The Candidate

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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 04/12/2025

    A careful visit with an even more careful message

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland was smooth, symbolic, and tightly stage-managed. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews unpack the carefully curated optics of the visit, and examine what was said vs what wasn't. Also: how we are still talking about the Occupied Territories Bill? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

  5. 27/11/2025

    Twenty people stall a €9.5 billion project

    A judicial review filed against the long awaited MetroLink has sparked a backlash from both government and a public fed up with delays. Ministers are treading carefully, defending the right to object while clearly hoping the residents of Dublin's leafiest of leafy suburbs back down. Will this be a short planning skirmish or a defining infrastructure war? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews look at why this case has touched a nerve and what comes next. Also: a shift in tone and policy on migration raises questions about what’s driving the government’s tougher stance. Public pressure or EU alignment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  6. 20/11/2025

    Simon Harris keeps Finance for himself

    In a move that has raised some eyebrows across Leinster House, Simon Harris has made himself the country's new Minister for Finance. This meant skipping over the entire Fine Gael front bench team in his search to fill the gap left by Paschal Donohoe’s high-profile exit to the World Bank. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack why Harris did it, and how this could shape the next two years of government. The team also examines what Donohoe’s departure will actually mean for the Fine Gael party, and whether the upcoming by-election means a certain Monk might make another surprise appearance... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    The presidential inauguration needs an overhaul

    Catherine Connolly’s first speech as president was careful, critical, calm, with just a few pointed lines that hinted at how she’ll approach the role. But for such a major democratic moment, it felt stilted and oddly empty. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy examine why the inauguration itself felt so disconnected from the public, in contrast with Connolly's people-first outlook. Also: Fianna Fáil eagerly await Micheál Martin's promised review of the election campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  8. 05/11/2025

    When political training becomes a political problem

    Fianna Fáil’s hiring of Ivan Yates to help prep Jim Gavin for grillings during the presidential election rate has sparked (or perhaps fanned) tensions with Fine Gael. Then there's the broader questions about media transparency and political training (and let's not forget: who Matt Cooper's new podcast co-host will be?). Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the past few days. Also: Simon Harris poorly timed, vaguely worded remarks on migration were not what the country needed right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
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About

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

Information

  • Channel
    The Journal
  • Creator
    The Journal
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Candidate

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