Top Government Podcasts – Apple Podcasts

The Law Show

1

The Law Show

BBC Radio 4
The National Security Podcast

2

The National Security Podcast

ANU National Security College
Global Security Briefing

3

Global Security Briefing

The Royal United Services Institute
Samleng Khmer

4

Samleng Khmer

Planet FM
The Interview

5

The Interview

BBC World Service
The Lawfare Podcast

6

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute
Strict Scrutiny

7

Strict Scrutiny

Strict Scrutiny

04/06/2025

Should killers be forced to attend sentencing hearings?

The Victims and Courts Bill is progressing through Parliament, and will force convicted criminals to attend their sentencing hearings. If criminals convicted of the most serious offences in England or Wales refuse to attend, or are disruptive in court, they will face an extra two years in prison. There are other sanctions too, including missing out on family visits. ‘Reasonable force’ can also be used to get criminals to attend. The families of three women killed in London - Sabina Nessa, Jan Mustafa and Zara Aleena - have been campaigning for a new law. In each case, the men who murdered their loved ones refused to come to their sentencing hearings. Their families are not alone; the mother of 9 year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was fatally shot in August 2022, has also been calling for a change in the law. The man who murdered her daughter also refused to come to court to be sentenced. But will the changes improve the court system for the families of victims? Also on the programme: The first purely-AI legal service has been given the go ahead in England and Wales - what does it mean for the UK legal sector? And who gets the dog? Why all couples might want to consider a "pet-nup" in case they split up. Presenter: Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte Rowles Editor Tara McDermott Contributors Charlie Sherrard KC, criminal justice barrister and judge Claire Waxman, Victim's Commissioner for London Dr Giulia Gentile, Department of Law, University of Essex and expert on AI and digital regulation Samantha Woodham, barrister and co-founder of The Divorce Surgery.
19/03/2025

The human cost of court delays

Justice delayed is justice denied - the court backlog in England and Wales has reached a record high and suspects being charged with new offences are regularly told they may not get a trial until 2027. Some courts are already booking court dates for 2028. The government has commissioned an independent review of criminal courts to work out how to cut waiting times. A victim of crime and a criminal defence solicitor tell Dr Joelle Grogan about the human cost of court delays. Also on the programme, the MP introducing a law to end the abuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney and what can someone do when their ex refuses to pay child maintenance? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermott Contributors: Tracey Moloney, solicitor, Moloney Family Solicitors Stephen Davies, criminal defence solicitor at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors Tom Franklin, CEO of the Magistrates Association Professor Carolyn Stephens, whose father was a victim of LPA abuse Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East.
5 days ago

The Cambodian Connection - live news and events

Chakara and Rotha bring live reports and interviews from Cambodia, update local events and issues and play music.
6 days ago

Brazil's Elections: Why Lula's Win Matters for Global Security

Dr Daniela Portella Sampaio joins Dr Andrew Gee to discuss the security implications of Brazil's 2026 election and Lula's fourth term. On 25 October 2026, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowly defeated far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro to win a fourth term as Brazil's president. Dr Andrew Gee, Director of the International Security Research Group at RUSI, is joined by Dr. Daniela Portella Sampaio, Senior Research Fellow for Latin American Security. They discuss what the result means for international security, for competition between the US and China, and for the fight against organised crime across South America. In this episode: Flávio Bolsonaro's flight to the US while under investigation, and what it means for US–Brazil relations. How Lula's win reshapes US–China competition in Brazil, including the BRICS group of emerging economies and the US dollar. Why Brazil's dominance of critical minerals such as niobium matters for global defence supply chains. Tackling organised crime and drug trafficking across South America. How an opposition-dominated Congress and right-wing state governors could constrain Lula. Strains in Mercosur, South America's main trading bloc. Opportunities for UK–Brazil defence and security cooperation.
3 Jun

Why were three teen rapists not given custodial sentences?

Note: this episode contains frequent references to rape, sexual assault and physical assault. There's been public confusion and outrage over the sentences given to three teenage boys, who were convicted of rape. In November 2024 and January 2025, two girls, then aged 15 and 14, were attacked in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, by two 14-year-olds. Another boy, then 13, was also convicted for his involvement in the second rape. The teenage boys were given youth rehabilitation orders and walked out of court with 10 rape convictions between them. The Prime Minister says the case will be referred to the Court of Appeal. He described the case as distressing and said "there are questions about the sentence". One of the girls who was raped told the BBC that the judge's decision was like a "rock straight in my face". So what are the likely reasons why the three teenage boys were given non-custodial sentences? What is the guidance around youth sentencing, and what are youth rehabilitation orders? How do youth courts - and youth custody - work, and how does the system differ from the adult courts in England and Wales? And does the adversarial nature of our criminal justice system lead to vulnerable victims being re-traumatised? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic Editor: Damon Rose Contributors: Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister who specialises in family law and human rights Dr Kathy Hampson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Aberystwyth University
18 Mar

When is it legal to go to war?

