These Times

I think I learn more from Helen and Tom’s pod than any other podcast. They explain the impact of economic power on world affairs. I listen to a lot of political podcasts as well, and it’s refreshing that I couldn’t hazard a guess as to which parties Helen or Tom vote for in elections. I love the relaxed gentle tone of their voices too. Great for a 3 am listen when I can’t get back to sleep. I just heard on today’s show that they will be taking a break. Hopefully just for a very brief hiatus. Def check this pod out.

Tom and Helen are superb. Appointment listening…

How does Helen put up with him? By his own admission Tom doesn’t know much. He is working on a book and talks to ‘senior people’ over the weekend, but contributes little to the conversation. This episode on the rumoured Mar a Lago Accord was important and needed Helen Thompson’s prodigious memory and ability to explain things simply, but we kept getting Tom stating the obvious over and over. Grrh!

These Times provides much-needed, informed and thoughtful analysis in a fast-moving world. Helen Thompson and Tom McTague provide clear historical, political and economic contexts for world events, and Trump 2.0 in particular. I particularly appreciate their refusal to become part of the circus. They meet our bewilderingly fast news cycle with calm, not outrage, and frame what can feel like abrupt aberrations as strategies long in the making. I can’t tell you what a difference this approach makes, to me at least. Thank you.