The New Statesman
The daily politics podcast from the venerable British magazine, where its own journalists dissect the news from Westminster and beyond.
This is the New Statesman's newsroom talking to itself on mic, turning its own reporting into daily conversation. It functions as an extension of the magazine, providing insider analysis from the journalists covering the stories. The show is notable for its high-context approach, assuming listeners are already familiar with the intricacies of Westminster. Recently, it has used a creative, speculative fiction arc—imagining a prime minister's resignation—to explore real-world political dynamics and potential futures.
“Its direct connection to a century-old political magazine provides a depth of institutional knowledge and reporting that most daily podcasts lack. The format often feels like eavesdropping on an editorial meeting, with journalists debriefing each other on their own scoops and analysis. The recent use of a fictional political drama as a framework for commentary is a highly unusual and creative approach for a news podcast.”
Who hosts this show
The New Statesman podcast is the audio counterpart to the progressive British political and cultural magazine, which was founded in 1913. Hosted by the magazine's own journalists—primarily Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian and Executive Digital Editor Oli Dugmore—the show offers daily analysis of UK politics. Episodes feature a rotating cast of the publication's writers and editors who bring their reporting and insider perspectives to roundtable discussions and interviews.
Credentials & credits
- Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor, New Statesman
- Oli Dugmore, Executive Editor (Digital), New Statesman
- Tom McTague, Editor, The New Statesman
- Ailbhe Rea, Political Editor, New Statesman
- Will Dunn, Business Editor, New Statesman
Other ventures
- The New Statesman (magazine)
- Westminster Reimagined (podcast co-hosted by Anoosh Chakelian)
- LBC (radio presenter, Oli Dugmore)
- PoliticsJOE (founded by Oli Dugmore)
- The Atlantic (staff writer, Tom McTague)
- UnHerd (Political Editor, Tom McTague)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01Nicola Sturgeon's reality TV career | UK Politics |The New StatesmanJun 27, 2026 · 1 min
- 02Does Britain want another general election? | UK Politics | The New StatesmanJun 27, 2026 · 41 min
- 03Andy Burnham storms Westminster | UK Politics | The New StatesmanJun 25, 2026 · 1h 05m
- 04Who broke the political consensus in Britain? | The ExchangeJun 23, 2026 · 57 min
- 05
- 06Keir Starmer resigns | UK Politics | The New StatesmanJun 22, 2026 · 22 min
- 07Andy Burnham's winning "brand" | UK Politics | The New StatesmanJun 20, 2026 · 39 min
- 08Burnham on track for Downing Street | Politics | New StatesmanJun 19, 2026 · 19 min
Notable episodes
- 01Keir Starmer resignation: “He had to admit he’s failed”
This episode kicks off a multi-part fictional narrative about the Prime Minister resigning, a unique way to analyze the current state of the Labour party and its potential future.
- 02Andy Burnham storms Westminster | UK Politics | The New Statesman
A prime example of the show's format, where the journalists discuss their own magazine cover story, revealing the 'behind-the-scenes' of their reporting on a political 'coup'.
- 03Does Britain want another general election? | UK Politics | The New Statesman
Showcases the more satirical and humorous side of the podcast, featuring a weekly review structured around pun-based awards like 'Hottie of the week'.
What you'll be asked on this show
The format is more of a collaborative roundtable discussion between journalist colleagues than a traditional interview show. When one host 'interviews' another, it's typically a debrief about a story they have reported for the magazine. Questions are designed to elicit behind-the-scenes details ('Can you tell us the story of how they pulled this off?'), immediate reactions ('What was your first thought?'), and strategic analysis ('What is Keir Starmer's camp thinking now?'). The hosts build on each other's points, offering their own analysis to create a fuller picture, rather than maintaining a strict interviewer/interviewee divide.
The show primarily uses a multi-host roundtable format, with a rotating cast of the magazine's journalists. The dynamic is collegial and informal, with in-jokes and banter common among the team. Some episodes are satirical weekly reviews, while others are deep dives into a single story, often pegged to the magazine's latest cover.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
7 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
reaction
1- Q.01
“What was your reaction to the speech when you were watching it?”
Often used as an opener to get an immediate, personal, and analytical take on a major political event.
process
2- Q.01
“Can you tell us the behind-the-scenes story of how this was pulled off?”
A frequent question directed at a colleague to have them share the reporting from their own article or scoop.
- Q.02
“Why did they ultimately decide to change their mind and not fight on?”
Probes the strategic motivations and political calculations behind a major decision, like a resignation.
personal
1- Q.01
“What was your first thought when you woke up to the news?”
This question seeks a gut reaction to a breaking political story, grounding the analysis in a personal response.
backstory
1- Q.01
“Can you explain the origins of the plot?”
Used to establish the backstory and timeline of a complex political maneuver they are reporting on.
controversy
1- Q.01
“What is [the losing side's] camp thinking now?”
This question prompts analysis of the political fallout and future strategy for the opposition or defeated faction.
industry
1- Q.01
“Has the word 'change' lost all meaning in politics?”
A broader, more philosophical question that steps back from the immediate events to analyze political language.
Signature segments
- · Analysis of the New Statesman's cover story
- · Weekly awards with pun-based titles
- · Fictional political narratives (e.g., Starmer's resignation)
- · Roundtable discussions with in-house journalists
- · Listener Q&A ('You Ask Us')
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are almost exclusively other New Statesman journalists, including the editor-in-chief and various political or business editors. The show brings its own experts to the microphone rather than seeking external voices, making it an internal conversation shared with the public.
- Tom McTagueon Andy Burnham storms Westminster | UK Politics | The New Statesman
- Ailbhe Reaon Andy Burnham storms Westminster | UK Politics | The New Statesman
- Will Dunnon Does Britain want another general election? | UK Politics | The New Statesman
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
No external sponsors were mentioned in the evidence provided. The podcast primarily serves as a brand extension for the New Statesman, frequently encouraging listeners to subscribe to the magazine for full access to their reporting.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of the New Statesman podcast?
- The main hosts are Anoosh Chakelian (Britain Editor) and Oli Dugmore (Executive Digital Editor), but the show features a rotating cast of other New Statesman journalists like Tom McTague, Ailbhe Rea, and Will Dunn.
- What is the connection to the New Statesman magazine?
- The podcast is a direct extension of the magazine, which was founded in 1913. The hosts and guests are all journalists and editors for the publication, and they often discuss and expand upon reporting from the magazine's articles.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's typically a daily roundtable discussion between multiple hosts and colleagues. They analyze current political events, often through the lens of their own reporting for the New Statesman.
- Did Keir Starmer really resign in June 2026?
- No. The podcast ran a fictional narrative arc imagining his resignation and the subsequent leadership contest as a creative way to explore the real political pressures and dynamics within the Labour Party.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is published on the New Statesman's YouTube channel and is available on major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]New Statesman Official Websitenewstatesman.com
- [02]Anoosh Chakelian - New Statesman Profilenewstatesman.com
- [03]Oli Dugmore - New Statesman Profilenewstatesman.com
- [04]Tom McTague - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]Ailbhe Rea - New Statesman Profilenewstatesman.com
- [06]Will Dunn - New Statesman Profilenewstatesman.com
- [07]About the New Statesmannewstatesman.com
- [08]The New Statesman YouTube Channelyoutube.com
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