Under international law, when can a country declare war on another? Was it legal for Israel and the United States to have carried out "pre-emptive" airstrikes across most of Iran’s provinces, which started the war? The USA says the attacks were justfied, because of an imminent threat from Iran's nuclear programme, and Israel claims it acted in self-defence. The Israeli President went further - telling the BBC that focusing on the legality of the war instead of regional security is "mind-boggling" to him. And what of Iran's response? Was it reasonable under international law? In the last few weeks, practically all its Gulf-state neighbours have been targeted, as well as its drones or missiles landing in Syria, Cyprus, Turkey and Azerbajan. So does the Iranian retalliation justify the American and Israeli attacks under international law? And if any country breaks international laws - are there any real consequences? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte Rowles Editor: Tom Bigwood Contributors: Susan Breau, Professor of International law at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London Christian Henderson, Professor of International Law, University of Sussex Éamon Chawke, intellectual property, data protection and commercial law solicitor, Briffa Legal
5 days ago

Should we use AI to make legal decisions?

Could Artificial Intelligence be used by judges in our courts - and even help make legal decisions? It's a technology that's already being adopted by legal systems in other parts of the world, including a court in the Chinese city of Shenzhen where it is has helped judges navigate over 600,000 small claims cases. Other countries are more cautious, and maintain that AI should never replace human judicial decisions. What are acceptable uses of AI in the judicial system, and what areas should be off limits? So far, in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, there have been AI pilots for legal administrative work and transcription services. In England and Wales, there are also plans for AI legal assistants to help with routine casework and help judges decide which cases are ready to be heard in court. It's an issue which has been considered by Sir Geoffrey Vos - the recently retired Master of the Rolls, Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He speaks to Joelle about his findings and how he thinks we the legal system could benefit from AI - and the areas he thinks should be off limits. Plus: is it illegal to buy the books of Irish author Sally Rooney, since she made public that she would like to donate her royalties to the proscribed group Palestine Action? The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, explains the law. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Contributors: Retired Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, former Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales Jonathan Hall KC, from 6KBW College Hill, the goverment's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation
6 days ago

Tessa Clarke, Olio CEO: Environmental impact of food waste is devastating

“The environmental impacts of food waste are absolutely devastating. If it were a country, food waste would be the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after the USA and China - and that's because a landmass larger than China is used every year to grow food that's never eaten.” Leanna Byrne speaks to Olio co-founder and CEO Tessa Clarke. Olio helps millions of people around the world give away unwanted food and household items instead of throwing them away. It’s a simple process, where users list unwanted food, clothes, furniture, books, and toiletries on the app for people nearby to then get in touch and arrange collection. Having started life barely a decade ago in the form of a WhatsApp group set up to reduce waste in a small corner of suburban London, Olio has since grown into an app used daily in around 50 countries all over the world. With over 150 million meals and 17 million household items already shared, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions and billions of litres of water in the process saved, the movement has even been recognised by the United Nations as a scalable solution for combating climate change. In this interview, Clarke talks about how it grew into a global movement, and why changing human behaviour may be key to tackling climate change. Thank you to the Founders team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Veolia CEO Estelle Brachlianoff, billionaire Mohammed Dewji, and TaskRabbit founder Leah Solivan. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Ben Cooper and Barbara George Editor: Farhana Haider Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media. (Image: Tessa Clarke. Credit: Getty)
4 days ago

Lawfare Daily: The President’s Hand in Russia’s Covert Action

In this episode, Lawfare Editor in Chief Benjamin Wittes sits down with Lawfare Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee to discuss her new essay, “The Unhidden Hand.” The essay judges Russia’s 2016 election interference by the standards the intelligence profession uses for covert action. Covert operations usually pay off early and then fade. They discuss why this one did the opposite: It was exposed before the votes were counted, yet Moscow’s gains have grown over the decade since, largely because of the man Russia helped elect. They also cover the dismantling of U.S. defenses against foreign election interference, the purge of the analysts and investigators who exposed the operation, and what Congress could do to build election defenses that no president can switch off. For further reading, see: Julia Curlee, “The Unhidden Hand,” LawfareTo receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.