• 52 minutes 20 seconds
    Why Not a Mini Budget?

    Matt is joined by Danny McConnell and John Lee to discuss the changing government generosity towards Ukrainians and how this may have been influenced by the by-election in Galway West and Dublin Central. On the latter, they explore why a Sinn Féin win in Mary Lou's home constituency is not the slam dunk it should be, due to the presence of Gerry Hutch and possible voter confusion about what Sinn Féin stands for. They discuss the potential for Dara Calleary to become the leader of Fianna Fáil. Matt condemns the failure to get electric buses on the road and expresses bafflement at dust in the ducts at the National Children's Hospital, and they finish with praise for the financial generosity of former President Michael D. Higgins.

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    2 May 2026, 6:40 am
  • 56 minutes 18 seconds
    How Protest Should Be Done - The Expert’s View

    Long-time protest activist Brendan Ogle takes issue with the conduct of the diesel protests and the government’s capitulation to unlicensed protesters. He details his own experiences with the Locomotive Drivers' Association, the Right2Water campaign, and the Apollo House protest against homelessness.


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    25 April 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Leo's Rural-Urban Divide

    Shane Coleman and Lise Hand join Matt, and they start with the suggested split in the Healy-Rae dynasty. They discuss all the issues related to the rural-urban divide, with particular emphasis on deprivation in urban areas. What would the public reaction be if people living in the inner cities did what the farmers did? Could the protesters bring us towards having an Irish Trump? Is the government, awash with cash, going to be a soft touch to further protests? A debate on the merits of bringing back social partnership, are we on the road to anarchy, and have we forgotten the crash? They discuss the controversy caused by Leo Varadkar’s comments about the rural-urban divide and who really pays the bills. The highly paid Robert Watt, cause he’s worth it? And how clever has Catherine Connolly’s immigration legislation position been?


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    25 April 2026, 6:40 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    PTP America: J. Edgar Boozer, Pulp Fiction, and a Raccoon's Penis

    As Trump continues his suspension of the assault on Iran, Matt and Marion divert to the case of Kash Patel's sobriety, Pete Hegseth's use of a Pulp Fiction script as scripture, and RFK Jr.'s interest in the penises of raccoons. They discuss the sincerity of Tucker Carlson recanting his support for Trump, and how Marjorie Taylor Greene brings it all back to the Epstein files. Why MAGA is losing faith in the story it believed about the Trump assassination attempt. Trump's Fed nominee, Kevin Warsh and accusations that he's a 'sock puppet'. The many problems besetting the FIFA World Cup. And Joe Rogan persuades Trump to be interested in psychedelic drugs.


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    24 April 2026, 6:00 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Powder keg Politics and Protests

    Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and former political correspondent Áine Kerr join Matt to analyse the politics of the past fortnight, dominated by the diesel protests. They look at Jim O’Callaghan’s use of the army, Patrick O’Donovan’s aborted assault on the media, and what the protests tell us about the rural-urban divide. The resignation of Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae. How the opposition parties behaved during the protests. The Fianna Fáil youthful backbencher revolt. Dáil member behaviour towards and overall decorum. And Trump and the Pope.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    18 April 2026, 6:40 am
  • 55 minutes 19 seconds
    Fuelling the (Ire)land

    Driving the protesters off the blocked roads: Brenda Power and John Deasy join Matt to discuss how the government has to confront threatened anarchy. Carbon tax increases debated, and is the future Nuclear? Why objections to IPAS Centres won't be bypassed. Why the Department of Education can't get its budget sums right, the problem with voluntary contributions, and paying teachers appropriately. Also, Mary Lou McDonald's belief that a united Ireland is the pressing political issue, will she campaign on that basis in the by-elections?


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    11 April 2026, 6:40 am
  • 57 minutes 44 seconds
    Everything Goes Off the Rails

    Lise Hand and John Lee join Matt to discuss if the MetroLink project may be derailed by the untimely departure of its boss, Seán Sweeney, and if the government finances become shredded, will MetroLink become a victim again? How the attack on Iran continues to affect the Irish economy and the impact on the government's decision-making. Super saver Simon Harris: What does he want you to do with your money (if you have any)? Is Trump responsible for the increased sales of EV cars? Where would Ireland put a nuclear power plant? And tributes to the late Dr Rory O'Hanlon.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    4 April 2026, 6:40 am
  • 55 minutes 35 seconds
    How Many TDs to Change a Lightbulb?

    Danny McConnell and John Lee join Matt and open with a discussion on the proposal to limit the number of TDs. They discuss the 18th delay to the handing over of a National Children's Hospital by BAM. Do we need more Robert Watts running our Civil Service? The politics of excise cuts and fiscal discipline. How can overruns at the Department of Education happen annually? Have they learnt nothing? The impact of Jim O'Callaghan in Justice and who is responsible for increased Garda visibility.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    28 March 2026, 7:40 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    The Price Donald Trump Makes Us Pay

    Matt is joined by Brendan Ogle and Larry Donnelly to look at Irish reactions to Trump's Iranian assault. They rate and review Micheál Martin's Oval Office visit as much for what it signified as what he said. They discuss whether it is safe for Irish people to go to America, especially for the World Cup. Brendan, a regular visitor to Cuba, explains why we should continue to monitor the situation there while all the tension and focus are on the Middle East. They return home to discuss the many price increases that are likely to result from the Gulf crisis and what the government could and should do in response. They debate the number of data centres and the price they should pay for electricity. And they finish on the Oireachtas hearing on the extension of passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    21 March 2026, 7:40 am
  • 57 minutes 48 seconds
    Micheál Martin's Mission: Impossible

    Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to assess the perilous nature of Micheál Martin's visit to the Oval Office: what sort of Trump will he find, can he safeguard Irish interests, and is it right to be dealing with the increasingly erratic president at all at a time of war? Was Catherine Connolly out of line to make statements about violations of international law, and in doing so, was she putting it up to the government? Lise and Shane disagree vehemently. Matt defends the Moriarty Tribunal from the criticisms of Michael Lowry and Denis O'Brien. And also, a short clip from Leo Varadkar - our new PTP cast member.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    14 March 2026, 7:40 am
  • 52 minutes 5 seconds
    How the Iranian War Impacts Ireland

    Brenda Power and John Deasy join Matt to discuss America's assault on Iran and what Ireland's position on it should be. They assess what Micheál Martin should do in Washington the week after next, and how a prolonged war would prompt a cost-of-living crisis. They debate whether the government should be paying for people to return from the Gulf states. They also discuss the Fáilte Ireland attempt to get us all to take more short holiday breaks in Ireland. And they focus on Phil Hogan's bid for a new big UN gig.


    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.


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    7 March 2026, 7:40 am
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