The Candidate

The Journal

3.9 (18)
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UPDATED WEEKLY

Podcast by The Journal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 HR AGO

The illusion of safety for 'undocumented Irish'

Another St Patrick's Day trip to the White House, another thorny issue to navigate. This time, it's the detention of an Irish citizen in a US immigration centre. Despite reports of grim conditions and rising concerns for other undocumented Irish people, Micheál Martin seems reluctant to put it front and centre with Donald Trump. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack whether the Taoiseach can really afford to sidestep it. Also: Once again tourists trump renters in the eyes of the government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 min
5 FEB

The political culture war over cycling

The government wants e-bike and e-scooter users to wear helmets and high-vis gear, but critics say that’s missing the point. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy dig into the backlash to this latest safety proposal and why the cycling debate in Ireland seems to hit a nerve every time. Also: Should politicians be using AI to write speeches? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32 min
29 JAN

Met Éíreann issues Status Yellow politics warning

The most powerful political force in Ireland? Flooding. Storm Chandra has kicked off a public row between Housing Minister James Browne and Met Éireann. After Browne suggested Met Éireann 'guarded' information and should change how it issues warnings, question are now being asked: is the warning system fit for purpose, and who is accountable when flooding hits? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy examine what this tells us about Ireland’s preparedness for more extreme weather - and if politicians are able to handle the fallout themselves. Also: why are defections a running drama in UK politics, but not in Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min
21 JAN

Only an invasion will stop Ireland's day at the White House

The annual St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House used to be a low-stakes photo op. Now? It's a perennial (somewhat tiresome, perhaps) news story and moral dilemma: will we, or won't we? Should Micheál Martin go, and if he does, what does Ireland actually gain and risk? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack the political calculations around this, whether there's a 'red line' which we need to accept has been crossed, and how much leverage Ireland really has during Trump's second term Also: why are most political parties still posting on X? And what could the government’s planned digital wallet could mean for kids’ safety and civil liberties? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

34 min
15 JAN

If this doesn't lead to action on Big Tech, nothing will

It's a new Dáil term and a new season of The Candidate, but issues at home are taking a back seat right now. Non-consensual, AI-generated sexual imagery has become the flashpoint after X’s Grok tool made it easier to create and share this content. With gardaí investigating suspected child sexual abuse material, and ministers floating half-formed calls to ban the AI chatbot completely, the government is under pressure to explain what it can and will actually do. Sinéad O'Carroll, Rónán Duffy and Jane Matthews unpack the political response, the muddled messaging, and the question Ireland keeps avoiding: how do you regulate powerful tech firms when the State also relies on them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 min
27/12/2025

Our picks for the political dramas to binge during Twixmas

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy share their favourite political shows - the ones that helped them escape (or make sense of) real-life Leinster House drama. From The West Wing to Veep, The Thick of It to Borgen, they offer recommendations for what to binge over Twixmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 min
19/12/2025

The Candies: Our political awards for 2025

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy hand out their now-traditional end-of-year political awards, from the Michael Myers Award for Hanging On In There to the MGMT Difficult Second Album Award. The team reflect on the wins, flops, scandals, and surprises of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39 min
11/12/2025

What not to say to adults forced to move home

A video aimed at young people moving back in with their parents, shared by the Department of Housing, was meant to be helpful... but it didn't land like that. At all. No sir. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpick why the backlash was so immediate and the lessons needed for the government on talking about the housing crisis. Do decision makers really understand just how hard things have become for an entire generation of renters? Also: If you don't understand why Ireland’s nitrates derogation is controversial, you will after this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min

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3.9

out of 5

18 Ratings

John Walsh

17/12/2025

Avid Irish listener.

Just for info panel. I’m pretty confident that the Irish in general have no issue with migration. I’m also pretty confident that the Irish have no issue with migrants coming here to work so please stop scare mongering that no immigration means no nurses, doctors etc. It’s those that come and have no intention of working that are the issue. After all, we have enough of our own Irish work shy that the tax payer have to support. How about a podcast about the welfare scammers, Irish and foreign that contribute nothing to this country?