129. NEET and Tidy

129. NEET and Tidy

Author: Global May 29, 2026 Duration: 46:36

Iain and Tessa discuss the crisis of youth joblessness, Tony Blair's return to the political conversation, the price of food in Europe - and more!


Each week on Where Politics Meets History, broadcaster Iain Dale and historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop sit down to dissect current events with a much deeper perspective. They operate on a simple but powerful premise: to truly understand the news, you often have to look backwards. This podcast is built on the conversation between a seasoned political commentator and a dedicated historian, resulting in a dialogue that is both immediately relevant and richly contextual. You’ll hear them tackle the week’s biggest headlines, not in isolation, but by tracing their roots and finding those startling patterns where past and present collide. It’s this specific combination of skills that makes the analysis here so engaging; Iain brings the sharp political instinct while Tessa provides the archival depth, together unearthing stories and parallels that are frequently overlooked in the daily churn. Their chemistry is a key part of the appeal-discussions are insightful and witty, but they’re not afraid of a spirited, good-natured debate when their viewpoints diverge. Listening to this podcast feels like being a fly on the wall for a fascinating conversation between two experts who respect each other but are passionate about their fields. It moves beyond simple explanation to explore the rhythms and echoes of history within modern crises, scandals, and social shifts. For anyone tired of surface-level news takes, this show offers a substantive, long-view alternative that is as entertaining as it is informative, proving that contemporary politics and historical understanding are inseparable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Where Politics Meets History
Podcast Episodes
90. Regime Changes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:28
Iain and Tessa debate whether the Iranian regime will fall, and what involvement Trump could have in that - as well as a bit of Iranian history to put it all in context! They also discuss the proposed new Chinese embassy…
89. Zahawi Ready? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:40
Tessa has the lurgy so Iain is joined by Aggie for this one! They discuss whether the West will get involved in Iran, ex Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defecting to Reform UK, whether we should listen to Peter Mandelson..…
88. Seize the Tanker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:56
Iain and Tessa are back to talk Trump's further threats to take Greenland (and the history behind it!), ICE shooting a woman in Minneapolis, Moldova's Maia Sandu and whether Labour is losing the young...
87. It's Not Easy Being Greenland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
Iain and Tessa discuss President Trump capturing Venezuela's Maduro, whether he might invade Greenland, Brigitte Macron winning a cyberbullying case and which former newsreader's boots Tessa is wearing.
86. Firework (and the EU flag) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:39
Iain and Tessa review the party leaders' new year messages, the government vs the ECHR on Shamima Begum, the fireworks and more!
85. All I Want for Twixtmas Is You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:18
In this interesting limbo period between Christmas and the New Year, Iain and Tessa discuss their predictions for 2026, Trump's hopes for peace in Ukraine, Iain's views on newsreaders with regional accents and Tessa's Ch…
84. Crackin' Around the Christmas Tree [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:02
In this special festive episode we recorded earlier, Iain and Tessa give out some fabulous festive awards! There's also discussion about the history of the humble Christmas cracker... and the A11 (stick with it)!
83. Never Ending Storeys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:22
Iain and Tessa are back together the day after Tessa's Christmas party at her (very tall) house! They discuss the big political and news events from history which have fallen around Christmas, comparisons between Trump a…
82. Blaise of Glory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
Iain and Tessa chat about the new chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli, whether Keir Starmer will face a leadership challenge in the new year, Bonnie Blue and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or wherepol…
81. My Sweet Lords [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:27
Iain and Tessa discuss the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney and the heroism of fruit shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed, whether Keir Starmer should have given Reform UK at least one peer - and Tessa's school reunion.