in Ukraine](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/4b5d07e6a6af) (2026-01-09, 43 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0msyzhp.mp3
- [Jordan Bardella: The 30-year-old populist hoping to be France's next president](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/cfa78ba4d094) (2025-12-10, 48 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mmlc3v.mp3
- [Kemi Badenoch: Shooting from the hip](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/7efaf97147fa) (2025-11-28, 46 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mk7j45.mp3
- [Shabana Mahmood: Racism, Asylum and Me](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/81604f89b676) (2025-11-20, 50 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mhp5pk.mp3
- ['I'm preparing for government': Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/83a81ac09ed2) (2025-11-14, 39 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mgjd0r.mp3
- ['I like it when people underestimate me': Lib Dem leader Ed Davey](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/77ba7da5c80a) (2025-11-07, 48 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mf5cx8.mp3
- [Life after Labour: Zarah Sultana on Palestine, Farage and 'Your Party'](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/8f790cf2387d) (2025-10-31, 48 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mctthk.mp3
- [Gaza, Trump and me: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/133245958645) (2025-10-24, 49 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mbh3mn.mp3
- [Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/99b45bceae05) (2025-10-17, 43 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m90x3t.mp3
- [Free Speech Tsar: Arif Ahmed on how to avoid the 'abyss' of political violence](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/c2c136373be7) (2025-10-10, 45 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m7py1y.mp3
- [Bridget Phillipson on life as education secretary](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/7b1c0b190c94) (2025-10-02, 44 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m63vgb.mp3
- [Preparing Farage for Power: Danny Kruger on defecting to Reform UK](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/797499f0c2e8) (2025-09-26, 44 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m512t4.mp3
- [Lucy Powell: People have lost sense of Labour's values](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/a9d2dd3f4e3b) (2025-09-17, 43 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m39c46.mp3
- ['Build Baby Build': The new housing secretary, Steve Reed](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/13d7fc5a6f1d) (2025-09-12, 37 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m28frm.mp3
- [China, Russia and us: Tony Radakin on four years as Chief of the Defence Staff](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/64a04aa1ee03) (2025-09-05, 50 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0m0yr4c.mp3
- [The Friedrich Merz One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/f5147f615eef) (2025-07-18, 35 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0lqtwy3.mp3
- [The Josh Babarinde One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/be3af3ed7f99) (2025-07-11, 34 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0lpd948.mp3
- [The Keir Starmer Prime Minister One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/0ed5845ceb6b) (2025-07-04, 47 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0ln16q9.mp3
- [Trump's America: The Scott Perry One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/123c21c89ef9) (2025-06-27, 32 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0llp3dv.mp3
- [The Douglas Alexander One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/ba86b4bd4e7c) (2025-06-20, 44 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0lkbp4d.mp3
- [The Mel Stride One](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1224154223/392b327c8a26) (2025-06-13, 38 min): audio https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0lhzr66.mp3

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.