The second era of Trump is a little over a week old, and the president-elect is making waves with his cabinet appointments. An attorney general who has been investigated by the House ethics committee for sexual misconduct allegations (which he vehemently denies)? Welcome, Matt Gaetz. Trump’s pick for defence secretary? Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who’s a proponent of American-made ammo.

George Osborne and Ed Balls consider what the spillover will be for the UK. Will the recently cooked-up Chagos Islands deal get messy? And will Britain find itself more exposed to America than the US itself when it comes to the economic fallout?

And while Nigel Farage still appears to be jostling to become UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson is strongly tipped for the job. Do unusual times call for an ambassador with a little ‘British allure’?

Back home, and the Labour government has increased tuition fees for the first time since 2017. With that, and the cut in the winter fuel payment, George says he’s really starting to get on board with the Starmer government…

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James Shield

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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Donald Trump’s return has provoked days of soul searching among Democratic voters. But the pollster with one of the most accurate predictions of the outcome, James Johnson of JL Partners, has asked George Osborne and Ed Balls to shake off the gloom and consider any positives. Is there a silver lining in a second Trump presidency? George has some ideas, while Ed is struggling… 

Votebeat editorial director Jessica Huseman asks: does the world see the US as an international example of democracy any more? Did it ever? 

And Susanna Reid from Good Morning Britain has rung in to ask what Trump’s re-election tells us about what voters truly want.

Plus: with Kemi Badenoch now leading the Tories, George and Ed answer the question: what does the shadow cabinet …actually do? 

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Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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It’s beginning to sink in: Donald Trump 2.0 is now upon us. George Osborne and Ed Balls think seismic shifts in the global economy could be ahead. Could his aggressive trade policies chip away at the UK’s growth plans?

Trump has also claimed he could end the Ukraine war in a day. Does that mean a peace deal – or appeasement? Meanwhile Nigel Farage is offering up his services as a British ambassador to Trumpworld. Would despatching Farage to Mar-a-Lago be a relief for Keir Starmer?

And the new Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, faced her first PMQs this week. Ed and George review her debut performance at the despatch box.

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Mikey Nissenbaum

Producers: Miriam Hall and James Shield

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Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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Donald Trump is set to make his return to the White House after a stunning overnight victory against Kamala Harris in the US election, just as George Osborne and Ed Balls predicted. But was this just a simple case of ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’

Ed thinks the Harris loss could be a warning to UK’s Labour party members –  if they don’t get UK living standards up, could they go the way of the Biden Democrats too? George, meanwhile, thinks Trump’s win exposes a fundamental challenge for the Left that it is now too focused on identity politics and not on people's living standards.

They also question: will Donald Trump seek vengeance for Labour’s ill-advised involvement in the election? Nigel Farage was the only British politician with a major presence in the US overnight. Does his time at the Trump victory party mean Reform will be getting some help from Trump in years to come? 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer:  Mikey Nissenbaum

Producers: Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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Rishi Sunak spoke at his last PMQs. But George Osborne reveals why it may not be the last time we see him in No 10... He and Ed Balls discuss whether perceptions of politicians can ever change.

Former cabinet member Caroline Spelman asks if a spoiled ballot is a waste of time. And Laura Trevelyan, co-host of the podcast Heirs of Enslavement asks whether countries should apologise for their role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Plus - Love the pod? We thought so. Ed and George clarify whether a declaration of love at the top of your question is a prerequisite for getting a spot on the show...

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Producers: Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

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Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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The dust has settled on Rachel Reeves’ budget, and despite a strong performance from the Chancellor, George Osborne and Ed Balls have noticed a few glaring omissions. Child poverty? Didn’t really rate a mention. How about some of the New Labour classics like getting people back to work? Pensioners? Nope. So how did this crucial economic pitch to the nation stack up? Ed and George consider how the fallout might impact Labour all the way to the next election.

Meanwhile, the polls are telling us the historic US election is set to be a squeaker, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat. The betting platforms and markets are telling a different story, however. George has the latest on who the world’s major financiers are expecting to be in the White House come January … 

And speaking of going to the polls, Japan’s snap election just backfired – did anyone in the UK notice? Ed and George question if we should be paying more attention to this major world economy.

Remember, you can catch up on our Budget Hot Take here: tr.ee/pc-live

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

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Producers: Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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Has Rachel Reeves done enough to get away with announcing £40 billion of new taxes?

In a special YouTube LIVE episode, Ed Balls and George Osborne give their immediate reaction to the Chancellor's first budget. Was it “big and bold and historic” or a “cross your fingers and hope for the best" moment?

Who wins and loses from the budget? And how big a gamble is it for Labour's fortunes?

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Producers: Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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Has the reaction to the Winter Fuel Payment cut scared Labour from making more big budget moves on welfare? And what ever happened to the tradition of the Chancellor knocking back a brandy while delivering the Budget? Ed and George discuss the best drinks of choice when outlining an economic plan to the nation… and what other Treasury traditions are in place. 

Plus, is it a brief, is it a leak or is it just a plain old trail? The pair breakdown the terms and mull some of the most famous, career-ending leaks in British political history. 

And with the US election just over a week away, what is the level of support for Donald Trump amongst the UK population? Do more Brits than we think secretly admire the Republican nominee’s approach? 

Finally, for all you listeners desperate to join our Record Club, Ed has followed up his first suggestion of Kuunnelmia by Jukka Perko with another Scandi recommendation: Hoven Droven.

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Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Drumroll, please. After keeping his cards pretty close to his chest throughout the Tory leadership campaign, George Osborne is ready to name who he thinks should seize the Tory crown. With the race now whittled down to just two people – Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick – George explains why a possible exit from the European Convention on Human Rights has swayed his choice and what might put him off voting Conservative at all...

Meanwhile, members of the Labour party are in hot water after Donald Trump accused them of election interference. Ed Balls thinks the party’s decision to get involved in a foreign country’s election could be described in a few ways (mainly as naive, gauche and definitely a mistake.) 

And, less than a week away from the first Labour budget in 14 years, has the party done enough to convince voters, the markets and business leaders there’s a plan for economic growth? 

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Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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Frenemies George Osborne and Ed Balls talk about great political friendships and rivalries. What was the unspoken understanding between former Prime Minister David Cameron and George that made their allegiance last? And which Conservative friendships were soured by Brexit?

They answer the question: Are economists just making it up as they go along? How can Rachel Reeves just change the definition of fiscal rules? And with questions from all over the world this week, Ed and George ponder: should we be rethinking about how we teach second languages? 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Producer: Rosie Stopher, Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How can Rachel Reeves solve her £40 billion budget gap without breaking Labour’s manifesto promise? Ed Balls and George Osborne take a deep dive into the tax hikes she has and hasn’t ruled out - and whether she can fairly class raising employer National Insurance contributions as manifesto-friendly.

Elsewhere, Labour continues to woo the business community - this time at its International Investment summit. But can an event like this overcome the very real barriers to growth that the UK faces? 

And, with the passing of controversial SNP titan Alex Salmond, Ed and George look back on his legacy, and the state of his former party.

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Rosie Stopher, Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.