101 | Populism, Migration and Merkel

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 In a special live edition recorded at the Guardian's King's Place Politics Festival - David, Helen and Chris Bickerton discuss whether the migration crisis has opened up a new dividing line in European politics.  Is Viktor Orban right that Europe is now split between the countries that will accept immigrants and the countries that won't?  What does that mean for Merkel's survival prospects?  Where does Macron stand in this fight?  Plus we take questions from the audience about what populism really means and what, if anything, we can do about the current state of politics.
 

99 | Trump Abroad

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From the G7 to the Singapore summit, it's Trump's world: we just live in it.  This week we try to get some perspective on these spectacular events.  Is Trump's behaviour really unprecedented for an American president?  What is the point of the G7?  Where is his relationship with Kim heading?  Plus we compare with summits past: Nixon in China, Reagan & Gorbachev, or something new?  With Helen Thompson and Andrew Preston, who gives a Canadian view.  Next week: Grenfell.

95 | The Politics of Mental Health

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This week we discuss how and why mental health has become a growing political issue.  What are the differences in the way the political parties approach this problem?  Is it something that unites or divides people across generations and classes?  And what can politicians do to help us cope?  Plus we talk about whether politics itself has become a more stressful job than it used to be.  With Helen Thompson and Chris Brooke.
 

94 | Strike

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After the largest strike in the sector for a generation, we talk to Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, about the politics of higher education.  How did the issue of pensions become so politically charged?  What are the long-term consequences of treating students as consumers?  How should universities respond to the challenge of Brexit?  Plus we return to the question of why having a university degree is now one of the main dividing lines in contemporary politics.  With Helen Thompson and Chris Brooke.

93 | How Democracy Ends - The Book

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An extra episode this week to talk about David's new book How Democracy Ends, out next week.  With a clip from the lecture we put out at the start of the year and a chat with Helen and Chris Bickerton.  The book is available with a special discount for Talking Politics listeners  (£12 including free P&P from profilebooks.com using the code TALKINGPOLITICS at the check out)