40 | Trump vs. Comey

We take stock of the latest developments in Washington as the heat intensifies on Trump and the leaking war continues.  What do the new revelations tell us about Trump's fitness to be president?  What do they tell us about the power struggles inside the administration?  We also take a step back to ask about the risks of any showdown between an elected president and the secret state.  Might Trump's fate set a precedent for any outsider who takes on the political establishment?  Do the Democrats need to be careful what they wish for?  Plus, in the week the UK parties start publishing their election manifestos, we ask: what's a manifesto worth anyway?  With Helen Thompson, Aaron Rapport and Chris Bickerton.

38 | Michael Gove

We catch up with Michael Gove, one of the leaders of the Brexit campaign, to ask how he feels about the future of Europe now. What difference will a Macron presidency make?  Will Theresa May have more of a mandate than any other European leader when it comes to the Brexit negotiations?  And how does he feel today about his notorious remark that 'the people of this country have had enough of experts'?

37 | Thomas Piketty

We're joined by internationally best-selling economist Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, to talk about the French elections and what inequality is doing to democratic politics.  Recorded a few days before the 2nd round of the French presidential vote, we discuss Macron vs. Le Pen, the failure of mainstream social democracy, and why Brexit was such a gamble.  We also talk about what needs to be done to reform the EU.  With Hugo Drochon.

35 | Scotland and the Union

This week we focus on what the general election in Scotland might mean for the rest of the UK.  Does a Tory revival in Scotland spell the end of Indyref 2?  Does Labour's collapse chime with what's going on in the rest of Europe?  Plus we explore whether a thumping majority for Mrs May would strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.  In the first in a series of historical comparisons, we also ask whether this election has echoes of what happened when Ted Heath called a snap poll in 1974.  Is Tony Blair now the Enoch Powell of British politics?  You heard it here first.

34 | Pankaj Mishra

In a Talking Politics extra, we speak to Indian novelist and historian Pankaj Mishra about his new book The Age of Anger.  He explains the deep historical roots that underpin the rise of populism and he explores what connects Modi and Trump.  He also tells us why the British general election might be just a sideshow.  Recorded at the Cambridge Literary Festival.
 

28 | Chris Clark / Germany and India

**Recorded + edited before the events of 22/3/17 in London**

We're joined by best-selling historian Chris Clark - author of The Sleepwalkers - to talk about German politics past and present.  How spooked is the German political establishment by Trump and Brexit?  How big is the threat to Angela Merkel from a resurgent SPD?  And how can Germany square its growing power with the legacy of its history?  With Helen Thompson and Chris Bickerton.  Plus Maha Rafi Atal updates us on the latest developments in India, where Modi's populism appears to be more popular than ever.